(Democratic) Alaska lawmakers query Big Oil in bribery scandal

[UpInArms]

Source: Reuters

ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Alaska lawmakers are questioning major oil companies over their role in a bribery scheme that has netted the criminal convictions of a former legislator and two former executives from VECO Corp, once the state's largest oil-service company.

BP (BP.N: Quote, Profile, Research), ConocoPhillips (COP.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) have denied involvement in the ongoing political corruption scandal in which the VECO officials used bribes to push for a favorable outcome in an oil-tax overhaul.

State Sen. Hollis French and state Rep. Les Gara, both Anchorage Democrats, sent letters to the top Alaska oil executives asking what they knew of VECO Corp's illegal acts and how much they coordinated with the company during last year's tax debate.

The letters come after the trial of former House Speaker Pete Kott, a Republican convicted of bribery, extortion and conspiracy concerning the overhaul of the state's oil-tax system. Another former lawmaker is due to go on trial later this month on similar bribery charges.

The Kott trial unearthed a tape-recorded telephone conversation between Bill Allen, former chief executive of VECO, and ConocoPhillips Alaska President Jim Bowles concerning attempts to squelch a version of the tax they disliked.

Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN1030094820071010?sp=true

[badgervan]

1. It ain't that Hard...

... just follow the money.