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Rep. Glenn testifies in support of plan to protect whistleblowers who report problems, suggest improvements in state government
RELEASE|March 11, 2021

Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, today testified in support of her plan to improve government accountability by legally protecting state employees who speak out about potential problems within their departments.

“In just the past several months alone, we have seen so much evidence of the need for these reforms,” Glenn said after testifying in the Michigan House Government Operations Committee. “New criminal charges in the Flint water crisis remind us it potentially could have been avoided altogether if state employees had been able to come forward with concerns immediately without fear of repercussions. Floods in our community raise questions about our state’s program for dam safety and the need for dramatic, immediate improvements. The governor’s recent ‘hush money’ payments to former state employees in key departments, coming in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, raise concerns about what the administration wants to hide.

“State government shouldn’t be hiding anything,” Glenn continued. “Unfortunately, many state employees fear they will lose their jobs or be reprimanded if they come forward with information or allegations that could improve the way government operates, save state taxpayer dollars, and potentially even save lives. We’ve got to fix this flaw in state government – and we’ve got to fix it now.”

House Bill 4064 would create an official State Employee Ombudsman to receive and refer whistleblower complaints to appropriate administrative or law enforcement authorities while protecting the identity of state employees submitting the complaints.

Glenn sponsored similar legislation last term, and her proposal won overwhelming bipartisan support in the House. Unfortunately, the proposal did not advance in the Senate.

Glenn said she expects majorities in both chambers will support the legislation this term.

“This is about better government – plain and simple,” she said. “Republicans and Democrats should all agree that is a worthy goal.”

House Bill 4064 remains in the Government Operations Committee for further consideration.

Glenn also continues to fight for more government transparency on other fronts. She helps sponsor a plan advancing in the House that would require the governor’s office and the Legislature to comply with freedom-of-information laws. Those measures – including House Bill 4385, sponsored by Glenn – were approved by the House Oversight Committee today. The package advances to the House floor for further consideration.

Glenn also is crafting a plan to crack down on “hush money” payments within state government – legislation coming in response to a recent $155,500 payout to former Department of Health and Human Services Director Robert Gordon, along with other similar cases.

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