Drugs and Lots of "Drilling" Discovered at Government Agency

An Interior Department investigation of the Minerals Management Service's royalty collection office in Denver found evidence of significant corruption by employees of the organization.  If you've never heard of the MMS, it is a government agency that is supposed to issue offshore drilling leases and collect royalties from the oil industry.  However, it seems as if the employees of MMS were engaged in activities related to drilling, but not of the offshore variety.  Apparently, the Interior's inspector general found that workers at the MMS in the Denver office were partying, having sex, using drugs and accepting gifts and ski trips and golf outings from energy company representatives with whom they did government business.  The investigations exposed a "culture of ethical failure."  Between 2002 and 2006, 19 oil marketers, nearly a third of the Denver office staff, received gifts and gratuities from oil and gas companies, including Chevron, Shell, and Hess.  "Employees frequently consumed alcohol at industry functions, had used cocaine and marijuana and had sexual relationships with oil and natural gas company representatives" who referred to some of the government workers as the "MMS Chicks."  Congress was absolutely shocked at the discovery of all of this corruption and blamed it on the evil oil industry.  Because the thought of a bunch of government employees taking bribes and partying like rock stars because they're bored, underpaid, and are ethically challenged sounds completely implausible.  Democratic Congressmen pounced on the opportunity to be outraged and called for a suspension of the program.  Perhaps a more prudent solution is available, particularly at a time when the government needs every penny it can collect from anywhere.  Perhaps the MMS should just stop taking resumes from former employees of Hooters.