House, Senate spar on protecting DHS whistleblowers

House, Senate spar on protecting DHS whistleblowers

By Alyson Klein, CongressDaily
House and Senate lawmakers offering legislation to protect federal government whistleblowers are split over whether the provisions should apply to workers at the Homeland Security Department.

Democrats on the House Government Reform Committee and federal employee unions are urging Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., to adopt the Senate's version of the measure, sponsored by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine. That bill would apply to nearly all government employees -- except those who work in intelligence, counterintelligence or at the Transportation Security Administration.

But the House bill, sponsored by Government Reform Government Management, Finance and Accountability Subcommittee Chairman Todd Platts, R-Pa., also would make an exception for Homeland Security personnel. It would give those agencies the authority to determine if the provision applied to their employees.

The House panel was slated to consider the bill last month -- but postponed the markup because of concerns on the part of Government Reform ranking member Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and opposition from federal employee unions.

http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0705/070705cdpm2.htm