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Who killed the whistle-blower bill?
It is ironic that a major anti-secrecy reform was thwarted by a single senator's secret "hold" just before Congress adjourned in December. Perhaps some good will come of this double-edged attack on the public's right to know–if it sparks reform.
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act–which would have offered expanded protection for federal employees against retaliation for reporting waste, fraud and abuse–had passed unanimously, first in the Senate and then a week later, on Dec. 22, in the House. The White House had made an unrestrained effort to deliver on this campaign pledge. It was supported by more than 400 organizations of all political stripes, with 80 million members. The National Taxpayers Union announced that support for the act would receive the highest priority on its legislative scorecard. Republicans had just changed the political landscape with election victories based on a mantra of cracking down against deficits, fraud, waste and abuse–the point of whistle-blower laws. Congress was poised to give the taxpayers a major legislative Christmas present.
So what happened?