Safe Food Starts at the Border: USDA Pilot Program on Canadian Meat Threatens Safety
Summary: The Department of Agriculture wants to launch a pilot program that would eliminate traditional border inspection of certain Canadian meat products. GAP's Food Integrity Campaign reports on why the program is a threat to food safety, and points out the agency's bad track record with pilot programs (including the poultry inspection program known as HIMP that whistleblowers have said would put consumers at risk).
Forbes: Would $104 Million IRS Whistleblower Get Stiffed Under Dodd-Frank?
Summary: This article uses the case of Brad Birkenfeld, the UBS whistleblower who was recently awarded $104 million for his role in exposing financial wrongdoing at the bank, to showcase the differences between the whistleblower reward provisions of the IRS and those of the Dodd-Frank financial reform act (through the SEC). The author argues that Birkenfeld, who served 30 months in jail, would not have qualified for a whistleblower reward under the Dodd-Frank rules.
Summary: HCA Healthcare will pay $16.5 million to settle a federal whistleblower suit that alleged the company gave two hospitals financial benefits for patient referrals to HCA facilities.
WPBN TV (MI): Cinema Whistleblower Turns Boss into IRS
Summary: A Northern Michigan cinema employee-turned-whistleblower handed over documents to the IRS to show his boss had not been reporting significant portions of her income.
Climate Science Watch: “Greedy Lying Bastards”
Summary: Climate Science Watch’s Rick Piltz was interviewed for an upcoming documentary about the power of the oil industry.
Island Packet (SC): Hilton Head Man Files ‘Whistleblower’ Claim Against Chamber Groups
Summary: A South Carolina businessman has filed an IRS whistleblower claim against several Chambers of Commerce, alleging they are violating US tax laws by selling ads because, as nonprofits, they are not taxed and therefore the ad sales are profit-making and should be taxed.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
