Congress was repeatedly warned about problems at a Minerals Management Service office in Colorado that is the subject of a corruption scandal.

Interior Department Inspector General Earl Devaney testified at least three times about the royalty-in-kind program. But Congress did little about it until Devaney released three reports that detailed drug use, promiscuity and ethics lapses among officials and employees.

H.R.6899, a bill passed by the House yesterday seeks to tighten the ship by making it a crime for oil companies with government leases to provide gifts and favors to employees, who will be subject to random drug testing and more ethics training.

Get the Story:
Lakewood oil scandal overlooked (The Denver Post 9/17)
House Passes Bill To Expand Drilling, Fund Renewables (The Washington Post 9/17)
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House Adopts Plan to Ease Offshore Drilling Ban (The New York Times 9/17)
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OIG Reports:
Gregory W. Smith | MMS Oil Marketing Group - Lakewood | Federal Business Solutions Contracts

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