As Iowa Chapter corporate accountability issue chair, I thought the
following, forwarded to me by a friend from a stop public lands logging list,
would be of interest to many. (FYI, I am also issue chair for the following
three issues: sprawl, transportation, and energy.)

Tom Mathews

----- Original Message -----
From: F. Barone
Sent: Friday, February 08, 2002 10:43 AM
Subject: List of Committees and Agencies Investigating Enron

[Members of Congress, not to mention the Administration, are "shocked,
shocked" that something like Enron could have happened. It shows the power of
the awakening citizenry, calling their representatives to task, that so many
investigations have been launched. Activists must not let the politicians,
who will try to divert attention into the ditch of baffling accounting
procedures, turn this into another Washington scandal gridlock. Instead we
must call for ending the Reagan-era deregulation "revolution," which returned
the United States to the despotism of thieves and robber barons.

["Trickle-down" economics turned out to be siphon-off economics. Here's the
proof. We are looking at a brazen heist of workers' (not just Enron
employees, but a broader group of ratepayers and investors and taxpayers)
savings by slick, self-interested predators. That this could happen is not
news to social justice activists, who are well aware of the egregious and
shady devolutions since Reagan and the neo-liberals took over. We have known
this day was coming. But it is news to most people, who have witnessed how
their values and beliefs were stolen -- along with their money -- in broad
daylight.

[Enron is going to be bigger and more enduring than Watergate (which also
unfolded when the nation was at war) -- precisely because it is not about
political infighting. By allying together with the interests of Big Business,
the two controlling parties have made themselves into one big fat target.
Activists now have our unifying issue. We can use Enron to expose and
eradicate the systemic corruption that has eroded our freedom and our rights.
We can reinvigorate and build upon the lessons of American history, and the
tendency under unchecked capitalism for the oppression of the many by the
ruthless. We can cite the Founders' deep aversion to ungoverned tyranny, and
bring the true patriot message -- about providing public interest protections
in our democracy -- home. -FB]


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A38573-2002Feb7.html

Committees and Agencies in Enron Investigation

Reuters
Thursday, February 7, 2002; 10:55 AM


Eight U.S. congressional committees and three federal agencies are probing
various aspects of Enron and its collapse. Following are the various
committees and agencies involved and the areas they are investigating.

SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE
Shortcomings in accounting and investor protection.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS SUBCOMMITTEE OF SENATE COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Inquiry into Enron retirement funds.

SENATE ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Impact of Enron collapse on energy industry.

SENATE GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Possible regulatory violations and influence of Enron on the Bush
administration energy policies.

INVESTIGATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE
Inquiry into Enron's board of directors and auditors to determine who knew of
the company's impending collapse and when they learned about it.

SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Investigating whether Enron has been complying with federal tax laws.

HOUSE EDUCATION AND WORKFORCE COMMITTEE
Laws regulating stock ownership by employees and their retirement plans.

HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE
Financial collapse of Enron and the destruction of documents.

HOUSE FINANCIAL SERVICES COMMITTEE
The role of Andersen, Enron's auditor.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Criminal investigation by the FBI and U.S. attorneys in Washington, New York
and San Francisco.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Enron's employee retirement plan.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Auditing practices of accounting firm Andersen.


© 2002 Washington Post Newsweek Interactive

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
To get off the IOWA-TOPICS list, send any message to:
[log in to unmask]