Coalition Touting Whistleblower Bill

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By Ed O'Keefe

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, April 2, 2009

A coalition of good-government groups and federal workers unions yesterday called on President Obama to support a House bill that strengthens whistleblower protections for federal employees.

The group, called the Make It Safe Coalition, urged passage of the Whistleblower Enhancement Protection Act, introduced last month by Democratic and Republican lawmakers led by Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). The bill addresses long-standing concerns that federal employees lack the necessary protections to expose waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement without fear of retribution.

"As our country faces an economic crisis of historic proportions, one reform could save billions of taxpayer dollars and help fulfill your mandate for more transparency and accountability: authentic whistleblower protections for all federal employees," stated a letter sent to the White House.

"Federal workers are charged with safeguarding the public trust," the letter said. "They must have the confidence that if they do so, they will not face repression and retaliation."