POGO Wants to Know

A few questions POGO would like to have answered at tomorrow's House Natural Resources Committee hearing:

For Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne:

• How do you defend the Department of the Interior's plan to expand the Royalty-in-Kind (RIK) program, given the GAO's consistent findings in 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008 that Minerals Management Service (MMS) could not accurately account for the RIK program's costs and benefits?

• If, according to the IG, it was necessary for RIK marketers to adopt a private-sector approach to all of their activities--including feeling that "in order to effectively perform their official duties, they needed to interact in social settings with industry representatives to obtain 'market intelligence'"--is this an appropriate program for government to undertake?  Do they have to socialize with industry for the RIK program to succeed?

• The IG found that 1/3 of the RIK office was accepting inappropriate gifts or trips from industry.  What checks could be put in place to prevent this widespread misconduct from occurring again?

• In an e-mail to MRM staff in response to the recent IG findings, MMS Director Randall Luthi said, "You are valued and valuable members of my team and I'm proud to be associated with you.  Your families should also know that we're going to get through this and come out better on the other side…I and the entire MMS management team recognize your work, your dedication, and your professionalism.  You have every reason to hold your heads high; high above this storm."  In your own statement in response to the reports, you said, "I am outraged by the immoral behavior, illegal activities, and appalling misconduct of several former and current long-serving career employees in the Minerals Management Service's Royalty in Kind program. These individuals have eroded the trust the American citizens deserve to have in their public servants."  Do you think Director Luthi's message to employees adequately addresses the gravity of the breach of the public trust and provides effective guidance for reform?

For DOI Inspector General Earl Devaney:

• Based on your findings, do you believe Greg Smith violated federal conflict-of-interest laws?

• You say that 99.9 percent of Interior Department employees are ethical.  What makes the RIK program different?

• What administrative remedies would change the culture of the RIK program from "ethical failure” to ethical success?

For Secretary Kempthorne and Inspector General Devaney:

• Have you read our report, Drilling the Taxpayer, yet?  Don't forget to read the appendices ! !

-- Mandy Smithberger and Jake Wiens

UPDATE: Click here to watch a live webcast of the hearing.