House Oversight Chair Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay Township) and fellow House Oversight Committee member Jason Woolford (R-Howell) today stressed the need for greater accountability mechanisms in government.

Protections for whistleblowers who report violations of law, participate in investigations, take part in related legal proceedings or communicate with representatives of the people regarding missteps or potentially illegal acts within state government are a critical part of this equation. The legislators’ soon-to-be-introduced plan addresses gaps in current law that lead to less communication, transparency, and ways to fix issues that arise.

“Our role on the House Oversight Committee is to hold government accountable to the people and investigate potential instances where public dollars are being misused or there has been a violation of the public’s trust,” DeBoyer said. “I can tell you, our committee – and Oversight panels before us – have had numerous people who work for state departments say that they’d love to come and talk about what’s happening and what’s gone wrong, but they can’t do so on the record out of fear for their job or even their well-being. I’ve had people tell me they can’t meet with me at the state Capitol or our House Office Building to talk about some of these things. That’s not right, and it’s unacceptable to hit those types of roadblocks when we are trying to get answers for hardworking taxpayers and the people of our state. That is not how government should work.”

The bill strengthens the existing Whistleblowers’ Protection Act by allowing for a court to order reinstatement of an employee, payment of three times the amount of back wages owed to an employee, full reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority rights, damages, or any combination of damages.

A person in violation of the law will be subject to a fine of $2,000, which is up from the current $500. Any fines would be deposited into the state’s general fund.

“People who want to step up and do the right thing when they feel a wrong thing has occurred should not fear retaliation or feel like they’re risking their career to speak up,” Woolford said. “They deserve real protection. With this bill, we’re sending a resounding message that we will protect whistleblowers that expose waste, fraud and abuse. My duty as an elected official and a member of the House Oversight Committee is to hold our state government accountable and ensure every tax dollar is spent wisely, ethically, and transparently.”

The legislators noted that parameters of the existing law have not tipped the scales far enough to ensure communication and proper reporting from employees who wish to step forward. Critical whistleblower protections were also scaled back in previous budgets.  

“This will put it in law,” DeBoyer said. “Not negotiated away at the last minute. Not pushed to another year. People are tired of government acting superior to them and acting as if government is above the law. This will protect individuals who seek to do the right thing and disclose acts of wrongdoing within government when they have occurred.”

The plan will soon be formally read into the record.