TSA whistleblower Robert MacLean with NYPD whistleblower Frank SerpicoOrange County Register (CA): Congressfolk – MacLean is Bona Fide Whistleblower, Should be Protected
Summary: Three members of Congress – Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) – have filed anamicus curiae brief on behalf of TSA whistleblower and GAP client Robert MacLean. A former Air Marshal, MacLean was fired after revealing the TSA wanted to cut costs by removing Air Marshals from flights. GAP’s Tom Devine commented on this added support last Friday in a blog post.
GAP, along with the Project on Government Oversight, have a petition asking Congress to support this courageous whistleblower. Sign here!
Geithner to Testify Before Congress About Whistleblowers; Sign GAP’s Petition!
Summary: Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is scheduled to testify before the House Appropriations Committee tomorrow on whether the Mulitlateral Development Banks have met specific reform criteria, including strong whistleblower protections.
Mother Jones: For Pennsylvania’s Doctors, a Gag Order on Fracking Chemicals
Summary: A provision in a new Pennsylvania law would allow doctors to access information about chemicals used in fracking, but prevent them from sharing that information with patients. Fracking is the controversial process of extracting natural gas by blasting a mixture of chemicals, sand, and water into rock. Public health and environmental groups argue that his provision would gag doctors who want to raise concerns related to this process.
Associated Press: New Complaint Filed about Wash. Nuclear Site
Summary: The Energy Department has received another whistleblower complaint about the Hanford nuclear site, claiming that a contractor obstructed a former investigation into the safety of the waste treatment plant currently under construction. This is only the latest in a number of whistleblower allegations questioning the safety and design of the plant, including those made by Walt Tamosaitis, the noted whistleblower who spoke at GAP's American Whistleblower Tour stop in Seattle this past Friday.
San Francisco Examiner: PG&E Allegedly Ignored Gas ‘Time Bomb,’ Whistleblower Says
Summary: A Pacific Gas & Electric surveyor has accused the utility company of delaying repairs on discovered gas leaks, even those that could pose a danger. This comes after the utility supposedly enacted an accelerated leak survey after the San Bruno explosion in 2010 that killed eight people.
The Hindu: Corruption Will Prove Costly in Polls, Anna Warns UPA
Summary: An Indian anti-corruption activist fasted yesterday to protest the murder of several whistleblowers. He called on the government to pass a strong anti-corruption law.
Court Orders FDA to Act on Antibiotic Use in Animal Agriculture
Summary: A federal district court ruled last week that FDA must take steps to withdraw approval of two common antibiotics in farm animal feed in order to reduce the threat of antibiotic resistance in humans. GAP's Food Integrity Campaign explains why the move is long overdue.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
