WASHINGTON, July 10, 2008
FDA Execs Reap Lavish Bonuses
Agency Criticized As "Broken," But FDA Executives Still Make Big Bank
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Play CBS Video Video FDA Employees Overcompensated? Members of Congress have criticized hefty salary bonuses awarded to some of the highest-ranking officials in the Food and Drug Administration. Nancy Cordes reports.
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(CBS)
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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:
"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."
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See all 69 CommentsI did not know 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.
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.
[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.
[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?
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"?
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!
Charges of misuse of funds, huge payoffs (they are called "bonuses"), mishandling of information (some of it intentional) and simple BAD judgement are surfacing in every aspect of the Bush court.
Meanwhile, the man responsible for all this, the Great Emperor Bush II, makes jokes at the G8 summit, while "Bagdad John McBush" McCain''s "economic advisor"(????!!!!), the senile old but rich crocodile Phil Gramm, accuses us all of being "whiners" living through a recession that is "mental"!
There certainly is something "MENTAL" here, but it''s not the recession which is VERY REAL!
SIG HEIL, BUSH!!!!!
sig heil, TOTALLY MORE OF THE SAME, McCain!!!!
Don''t they already get paid for the job they''re expected to do?
What''s the sense of a bonus? who went over the top to deserve a bonus?
They have phenominal benefits, excellent retirement / pension plans, and they already make WAY MORE than their civilian counterparts.
So WHY are they getting bonuses?!?
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Posted by jjp735i at 07:55 AM : Jul 11, 2008
The country is in need of some good new men and women, who value public service, and the sound health and welfare of their country. These parasites in Washington are about to be fumegated and sent back to where they came from; they''ve done nothing for us but make our lives and futures a mess. We should take the blame for letting it happen, but we should now take the responsibility for doing it ourselves if need be, and thats starting by sending these frauds and organized criminals back to where their true callings await them.
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See all 69 Comments