Jonathan Gruber likely overbilled Vermont government, auditor finds

The Obama administration’s former adviser Jonathan Gruber may have overbilled the Vermont government for his recent consulting work, the state auditor warned Monday.

Vermont officials ignored the “obvious signs” that Gruberwas likely inflating his hours and the hours of his research assistant as part of his $400,000 contract, according to a 54-page auditing report.

Gruber, an MIT economist who helped draft ObamaCare, billed the state for 100 hours for himself and 500 hours for a research assistant, which the state auditor concluded was highly unlikely.

The MIT professor also failed to follow minor details of the contract, such as providing proof of his insurance.

“One can certainly find fault with Dr. Gruber’s bookkeeping and his inattention to administrative details,” the state auditor wrote.

The auditor also called out state officials, who “failed to exercise due diligence and enforce important provisions” of his contract.

Vermont officials ended their contract with Gruber shortly after he encountered a firestorm of media coverage late last fall for his comments about the “stupidity of the American voter.”

The videos, unearthed by conservative outlets, lit up debate about how the self-described “architect of ObamaCare” was misleading the public during the healthcare debates. Gruber apologized multiple times, both on cable television and before Congress.