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]