GOP Objections Threaten Whistle-Blower Rights Bill

[Elmore Furth]

Source: ABC News

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.

Even that concession may not be enough to sway House Republicans, who see no reason to rush the legislation before Congress adjourns for the year.

A spokesman for Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., who next month becomes chairman of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said GOP lawmakers contacted the congressman with their worries about the Obama administration's plan to deal with WikiLeaks. They also wanted to know whether the legislation included provisions to block further disclosures.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=12453116&tqkw=&tqshow=

[Poll_Blind]

1. Whistleblowers not granted protection by legislation will continue to leak through other avenues.

Period.

Enjoy the coverage.

PB

[Tempest]

2. And this is why Wikileaks exist

Every time they close one avenue, another opens.

[No Elephants]

3. "Don't make info public; just tell your higher ups" who probably are the problem in the first place.