Groups challenge Obama on whistleblower policy

Consumer and watchdog groups will send a letter to White House on Wednesday that will strongly press President Obama on his whistleblower policies.

The letter, which is being signed by Public Citizen, the Project on Government Oversight (POGO) and others, will note that Obama’s March 11 signing statement of the omnibus spending bill would deny a salary to a federal manager who “interferes with or prohibits certain communications between federal employees and members of Congress.”

The signing statement also says the executive branch could control employees’ communications with Congress “in cases where such communications would be unlawful or would reveal information that is properly privileged or otherwise confidential.”

Grassley and whistleblower groups say this runs counter to Obama’s campaign promises on protecting government informants...

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