The federal government wants to make money selling real estate. The government has released an interactive map of about 12 thousand federal “excess” properties, including 55 in Michigan.
The government says most of these properties have little market value. But, President Obama wants legislation to increase the number of properties and the speed of sales. He wants the government to use a process similar to that used to decommission old military bases.
Daniel Werfel is the United States Controller
"It normally takes between about a year and three years you know to have a property go through the entire process. Which in our estimation is too long, and that’s one reason we want to make a change."
Jeffery Zientz is with the Office of Management and Budget
"For too long the political interests, the red tape, have gotten in the way and not enough has gotten done. There’s been a culture of inertia. And what the legislation does is it changes this process."
-Sarah Alvarez-Michigan Radio Newsroom