I just agreed to a whistle-blower settlement with DOI. The saga extended over a year and the real wrong-doers still hold their federal office despite malfeasance and misfeasance. I exposed fraud and violations of federal environmental law (http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=802). I was called a "subversive." in official correspondence. My wife, a temporary clerk with the same agency was fired for no cause with less than a day's notice. Retaliation, clear and venile.

The violations of law I witnessed were appalling, and I saw public money, millions, going to benefit a few wealthy individuals. Example: why did the Bureau of Reclamation dredge a new private boat marina in Nevada (Colorado River) with public funds in 2001-2002? Why are they today planning to redredge it at the demand of the resort owners? Could political contributions be involved?

That Bush opposes reform fits his desire to destroy government and US law, especially the hated environmental regulations.

everyone this election cycle should ask their member of congress and senator whether they’ve personally participated in an agency oversight hearing in the past two years. if they can’t remember specifics, then vote their butts out of office – they’re simply not doing their job. the executive branch has proven that it can’t police itself and the funds it gets from congress. congress should take whistleblower case management away from OSC & MSPB by not re-authorizing their funding (it’s easy enough to do, just line them out), and give their staffs and funds to the GAO – who needs to go back to Accounting – actively auditing everyone involved in the three paths to power in DC: spending money, hiring people, and making regulations.

What Special Counsel Bloch says:

"I tried to file on behalf of Ms. Chambers, but her attorney with PEER (Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility) filed on her behalf before we could, and this deprived her of our ability to pursue her case."

What the law says:

"If an employee . . . seeks a corrective action from the Board under section 1221 . . . the Special Counsel may continue to seek corrective action personal to such employee . . . with the consent of such employee. . ."

5 U.S.C. 1214(a)(4)