TPM: Source: Collins Strips Stim Bill Of Whistleblower Protections

[deminks]

http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/02/source_collins_strips_stim_bill_of_whistleblower_p.php

Another great coup for the centrists!

Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine GOP dealmaker who's been in the limelight this week for helping to pass a watered down stimulus, has been talking a good game about the need to avoid wasting taxpayer money. But it looks like Collins also worked today to strip from the final bill a measure that's crucial to exposing that waste.

Here's what happened:

The House stimulus bill contained a provision designed to protect federal whistleblowers. Currently, those protections are shockingly weak. According to the Project On Government Oversight, whistleblowers who are fired or demoted can file a complaint with a government board -- but over the last eight years, that board has ruled in favor of whistleblowers only twice in 55 cases.

More to the point, the protections were designed to encourage federal workers to point out cases where taxpayer money is subject to waste, fraud, or abuse -- a legitimate concern when Congress spends $800 billion, and one that centrists and Republicans have been particularly exercised about.

Yesterday, 20 members of the House, from both parties, yesterday sent a letter to House negotiators urging them to ensure that the protections remained.

(end snip)

Rethuglicans are sociopaths. Prove me wrong.

[marmar]

1. And yet people defend her as "moderate" and "reasonable"

.... Lipstick on a whiny-sounding pig.

[aquart]

2. Oh, look. She's the "good" Republican. That's the ticket.

[leftstreet]

3. "citing national security concerns as the reason for her opposition"

Bullshit!

(snip)

"To make matter worse, Collins is the ranking Republican on the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs commitee, which, as an oversight committee, might be expected to see its role as protecting whistleblowers. She also sits on the Senate appropriations committee, giving her a strong position from which to wield influence during today's negotiations."

Unbelievable.

[AndyA]

4. Obviously Susan Collins has something to hide, or she owes someone a favor.

What logical reason could there possibly be for not providing protection to those who are willing to reveal wrongdoing by another? Whether it be government waste, corruption, or whatever, why would you be against protecting those people?

Especially when you've taken an oath like Sen. Collins has.

I think we should all demand to know why she did this.

[deminks]

5. May have been to save her own hide against the rethug backlash

that will surely come. But you are right, we should know why a ranking member of an oversight committee would kill protections for whistleblowers for possible frauds in the distribution of funds, or the tax cuts for that matter. It smells bad.

[jimshoes]

6. We're not going to vote for this

unless we're allowed to keep stealing taxpayer money like we have been for the last 30 years.

[RedEarth]

7. Collins cited "national security concerns as the reason for her opposition." .... huh???

National security??? ... I fail to understand that.

As TPM points out.... "So when, in the coming months, conservatives start jumping up and down over the fact that money from the stimulus bill is being wasted, as they surely will, it's worth remember that a key measure designed to help expose that waste was removed from the bill -- and by a senator said to be a champion of fiscal discipline."