December, 13 2010, 12:39pm EDT
NWC Calls for Correction of Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act
WASHINGTON
Today, the National Whistleblowers Center released a letter
sent to the House and Senate sponsors of the Whistleblower Protection
Enhancement Act, calling for the elimination of a poison pill inserted
into the Senate version of the bill (S. 372). S. 372 cleared the Senate
on Friday by unanimous consent and could be voted on by the House this
week.
In the letter, the National Whistleblowers Center stated:
"Although
we have other concerns with S. 372, the Congressional reversal of the
Drake decision will constitute a tragic setback for taxpayers. It will
have significant adverse consequences on the ability of employees to
report violations of law and political corruption. We understand that
those in high-ranking political offices are reluctant to support
whistleblowers, but stripping employees of their current right to blow
the whistle on any violation of law is simply intolerable."
In the Drake decision,
the Federal Circuit reaffirmed the right of federal employees to blow
the whistle on any violation of law. The poison pill inserted into S.
372 reverses the Drake decision.
The NWC, along with the National Security Whistleblowers Coalition and the Federal Ethics Center had previously issued a statement calling S. 372 a "bad deal" for whistleblowers.
Links:
NWC Letter to House and Senate Sponsors of WPEA (December 13, 2010)
Joint Statement - S. 372: A Bad Deal for Whistleblowers
Since 1988, the NWC and attorneys associated with it have supported whistleblowers in the courts and before Congress and achieved victories for environmental protection, government contract fraud, nuclear safety and government and corporate accountability.
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