Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, left, with Earl Devaney, inspector general, lat a news conference outside the Colorado office of the Minerals Management Service. Salazar plan to "revisit'' a sex-and-drugs scandal that rocked the agency during the Bush administration. Devaney, about to assume a bigger role in the government, exposed it. (AP photo by David Zalubowski)
by Mark Silva
President Barack Obama has promised that, along with the $787 billion economic stimulus that he won, the government will make sure that money is spent properly. He opened a Web-site, www.recovery.gov, to keep track of it.
Now the president plans to name an overseer - a former Secret Service agent who helped expose the wrongdoing of disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and who also exposed a "culture'' of drug abuse and promiscuity in a government agency -- the Associated Press reports this evening. An announcement is expected Monday.
"Obama is set to name Earl Devaney as chairman of the new Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board,'' the AP reports, quoting an administration official today and adding that Vice President Joe Biden "also will be given a role coordinating oversight of stimulus spending. ''
Devaney, inspector general of the Interior Department, helped expose Abramoff's dealings at the agency. The department's No. 2, Steven Griles, pleaded guilty to charges he lied during congressional testimony based in part on Devaney's investigation.
The Recovery Act Transparency and Accountability Board will monitor the government's recovery spending. Obama plans to announce Devaney during a meeting with governors on Monday, the AP reports.
In addition to the Abramoff investigation, Devaney led a separate investigation into workers at the Minerals Management Service, part of the Interior Department. His review found a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" at the Denver and Washington offices of the service.
He has served as inspector general of the Interior Department since 1999. He was a senior official with the Secret Service, retiring in 1991. He worked as head of criminal enforcement at the Environmental Protection Agency before Interior.
Comments
ANY person appointed by "this President" is nist probably just another thug like him.
Posted by: Fred | February 22, 2009 7:08 PM
Finally, a President who brings honor to the White House and who works for the people instead of corporate cronies. It's a nice change.
Posted by: SueP | February 22, 2009 7:34 PM
Fred: Whatever you are imbibing...stop before you make a big fool of yourself OR get spell check because what are you talking about? OR maybe you're a friend of Abramoff? OR maybe you think accountability is overrated?
Posted by: lochnessmonster | February 22, 2009 7:39 PM
Bunnatine (Bunny) Greenhouse would have been another good choice.
The Obama administration and the public would benefit from the former A.C.E procurement officer's disdain for waste and no-bid contracts.
Where is Bunny these days?
People with her mettle are sorely needed.
Posted by: johnf | February 22, 2009 8:13 PM
The government need to make sure that the election promises are kept properly. It should open a Web-site, www.recovery.gov, to keep track of them.
Posted by: hsr0601 | February 22, 2009 9:45 PM
RULE NUMBER IN THE NEW OBAMA ERA:
............
ALWAYS KEEP THE ROBBER BARON REPUKELICANS AWAY FROM ALL OF THE STIMULUS MONEY...OR IT WILL END UP IN THE BACK POCKETS OF HALLIBURTON, KBR, BLACKWATER ETC. OR ANY OTHER OF A NUMBER OF THEIR OTHER RICH CRONIES !!!
Posted by: Doug Vader, son of Darth | February 22, 2009 10:30 PM
A Democratic-appointed investigator who dedicated his time to investigating Republican corruption. I'm sure he'll be just as strict on another Democrat who appointed him.
Posted by: Larson | February 22, 2009 11:13 PM