Public Citizen has reported that a coalition of 112 religious, scientific, consumer, small business, civil rights, labor and environmental organizations representing millions of Americans is urging key U.S. Senate and House negotiators to agree to the strongest possible federal employee whistleblower protections, and, in this regard, they want a bill delivered to President Bush this year.  See, ”112 Organizations Endorse Quick Action,” http://www.citizen.org , 6/5/08.   Last year, both the House and the Senate passed versions of whistleblower rights legislation designed to restore meaningful protections to federal employees who expose waste, fraud, abuse and illegality and lawmakers have been meeting to resolve their differences, but the 112 groups want quick action.  Id.  In a letter deilvered to Capitol hill, the groups offered their support for an expeditious conclusion and stipulating that certain reforms such as trial by jury and protections for scientific workers must be part of a meaningful compromise.  Id.  As David Arkush, Director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Division, stated, “Government workers who warn us of waste, fraud, and abuse should be protected, not punished.”  Id. 

According to an Associate Press article by Mike Robinson, the Walgreen Company has agreeed to settle a pending “whistleblower” case for $35 million dollars.  The settlement involves Walgreen Company, the U.S. Government, 42 States and Puerto Rico and the pharmacist who brought the suit according to “Walgreens to pay $35M to settle whistleblower suit” (Associated Press, June 4, 2008).  The case involved the alleged practice by Walgreens Company of switching between capsules or tablets, depending on the most expensive, in completing Medicaid prescriptions. id The alleged result was higher charges by Walgreen Company to Medicaid. id  This is the third settlement with a pharmacy chain which used this practice. id  The article may be found at:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/04/ap5081059.html