Collapsed energy giant Enron submitted a list of potential candidates for a key industry regulatory body to the Bush White House and saw two of them subsequently appointed.
Last spring, Enron chairman and chief executive Mr Kenneth Lay gave the list of eight suggested nominees to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to Mr Clay Johnson, the Bush personnel director, at a time when Mr Lay had also clashed with the then head of the commission, Mr Curt Hebert.
Although also a Republican, Mr Hebert did not share Enron's enthusiasm for an extreme market-driven approach to energy regulation. He was replaced in August by Mr Pat Wood, one of Mr Lay's list, an appointment that is certain to feature in questions next week to the latter, the star witness in one of the many congressional hearings which will put the Enron collapse under intense public scrutiny.
Meanwhile, a senator leading one of the investigations has complained that Enron has not co-operated in providing important information on the complex web of partnerships used by the company to conceal massive debts.
The company's lawyer says it does not have the documents sought.
Yesterday Mr Bush announced reforms of company pension portfolio regulations which will make it easier for employees to sell their company stock and provide them with outside advice on investment options.
He also proposed new "pension parity" rules which will ensure that if employee pension funds are unable to sell company stock in periods when their pension funds are frozen, then company bosses will also be prevented from cashing out on their own holdings.
In Enron, the transfer of the pension-fund administration from one company to another led to a "blackout" for several weeks when employees could not sell their shares as their value plummeted.
Four of the Big Five accounting firms say they will reject the industry practices that have prompted extensive criticism of Arthur Andersen, which audited financial statements of Enron.The four firms said they would support measures intended to avoid perceived conflicts of interest. Deloitte and Touche is the firm that has yet to agree.
