Friday, March 18, 2011

Change! Federal Employee Who Complained About Obama's So-Called Transparency Gets Demoted


Used to be a time when the left scurried to the aid of whistleblowers. Heck, they make movies about them all the time. But those days are long over folks.

Welcome to Obamaworld.
Rep. Darrell Issa, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said the demotion at the Department of Homeland Security “appeared to be an act of retaliation.” The committee is investigating the political reviews of records requests under the Freedom of Information Act.

“Obstructing a congressional investigation is a crime,” said Issa, R-Calif.

The department said it had done nothing wrong.

Issa urged Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to remind employees about their rights and whistle-blower protections, to make agency managers “aware of the consequences for retaliation against witnesses who furnish information to Congress.”

Issa accused the administration of improperly demoting Catherine Papoi, the former deputy unit chief in charge of the Freedom of Information Act. His charge raised the stakes in the broad congressional inquiry into President Barack Obama’s promises to improve government transparency.
Funny, but the networks somehow managed to avoid this story last night.
“Denying or interfering with employees’ rights to furnish information to Congress is against the law,” Issa wrote in a five-page letter to Napolitano that was obtained by The Associated Press. “Federal officials who retaliate against or otherwise interfere with employees who exercise their right to furnish information to Congress are not entitled to have their salaries paid by taxpayer dollars.”

The department said Papoi was not technically demoted because she never lost pay or benefits. Yet Papoi’s new boss, Delores J. Barber, took over Papoi’s title and moved into Papoi’s office. Papoi, who has a law degree, earns between $99,628 and $129,517. Under the federal employment system, a demotion usually involves loss of a pay grade.

Papoi, who applied for the new position awarded to Barber, is on leave. The department said a panel of career employees recommended Barber over Papoi. The political appointee whom Papoi accused of illegal behavior, chief privacy officer Mary Ellen Callahan, chose Barber for the job in December.
H/T Audrey Perry.

A reminder this is Sunshine Week in Washington.

1 comment:

rich b said...

From Jammie: "Papoi, who applied for the new position awarded to Barber, is on leave. The department said a panel of career employees recommended Barber over Papoi. The political appointee whom Papoi accused of illegal behavior, chief privacy officer Mary Ellen Callahan, chose Barber for the job in December"

Smells like a conflict of interest to me when the person you're accusing of an impropriety can fire or demote you. Aren't there any rules against this in Government? Something stinks. Go get these crooks Issa.