Bloomberg: IRS Resists Whistleblowers Despite Wide US Tax Gap
Summary: Two former employees of an advisory firm filed a whistleblower complaint with the IRS, alleging that the firm had been helping clients to evade taxes, costing the US government as much as $712.5 million. The IRS has rejected the claim without talking to the whistleblowers, and despite some IRS agents requesting a grand jury.
This article argues that the IRS whistleblower program has become “the place where allegations of tax avoidance go to die.” In the past five years, more than 1,300 claims have been filed, but just three rewards have been paid to those whistleblowers.
RT: Senator Lieberman Demands Prosecution of Whistleblowers
Summary: GAP National Security & Human Rights Director Jesselyn Radack appeared on RT last night to talk about recent statements made by Senator Joe Lieberman (I-CT), who demanded more prosecutions of government "leakers," many of which are whistleblowers. Lieberman wants to implement a new law that would allow the government to prosecute leaks more harshly than the Espionage Act, which the Obama administration has already used six times against whistleblowers – more than all previous administrations combined.
Radack wrote about her appearance in a blog post this morning.
Radack also blogged yesterday about recent First Amendment infringements: a Massachusetts city that passed a law fining citizens for profanity, a Michigan state legislator who was barred from speaking after using the word “vagina” when talking about abortion rights, and the “recent hysteria over ‘media leaks.’”
Whistleblowers Still Face Obstacles Amidst China's Food Safety Week
Summary: Last week was China's "Food Safety Week," yet the country was unable to escape another food scandal, this time mercury-tainted milk formula. GAP's Food Integrity Campaign notes the government's renewed call to reward food safety whistleblowers, a seeming contrast with China's history of routine retaliation against those who make a public display of their concerns.
Scholars and Rogues: Groups Demand White House Release al-Awlaki Murder Memo
Summary: GAP and a number of other transparency organizations are calling for the White House to release the memo that justified the killing of American citizen and al-Qaeda member Anwar al-Awlaki, sans trial.
Virginian-Pilot: OSHA Fines Norfolk Southern $802K for Firing Workers
Summary: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is fining Norfolk Southern Corp, a railway company, more than $800,000 after the company fired three workers who had reported injuries on the job.
Related Article: WSLS (VA)
Bradenton Herald (FL): Judge Sides with OSHA in Whistleblower Suit Against Manatee Charter School
Summary: A district court judge has ruled that a whistleblower case brought by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) against a Florida charter school can move forward. OSHA is accusing the school of retaliating against an employee who reported alleged electrical hazards in 2009.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
