Dear Arizonans:

First off, thank you. You've already responded to GAP and the NPR show On The Media's campaign to identify the senator who put the "secret hold" on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA). We've seen results (because of you!) in eliminating Sen. John McCain as a suspect.

But one of your senators, Jon Kyl, is one of only three senators left who has not confirmed or denied placing the hold.

Furthermore, Senator Kyl is a particularly interesting subject. He's been contacted no less than 12 times regarding this issue by his constituents - and it appears that his press secretary is dodging calls on the matter. In response to emails, at least three constituents have received the following letter from Sen. Kyl:

“Thank you for contacting me about the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (S.372) . The Senate passed S. 372 on Dec 14, 2010 and the House passed a different version of the legislation on Dec 22. With only hours left in the session, the Senate did not have sufficient time to review the House’s changes and reconcile the differences between the two bills.“

Dear Alabaman Supporters of Whistleblowers:

First off, thank you. You've already responded to GAP and the NPR show On The Media's campaign to identify the senator who put the "secret hold" on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA). We know that you understand why this is important, and we've seen results in eliminating Sen. Richard Shelby as a suspect.

But one of your senators, Jeff Sessions, is one of only three senators left who has not confirmed or denied placing the hold.

Furthermore, we know -- from the Senator's staff directly -- that Senator Sessions believes that his actions regarding secret holds "are private," and therefore not a matter of his constituents' concerns. From your notes:

Jeff Sessions' aide Caroline explained to caller on 1-19-2011 that anonymous holds are 'anonymous' and that he is 'very private.' Subsequent calls have gotten similar responses.

The senator has been contacted no less than twelve times on this issue from people like you. Which leads us to a question:

Dear Idahoan Supporters of Whistleblowers:

First off, thank you for your actions. You already know that GAP is teaming up with the NPR show On The Media to identify the Senator who put the "secret hold" on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA). We know that you understand why this is important (we've seen your actions and results in contacting Sen. Risch and Sen. Crapo). And you know that one of them -- James Risch -- is one of only three senators left who has not confirmed or denied placing the hold.

It's time for all of us to step up the campaign. Because of your efforts and according to your notes,   Specifically, according to your notes:

"Press Secretary Kyle Hines, as well as other staffers have repeatedly told callers that the Senator does not comment on Secret Holds. Hines has said "That's his policy - that's his right" and "He just doesn't comment on them."

Really? Really? It's the senator's right to keep his views and actions on government transparency private, and not have to explain them to his constituents?

*3/4/11 UPDATE: Senator Vitter's office confirmed that he did not place the hold.

Dear Louisianans:

You already know that GAP is teaming up with the NPR show On The Media to identify the Senator who put the "secret hold" on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA) -- a bill that would have provided federal employees with real protections when they expose fraud, corruption, waste, or other wrongdoing.

We know that you understand why this is important (we've seen your actions and results in contacting Sen. Vitter and Sen. Landrieu - thank you!). And you know that one of your senators -- David Vitter -- is among only five senators left who has not confirmed or denied placing the hold.

It's time for all of us to step up the campaign. Because of your efforts, and according to your notes, we know that Sen. Vitter and his staff are avoiding commenting on the issue directly. In many cases, senate staff of the remaining offices have simply promised to call back (but never do), or dismissed the issue "as a matter of policy" that their office doesn't comment on holds.

*3/8/11 UPDATE: Senator McConnell's office has confirmed that he did not place the secret hold. Three senators left!

*3/4/11 UPDATE: Senator Vitter's office confirmed that he did not place the hold.

Dear GAP Supporters:

Last month, GAP teamed up with the NPR show On The Media to determine which senator placed a "secret hold" -- on the very last day of the 2009-2010 Congress -- to kill the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA). This good government law would have provided federal employees with real protections when they expose fraud, corruption, waste, or other wrongdoing. These protections are sorely needed -- most federal employees have minimal or remarkably weak protections.

Our campaign is working. You and On The Media's supporters have eliminated all but five senators. That's right -- all of the other senators' offices have confirmed that they did not place the hold.

On the final day of the previous session of Congress, the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (WPEA), S. 372, which would have strengthened rights for federal employees who report corruption, was killed by a lone senator's decision to place an anonymous "secret hold" on the bill.

In response to this action, GAP teamed up with the NPR show On The Media (OTM) to identify the culpable senator. OTM asked its listeners, and GAP asked its supporters, to contact their respective senators’ offices and demand to know if they were the party who wrongfully killed this paramount legislation. Click here to check out all the responses so far.

It's working. 82 out of 87 Senate offices have confirmed that they were not the party responsible for placing the secret hold. (Why 87? That's how many individuals continue to serve in the Senate from last term. Through internal connections, GAP is confident that these other 13 individuals are very unlikely to have placed the hold.)

Which means there's only five left. Here's who they are, with notes from a GAP/OTM supporter about the most recent correspondence (each of these senators’ offices has been contacted many, many times):

Dear GAP Supporters:

Thanks to GAP's supporters and On The Media's listeners, only 13 senators have not yet denied placing the secret hold on the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (S. 372).

The campaign and sustained public pressure has brought much-needed public attention to the Senate's 'secret hold' process, as well as to the weaknesses of current whistleblower laws. This week, On The Media interviewed marine whistleblower and GAP client Franz Gayl about the workplace retaliation he has faced for blowing the whistle. On The Media also spoke with Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), one of the co-sponsors of the Senate secret hold reform, about the origin and history of the secret hold procedure.

Until this Senate loophole is completely amended, we must hold our elected officials accountable for their voting records. If your senators have not yet responded, please ask them (by phone or twitter) if they were the party who wrongfully killed the whistleblower bill.

Click here to help GAP and On The Media identify the culpable senator!

Whichever way senators may answer, you can report your correspondence to On The Media at blowthewhistle@wnyc.org and their site will post the information. With your help, we can blow the whistle on the senator that refused protections to government whistleblowers.

Lindsay Bigda is Communications Fellow for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower advocacy organization.