CNN is reporting that employees of the US Department of Interior have been receiving "improper gifts from energy industry representatives. And in some cases, these folks have doing a little coke, smoking a little dope and having sex. But, have no fear it didn't cost you and me one thin dime...unless of course the "good time had by all" was happening on the J-O-B or the $5.3 million it took to investigate all of the partying that's been going on since 2002!
The investigation was prompted in 2006 by an internal whistle-blower who reported concerns about the department responsible for selling the oil and gas the government collects as rent from companies drilling on federal lands. Seems that Shell and Chevron ain't talking right now saying they need time to review the allegations.
So here's the case in brief resulting from the $5.3 million investigation:
~ recreational marijuana and cocaine use" by "a handful" of Interior Department staff
~ two federal employees "engaged in brief sexual relationships with representatives doing business" with the department
~ two employees "received combined gifts and gratuities on at least 135 occasions from four major oil and gas companies
~ some of the government employees tried to hide their close association with the industry they were supposed to be regulating
~ e-mails from MMS (Minerals Management Services) employees "preparing to attend industry events used such language as 'this trip is to be kept quiet,' or were asked to RSVP 'in private' by their supervisor"
~ alleged inappropriate behavior by 19 members (about 1/3 of the department) of the Royalty in Kind program -- about one-third of the department
All I got to say is that its bad enough having to pay $4 a gallon for gas just to get to work and $3 for a damn loaf of bread - but, now I got to pay a $5.3 million investigation bill because these folks wanted to get a blow - or get blowed - on my dime! Well, as Obama said: ENOUGH!!!! And if you put lipstick on a pig - ITS STILL A M-FING PIG!
Speak the Truth!
Obliged to you for hearing me, and now old SjP ain't got nothing more to say.