Strengyhen whistleblower protections

[Guest guest]

All our network organizations: sign on to this whether you are organic food

consumers, vaccine awareness, or good housekeeping... Dannemann

 

See the essence of the bill and the letter to sign off on attached:

 

Here is an excerpt: Last year, on average, 16 whistle blowers a

month lost initial decisions from administrative hearings at the Merit

Systems Protection Board

(MSPB). Since 2000, only two out of 54 whistle blowers have received final

rulings in their favor

from the MSPB. The Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the only court which

can hear federal

whistle blower appeals of administrative decisions, has consistently ruled

against whistle blowers,

with whistle blowers winning only three cases out of 202 since October

1994 when Congress last

strengthened the law.

 

 

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Shanna Devine <_ShannaD_

(ShannaD) >

Mon, Mar 1, 2010 at 10:06 AM

Whistleblower Letter Update and Alert

To:

 

 

 

 

To all Signatories of the Whistleblower Protection Act Open sign-on

Letter,

Some of you may know that since last summer we were on the verge of

reconciling House and Senate Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act

legislation

-- the final challenge in a ten year campaign to restore credible free

speech rights within the federal government. You are part of 375

organizations, associations and companies that have joined the campaign for

best

practice rights protecting all employees paid by the taxpayers, including those

in

national security positions.

Late last year, just when it looked like the Senate bill was going to be

passed, there were a number of delays and two Senators placed holds on the

bill because they think it is too strong. Members of the Make It Safe

Coalition*, the White House and key House and Senate offices have been working

tirelessly to get those holds lifted, and the Senate bill passed. Last week

one hold was lifted, but the legislative process remains stalled until the

second hold is removed. We are working to get the remaining hold lifted and

ensure national security whistleblower protections are strengthened

further.

The Senate bill is flawed and insufficient in its current form, but it is

the strongest ever produced in the Senate and includes breakthroughs we

have been fighting for over the past 30 years. But most importantly, as a

prerequisite to accomplishing anything this bill must be approved by the

Senate if we are to get a strong whistleblower law enacted this year. That's

why the Government Accountability Project has been working alongside many

Make It Safe Coalition partners to earn Senate approval of its own version as

a procedural milestone. Until that happens, all our work is dead in the

water. Once the bill gets out of the Senate will come the final challenge --

strengthening the final legislation to incorporate the best practices

outlined in the enclosed letter you have signed, which will reconcile the House

and Senate whistleblower bills.

If your organization would like to help further, our bottom line message

is simple. Contact your senators and tell them to insist that Senators Reid

and McConnell deliver a vote on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement

Act, without further stalling or delay. Tell them that ten years is long

enough to pass rights so that those who defend the public can defend

themselves. Go to the _Make It Safe Action Center_

(http://makeitsafecampaign.org/index.php?option=com_content & task=view & id=57 & Item\

id=99) to send a message

now.

If you have questions about this effort, please contact Shanna Devine,

GAP's legislative campaign coordinator, at 202.457.0034, ext. 132, or

_shannad_ (shannad) .

* The Make It Safe Coalition (MISC) is a non-partisan, trans-ideological

network of 50 organizations whose members pursue a wide variety of missions

that span taxpayer protection, defense, homeland security, human rights,

medical care, environmental protection, scientific freedom, consumer hazards,

and corruption in government contracting and procurement. We are united in

the cause of protecting those in government and the private sector who

honor their duties to serve and warn the public. If you would like to become a

member of MISC and receive MISC updates and announcements, please contact

Shanna Devine at _shannad_

(shannad) , or 202.457.0034, x.132. View the MISC

website at

_http://www.makeitsafecampaign.org/_ (http://www.makeitsafecampaign.org/) .

For an in depth view of the important role whistleblowers play in our

everyday lives, _click here_

(http://www.whistleblower.org/multimedia/events-a-activism/315-anyone-can-whistl\

e-the-essential-role-of-the-whistleblower-in-ame

rican-society) to watch last week's whistleblower event, Anyone Can

Whistle: The Essential Role of Whistleblowers in American Society. Noted

whistleblowers included Daniel Ellsberg, Serpico, and David Kessler, to name a

few.

 

Shanna Devine

Legislative Campaign Coordinator

Government Accountability Project

1612 K St NW, Suite 1100

Washington, DC 20006

(202) 457-0034 ext. 132 (voice)

(202) 457-0059 (fax)

Email: _shannad_ (shannad)

Website: _www.whistleblower.org_ (http://www.whistleblower.org/)

 

 

 

 

 

 

--

Regards,

 

Dannemann, National Coalition of Organized Women (NCOW)

_www.ProgressiveConvergence.com_ (http://www.progressiveconvergence.com/)

917 804-0786

 

 

“It requires courage to utter truth; for the higher Truth lifts her voice,

the louder will error scream, until its inarticulate sound is forever

silenced in oblivionâ€â€¦Mary Baker Eddy, Christian Science

 

" Just Remember,

when the weeding process takes place,

you are the flowers. "

 

- Charlie Lutes

 

 

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