Signing Statement on Whistleblowers?

Last week, in a possibly troubling development, President Obama issued his first signing statement, attached to a spending bill, with concerns over federal employee whistleblower protections for those who report issues to Congress. From the NYT:

He also raised concerns about a section that establishes whistle-blower protections for federal employees who give information to Congress.

“I do not interpret this provision,” he wrote, “to detract from my authority to direct the heads of executive departments to supervise, control and correct employees’ communications with the Congress in cases where such communications would be unlawful or would reveal information that is properly privileged or otherwise confidential.”

There’s more coverage here: WSJ, Washington Examiner

As Congressional Quarterly pointed out over the weekend, this signal is contradictory from previous ones:

After all, Obama not only promised during the campaign to protect federal whistleblowers, he also included a directive to that effect in a memorandum to federal departments and agencies earlier this week aimed at preventing political interference in science. Obama told the departments to design procedures, “including any appropriate whistleblower protections,” to avoid the kind of interference that reportedly took place during the Bush administration.

GAP is monitoring the situation and will report back soon.

-- Dylan Blaylock

Comments

[Axel]

Dear Mr. Tom Devine, March 16, 2009

In a brief and concise manner as possible, I am attempting to write this open letter to you in our seemingly mutual endeavors towards Transparency, Oversight and Accountability'.

Please note my many years of blog comment replies on GAP, NWC and POGO websites within this new era of Blogs and with Blog Comment Replies (as accepted).

As it remains a seemingly important crucial time for proper and forthright Transparency, 'Oversight and Accountability' and that I notice our US Executive, Legislative and Judicial Branches of our US Government Members have continued to (in part and/or in whole) seemingly fail and/or (in my view) in their seemingly US Constitutional, Bill of Rights (mandate) as they have not filed Amicus Briefs and/or Written Complaints with the US Department of Justice (and as their continues to be no 'FEDERAL EMPLOYEE WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION RESTORATION ENHANCEMENT ACT).

(Note: US Congress Member Denis Kucinich whom appears to be one of the other than Main Stream Media lone seemingly 'We the People' Representative whom has to my knowledge also failed to file as I have mentioned in the previous paragraph.)

I am writing this open impromptu letter from my/our seemingly continued seemingly pain staking frustrations and/or exasperation's in the hopes I may be of assistance in the request as I have suggested to mention.

As I rely you have my contact information, I will hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
Axel
Axel V. Sabersky