GPO To Nominee: Sorry We Paid You for Not Working

William J. Boarman, who President Obama has nominated to head the Government Printing Office, has been on unpaid leave from GPO since way back in 1977, when he took the first in a series of labor union positions. But Ed O'Keefe reports today that this didn't stop GPO from occasionally issuing checks to him over the years. And Boarman cashed them, because, he says, he thought they were for leave he had built up while he was in a paid status at the agency.

Last week, GPO officials acknowledged that they had screwed up in issuing the payments, and told Boarman he nevertheless had to give the money back. Which he did on Tuesday.

The White House says Boarman "did absolutely nothing wrong" and that "this episode makes it clear that GPO is sorely in need of stronger financial management, and that's one of the reasons we're looking forward to Mr. Boarman's confirmation and service."