This may seem laughable, but it’s the reality of how the monstrous U.S. government functions. Curbing waste in a dubious program that’s already blown hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it could cost big bucks. At least that’s the case in this particular situation.

Here is a little history; President Obama’s disastrous stimulus created a DOE program that gives money to companies investing in “innovative clean technologies.” As of December 2011 the DOE guaranteed more than two dozen projects totaling $16.1 billion. Among the recipients was a fly by night northern California solar panel firm named Solyndra. Judicial Watch has sued the DOE and Office of Management and Budget to obtain records related to Solyndra.

The company was bankrolled by Obama fundraiser George Kaiser before it abruptly folded after getting $535 million from the DOE to promote green energy. More than 1,000 workers got laid off and American taxpayers got stiffed for the half a billion dollars. After it blew up, the shady deal came under fire because Obama appointees at the DOE fast-tracked it despite the “serious concerns” of U.S. Treasury officials. Treasury is involved because it’s the agency that actually doles out the cash and it’s supposed to vet and approve such projects.

In an effort to prevent a repeat of the Solyndra scandal, a Michigan congressman introduced a bill to tighten oversight of the DOE’s controversial green energy loan program. Keep in mind that, in the Solyndra case, the money is gone for good because the startup firm went bankrupt and not a dime will ever be recovered. The bill is appropriately called the No More Solyndras Act and it was introduced in the House in late July.  

The measure would set much-needed restrictions on how the DOE distributes money, requiring the Treasury Department to review and scrutinize the green loans. It would also force the DOE to consult with Treasury officials on any changes in the terms of the program and impose administrative sanctions and hefty civil penalties on federal officials who violate rules and requirements. Of interesting note is that no heads rolled and there were no one got in trouble over Solyndra.

This may not completely solve the countless problems in this DOE loan program, but it’s a start never the less. But there is a catch; it would cost about $1 million to implement the law if it passes, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the nonpartisan agency that provides Congress with crucial economic data on pending legislation. Why not save taxpayers a bundle by pulling the plug on the president’s failed “clean technologies” experiment?

This certainly raises doubts about the integrity of the investigation, which centered on nearly $3 billion in loans that the Obama Department of Energy (DOE) doled out for experimental alternative energy projects. Among them was a fly-by-night California company (Solyndra)—bankrolled by Obama fundraiser George Kaiser—that swallowed more than half a billion dollars before going bankrupt.

Earlier this year a federal audit confirmed that “serious concerns” expressed by U.S. Treasury officials involving the risky $535 million Solyndra infusion were ignored as the deal was fast-tracked by top White House officials. Judicial Watch has sued the DOE to obtain records regarding the Solyndra loan because the administration has blown off a public records request that dates back to early September, 2011.  

Incredibly, the in-depth investigation that we now know was conducted by Obama’s donor found no wrongdoing on the part of the administration. The donor/watchdog scandal was uncovered this week by a mainstream media outlet, which in and of itself is incredible considering the love fest that exists between the MSM and the commander-in-chief. Puff pieces dominate coverage of the administration—in major newspapers as well as television networks—so this is a rare treat.

It turns out that the veteran Wall Street executive (Herbert Allison) handpicked by the administration to investigate its disastrous green energy loan losses contributed $52,000 to re-elect Obama in the months after he completed the in-depth probe. It’s all documented in federal campaign records reviewed by the national wire service that broke the story. The cash started pouring in just two weeks after Allison testified before Congress about his report, which exonerated the administration and was heavily touted by the White House.

It started with a $2,500 donation to the Obama campaign in late March, the story reveals. In May he plopped down another $15,000 for the Obama Victory Fund, a joint group that supports the president’s reelection and the Democratic National Committee. In the following two months, Allison generously deposited another $40,000 into the coffers of the Obama/DNC account. In the news story he defends the integrity of his probe and assures he did not make the decision to back a presidential candidate until after his work was finished.

Bankrolled by Obama fundraiser George Kaiser, the now-defunct northern California company (Solyndra) got more than half a billion dollars from the U.S. government to promote green energy. Instead, it abruptly folded last fall, stiffing American taxpayers and laying off more than 1,000 workers. From the start, it was a controversial deal that was suspiciously rushed through for a politically-connected entrepreneur that had raised large sums for Obama.

This week a Treasury Inspector General report sheds light on the scandalous process that, not only ignored warning signs about the startup company’s viability, but also blew off the concerns of officials at the agency responsible for doling out the cash. The “loan,” which will never be repaid, was rushed through by Obama appointees at the Department of Energy (DOE) without Treasury input.  

That violated the terms of the program, which was created by the president’s disastrous stimulus. It allows the DOE to make loan guarantees to companies investing in “innovative clean technologies” but specifically requires the Secretary of the Treasury to be consulted on the terms and conditions of the loan guarantee concurrent with its review process. As of December 2011 the DOE guaranteed 28 projects totaling $16.1 billion after consulting with Treasury, the audit says. 

Evidently this did not occur with the Solyndra deal because it was expedited for a political donor. In fact, the IG report cites an electronic mail written by a Treasury official after a conference call with DOE brass, presumably to discuss the pros and cons of the huge Solyndra deal. “We pressed certain issues…but the train really has left the station on this deal.”

Judicial Watch is investigating the Solyndra scandal and has sued the Obama DOE and Office of Management and Budget to obtain records involving the deal. In September JW submitted Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests seeking records from both agencies, but the DOE says it’s reviewing documents in preparation for public release. The Office of Management and Budget has totally blown off the request. This indicates that the administration is on cover-up mode.