News Piece Today in "The Hill"

Weiner calls for hearings, IG probe on traffic program

More coming.

JW

POGO Urges USDOT Secretary Peters to Investigate the Traffic.com Scam

The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) just posted a very pointed letter that they are sending to U.S. Dept. of Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (and copying key legislators), urging the Secretary to request an investigation into the USDOT's support for Traffic.com's ongoing monopoly.

This letter strongly supports the earlier efforts by Senator Hatch to open up this earmarked program to competition, and Congressman Weiner's recent letters to USDOT Inspector General Scovel and Congressman DeFazio, formally requesting an investigation and oversight hearing, respectively.

Onward and upward.

Jerry

Congressman Weiner Formally Requests Two Investigations into the Traffic.com Scandal

Earlier this week, New York Congressman Anthony Weiner got back into the fray, and formally requested both an investigation by USDOT Inspector General Scovel and an oversight hearing by Cong. Peter DeFazio, who Chairs the House Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

Scovel letter

DeFazio letter

As you'll see, his letters are both highly complimentary and supportive of the efforts that Senator Orrin Hatch has made (particularly since January) to challenge Traffic.com's monopoly.

This whole scandal is the worst example of behavior I can think of on the part of current or former elected and appointed officials, and will not stand.

JW

Another Prediction Comes True: DHS Deputy Secretary Jackson Resigns

It seems that I'm two-for-two in the prediction department, as it relates to former top management of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation. (If you recall, I had earlier predicted that then USDOT Secretary Norman Mineta would resign several months before he actually did resign.)

Today I just found out that Homeland Security Deputy Secretary Michael P. Jackson actually resigned a week or so ago. I had predicted his resignation over a year ago on this blog. At the time, I said that I had no idea what reason would be given for his resignation, but that it may have been driven by Mr. Jackson's participation in a big scandal in the U.S. Dept. of Transportation involving the company Traffic.com and a big earmarked federal program.

Well, it turns out that Mr. Jackson cited personal reasons for his departure, and particularly that his paltry salary as Deputy Secretary ($168K/year) just wasn't enough to make ends meet. I've reviewed his Public Financial Disclosure Reports that were submitted to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, and can tell you that he certainly is no pauper. Further, I strongly suspect that he profited mightily for his strong support for Traffic.com, so his stated reason for departing makes little sense. (Translation: I believe that he is lying through his teeth.)

An interesting article about Mr. Jackson's resignation appeared today (Lawmaker seeks more detail on DHS deputy secretary resignation) in the Federal Times. Apparently, Congressman Bennie Thompson, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, doesn't quite buy DHS' and Mr. Jackson's reasons for resigning.

Let me add this twist: do you think that the Project on Government Oversight's August 24 Freedom of Information Act request, that clearly implies that Mr. Jackson was and is involved in shenanigans related to Traffic.com, could have played a role in his resignation?

Time will tell.

Jerry