dennisw
01-16-2014, 09:02
Ms. Boxer did not say we're idiots, but it's the only conclusion I can draw after reading the following:
Barbara Boxer's Oversight
Who is more amazing: the federal regulator who pretended to be a secret agent while bilking taxpayers out of almost $900,000—or the Senator who heaped praise on a government official who fell for this con?
It's hard to top the story of John Beale, the former Environmental Protection Agency bigshot who pretended for years to be a CIA spy and stuck taxpayers with the bill as he headed out on imaginary missions. After his exposure last year he pleaded guilty to theft of government property, agreed to pay almost $1.4 million in fines and restitution, and was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
Senator Barbara Boxer, who is supposed to oversee the EPA, reacted to all this by praising Beale's boss, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, "for taking steps to shine a light on the actions of this rogue employee, and her actions helped uncover his crimes."
Let's review: In 2009 Ms. McCarthy became the head of EPA's Air and Radiation office, where Beale was a senior adviser. In 2010 she lauded his work in an email to colleagues, crediting him with developing EPA policies on climate change and air quality. In September 2011, Ms. McCarthy attended a retirement party for Beale and two other EPA colleagues aboard a yacht on the Potomac River.
On March 29, 2012, Ms. McCarthy was informed via email that although he had retired the previous year, Beale was still on the EPA payroll. But according to the EPA's inspector general, it was not until on or about Nov. 1, 2012—seven months after being told that the retired "spy" was still getting paid—that Ms. McCarthy referred the matter to the EPA's general counsel.
For all of these reasons and more, Senator David Vitter (R., La.) has been pressing for a hearing on the Beale fraud. In September Ms. Boxer tried to defuse the issue by holding a hastily arranged "briefing" with the EPA's inspector general but Republicans were given little notice and weren't permitted to call witnesses. Subsequent reports suggest the IG—and many other current and former EPA staff—have more to tell the committee.
On Thursday the California Democrat will host a hearing with Gina McCarthy to discuss climate change, not Beale. We're not surprised Ms. Boxer would want to ignore a government failure, but taxpayers deserve better. Senate Democrats want to expand government but never hold it accountable.
Barbara Boxer's Oversight
Who is more amazing: the federal regulator who pretended to be a secret agent while bilking taxpayers out of almost $900,000—or the Senator who heaped praise on a government official who fell for this con?
It's hard to top the story of John Beale, the former Environmental Protection Agency bigshot who pretended for years to be a CIA spy and stuck taxpayers with the bill as he headed out on imaginary missions. After his exposure last year he pleaded guilty to theft of government property, agreed to pay almost $1.4 million in fines and restitution, and was sentenced to 32 months in prison.
Senator Barbara Boxer, who is supposed to oversee the EPA, reacted to all this by praising Beale's boss, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy, "for taking steps to shine a light on the actions of this rogue employee, and her actions helped uncover his crimes."
Let's review: In 2009 Ms. McCarthy became the head of EPA's Air and Radiation office, where Beale was a senior adviser. In 2010 she lauded his work in an email to colleagues, crediting him with developing EPA policies on climate change and air quality. In September 2011, Ms. McCarthy attended a retirement party for Beale and two other EPA colleagues aboard a yacht on the Potomac River.
On March 29, 2012, Ms. McCarthy was informed via email that although he had retired the previous year, Beale was still on the EPA payroll. But according to the EPA's inspector general, it was not until on or about Nov. 1, 2012—seven months after being told that the retired "spy" was still getting paid—that Ms. McCarthy referred the matter to the EPA's general counsel.
For all of these reasons and more, Senator David Vitter (R., La.) has been pressing for a hearing on the Beale fraud. In September Ms. Boxer tried to defuse the issue by holding a hastily arranged "briefing" with the EPA's inspector general but Republicans were given little notice and weren't permitted to call witnesses. Subsequent reports suggest the IG—and many other current and former EPA staff—have more to tell the committee.
On Thursday the California Democrat will host a hearing with Gina McCarthy to discuss climate change, not Beale. We're not surprised Ms. Boxer would want to ignore a government failure, but taxpayers deserve better. Senate Democrats want to expand government but never hold it accountable.