Shouldn’t reform proposals also include whistleblower protections?
Posted on June 3, 2008
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The Washington Post has an article today about federal civil service reforms proposed in a new book by Paul C. Light, “A Government Ill Executed: The Decline of the Federal Service and How to Reverse It.” Sadly the reforms mentioned in Stephen Barr’s article do not include creating stronger whistleblower protections, although the problems cited as evidence of the need for reform came to light in part through the efforts of whistleblowers.
The government’s problems are in plain view — the sluggish response to Hurricane Katrina, the outpatient scandal at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center, lax oversight by the Federal Aviation Administration, the backlog of benefits claims at the Social Security Administration. To mention a few,
Possibly, this was Mr. Barr’s oversight, not Mr. Light’s. In any case, better whistleblower protection should be on the agenda of the next President if his or her administration is to perform well, as the transparency provided by whistleblowers is essential to ensuring that reforms function as intended.
Wanted: information on military interrogation cases
Posted on June 3, 2008
Filed Under military and contractors, whistleblowers | Leave a Comment
Psychologist Dr. Donald Soeken, who has worked on many whistleblower cases, is working on a new project, an interrogation ethics casebook. He would like to be contacted by anyone with information about military interrogations, including the role played by psychologists. The casebook is a project of the End Torture Committee of Psychologists for Social Responsibility, and is an important step in the process of eliminating torture.
For more information, visit Dr. Soeken’s webpage.
“Profiles in Courage” acknowledged
Posted on May 30, 2008
Filed Under events, whistleblowers | 48 Comments
In a May 27 op-ed, whistleblower James Murtagh brings to our attention the contributions of James Holzrichter and Zena Crenshaw, who were awarded “Profiles in Courage” awards by the International Association of Whistleblowers at the recent conference in Washington, D.C.
IAW co-chairs Dr. James Murtagh and Michael McCray, Esq. made the awards at a closing ceremony, citing Mr. Holzrichter and Attorney. Crenshaw’s unswerving devotion to the cause of whistleblowers, despite adversity.
The awards capped off a week of intense conferences. Qui Tam laws, also known as the “Lincoln Laws” emerged as a dominent theme. Mr. McCray made clear: “We need to return the government to the service of citizens, so that government ‘of, by and for the people’ will not vanish from the earth.
Mr. Murtagh has written other op-eds on the 2008 IAW conference, including “International Paul Reveres Ride Again” (May 18) and “Blue Ribbon Panel Speaks Out Against Domestic Surveillance” (May 25).
‘Open door’ policy a trapdoor for whistleblowers
Posted on May 16, 2008
Filed Under disclosures, military and contractors, retaliation, whistleblowers | 141 Comments
In “Contractors Gone Wild,” Mother Jones describes contracting abuses reported by whistleblowers who testified before the Senate’s Democratic Policy Committee. According to the whistleblowers, U.S. contractors in Iraq looted palaces and ministries, fenced military equipment and supplies, and operated a prostitution ring. Although the abuses varied, the response to whistleblowing was consistent: speaking out was “a shortcut to getting fired or demoted.”
Frank Cassaday, a former KBR employee, explained how the firm’s ‘open door’ policy worked.
“In Houston at the training camp that I was at for two weeks before we went over to Iraq, they told us that, ‘Our door is always open. If you have a problem, just come on in,’” he said. “But what they don’t tell you is there’s a back door to that office. If you come in and you complain about something, you’re going to be going out that back door. You’re going to either be transferred someplace you don’t want to be, or you’re going to be fired.”
Forums focus on judicial accountability
Posted on May 15, 2008
Filed Under advocacy, courts and law, whistleblowers | Leave a Comment
Judicial accountability is the focus of events held today in conjunction with joint whistleblower conferences in Washington, D.C. The International Assembly of Whistleblowers will hold a Citizens’ Forum on Judicial Accountability and will hear judicial accountability testimony. A Judicial Reform Panel is on the schedule of events for Whistleblower Week in Washington (W3).
As whistleblower experts pointed out at a forum on Monday, hostile judicial interpretations of law have undermined the WPA and other laws intended to protect whistleblowers from reprisal by government agencies. This leaves the public as well as the whistleblower in peril, for it encourages government agencies to cover up threats to public health and safety.
Civil rights whistleblowing
Posted on May 14, 2008
Filed Under advocacy, events, whistleblowers | 1 Comment
Today, a tribunal on Capitol Hill will hear testimony from federal and private sector employees and medical professionals about retaliation for reporting civil rights violations and other wrongdoing. The tribunal is part of W3, co-sponsored by the NoFEAR Coalition and the Semmelweis Society.
W3 organizers describe the event as one that “promotes and encourages laws seeking to protect individuals’ civil rights and justice as well as the rights of truth tellers who report hazardous, illegal and unsafe conditions, and waste, fraud and abuses of authority in government and government funded entities.” W3 continues through Thursday with scheduled workshops and a movie night.
Honoring Ernie Fitzgerald
Posted on May 13, 2008
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The whistleblower conferences continue with workshops on judicial oversight, the Office of Special Counsel and multiple workshops sponsored by Taxpayers Against Fraud, including “Successful Qui Tam Relator Workshop.” TAF will present a “Special Lifetime Achievement Award” to Ernie Fitzgerald, Senator Grassley called Fitzgerald, “the father of all whistleblowers…an example for all of the whistleblowers who have followed in his footsteps.”
The most fateful day in the life of Ernie Fitzgerald was November 13, 1968. That was the day Ernie appeared before Senator Proxmire’s Joint Economic Committee to testify on the C-5 transport aircraft program. He was an official witness of the U.S. Air Force. And Ernie did the unthinkable–he “committed truth.” He told the Congress about a $12 billion C-5 cost overrun. Back then, $2 billion was real money.
Ernie’s truthful testimony about the C-5 cost overrun created a firestorm of controversy, and that is what caused President Nixon to issue his famous order caught on those famous tapes. The quote was: “Get rid of that SOB.” For speaking the truth, Ernie paid the ultimate price: He got fired, he got blackballed, and he was put on the official hit list. His career was over. And that was November 13, 1968. For speaking the truth–that is what it was all about, just speak the truth–about a $2 billion cost overrun on an airplane that somehow people wanted to cover up. As most of us know, though, Ernie got his job back, but it took him 12 years to get his job back. That is how much whistleblowers are appreciated in the bureaucracy at the Pentagon, or anyplace. [Sen. Grassley, March 6, 2006, U.S. Senate]
What Ernie Fitzgerald endured is hard to put into words. But, those honoring him today won’t need to ask. Having followed in his footsteps, they know the scenery well.
Experts discuss whistleblower legislation
Posted on May 12, 2008
Filed Under domestic surveillance, environment, events, legislation | Leave a Comment
The Opening Plenary for a week-long whistleblower conference in Washington, D.C., took place at the Stewart Mott House. The panel at left was one of several where whistleblowers and experts shared important insights on subjects like global warming, air travel safety, and domestic surveillance. (Note: click on thumbnails for larger photos.)
At a Joint congressional Forum (left), sponsored by the Government Accountability Project and the Semmelweis Society International, awards were presented to Congressional staffers for their work on whistleblower legislation.
Legal experts provided information insights on needed legislative reforms. Below, Tom Devine, of the Government Accountability Project, describes the benefits of new legislation and how to promote its passage.
A workshop on “Saving Public Hospitals,” and a book signing with music by the Senior Lifeguards completed the day’s schedule. (For more photos and videos, see “Pages” at top right.)
Whistleblower conference events begin
Posted on May 11, 2008
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This week, Make It Safe Coalition members are meeting in Washington, D.C., where whistleblowers and whistleblower experts are gathering to share information, network, and lobby for (urgently needed) legislation. The events are the product of two planning groups, under the umbrellas of the NoFEAR Coalition and the newly formed International Assembly of Whistleblowers. Most events are open to the public.
The first event, scheduled for today, is a meeting of the Semmelweis Society International, a non-profit organization “designed to foster education of physicians and administrators in the proper conduct of professional medical peer review.”
NEW: Make It Safe Coalition blog
Posted on May 11, 2008
Filed Under domestic surveillance, environment, events, health and safety | Leave a Comment
Today marks the debut of the Make It SAFE Coalition blog, a journal of news and views on the battle to make it safe for government employees and contractors to report wrongdoing. The blog is a part of an overall effort by the Make It Safe Coalition to promote passage of stronger whistleblower protection laws. The Coalition is comprised of new and established good government and whistleblower groups, and individual whistleblowers. Organizations interested in joining the Coalition should contact Adam Miles, at (202) 408-0034.
For more information on the Make It SAFE Campaign and Coalition, visit the Make It SAFE Campaign website.