First state regulator, then BP's advocate

[Robbien]

Source: Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau

BP's Texas City refinery — in a possible revolving-door violation of state law — hired a state engineer in 2003 who had spent the previous two years processing its application for a new air quality permit.

. . .

Lawyers representing people injured in the March 23, 2005, explosion at the plant contend that Herrera's job switch from state regulator to company advocate was part of an effort to obtain a new air quality permit for the plant without having to upgrade safety equipment that caused the blast.

BP and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality say the state's revolving-door law was not violated because there was a series of permit applications and Herrera did not work on the one that ultimately resulted in a new permit being issued. BP also denies misleading the commission in getting the permit.

. . .

The plaintiffs' attorneys are arguing that BP obtained its operating permit through fraud by misleading the TCEQ about the plant's safety features and by hiring state regulator Herrera to promote the company's application, and they have implied in depositions that a signing bonus he received might have constituted bribery by the company.

Read more: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5326659.html

[truedelphi]

1. This article illustrates perfectly the "new bribery"

It's no longer about a mobster meeting a government official and handing over a briefcase filled with cash.

It's more on the order of the revolving door - a politician gets an industry insider into the position on the approval chain.

And that insider then sets everything up sweetheart deal wise to guarantee that the nuclear plant or what ever is on the up and up.

Then after this need has been met, the insider get themselves a nice lucrative executive level position at the nuclear plant.

[Baby Snooks]

2. It's also a curious reflection of our courts...

The rulings in the lawsuit which were to the benefit of BP were rulings made by a Democratic judge who is also a candidate in the primary race for the Texas Supreme Court. Democratic judges are on the endangered species list in Texas. Judge Criss may prove to be one reason why they will remain an endangered species. The Republicans love to divert attention from their sins by pointing fingers at the same sins committed by Democrats. As if to say the Republicans would never do such a thing.

And so far, a majority of Texans, perhaps not the brightest light bulbs, have fallen for it.