In a joint statement, Democrats Tierney, who represents Gloucester, and Frank, whose district includes New Bedford, questioned the decision of the National Weather Service Employees to take what they called "hostile swipes" against working fishermen, mostly small business owners.

The two Democrats responded to allegations made by the union last week that Commerce Secretary Gary Locke's announcement that a portion of the fund of fines taken from fishermen and related businesses would be made available for uses suggested by fishermen.

Among the key findings of the IG was that the fines levied in the Northeast were five times higher than elsewhere, and that the fund was used to finance virtually all non-salaried expenses of the lawyers in the Office of General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation.

Read the complete story from the Gloucester Times.