Vote Tomorrow on Consumer Product Safety Bill Whistleblower Protections

House and Senate conferees will vote tomorrow on whether private sector employees will have whistleblower protections when they report violations to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) sponsored the provision, which was included on the Senate version of the legislation. However, when the House passed their version of the bill, the provision was noticeably absent, causing POGO to object. A coalition led by the National Association of Manufacturers included the whistleblower protections provisions in their list of six priority items to which they objected in letters to the Senate and the House. On the opposing side are several dozen good government groups.

The ultimate fate of the provision may lie in the hands of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI) and Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Rush (D-IL). Chairman Dingell is a legend in his own right for the awe-inspiring work he has done over the years with whistleblowers, primarily through his Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. His sterling reputation may be tarnished should his office fail to enact the whistleblower protections.

You can take action here to let the bill's conferees know you support the whistleblower protections.

-- Beth Daley

Comments

[Posted on: Jul 16, 2008 at 10:06 PM]

Okay, that is great that the Senate is looking at protecting whistleblowers who are protecting from MP3 player that may give an unpleasant electric jolt or a caramel latte coffee cups that won't provide enough insulation for your soft hands.

But what about the bill on protecting federal civil servants who blow the whistle? Is McCaskill and the Democrat leadership going to bury that because they do not want it to hamper the next President who may be a Democrat?