Whistles
President Obama wrote the following in a signing statement he attached to the omnibus spending bill, referring to a section that protects officials who disclose information about their jobs:
“I do not interpret this provision to detract from my authority to direct the heads of executive departments to supervise, control and correct employees’ communications with the Congress in cases where such communications would be unlawful or would reveal information that is properly privileged or otherwise confidential.”
The New York Times that Chuck Grassley thinks the signing statement could be interpreted to abridge whistleblower rights. Grassley takes whistleblower rights really, really seriously. But that doesn't mean he's wrong. If the Obama team supports whistleblower rights, clarifying what the signing statement means and issuing a strong statement of support for employees' rights shouldn't be a problem, right?
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ABOUT THIS BLOG
Government Executive Staff Correspondent Alyssa Rosenberg takes a look at news affecting the management and operations of the massive federal bureaucracy.
Signing statements?? I thought that Barak said they would be no more signing statements, you must be reporting this wrong
dan ketter Posted Wednesday, March 18, 2009 11:57 AM