Another * legacy: MORE THAN A THOUSAND WHISTLEBLOWER CASES DUMPED

[NVMojo]

Washington, DC — The U.S. Special Counsel has dismissed more than 1,000 whistleblower cases in the past year, according to a letter from the Bush-appointed Special Counsel released today by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). The Special Counsel appears to have taken action in very few, if any, of these cases and has yet to represent a single whistleblower in an employment case.

In a letter dated February 14, 2005 and addressed to U.S. Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA), Special Counsel Scott Bloch defends his stormy 13 months in office by pointing to a sharp drop in backlogged whistleblower cases.

“Everyone agrees that backlogs and delays are bad but they are not as bad as simply dumping the cases altogether,” stated PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that this letter is the first account that Bloch has released of his tenure and that his office’s report for FY 2004, which ended in October, is overdue. “If the Office of Special Counsel under Scott Bloch is not helping whistleblowers then there is no reason for the office to continue to exist.”

more...

http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=483

[EVDebs]

1. Operation Mockingbird will not allow dicussion of WHY so many

cases had to be filed in the first place. Our fearless leaders during wartime have become almost as rediculous as the North Korean nitwits in pushing fealty to our great demi-gods in Washington DC.

The flag-draped blowviations mimic Kim Il Sung's to a great extent. The media must report and comply.

Whistleblowers, what whistleblowers ?

[NVMojo]

2. some are probably lucky to still be alive ...

[Senior citizen]

3. Reagan made similar "appointments."

People were chosen to head departments who were opposed to the purpose and existence of those deparments. I believe Justice Thomas at the EEOC was a case in point.

When there is no possible redress for grievances, there is no democracy.

NVMojo is correct--a lot of those whistleblowers are lucky to be alive, but let's not forget those who have committed suicide or met with "accidents" at work.

[jdots]

4. the whistles will turn into very loud horns

the more they do to destroy democracy the stronger it will come back.Not everyone in America is a greedy pig willing to roll over and buy thier ignorant plan.Soon only the media will believe the media and only the neocons will believe the neocons.

[EVDebs]

5. Right on. "soon only the media will believe the media" is potent stuff

[babsbunny]

6. AMEN!!!

Thank you!

[PapaJoe]

11. General Smedley Butler-whistle blower saved Democracy

Let us honor the greatest whistleblower of all times.
We know about this scheme, and the corporate elite behind it, thanks to a high-ranking military whistle-blower: Marine Corps Maj.-Gen. Smedley Butler. Butler is largely forgotten today, but 70 years ago he was the most revered American military hero, the only man to have twice been awarded the Marine’s prestigious Medal of Honor. During his loyal 33-year military career, Butler led invasions, quelled nationalist rebellions and instituted regime changes to benefit U.S. business interests in Mexico, Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, Honduras and China.

[jmcon007]

7. should we be surprised?

Instead of becoming more efficient by working a little harder, the Bush philosophy says to improve the case load numbers by simply not hearing any. Presto! Case loads way down!
Wanna successful Texas "No Child Left Behind" program? That's easy. Figure a way to take the lowest student scores out of the formula and Presto! The numbers say the program is unbelievably successful!
Need to improve manufacturing production numbers? No problem. We'll include Burger King in the numbers, because when you think about it, they "manufacture" hamburgers.
Is there any numbers problem the Bushies can't solve?

[NVMojo]

8. good catch, it's about the end result and how to make it look right

[Hissyspit]

9. Imagine that. You go to the government to help; you're scared for your job

your reputation, your life even in rare occassions. They are your last resort, sometimes. Your government tells you, in essense: we don't care, nevermind, go away.

How is this the values we want our children to hold? The world in which we want them to believe?

Bastards.

[Callboy]

10. goes well with the frivilous law suit cap

[NVMojo]

14. just another cover up for the Chimp ...

[Festivito]

12. He actually points to the drop in backlog when it's from HIS dismissals!

He might point to his dismissals as actions on his part, but, to point to his backlog statistic when it derives from HIS OWN AVOIDANCE is astonishingly stupid.

He should have his finances scrutinized.

[lonestarnot]

13. Dump the office, another wolf in sheeps clothing! Dump Scott Bloch!

Another agency that collects money for nothing. Funds could be put to better use, Halliburton could use this money!

[nedbal]

15. ultra-conservative Ave Maria law school

http://www.ems.org/nws/2005/01/27/special_counsel_

Press Release

For Immediate Release: Thursday, January 27, 2005
Contact: Chas Offutt [phone]


SPECIAL COUNSEL SEEKS TO HIDE ITS CONTRACTS
Says It Lacks Staff to Consider Request for Ex-Boarding School Headmaster Records

Washington, DC — The U.S. Office of Special Counsel claims that it is unable to produce a copy of consultant contract with a former Catholic boarding school headmaster, according to an affidavit filed in response to a lawsuit brought by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). PEER is seeking to force the release of documents showing how the agency that is supposed to police compliance with federal civil service rules is itself circumventing civil service rules by using no-bid consultants and hiring on a non-competitive basis.

In filings before the federal district court in Washington, D.C., OSC contends that it lacks the staff to even respond to PEER’s request for documents under the Freedom of Information Act until July 31, 2005. At the same time that he is claiming severe staff shortages, Special Counsel Scott Bloch is directing more than 20 percent of his headquarters legal and investigative staff to relocate or be fired.

“Why is the Special Counsel hiding these contracts?” asked PEER Executive Director Jeff Ruch, noting that since becoming Special Counsel a year ago, Bloch has brought in a series of special consultants and non-competitive hires, including recent graduates of the ultra-conservative Ave Maria law school. “With the time and staff he is using to mount this convoluted legal defense, why doesn’t he instead just comply with the law and produce a copy of the contracts?”

PEER is seeking copies of contracts and work products for –

· Alan Hicks, a former headmaster of St. Gregory’s Academy, a Catholic boarding school, who left in the wake of allegations concerning priests sexually preying on young students. Bloch retained Hicks as a special consultant. PEER is seeking the contract and the resultant work-product; and

>>>>>>>>

[burythehatchet]

16. Does this stuff surprise anyone anymore?

I got scammed once for $4,000. I feel now the way I felt then, the feeling of being duped. The CONservative movement has been planning this takeover for four decades.

[DirtyDawg]

17. I Pray...

...that someone's keeping track of all these slime-balls. One day the Republicans will no longer be in charge. They won't have the White House and they won't be able to control Congress. That's when we'll need to build a new wing on the compound at Guantanamo Bay because every one of these jerks need to be behind bars. There must be a price to pay for the deceit, the lies, the cheating and, generally, the dismantling of what America is all about...truth and honor.

[rodeodance]

18. Bloch instituted a rule forbidding his staff from contacting a whistleblow

Crapo---it is about 'rules'!!!

......In order to speed dismissals, Bloch instituted a rule forbidding his staff from contacting a whistleblower if their disclosure was deemed incomplete or ambiguous. Instead, OSC would simply dismiss the matter. As a result, hundreds of whistleblowers never had a chance to justify why their cases had merit.........

[rodeodance]

19. I love your optimism--but I am pessimistic they will pay for anything.

[manly]

20. Blow the whistle on Scott Bloch

This bloch-head should be fired, immediately. Hard to tell if he is more idiot than clown, but either way, he's got to go, and now. His job performance is indefensible.