News you probably didn't hear about - White House threatens to veto pro-whistleblower bill

[ck4829]

The Democratically-led Congress may be headed for a showdown with the White House over whistleblower protection legislation that easily passed in the House earlier this week.

The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (H.R. 985) is directed at guarding federal employees at security and scientific agencies, as well as contractors. House members passed it by a vote of 331-94; the White House has threatened a veto.

The legislation would allow the Merit Systems Protection Board 180 days to take action on cases alleging retaliation for reporting potential waste, fraud or abuse. If MSPB failed to meet that deadline, whistleblowers would have the option of taking their cases to federal district courts.

The bill, which has yet to be considered in the Senate, also contains provisions to protect whistleblowers' security clearances - essential for national security workers - from being used as leverage to punish or discipline them. The Senate has not yet set a date to consider the bill.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0307/031607j1.htm

[n2doc]

1. I'm sure the lapdog Senators will block it

Got a lot of work to do in 08. Veto proof majority supports bill in house, probably a threatened fillibuster in the senate. Pretty big disconnect up there...

[Robbien]

3. Yeah. They haven't passed a bill yet

So afraid of the veto, the spineless Senate passes nothing. They are so afraid of a veto which has been used only once.

Chickenshits.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Even if the Senate overrides a veto, both Houses have to be ready

for the nefarious Signing Statements and make sure that * follows the law that he does not want to even acknowledge.

[rasputin1952]

4. bush acknowledges no law, nor the Constitution...he believes himelf

to be the "law" of the land and he needs to be taken down a couple of dozen pegs.

Few things are worse than people in power w/o the brains to to use said power for good.

As for "signing statements", someone should be standing next to him w/a gallon can of Whiteout.

[Hubert Flottz]

5. Let the punk veto it!

It just makes him look more like the crooked ass that he is!(on the record forever)

[Lasher]

6. That's right Hubert, put it up for a vote now in the Senate

A veto has been assumed all along. I have a feeling we're going to see lots of vetos before the end of 2008. But even if we can't get a veto proof majority in the Senate, and even if the bill is going to be filibustered there, let's go ahead. Make the bad guys expose themselves for what they are. The media would come down on the right side in this case because they want access to information.

Doesn't it make you wonder exactly what could be in Saint Gipper's papers that Junior doesn't want us to know about?

[gulfcoastliberal]

7. Let him eat vetoes. K&R!

Vetoing legislation protecting the rights of those who report "WASTE, FRAUD, and ABUSE!" of taxpayer money... OMG this will look so bad for them! That is, if the dems force them to do it, which they should be doing with a lot of stuff. Pass enhanced VA budgets, switch war money into the VA. Expose these treasonous, unamerican fascists. They already weakened the whistleblower protections dramatically.

[bvar22]

8. Should do MORE than just protect WhistleBlowers!!!

If we really want to clean up our government, we should do more than just protect Whistleblowers. We should pay them a BOUNTY!!!

If a Whistleblower provides information that leads to a conviction and recovery of FUNDS due to WASTE, FRAUD, or CORRUPTION, he/she should receive a BOUNTY of 10% of the recovered funds!
THEN sit back and watch the fun as the greedy begin to eat each other!

Cizens could set up an organization funded by donations that pays a $LARGE REWARD$ for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of criminals in our government.

[ck4829]

9. That's an excellent idea

[Hotler]

10. Put that on our tax returns..

Would you like to donate $1.00 of your refund to the Whistleblower Bounty Fund?

[never cry wolf]

11. Seconded, an excellent idea