Obama administration divides over whistleblowers
Some critics of the administration’s approach to the issue are hoping that the White House will intervene by the Monday deadline to soften the government’s stand, perhaps by making clear that it is not seeking to upend whistleblower protections or by proposing some principle to prevent positions throughout the government from being labeled as “sensitive.”
“We hope the administration will scale back the scope of its threat to the merit system and shrink the issues, but we’re not holding our breath,” said Devine.
A softening of position would be welcomed by labor unions representing federal employees and by whistleblower advocates, all of whom already have major bones to pick with Obama. Federal workers’ unions are fighting mad about cuts Obama’s budget includes to retirement and health benefits. Backers of whistleblowers are steamed about a series of prosecutions the feds have brought against federal workers accused of leaking classified information.
If Obama loses at the Federal Circuit, he will face pressure from the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to appeal to the Supreme Court — dramatically escalating what has so far been a low-profile fight with labor unions that backed his re-election and with advocates for causes he says he supports.
A Supreme Court showdown “is a distinct possibility,” said Angela Canterbury of the Project on Government Oversight. “That would certainly raise the attention level.”
http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/obama-administration-whistleblowers-transparency-90025.html
