Watchdog: Sen. Vitter tried to ‘bribe’ Sec. Salazar with pay raise

[babsbunny]

Watchdog: Sen. Vitter tried to ‘bribe’ Sec. Salazar with pay raise

By David Edwards
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 -- 2:10 pm

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) says Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) may have gone too far when he demanded President Barack Obama's Interior secretary approve deepwater oil well permits in exchange for a salary increase.

CREW filed a complaint (PDF) Tuesday calling for the Senate Select Committee on Ethics to investigate Vitter for bribery.

In a May 23 letter (PDF) to Secretary Ken Salazar, Vitter was clear that he would not vote for a pay raise until the Department of Interior began issuing six deepwater exploratory permits each month.

"Last Friday, I was asked to support legislation in the Senate to grant you a nearly $20,000 salary increase," Vitter wrote. "Given the completely unsatisfactory pace of your department's issuance of new deepwater exploratory permits in the Gulf, I cannot possibly give my assent."

[Octafish]

1. Pampers are made of plastic.

And plastic is made from petroleum.