OBAMA’S OIL WATCHDOG

President Obama taps Michael Bromwich as watchdog for offshore oil drilling
Juliet Eilperin, June 16, 2010 (Washington Post)

"The man appointed…by President Obama to oversee offshore oil drilling has no experience with oil and gas issues, but he has a reputation for cleaning up embattled organizations.

"Michael Bromwich will need those skills as the new director of the Minerals Management Service, an agency that has come under fire in recent years for failing to adequately monitor offshore oil and gas development."

Stewardship? Maybe when they expand it to cover ocean energy. (click to enlarge)

"The agency, part of the Interior Department, has been the subject of two scathing inspector general's reports in the past two years, documenting how MMS officials have improperly accepted gifts from officials they regulate and have even engaged in illegal drug use and sexual activities with them.

"Bromwich's résumé boasts a long list of watchdog positions…[He was brought in at] Delaware's Department of Corrections…[and with] Bromwich's help…an agreement [was] reached in 2007…Bromwich also served for five years as an inspector general for the Justice Department under President Bill Clinton…[and he was] an associate counsel in the Iran-contra investigation in the late 1980s…"

This is what happens when the watchdog doesn't watch. (click to enlarge)

"The April 20 Deepwater Horizon explosion has only intensified scrutiny of MMS. On May 27 its director, Elizabeth Birnbaum, stepped down after less than a year on the job, under pressure from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar."

[President Obama:] "[Bromwich's assignment] is to build an organization that acts as the oil industry's watchdog -- not its partner."