Sex, lies and offshore drilling: Your government at work

[struggle4progress]

The House Natural Resources Committee has just announced hearings next week into the latest scandal to grip a federal agency under the Bush administration. Turns out an Interior Department agency in charge of collecting oil and natural gas royalties was compromised for years, investigators said, alleging that employees improperly accepted gifts from oil companies, handed out sweetheart deals, had sex with subordinates and used illegal drugs ...

Among the allegations in the inspector general's report: ...

* A former program director with Denver-based Royalty in Kind received more than $30,000 from an industry consulting firm in return for marketing the company to various oil and gas companies doing business with the government agency.

* Royalty in Kind employees routinely allowed energy companies to revise their bids for oil or natural gas after the sale had been awarded to the company. Of 121 amendments reviewed, only three favored the government. The amendments favoring industry were worth about $4.4 million ...

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/presidentbush/2008/09/sex-lies-and-co.html

[bemildred]

1. These corrupt criminals are not "our government". nt

[liberal N proud]

2. This is why the republican have been so excited about drilling