“Often the best source of information about waste, fraud, and abuse in government is an existing government employee committed to public integrity and willing to speak out. Such acts of courage and patriotism, which can sometimes save lives and often save taxpayer dollars, should be encouraged rather than stifled. We need to empower federal employees as watchdogs of wrongdoing and partners in performance. Barack Obama will strengthen whistleblower laws to protect federal workers who expose waste, fraud, and abuse of authority in government. Obama will ensure that federal agencies expedite the process for reviewing whistleblower claims and whistleblowers have full access to courts and due process.”
Last fall Congress also pledged to make whistleblower protection a priority upon its return. However, there is an accumulated backlog of unfinished business. Organizers hope a demonstration of sustained grassroots support and intensive congressional lobbying will ensure that within President Obama’s first 100 days in office Congress follows through on this commitment to promptly finish work pending for nine years to restore a credible Whistleblower Protection Act.
Under current law, 15-20 federal whistleblowers lose initial decisions each month at the only forum to enforce their rights, the Merit Systems Protection Board. Since the millennium, its final rulings on the merits have been 2-54 against whistleblowers. Since 1994, their track record at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, which monopolizes appellate review, is 3-206.
Contact: Shanna Devine, Government Accountability Project
Phone: 202.457.0034 ext 127
Email: shannad@whistleblower.org
Contact: Michael McCray, International Association of Whistleblowers
Email: mccray.michael@gmail.com
If you would like to sponsor or co-sponsor a workshop, or have immediate questions about the conference, please contact Shanna Devine or Michael McCray. Specific locations and events TBD. Check www.makeitsafecampaign.org for updates to the National Whistleblower Assembly.
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