FDA Execs Reap Lavish Bonuses

Agency Criticized As "Broken," But FDA Executives Still Make Big Bank

(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."

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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by fstop100 July 10, 2008 7:38 PM PDT

lets fire them all.....enough

Reply to this comment

by July 10, 2008 7:43 PM PDT

Government corruption at it''s finest.

Reply to this comment

by kansas1946 July 10, 2008 7:57 PM PDT

$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."
*********************************************

Under the Bush adminstration, nothing would surprise me. These are nothing but politcal hacks paid for by the American taxpayer.

Reply to this comment

by pollroller1 July 10, 2008 8:08 PM PDT

The sad thing is that us peasants don''t really have any way to change things.

Reply to this comment

by egresor July 10, 2008 8:16 PM PDT

lol
i agree with kansas1946

everyone should hightower''s (and others) books to see what sort of people bush has appointed to executive positions from the start

just about every one of the major government function posts were filled will people who were either executives of or lobbyists for the industeries (and environmentals) that they would be regulating.

it is any surprise when we see drugs advertise that are actually proven unsafe and dangerous to take. that may even kill you or give you terrible side effects to ruin the rest of your life? drugs that you cannot even get without a prescription?

he and cheney brought such a atmosphere of greed to our government that boggles the mind that people dont see them for what they are, but when it''s rally around the flag boys----who can resist that call !
just another example. i hope the dems clean house, but

in reality it''s usually just a slight tidying that gets done i''m afraid
;((

Reply to this comment

by deacon20081 July 10, 2008 8:19 PM PDT

Allow me to venture a guess.....these thieves are all Bush Appointed

Reply to this comment

by cyberus-2009 July 10, 2008 8:23 PM PDT

Looks like the pre-election last grab at the money tree is beginning

Reply to this comment

by forasongca July 10, 2008 8:33 PM PDT

I am obviously in the wrong line of work...

Reply to this comment

by barbaraf4 July 10, 2008 8:38 PM PDT

I suspect these bonus'' are paid from a fund in which the pharmaceutical company kickbacks are deposited.

Reply to this comment

by Syndicate July 10, 2008 8:47 PM PDT

The real outrage is that congress is neglecting its duties of oversight. These bonuses were approved by congress. The FDA was created by congress. Yet a congressman is surprised to learn of this. Thats the outrage. This congress man is suppose to Know what the hell is going on yet he is surprised. Between congress the president and the supreme court there are 545 people in charge of our government thats it. If there is anything wrong with our government it is their fault. "I didn''t know" just does not cut it.

Reply to this comment

by highlander60 July 10, 2008 8:49 PM PDT

WOW!!!

Reply to this comment

by oneworldusa July 10, 2008 8:57 PM PDT

Gee, I might only get a $10,500 bonus next year. Why are government agencies handing out bonuses? I thought the budget was awry the last few years. I lost not one but 2 govt agency jobs due to
''budget shortfall'' cutbacks and I never got any kind of bonuses at all there. Just the same rhetoric, ''you are at the top of your payscale, so there is no raise for you''.

The FDA has continually allowed drugs to be pushed on the market so pharm can sell its newly patented products at ridiculous prices at the expense of the pocketbooks and health/lives of consumers.

America, I fear the only way to correct the wrongs that have been going on in government may be revolution. The working people have been supressed too long and going backwards. I''m not talking about the McMansion folks who can''t afford their mortgages because they had to have 5,000 feet of living space, I''m talking about responsible, hard-working Americans who keep being screwed to the wall by corporate and government policy.

Reply to this comment

by sgtrds10-4 July 10, 2008 8:59 PM PDT

the whole Bush criminal family/administration stinks of corruption from the top to the bottom.

Reply to this comment

by highlander60 July 10, 2008 9:05 PM PDT

It seems like a day does''nt go by without hearing about the FLEECING in this country that goes on, not to mention the stuff we don''t hear about! Even more baffeling is that no matter how BLANTLY WRONG it is, NOTHING is EVER done about it on any scale. Yet, the Fleecing continues. How much longer?

Reply to this comment

by Marie Zarankevich July 10, 2008 9:09 PM PDT

Hey, man, I thought we were all in this together! -- Message here is, if you are at the bottom of the heap, ya better get out of the way, cause there''s more comin'' down. -- That ''All in the Same Boat'' thing just don''t float. -- I mean, would YOU pass up a big bonus right now? -- Would you?

Reply to this comment

by on_alert247 July 10, 2008 9:12 PM PDT

BIG GOVERNMENT = BIG WASTE

Reply to this comment

by jumkey July 10, 2008 9:16 PM PDT

No $hit, huh?

Conservatives/Republicans are CROOKS. When will the American people get it?

Voting for a Republican is voting for a crook picking your pocket.

Wake up America!

Reply to this comment

by cfin5 July 10, 2008 9:49 PM PDT

Posted by Providence_6 at 09:23 PM : Jul 10, 2008----Excellent post my friend. You are correct!....Revelation 21:6-7,...And he said unto me, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely, 7- He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son...... 1 John 5:5,...Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

Reply to this comment

by cjopling July 10, 2008 9:50 PM PDT

Your report only went to reinforce the Big Government=Big Waste as one commenter above pointed out. What your report failed to examine is that the executives were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Getting government off the backs of the food and drug companies. This administration entered office with one goal in mind. Break government and let business "police" itself. We are now seeing that business will just screw the public every chance it gets while our government looks the other way. It is succeeding with the help of reports such as this. Your report basically said, "See, government is not working. We should eliminate even more oversite." It is as if it were a self fulfilling prophecy. How much better can the republican party have it with CBS providing such sham reporting. Do your job.

Reply to this comment

by cjopling July 10, 2008 9:52 PM PDT

Your report only went to reinforce the Big Government=Big Waste as one commenter above pointed out. What your report failed to examine is that the executives were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Getting government off the backs of the food and drug companies. This administration entered office with one goal in mind. Break government and let business "police" itself. We are now seeing that business will just screw the public every chance it gets while our government looks the other way. It is succeeding with the help of reports such as this. Your report basically said, "See, government is not working. We should eliminate even more oversite." It is as if it were a self fulfilling prophecy. How much better can the republican party have it with CBS providing such sham reporting. Do your job.

The real outrage is that people are not supporting Congress in its oversite responsibilities. The administration, via signing statements, ignores the law.

Reply to this comment

by providence_6 July 10, 2008 9:55 PM PDT

osted by cfin5 at 09:49 PM : Jul 10, 2008

Also
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Reply to this comment

by oneworldusa July 10, 2008 9:56 PM PDT

This article has nothing to do with religion, you freaks.

Reply to this comment

by providence_6 July 10, 2008 9:59 PM PDT

Strong Winds Hamper Calif. Fire Efforts? We have fires, floods, tornadoes, crime and a bad economy, gas prices food prices no jobs losing of homes? Sounds a bit like Pharaoh saying no to God when Moses told him about the Lord?
Maybe, if we wanted a healthier better America we should turn to God to heal our land? Just think? It happened another time in the annuals of history? Yeah God was going to destroy this place called Nineveh and the people repented and God spared them. We could do this in America?

Reply to this comment

by cbsfan73 July 10, 2008 10:14 PM PDT

"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."

The pot calling the kettle black.

Reply to this comment

by wogerwabbit July 10, 2008 10:27 PM PDT

Wow... these boards are really turning into a cesspool. First right wing chickenhawk lunatics, then right wingers posing as libs to stir up s**t and now right wing Jesus freaks. Can these discussions get any more hysterical?

Reply to this comment

by lynxha July 10, 2008 10:28 PM PDT

As a retired Marine, I am not blind to the facts of waste and fraud towards the american peoples money. This is not someting that just happened. This kind of theft of our Tax dollars has been going on for many years. Maybe it''s time for the GAO to step in and punish these thieves.ASAP

Reply to this comment

by truthsquad1 July 10, 2008 10:29 PM PDT

This report is accurate and correct, the only problem is that it leaves out the fact that this is occuring at all levels of management throughout FDA. The employees doing the real work are overlooked and not compensated where the managers and their friends and favorites are rewarded with big bonuses in money and retention awards. In some offices FDA LAWYERS hire their friends also LAWYERS over more qualified individuals who have far more experience and could do a much better job that is where the real danger to public health lies.

Reply to this comment

by ssm9451 July 10, 2008 10:34 PM PDT

This whole country has become an embarrassment.

Reply to this comment

by beehive21-2009 July 10, 2008 10:40 PM PDT

This story is trying to get you to focus on the little guy ,instead of the top .Some one or thing is manipulating your thought ? Perhaps to get your mind off Carl Rove,whom today told the people of the USA to go to Hell.No one is above the Law.

Reply to this comment

by whitemale08 July 10, 2008 10:41 PM PDT

The system is a grab bag for every greedy idiot who can pat each other on the back and take what they can until the Federal Reserve System leaves this country with nothing.

Reply to this comment

by Hybdiesel July 10, 2008 10:56 PM PDT

Instead of another Boston Tea Party, why don''t we have a goverment employe party? Throw the top two DOGS in the water first, with no life jackets. This country is full of scum from top to bottom. Put some democrats in charge, if they are as stupid as republicans think, it will take about twenty years, for them to do as much damage as the republicans have done in the last eight.

Reply to this comment

by hermitdave July 10, 2008 10:59 PM PDT

Looks like another "YOU''R DOING A HECK OF A JOB BROWNIE" situation. One thing the Bush gang does is make sure all those who obey them get a piece of the GREED pie.

Reply to this comment

by txlakeside July 10, 2008 11:07 PM PDT

The Bush legacy continues! Greed and corruption defines the Repubs! They raped the planet, the Geneva Convention, the Constitution and it''s citizens. This is just salt in the long festering wound!

And to top it off Rove refuses to go before a Congressional subpoena.

If you or I were to refuse a Congressional Supeona we would be put in jail very quickly!

The "SHRUB" legacy will live in infamy! Him and his "crew" screwd not only me but my great grand children!

Reply to this comment

by sparks224 July 10, 2008 11:09 PM PDT

More Treasury looting. What a shock.

Reply to this comment

by dakotaclark July 10, 2008 11:14 PM PDT

Hmmm...

The really disgusting thing about this is the lack of any trickle down to the hardworking employees who ARE doing a good job.

Reply to this comment

by rwsmith29456 July 10, 2008 11:20 PM PDT

It''s been the same throughout all industry for years. Reward the big shots while cutting everybody else.

Reply to this comment

by randynason July 10, 2008 11:32 PM PDT

I''ve had food poisoning three times this past four years and these incompetent a-holes are taking home bonuses? These people are worse than *hor*s. At least a *hor* will give you something for your money.

Reply to this comment

by dbloom45 July 10, 2008 11:47 PM PDT

And why is Congress allowing this. Scientist are a talet to preserve. Managers are a dime a dozen. Why do we have to pay them to stay-let them go into the real world and earn that kind of money with those benifits. They only deserve bonuses for observable results,

Reply to this comment

by az_wolfster July 10, 2008 11:56 PM PDT

"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.
Yeah! When do we get that? Because all we have now are incompetent - or worse, criminal - drug company cronies who allow drugs that kill people while trying to ban healthy things like vitamin B6.

Reply to this comment

by cbsblogger July 10, 2008 11:57 PM PDT

This is an example of the new America of the 21st century. Cut numbers of workers, hold the grunts accountable, but always pay the chiefs more and more.

The "Knights of the CEO Roundtable Club" feel empathy among themselves as head honchos to award themselves vast amounts of compensation. After all they propagandize that as senior executives are the brains behind everything. Yet in the USA they are never held accountable or fired for failure, as they regularly are in Japan or Europe. Instead these bozos successfully push the blame to the bottom, just as it was done with the torture issue in our US military. Send the E-2s privates and enlisted men to the brig while the general officers and Rumsfeld and Cheney walk free. This philosophy permeates government and business. It''s one factor in why our country is in decline.

Reply to this comment

by soshljustic July 11, 2008 12:10 AM PDT

Government is setting itself up to run like private industry was, with pension plans and bennies that the private industry worker used to have. Time for government workers to bite the bullet and take what private workers have been made to eat in cola raises, as is only fair in a equal society where it is a "government for the people by the people and of the people." If Government workers are due merit raises and bonuses, they should have them. However, the FDA has come under intense scrutiny for some very bad decisions. When that happened in China, with kids toys,look what the Chinese answer was to their FDA leader who made some bad decisions. No bonus, he got death. You would think the USA could think of something in between to end the corruption in the FDA upper echelon, reward the lower echelon for maintaining work ethics under pressure from higher tiers, and discipline those that give-in to outside special interests. Then again, the people (the real government)SHALL be the ones to enforce this, when they are done being apathetic to it. Until equality is lived and actively sought by all, inequity will exist overall.

Reply to this comment

by tm7057red July 11, 2008 12:46 AM PDT

I am now living in an old CCCP country, and the US government has the nerve to speak about corruption here. One ignorant bureaucrat even made a comment about how much energy we wasted in a speech here.
And people wonder why the world holds the US in contempt. The voters need to throw entrenched elected and appointed bureaucrats out of government.---We need to take back America----now.

Reply to this comment

by demwatcher July 11, 2008 2:46 AM PDT

"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." "

-----

And this drivel is from a man whose is part of the Democrat run Congress that has only a NINE PERCENT APPROVAL RATING!

Let him live by his convictions; have him suggest that the Democrat Congress should leave.

Dumbarse hypocrite.

Reply to this comment

by July 11, 2008 2:47 AM PDT

Just another routine day in a neo-con politicized government institution...

Reply to this comment

by smurfcrusher July 11, 2008 3:03 AM PDT

No matter that over a thousand are puking their guts out because the FDA is clueless.

And they say they need more funding!

I guess $40,000 isn''t enough of a bonus for them.

It''s enough to make anyone ill.

Reply to this comment

by hissteps4u July 11, 2008 3:13 AM PDT

If you want to take Back America from those Entrenched folks VOTE TERM LIMITS it;s the only way.

Then we can get rid of the other high paid exec''s who''s bonus''s are aparently tied to their Low iQ status and not their work or production of anything worth while..

It is sickening..............

Reply to this comment

by floydzepp2 July 11, 2008 4:46 AM PDT

And this drivel is from a man whose is part of the Democrat run Congress that has only a NINE PERCENT APPROVAL RATING!

Let him live by his convictions; have him suggest that the Democrat Congress should leave.

Dumbarse hypocrite.

Posted by DemWatcher at 02:46 AM : Jul 11, 2008
-----------------

How many Republicans in that Congress?

You screech the same Fox News-like half-truths and think its believed.

One day you will face God. I wonder how you''ll answer.

Reply to this comment

by ahrats July 11, 2008 6:26 AM PDT

Typical of the Bush Administration give extra bucks to those who are in favor even if they do a lousy job. No government agency should give out bonuses till the finanical crisis is solved, this is tax payers money give it back to the people instead of these yahoo''s.

Reply to this comment

by floydzepp2 July 11, 2008 7:10 AM PDT

this is tax payers money give it back to the people instead of these yahoo''''s.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ahrats at 06:26 AM : Jul 11, 2008
--------------

Can''t do that. The RINOpublicans would call it social welfare. You can only give welfare to RINOs and Corporations and failing banks.

Reply to this comment

by emelder July 11, 2008 7:49 AM PDT

FDA is part of the Bush administration ... the buck stops with President Bush. More of his terrible legacy of mismanagement and cronyism.

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[fstop100]

lets fire them all.....enough

Government corruption at it''s finest.

[kansas1946]

$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."
*********************************************

Under the Bush adminstration, nothing would surprise me. These are nothing but politcal hacks paid for by the American taxpayer.

[pollroller1]

The sad thing is that us peasants don''t really have any way to change things.

[egresor]

lol
i agree with kansas1946

everyone should hightower''s (and others) books to see what sort of people bush has appointed to executive positions from the start

just about every one of the major government function posts were filled will people who were either executives of or lobbyists for the industeries (and environmentals) that they would be regulating.

it is any surprise when we see drugs advertise that are actually proven unsafe and dangerous to take. that may even kill you or give you terrible side effects to ruin the rest of your life? drugs that you cannot even get without a prescription?

he and cheney brought such a atmosphere of greed to our government that boggles the mind that people dont see them for what they are, but when it''s rally around the flag boys----who can resist that call !
just another example. i hope the dems clean house, but

in reality it''s usually just a slight tidying that gets done i''m afraid
;((

[deacon20081]

Allow me to venture a guess.....these thieves are all Bush Appointed

[cyberus-2009]

Looks like the pre-election last grab at the money tree is beginning

[forasongca]

I am obviously in the wrong line of work...

[barbaraf4]

I suspect these bonus'' are paid from a fund in which the pharmaceutical company kickbacks are deposited.

[Syndicate]

The real outrage is that congress is neglecting its duties of oversight. These bonuses were approved by congress. The FDA was created by congress. Yet a congressman is surprised to learn of this. Thats the outrage. This congress man is suppose to Know what the hell is going on yet he is surprised. Between congress the president and the supreme court there are 545 people in charge of our government thats it. If there is anything wrong with our government it is their fault. "I didn''t know" just does not cut it.

[highlander60]

WOW!!!

[oneworldusa]

Gee, I might only get a $10,500 bonus next year. Why are government agencies handing out bonuses? I thought the budget was awry the last few years. I lost not one but 2 govt agency jobs due to
''budget shortfall'' cutbacks and I never got any kind of bonuses at all there. Just the same rhetoric, ''you are at the top of your payscale, so there is no raise for you''.

The FDA has continually allowed drugs to be pushed on the market so pharm can sell its newly patented products at ridiculous prices at the expense of the pocketbooks and health/lives of consumers.

America, I fear the only way to correct the wrongs that have been going on in government may be revolution. The working people have been supressed too long and going backwards. I''m not talking about the McMansion folks who can''t afford their mortgages because they had to have 5,000 feet of living space, I''m talking about responsible, hard-working Americans who keep being screwed to the wall by corporate and government policy.

[sgtrds10-4]

the whole Bush criminal family/administration stinks of corruption from the top to the bottom.

[highlander60]

It seems like a day does''nt go by without hearing about the FLEECING in this country that goes on, not to mention the stuff we don''t hear about! Even more baffeling is that no matter how BLANTLY WRONG it is, NOTHING is EVER done about it on any scale. Yet, the Fleecing continues. How much longer?

[Marie Zarankevich]

Hey, man, I thought we were all in this together! -- Message here is, if you are at the bottom of the heap, ya better get out of the way, cause there''s more comin'' down. -- That ''All in the Same Boat'' thing just don''t float. -- I mean, would YOU pass up a big bonus right now? -- Would you?

[on_alert247]

BIG GOVERNMENT = BIG WASTE

[jumkey]

No $hit, huh?

Conservatives/Republicans are CROOKS. When will the American people get it?

Voting for a Republican is voting for a crook picking your pocket.

Wake up America!

[cfin5]

Posted by Providence_6 at 09:23 PM : Jul 10, 2008----Excellent post my friend. You are correct!....Revelation 21:6-7,...And he said unto me, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely, 7- He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son...... 1 John 5:5,...Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

[cjopling]

Your report only went to reinforce the Big Government=Big Waste as one commenter above pointed out. What your report failed to examine is that the executives were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Getting government off the backs of the food and drug companies. This administration entered office with one goal in mind. Break government and let business "police" itself. We are now seeing that business will just screw the public every chance it gets while our government looks the other way. It is succeeding with the help of reports such as this. Your report basically said, "See, government is not working. We should eliminate even more oversite." It is as if it were a self fulfilling prophecy. How much better can the republican party have it with CBS providing such sham reporting. Do your job.

[cjopling]

Your report only went to reinforce the Big Government=Big Waste as one commenter above pointed out. What your report failed to examine is that the executives were doing exactly what they were supposed to be doing. Getting government off the backs of the food and drug companies. This administration entered office with one goal in mind. Break government and let business "police" itself. We are now seeing that business will just screw the public every chance it gets while our government looks the other way. It is succeeding with the help of reports such as this. Your report basically said, "See, government is not working. We should eliminate even more oversite." It is as if it were a self fulfilling prophecy. How much better can the republican party have it with CBS providing such sham reporting. Do your job.

The real outrage is that people are not supporting Congress in its oversite responsibilities. The administration, via signing statements, ignores the law.

[providence_6]

osted by cfin5 at 09:49 PM : Jul 10, 2008

Also
Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

[oneworldusa]

This article has nothing to do with religion, you freaks.

[providence_6]

Strong Winds Hamper Calif. Fire Efforts? We have fires, floods, tornadoes, crime and a bad economy, gas prices food prices no jobs losing of homes? Sounds a bit like Pharaoh saying no to God when Moses told him about the Lord?
Maybe, if we wanted a healthier better America we should turn to God to heal our land? Just think? It happened another time in the annuals of history? Yeah God was going to destroy this place called Nineveh and the people repented and God spared them. We could do this in America?

[cbsfan73]

"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."

The pot calling the kettle black.

[wogerwabbit]

Wow... these boards are really turning into a cesspool. First right wing chickenhawk lunatics, then right wingers posing as libs to stir up s**t and now right wing Jesus freaks. Can these discussions get any more hysterical?

[lynxha]

As a retired Marine, I am not blind to the facts of waste and fraud towards the american peoples money. This is not someting that just happened. This kind of theft of our Tax dollars has been going on for many years. Maybe it''s time for the GAO to step in and punish these thieves.ASAP

[truthsquad1]

This report is accurate and correct, the only problem is that it leaves out the fact that this is occuring at all levels of management throughout FDA. The employees doing the real work are overlooked and not compensated where the managers and their friends and favorites are rewarded with big bonuses in money and retention awards. In some offices FDA LAWYERS hire their friends also LAWYERS over more qualified individuals who have far more experience and could do a much better job that is where the real danger to public health lies.

[ssm9451]

This whole country has become an embarrassment.

[beehive21-2009]

This story is trying to get you to focus on the little guy ,instead of the top .Some one or thing is manipulating your thought ? Perhaps to get your mind off Carl Rove,whom today told the people of the USA to go to Hell.No one is above the Law.

[whitemale08]

The system is a grab bag for every greedy idiot who can pat each other on the back and take what they can until the Federal Reserve System leaves this country with nothing.

[Hybdiesel]

Instead of another Boston Tea Party, why don''t we have a goverment employe party? Throw the top two DOGS in the water first, with no life jackets. This country is full of scum from top to bottom. Put some democrats in charge, if they are as stupid as republicans think, it will take about twenty years, for them to do as much damage as the republicans have done in the last eight.

[hermitdave]

Looks like another "YOU''R DOING A HECK OF A JOB BROWNIE" situation. One thing the Bush gang does is make sure all those who obey them get a piece of the GREED pie.

[txlakeside]

The Bush legacy continues! Greed and corruption defines the Repubs! They raped the planet, the Geneva Convention, the Constitution and it''s citizens. This is just salt in the long festering wound!

And to top it off Rove refuses to go before a Congressional subpoena.

If you or I were to refuse a Congressional Supeona we would be put in jail very quickly!

The "SHRUB" legacy will live in infamy! Him and his "crew" screwd not only me but my great grand children!

[sparks224]

More Treasury looting. What a shock.

[dakotaclark]

Hmmm...

The really disgusting thing about this is the lack of any trickle down to the hardworking employees who ARE doing a good job.

[rwsmith29456]

It''s been the same throughout all industry for years. Reward the big shots while cutting everybody else.

[randynason]

I''ve had food poisoning three times this past four years and these incompetent a-holes are taking home bonuses? These people are worse than *hor*s. At least a *hor* will give you something for your money.

[dbloom45]

And why is Congress allowing this. Scientist are a talet to preserve. Managers are a dime a dozen. Why do we have to pay them to stay-let them go into the real world and earn that kind of money with those benifits. They only deserve bonuses for observable results,

[az_wolfster]

"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.
Yeah! When do we get that? Because all we have now are incompetent - or worse, criminal - drug company cronies who allow drugs that kill people while trying to ban healthy things like vitamin B6.

[cbsblogger]

This is an example of the new America of the 21st century. Cut numbers of workers, hold the grunts accountable, but always pay the chiefs more and more.

The "Knights of the CEO Roundtable Club" feel empathy among themselves as head honchos to award themselves vast amounts of compensation. After all they propagandize that as senior executives are the brains behind everything. Yet in the USA they are never held accountable or fired for failure, as they regularly are in Japan or Europe. Instead these bozos successfully push the blame to the bottom, just as it was done with the torture issue in our US military. Send the E-2s privates and enlisted men to the brig while the general officers and Rumsfeld and Cheney walk free. This philosophy permeates government and business. It''s one factor in why our country is in decline.

[soshljustic]

Government is setting itself up to run like private industry was, with pension plans and bennies that the private industry worker used to have. Time for government workers to bite the bullet and take what private workers have been made to eat in cola raises, as is only fair in a equal society where it is a "government for the people by the people and of the people." If Government workers are due merit raises and bonuses, they should have them. However, the FDA has come under intense scrutiny for some very bad decisions. When that happened in China, with kids toys,look what the Chinese answer was to their FDA leader who made some bad decisions. No bonus, he got death. You would think the USA could think of something in between to end the corruption in the FDA upper echelon, reward the lower echelon for maintaining work ethics under pressure from higher tiers, and discipline those that give-in to outside special interests. Then again, the people (the real government)SHALL be the ones to enforce this, when they are done being apathetic to it. Until equality is lived and actively sought by all, inequity will exist overall.

[tm7057red]

I am now living in an old CCCP country, and the US government has the nerve to speak about corruption here. One ignorant bureaucrat even made a comment about how much energy we wasted in a speech here.
And people wonder why the world holds the US in contempt. The voters need to throw entrenched elected and appointed bureaucrats out of government.---We need to take back America----now.

[demwatcher]

"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." "

-----

And this drivel is from a man whose is part of the Democrat run Congress that has only a NINE PERCENT APPROVAL RATING!

Let him live by his convictions; have him suggest that the Democrat Congress should leave.

Dumbarse hypocrite.

Just another routine day in a neo-con politicized government institution...

[smurfcrusher]

No matter that over a thousand are puking their guts out because the FDA is clueless.

And they say they need more funding!

I guess $40,000 isn''t enough of a bonus for them.

It''s enough to make anyone ill.

[hissteps4u]

If you want to take Back America from those Entrenched folks VOTE TERM LIMITS it;s the only way.

Then we can get rid of the other high paid exec''s who''s bonus''s are aparently tied to their Low iQ status and not their work or production of anything worth while..

It is sickening..............

[floydzepp2]

And this drivel is from a man whose is part of the Democrat run Congress that has only a NINE PERCENT APPROVAL RATING!

Let him live by his convictions; have him suggest that the Democrat Congress should leave.

Dumbarse hypocrite.

Posted by DemWatcher at 02:46 AM : Jul 11, 2008
-----------------

How many Republicans in that Congress?

You screech the same Fox News-like half-truths and think its believed.

One day you will face God. I wonder how you''ll answer.

[ahrats]

Typical of the Bush Administration give extra bucks to those who are in favor even if they do a lousy job. No government agency should give out bonuses till the finanical crisis is solved, this is tax payers money give it back to the people instead of these yahoo''s.

[floydzepp2]

this is tax payers money give it back to the people instead of these yahoo''''s.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by ahrats at 06:26 AM : Jul 11, 2008
--------------

Can''t do that. The RINOpublicans would call it social welfare. You can only give welfare to RINOs and Corporations and failing banks.

[emelder]

FDA is part of the Bush administration ... the buck stops with President Bush. More of his terrible legacy of mismanagement and cronyism.