GOP Objections Threaten Whistle-Blower Rights Bill

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http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=132240280

GOP Objections Threaten Whistle-Blower Rights Bill

"House Democrats scrambled on Tuesday to salvage legislation that would bar federal agencies from punishing employees who report corruption, waste and mismanagement after Republicans linked the bill to the WikiLeaks scandal.

In hopes of securing needed GOP support, Democrats offered to strip from the bill provisions that extend whistle-blower protections to workers at U.S. intelligence agencies — seen as a major concession by backers of the bill. Even though the bill's supporters say the legislation does not permit public disclosures of classified information, Republicans had complained it still might encourage leaks by employees in the most sensitive government jobs."


"Without the national security provisions, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act provides expanded whistle-blower protections for civil service employees outside the intelligence agencies, including thousands of Transportation Security Administration baggage screeners and headquarters staff. The rights also extend to employees who challenge the censorship or misrepresentation of federal research"
 
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