Federal Whistleblower Protection in Jeopardy

Number 6 in the Top 25 Censored Stories for 2007!

Special Counsel Scott Bloch, appointed by President Bush in 2004, is overseeing the virtual elimination of federal whistleblower rights in the U.S. government.The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC), the agency that is supposed to protect federal employees who blow the whistle on waste, fraud, and abuse is dismissing hundreds of cases while advancing almost none. According to the Annual Report for 2004 (which was not released until the end of first quarter fiscal year 2006) less than 1.5 percent of whistleblower claims were referred for investigation while more than 1000 reports were closed before they were even opened. Only eight claims were found to be substantiated, and one of those included the theft of a desk, while another included attendance violations. Favorable outcomes have declined 24 percent overall, and this is all in the first year that the new special counsel, Scott Bloch, has been in office.

Bloch, who has received numerous complaints since he took office, defends his first thirteen months in office by pointing to a decline in backlogged cases.
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Preventing Carbon Monoxide Poisoning After an Emergency

Generators, grills, camp stoves, or other gasoline, propane, natural gas, or charcoal-burning devices should never be used inside a home, basement, garage, or camper - or even outside near an open window.
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Including Families and Caregivers

Family and informal caregivers play an important role in the lives of their loved ones. They also play an increasingly important role in how the health care system functions. By communicating effectively with all the individuals involved in your patient’s care, you can help him or her while making efficient use of time and resources. Informal caregivers may be important “informants.” They can also help to reinforce the importance of information you give or the treatment you prescribe.
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Pet Travel

Many injuries, deaths, and escapes can be attributed to either the pet trying to escape the kennel and as a result hurts its paws and/or gums, or due to actual escape. Find out how to protect your pet during travel.
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Reloading Scams

If you've been a victim of telemarketing fraud once, chances are you're on a list to be called-and scammed-again. Telephone hucksters call these 'sucker' lists. They include names, addresses, phone numbers, and other information, and they are created, bought, and sold by crooks. They're considered invaluable, because dishonest promoters think that consumers who have been tricked once are likely to be tricked again. Find out how reloading scams work.
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