Complaint links Jim Clyburn to SRS 10/5/2009 8:06 PM
By MIKE GELLATLY Staff writer
Though it is not in his congressional district, complaints have surfaced that House Majority Whip and 6th District Congressman James Clyburn is putting pressure on the Department of Energy that stimulus funds he acquired should benefit his interests.
An anonymous complaint filed with the Department of Energy's Office of the Inspector General made many allegations of wrongdoing at the Savannah River Site. The whistleblower specifically outlined high-level DOE executives who the person said were using their positions to gain power and bolster their position within the department.
Those same people, specifically Cynthia Anderson, DOE Environmental Management's (EM) head of the American Recovery Act Program, have allegedly demanded that Clyburn's district benefit from the funds and that his district should be the focus for events.
Clyburn takes full credit for obtaining the $1.6 billion for the Savannah River Site of the $6 billion that went to the DOE Weapons Complex. He played a major role in the ARRA funds for this and also in the fight to force S.C. Gov. Mark Sanford to accept local funds.
Anderson has allegedly said that Clyburn's influence is over the hiring of individuals from his district and the location of job fairs.
Clyburn directly denies he has unduly influenced any actions taken by Savannah River Nuclear Solutions or DOE.
"The SRS management team asked Congressman Clyburn for assistance in publicizing the Recovery Act funding, employment and business opportunities, and together they collaborated on an event in Columbia earlier this year," said Hope Derrick, communications director for Clyburn. "Numerous other town hall meetings and job fairs have been scheduled across South Carolina and Georgia targeting high unemployment areas as the Recovery Act mandates, but they have been scheduled without the knowledge or involvement of Congressman Clyburn. Any allegations of undue influence with regard to SRS are simply untrue. It appears that DOE is casting a wide net to hire for the ARRA jobs."
The kick-off event for SRS' ARRA job fairs took place in Clyburn's district in Columbia on June 1 while the others took place outside his district.
Two sources directly involved with the hiring of ARRA workers, who spoke under condition of anonymity, believe there is political motivation behind changes in plans. They said firms that have been contracting workers since June have recently been told they must track all workers, retroactively, making particular note of zip codes, addresses, race and gender.
"It's just for show; they want to project to the public that they are reaching these certain markets ... and (SRNS and DOE employees) knew it was useless," one source said, talking of the 6th District. "But they were getting pressure from the congressional level, and they (SRNS) were told they had to do this."
The same source has said that certain staffing firms do not intend to take part in future ARRA events since they view them as political.
A number of Road to Recovery Tour events are scheduled over the next two months. These events focus on smaller communities in areas of high unemployment; however, all of the next 13 events fall in Clyburn's 6th Congressional District.
The event locations follow no other natural line, jumping from the Lowcountry and Georgetown on Oct. 21 to Florence on Oct. 22.
After these 13 events, the tour jumps over to Georgia for a few days and then back to South Carolina.
Road to Recovery events are listed on the SRS ARRA work website, but no official explanation of the events have been released.
The majority of the events take place at employment centers, such as the Aiken event, which is scheduled to take place Nov. 9 at the One-Stop Career Center.
Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.
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Posted by: American No Hyphen On: Wednesday, October 07, 2009 8:50 AM
Comment Title: Re:bruce
"I have never said anything to the contrary, but I hold that notwithstanding all this, there is no reason in the world why the negro is not entitled to all the natural rights enumerated in the Declaration of Independence, the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I hold that he is as much entitled to these as the white man. I agree with Judge Douglas he is not my equal in many respects---certainly not in color, perhaps not in moral or intellectual endowment. But in the right to eat the bread, without leave of anybody else, which his own hand earns, he is my equal and the equal of Judge Douglas, and the equal of every living man. " The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln edited by Roy P. Basler, Volume III, "First Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Ottawa, Illinois" (August 21, 1858), p. 16.
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Posted by: Bruce On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:54 PM
Comment Title: American no brain
If you are going to quote the Lincoln Douglas debate quote it all. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything." "I leave you, hoping that the lamp of liberty will burn in your bosoms until there shall no longer be a doubt that all men are created free and equal." -- July 10, 1858 - Speech at Chicago, Illinois "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free -- honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best, hope of earth."-- December 1, 1862 - Lincoln's Second Annual Message to Congress "In giving freedom to the slave, we assure freedom to the free - honorable alike in what we give, and what we preserve. We shall nobly save, or meanly lose, the last best hope of earth. Other means may succeed; this could not fail. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just - a way which, if followed, the world will forever applaud, and God must forever bless." -- December 1, 1862 - Lincoln's Second Annual Message to Congress
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Posted by: American No Hyphen On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 7:20 PM
Comment Title: Honest Abe knew the truth
"I will say then that I am not, nor ever have been in favor of bringing about in anyway the social and political equality of the white and black races - that I am not nor ever have been in favor of making voters or jurors of negroes, nor of qualifying them to hold office, nor to intermarry with white people; and I will say in addition to this that there is a physical difference between the white and black races which I believe will forever forbid the two races living together on terms of social and political equality. And inasmuch as they cannot so live, while they do remain together there must be the position of superior and inferior, and I as much as any other man am in favor of having the superior position assigned to the white race. I say upon this occasion I do not perceive that because the white man is to have the superior position the negro should be denied everything."
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Posted by: Bobby On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 5:01 PM
Comment Title:
No comment this one is too easy.
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Posted by: Snakeheart On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 4:43 PM
Comment Title: Distractions leads to an unsafe workplace
In the past several months over 25 injuries have occured on the Site. 2 deaths, due to heart attacks 1 off the job and one on the site today(10/6)all this can be attributed to stress created by distractions by all of these people, both DOE and SRNS. Individuals who know the job and are passionate about it are kept behind or ignored no matter what you may be, white, black, native american etc. These distractions are injuring and killing the real SRS workers. Do you people have a conscious????
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 4:07 PM
Comment Title:
Clyburn said the stimulus money at SRS was for only S.C. residents? Clyburn is uneducated, crooked, and racist.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 1:31 PM
Comment Title: I second that, "getoverit"!
And, may I add that they would also throw Gresham "I Haven't Done a Damn Thing For My Constituents Ever" Barrett a banquet, as well, had this been him. BTW, Allendale and most of Allendale County is in Addison Wilson's district. Rep. Clyburn's concern for finding those citizens jobs likely comes from the fact that the county has the highest unemployment rate in the state. At least somebody is trying to help them.
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Posted by: getoverit On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:22 AM
Comment Title: WOW
What kind of racist "Father's Day/ Do nothing Hybrids" comment was that Mr. Cooper? It appears that you are sour that minorities might just get a job at SRS as well as hold a Congressional District and become the Majority whip of the United States. Im not the least bit shocked about this reaction from some of Aiken's "Finest" residents. Can we please move into the new millineum? Even if your comment was validated, you negated it with your ignorance. I also love how this paper printed an entire story based off of an ANONYMOUS complaint. I really dont see what the big deal is. If he got the money for the site, why cant he push for people in his district and in SC in general who elect him to get jobs? Its not stopping any of the "geniuses" like Cooper from getting one. Drive your butt down to Allendale and go to the job fair if you want the job so bad. If you can do such a better job, get off your lazy tail and run for office, put yourself in the public eye for criticism and negative harassing comments and YOU get money for SRS, then dont you dare try to get people jobs since that is what is enraging you about Clyburn. You people will use ANYTHING to bash someone that you dont agree with. If Joe "Ive never done anything for SC and Im only known for shouting 'You lie' at the Leader of the Free World" Wilson had done this, there would be a banquet in his honor.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 9:09 AM
Comment Title: SRNS did not creat new jobs
SRNS took the ARRA money and used it to keep SRNS emplpoyees who were going to lost their jobs due to mismanagement of funds. They did not creat new jobs, they just moved people around and protected their current employees. SRNS should be stripped of the contract and thrown off the site. They are run by incompetant boobs.
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Posted by: Mr. Conservative On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 8:43 AM
Comment Title: Clyburn has some stones
I am a very conservative businessman and republican. I don't like a lot of what Clyburn does, BUT, in this case the truth is that Clyburn was responsible for obtaining the stimulus funds for SRS, and he should have some say so as to how the money is spent. I am glad he has the stones to try and influence the way the money is spent. The spending of the money should not be left up to a bunch of bureaucrats at SRS or DOE. The people elected Clyburn and I am glad he has the guts to at least try to look out for his constituents. The whole thing is a waste of money anyway, but we need more politicians like Clyburn right now. He is good friends with the Prez.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 8:32 AM
Comment Title: SRNS
SRNS was told to go into Allendale and recruit skilled people in the field of environmental engineering, mixed waste management and RCRA waste management. Most people in that are barely have a high school diploma, much less any knowledge of environmental engineering, or management of mixed radioactive waste management. What a joke and waste of government resources.
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Posted by: J.B.WOODWARD On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 8:26 AM
Comment Title: SOUNDS LIKE RECONSTRUCTION AGAIN!
ANYONE THAT HAS READ ABOUT THE ABUSES DURING THE RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD IN SOUTH CAROLINA WILL RECOGNIZE THIS TYPE BEHAVIOUR.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 8:15 AM
Comment Title:
S. McIntosh, you took the word right out of my mouth.
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Posted by: S. McIntosh On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 7:56 AM
Comment Title:
Just another Career Politician that has no education or other skills. Never does anything that he doesn’t profit from. He got lucky in his first election and has just been occupying the space ever since. So I say it again. We don’t need to reelect anyone.
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Posted by: Swamp Gator On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 7:20 AM
Comment Title: Money corrupts
Dangle $1.6 billion in front of the socialist contractors whose feed off tax payer money and what do you think will happen?! It's time to refocus on a long-term, phased clean-up at SRS and halt any pursuit of new, dirty missions. SRS needs to be closed down and the only involvement from big government should be monitoring the site and guarding stored nuclear materials and finishing existing missions.
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Posted by: Mr. Cooper On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 7:07 AM
Comment Title: The unqualified qualifing the unqualified!
Clyburn's response to these accusations of meddling is as confusing as Father's Day in his district. I have heard other SRS employees speak of the "do-nothing hybrids" who are a security risk on the site & a danger to the public by being on the site. Remember, last week at leadt 2 were fired after dropping contaminated material & NOT REPORTING the incident. Clyburn should just send them a check at home and keep SRP safe.
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Posted by: On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 6:37 AM
Comment Title: Clyburn Drinking the Nuclear Kool aid
Jim Clyburn has an excellent history of working to bring jobs to his S.C. constituents. Unfortunately, the stimulus package is being used in this area to artificially stimulate the Savannah River site into seeking more nuclear missions, instead of focusing on the main issue: cleaning up the mess already there. New missions, new nuclear power, reprocessing, MOX and other taxpayer debacles should not be the focus of activity or funding. Emptying the tanks, and solidifying and safely storing the high level waste should be the main focus. However, keep in mind that only highly skilled workers should be employed, as the oversight, maintainance and management of HLW is a dangerous job and could lead to catastrophic consequences if left in the hands of the un-trained. If Clyburn is seeking money for clean up and training, more power to him; if not, shame on him for creating more of a mess at SRS.
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Posted by: BMF On: Tuesday, October 06, 2009 5:54 AM
Comment Title: Complaint links Jim Clyburn to SRS
Congressman James Clyburn should be investigated. He has influenced the hiring of individuals and demanded that people from his District be hire regardless of their lack of qualifications. Today, there are a number of individuals from Clyburn’s District employed at the site who can not pass the security clearance or do not qualify for the position/work that they were hired to perform. These people report to work each day and are being paid. However, they are not working. They sit in an office trailer all day until time to go home because they are unqualified to perform the work they are being paid to do and their lack of a security clearance does not allow then in too many areas of the site. These unqualified people are drawing large pay checks at the taxpayer’s expense while sitting on their A*S and the only qualification is that they live in Congressman Clyburn’s District! Will the Aiken Standard look into this misuse of the taxpayer’s money?
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Posted by: On: Monday, October 05, 2009 11:32 PM
Comment Title:
Clyburn is a dirty, cheating, racist.
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