In 2008, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association used money from the National Marine Fisheries Service to buy a 35-foot, 14-passenger boat. NOAA said the boat was to monitor whale-watching operations and make sure they weren't coming too close to the whales. Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts is saying the $300,000 luxury boat is getting a lot of use, but not as a monitoring device.
Sen. Brown released a Commerce Department report that claims NOAA officials used the boat for personal parties, family barbeques, and to restaurant and bar hop around Puget Sound.
During his speech, Brown said, “for a government vessel, that’s pretty flashy. Take a look inside. That’s a fully-appointed bar, the latest in on-board entertainment systems, and leather furniture complete with the ice chest and tackle rack."
According to the Alaska Dispatch, the purchase of the boat was legal, but it's usage is not. Sen. Brown, who has battled NOAA on many fronts, is calling for NOAA chief Dr. Jane Lubchenco to resign. It's not the first time he's urged her to step down, and we're guessing not the last either. –Brian McClintock
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