Wednesday, May 17, 2017

State Auditor urges governor to veto bill that would jeopardize whistleblower protections

(From State Auditor Nicole Galloway)

Missouri State Auditor Nicole Galloway issued the following statement on Senate Bill 43, which jeopardizes whistleblower protections for state employees.

"This legislation makes it easier for government to operate in the shadows. Employees must be able to raise concerns without fear of losing their jobs. If enacted, the measure would almost certainly create a chilling effect that would undermine the state's ability to uncover wasteful, improper or illegal uses of taxpayer dollars. Compromising long-standing whistleblower protections increases the threat of retaliation and fosters an environment of intimidation for those who report wrongdoing."

Auditor Galloway urged the Governor to veto the bill, which the legislature passed during the 2017 legislation session. A copy of the letter is online here.

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