Whistleblowers to be aided by Congress

Over strenuous objections from the Bush administration, Congress is moving to increase protections for federal employees who expose fraud, waste and wrongdoing inside the ... Lawmakers of both parties say the measures are needed to prevent retaliation against such whistleblowers

NY Times article

The Senate has already passed its bill. The House has a similar measure in the works. But the White House has been complaining about the bills as strongly as the innards of Mount St. Helens are protesting the movement of tectonic plates.

Winston-Salem Journal article

'Bout time.

And here's a surprise: the bill's sponsors are Republicans.

Although the legislation is bipartisan, the chief sponsors of the bills are Republicans. Both Rep. Todd R. Platts of Pennsylvania and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine have been urging the president to drop his opposition. They say that federal employees need more protection if they are to continue exposing the kinds of abuse that so often emanate from their agencies.

It would seem there are some Republicans who are not too happy about the new Republican tank being driven over them by Bush, DeLay & Co. What these two fail to realize is that Bush probably has the most to lose with better whistleblower protections and is about as likely to drop his opposition to their bill as I am to sprout wings. And his opposition is for the very reason that they are pressing him to drop it. Of course the Bush administration is "strenuously" objecting. Their Ace in the hole is that people know they are strenuously vindictive. And, considering the number of prominent whistleblowers who have already decided to take the risk anyway, I'd wager a guess that there is a whole parade of people with stories to tell just waiting for better protection.

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.