ORLANDO, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has obtained shocking information about a lavish Postal Service dinner party at an upscale restaurant in Orlando with a price tag of $13,500. It would have taken almost 33,000 stamps to pay for it all.

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READ: Gov't Accountability Office Credit Card Abuse Report (PDF)

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The information is coming to light because of a federal review into the abuse of government credit cards. It apparently picked up the tab for dinner with a special group of Postal Service customers in Orlando. The bill was more than $13,000 and, with the price of stamps about to go up a penny next month, some regular customers are having a tough time understanding what could justify such an expense on their dime.

At Ruth's Chris Steak House, the motto is, "You can have it all," and a new report from the Government Accountability Office says that's what the U.S. Postal Service tried to give 81 special guests who were attending a national conference in Orlando in 2006.

In just five hours at the pricey restaurant, the report says the Postal Service racked up a $13,500 tab. That's an average of $160 a person for steaks, crab appetizers and more than $3,000 in alcohol, including more than 40 bottles of wine. At 41 cents each, that's enough to buy nearly 33,000 first-class stamps.

"We spend enough money in government. I just sent 'em a big check for my taxes from last year. I'd hate to think that was buying 80 dinners somewhere," said Harvey Hopkins.

In fact, the Postal Service says it's not directly funded by tax dollars, but the new audit still described the dinner in Orlando as "abusive."

A Postal Service spokesperson insists it was all an attempt to save money. He says the guests were customers from California, in town for the national convention, and getting together at the restaurant was an alternative to holding individual dinners on the west coast.

Despite the surprising numbers, the Postal Service points out it has a budget of $72 billion. It says the expense would not be uncommon for a similarly-sized business.