James M.

Profile

Username:
ekyprogressive
Name:
James M.
Location:
Lewes, DE
Birthday:
04/14
Status:
In A Relationship
Job / Career:
Nurse

Stats

Post Reads:
93,397
Posts:
298
Photos:
20
Last Online:
> 30 days ago
View All »

My Friends

22 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago
> 30 days ago

Subscribe

Eastkyprogressive_2

Politics & Legal > Oil for Sex Scandal ... If You Hadn't Heard ...
 

Oil for Sex Scandal ... If You Hadn't Heard ...

   From MSNBC and the Associated Press....

Oil sex scandal may affect drilling debate


Democrats say Bush administration failure; GOP leader calls outrage ‘hoax’



updated 1:39 p.m. ET, Thurs., Sept. 11, 2008



WASHINGTON - A scandal involving sex, drugs and — uh, offshore oil drilling.

It's a strange mix, and it couldn't have come at a worse time for those in Congress pressing to expand oil and gas development off America's beaches while trying to stave off an election-year rush by Democrats to impose new taxes and royalties on the oil industry.

An Interior Department investigation describing a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by workers at the agency that issues offshore drilling leases and collects royalties hit lawmakers Wednesday just as they prepared for votes next week on expanding offshore drilling.

"On the eve of Congress starting this big debate you've got a horror story of mismanagement and misconduct in programs that are going to be a key part of the discussion," Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said in an interview, adding that it can't help but influence the debate.

The two-year, $5.3 million investigation by Interior's inspector general found workers at the Minerals Management Service's royalty collection office in Denver partying, having sex, using drugs and accepting gifts and ski trips and golf outings from energy company representatives with whom they did government business.

The investigations exposed "a culture of ethical failure" and an agency rife with conflicts of interest, Inspector General Earl E. Devaney said.

Between 2002 and 2006, 19 oil marketers — nearly a third of the Denver office staff — received gifts and gratuities from oil and gas companies, including Chevron Corp., Shell, Hess Corp. and Denver-based Gary-Williams Energy Corp., the investigators found.

"Employees frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana, and had sexual relationships with oil and natural gas company representatives" who referred to some of the government workers as the "MMS Chicks."

The director of the royalty program had a consulting job on the side for a company that paid him $30,000 for marketing its services to various oil and gas companies, the report said.

MMS Director Randall Luthi said in an interview the agency was taking the report "extremely seriously" and would weigh taking appropriate action in coming months.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne in a statement released Thursday vowed to take swift action, saying that he was "outraged by the immoral behavior, illegal activities and appalling misconduct of several former and long-serving career employees."

"We must and we will eliminate any remaining negative elements in the Minerals Management Service," Kempthorne said.




But the impact in Congress, where lawmakers are debating an expansion of the offshore oil and gas leasing program by allowing drilling in areas long off limits, was immediate.

"This is why we must not allow Big Oil's agenda to be jammed through Congress," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who strongly opposes any expansion of offshore drilling, especially closer to Florida. He said the report "shows the oil industry holds shocking sway over the administration and even key federal employees."

"This IG report has it all — sex, drugs and the Bush administration officials once again in cahoots with Big Oil," said Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., whose Joint Economic Committee released a report last year claiming the Minerals Management Service has failed to collect millions of dollars in oil royalties

posted on Sept 12, 2008 12:02 AM ()

Comments:

MMMMMMMMMdrilling deep and laying pipe.This is funny.
Yes,heard this on the news James.
comment by fredo on Sept 12, 2008 10:43 AM ()
With Big Oil in the White House since 2001, I am not surprised.
comment by jondude on Sept 12, 2008 6:33 AM ()
Well, I for one am shocked....SHOCKED, I say, to learn of such sleazy goings on in an agency of our gub'ment staffed with such honest, forthright, morally uncorupt officials. I guess this gives new meaning to the terms "drilling deep" and "laying pipe". I'd give all involved serious prison time.

reguards
yer we'll not have this in the Bugg Administration pal
bugg
comment by honeybugg on Sept 12, 2008 5:18 AM ()
Nice post... always "fun" reading these things. Btw lower links dont work James.
comment by itsjustme on Sept 12, 2008 2:48 AM ()

Comment on this article   


298 articles found   [ Previous Article ]  [ Next Article ]  [ First ]  [ Last ]