FDA Execs Reap Lavish Bonuses

(CBS)  It's been a bad year for the Food and Drug Administration's top brass. The agency's been accused by Congress of mishandling health scares linked to pet food, Heparin, Avandia and now, tomatoes, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.

But based on their bonuses, you would think it was a banner year at the FDA.

Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., says he was stunned to learn that 28 senior FDA executives took in a combined $1 million in bonuses last year, pushing their pay above that of members of Congress, federal judges - and even some cabinet secretaries.

"They've done such a miserable job these last two years, I think they should leave! Not get bonuses of $40,000 [to] $50,000!" Stupak said. "Good grief."

For example:

$48,000 in a cash award and retention bonus went to an associate commissioner whose plan to overhaul FDA field labs was rejected by Congress as poorly thought-out.

$41,000 went to the director of the office of criminal investigations, pushing his total income to enforce one statute to $208,000 - more than the director of the FBI makes.

"The kicker of course is the person who was hired to reform the bonus system received the biggest bonus," Stupak said. "$58,000."

On average, those 28 top executives received, on average, an extra $37,000 in 2007. CBS News asked the head of the FDA why.

"What we are talking about here is the need to have highly experienced, highly capable technical experts that, without which, the country would suffer," said FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach.

Small bonuses to experts, like scientists and doctors, are not what worry congressional investigators.

They're concerned that a quarter of the $35 million in bonuses the FDA handed out last year went to bureaucrats, not technical experts. And that the same bureaucrats are getting big retention bonuses year after year.

"These should be referred to not as retention bonuses but blackmail bonuses," said Tom Schatz, president of Citizens Against Government Waste.

Not all FDA employees hit the jackpot. The biggest bonus among the rank-and-file went to the "Inspector of the Year." Her take? A mere $2,500.

Are there any limits placed on how much these government agencies can spend on bonuses?

They are not allowed to give a bonus that is larger than 25 percent of an employee's base pay. But beyond that, they don't have to prove an employee deserves to get a bonus or earned a bonus. Congressional investigators argue the FDA is rewarding its top staff more richly than other government agencies - even though it's the agency most frequently referred to as "broken."

[keithle1]

Quote: the agency most frequently referred to as "broken."

I did not know that.

[nskduke2]

The FDA is all loud talk and no action. Someone give this agency a kick in the rear

[chimpyout]

The next administration will have dozens of Augean stables to clean. Unfortunately it can''t do much about the zealots, fundies and looneys who have already been appointed (for life, folks) to the bench, but we can hope new, hopefully qualified officials can sweep the present refuse into the gutter.

[antoniof123]

neo con nut cases know it is coming to an end even with all the media trying to find fault with the Demcrats. But hey remember these positions are appointed by the President or did you think we swing voters forgot that.

It is ending neo cons and really there is nothing you can do about it soon the Democrats will have 50 more in Congress and you will see the neo con party on its way to becoming the super minority.

[neenga]

"Our First Muslim Leader!"

nolle61, you haven''t done your homework. You are listening to the ignorant diatribes of those who invent "facts" so you and your ilk will panic. Get educated on this stuff before you spout.

[bobnjersey]

[A Liberal can not be elected and stand firm on their Liberal beliefs. It just does not happen in this country. There is still some sort of moral fiber left here (no matter how much the Dem Libs want to destroy it). Unless the Liberal candidate moves toward the center, and even to the right, he or she will never win the White House.]
[Posted by nolle61 at 10:10 AM : Jul 11, 2008]

you been there all along but again you see only what you want to see.

all the candidates do this ... bush was a compassionate conservative who wasn''t going to nation build, support environmental policies, and co-opted all the democratic positions as a strategy during his 2000 and 2004 campaigns.

he was a conservative moving to the middle.

no candidate can win the presidency ... regardless of party ... without moving to the center.

now what''s your excuse ... since you say you''ve watched it all ... but don''t see anyone else doing it but liberals.

[l8c6]

Payoffs for those serving the corporate oligarchs as the last drop of blood from the United States economy is extracted.

[bobnjersey]

[He is doing what all Dem Libs do to get elected. Pretending to go to the right.]
[Posted by nolle61 at 10:00 AM : Jul 11, 2008]

how strange you only see it one way. it''s every candidate ... regardless of party ... that starts out at the extreme to pick up that part of the base ... then moves to the ''center'' to temper their positions.

it''s not like this hasn''t happened over and over thru history. where have you been?

[neoconrcrazy]

come on everyone!

down to the repub feeding trough - eat all you want - for free!

oh, you lost money on crazy betting speculation! Oh, dear, we can''t let that happen! If Wall Street falls, so does America!

how many kids won''t get their college education because these slimy "free-marketers"?

[leftyintexas]

It amazes me how the Dem Libs can turn everything into a Bush Bashing session.

Posted by nolle61 at 09:51 AM : Jul 11, 2008

It''s ohhh so easy when you see what DUMBYA and BUTTHEAD have done to our country these past 8 years! That''s why OBAMA will be your President in November! Only 193 days left! Enjoy!