tagged w/ SSI
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POGO has long been a supporter of whistleblower Robert MacLean--for good reason. Thanks to Bob, Americans can feel safer stepping on an airplane. In 2003, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) attempted to remove air marshals from "high-risk" flights when there was a heightened intelligence warning of hijackings. MacLean, an air marshal himself, disclosed this dangerous cost-cutting plan. As a result, he was fired.
Now, MacLean only has one more chance to appeal the ruling made by the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which wrongly decided in July that his case did not constitute retaliation. As POGO has pointed out before, this ruling was flawed for several reasons, and MacLean deserves all legal protections afforded to a whistleblower.
Representatives Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) plan to send a friend of the court brief to MSPB that defends MacLean’s retaliation claim. POGO is also encouraging other Members of Congress to do the same, and calling on our readers to get in touch with their Members of Congress about this issue.
MacLean was retaliated against in part because of a policy loophole that essentially amounts to ex post facto law. Like many whistleblowers, MacLean tried to make the disclosure inside his agency but was rebuffed, so he went to the press. Three years later, TSA marked his disclosure—which was an agency-wide, unencrypted text message—as Sensitive Security Information (SSI). TSA then retroactively charged MacLean for mishandling this newly-marked text message by delivering it to the media.
According to MSPB, it basically didn’t matter whether the information was marked SSI or not because MacLean should have known better. But good government groups don’t agree with this so-called logic.
“The Board’s decisions mean that virtually anything can be pseudo-classified and gagged by agency regulations years after the fact. That is a one-two punch to knock out whistleblowers,” said Tom Devine, the legal director at the Government Accountability Project (GAP).
MacLean’s case also demonstrates the weaknesses inherent in current whistleblower protections. According to MSPB, TSA does not dispute that MacLean is a whistleblower who was fired after he sparked congressional action and stopped a potential homeland security risk. However, MSPB did say there are still no whistleblower protections available to him under the law—due, once again, to that tricky retroactive charge.
Before MacLean was fired, he had an immaculate record of 14 years of military and federal civil service. He is a whistleblower who should be rightfully honored and protected for upholding the public’s interests and safety. We encourage you to express your support for his final appeal.
"Freedom of speech and whistleblower protections are meaningless if some TSA bureaucrat can retroactively deem a disclosure 'sensitive,'" MacLean said. "If I lose, large numbers of would-be government whistleblowers may opt to stay silent."POGO has long been a supporter of whistleblower Robert MacLean--for good reason.... more
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Do you love playing video games? If you do, this is great article to read about a CRPG named Dungeon Master for the Atari ST and Amiga platform. Learn how interesting and fun this game is, with a simple easy to learn interface you’ll easily get hooked. See how this game is compared to other 3D real-time games and those new first-person story games.Do you love playing video games? If you do, this is great article to read about a CRPG... more
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Do you love playing video games? If you do, this is great article to read about a CRPG named Dungeon Master for the Atari ST and Amiga platform. Learn how interesting and fun this game is, with a simple easy to learn interface you’ll easily get hooked. See how this game is compared to other 3D real-time games and those new first-person story games.Do you love playing video games? If you do, this is great article to read about a CRPG... more
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I am sorry to say, but as a Christian, I cannot lie, us disabled unable to work Americans are treated worse than any other population. I kid you not. I am embarrassed at how America's Forgotten, as I call us are treated! Like Dirt, Like Many think I should just curl up and die. I would be HOMELESS or DEAD if it not for my wonderful Mom and Dad who love me. Please sign my Petition, and Pass it on! Thanks so very much, and I will continue to fight for all of us!I am sorry to say, but as a Christian, I cannot lie, us disabled unable to work... more
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An estimated 50 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients will receive their one-time $250 economic stimulus check starting in early May -- several weeks ahead of schedule, Vice President Joe Biden announced Thursday.
Biden also announced the distribution of $3.2 billion in new funding for state and local energy efficiency programs from the Department of Energy.
The $250 checks "will make a big difference in the lives of older Americans and people with disabilities -- many of whom have been hit especially hard by the economic crisis that has swept across the country," Biden said in a written statement.
The energy efficiency funds will come in the form of "formula grants for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions," according to a separate White House statement.
"Local leaders will have the flexibility in how they put these (energy efficiency) resources to work, but we will hold them accountable for making the investments quickly and wisely to spur the local economy and cut energy use," Biden said.An estimated 50 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI)... more
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