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State of Illinois addresses Whistleblower Issues

The State of Illinois must continue to enforce the protection of Whistleblowers. The Chicago Whistleblower ordinance is a bust. Please read the article below from the Chicago Tribune. Patrick McDonough.
New law pays whistleblowers January 16, 2008 There's a Latin phrase, qui tam, that elevates the often lonely and miserable work of the government whistleblower. The legal provision loosely translates as a private person standing in the king's shoes, or a private person who represents the state's interest. But for the whistleblowers, who identify the fraud and then risk their livelihoods, those shoes feel anything but kingly. That's why we applaud an important change in our state whistleblower law, which went into effect Jan. 1. The law, first passed in 1991, protects whistleblowers from retribution and offers rewards. If the government recovers money from contractors defrauding state government, the whistleblower can take home up to 30 percent. Until last week, the law only applied to whistleblowers in state government and a handful of Illinois municipalities. Now, the Whistleblower Reward and Protection Act offers protections and rewards for people who identify fraud in all forms of government -- from counties to the CTA and the local Water Reclamation District. For Illinois, which has more units of local government than any other state, 7,000 to 8,000, that matters. "The state of Illinois gets a fair amount of scrutiny, but in a lot of other communities, without large media outlets and nonprofit [watchdogs], no one is watching them at the same level, so this is a pretty useful tool," said Jay Stewart, executive director of the Better Government Association, a watchdog group. Health care fraud is most commonly targeted through this law, particularly Medicaid fraud. Cases have included overbilling by drug companies, bill padding or "upcoding" medical problems to get a higher reimbursement. The law, pushed by Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn, offers incentives for whistleblowers and also can serve as a powerful deterrent. If the government proves fraud, the contractor must repay the government three times the damages plus fines. The contractor must also pay legal fees both for the whistleblower and the government. And we're not talking about petty cash. In a recent case initiated in Illinois by the Goldberg Kohn law firm, the Illinois attorney general's office and federal authorities, the insurance company Amerigroup was found liable for $334 million for discriminating against pregnant women. The Vietnam veteran who identified the fraud is eligible for between 15 percent and 30 percent of that money. The Illinois attorney general's office, along with private attorneys, have aggressively gone after these cases since Lisa Madigan was elected in 2002, netting more than $45 million for the government, plus $162 million in the Amerigroup case, which is on appeal. Under a similar federal law, the government has recovered more than $20 billion since 1986. More than $2 billion went to whistleblowers, according the U.S. Department of Justice. Nearly all those federal cases were initiated by whistleblowers. "Without whistleblowers, the government would find 80 percent less fraud," said Patrick Burns of Taxpayers Against Fraud, a Washington D.C.-based not-for-profit. We're not naive enough to believe the expansion of the Illinois law will create a stampede of whistleblowers. These cases take years and often result in a firing and public scorn. Many of these whistleblowers -- doctors, nurses, pharmacists -- have a lot to lose. "I don't know any [whistleblower] who would do it again," said attorney Michael Behn, who has secured three or four successful settlements for Illinois whistleblowers in the last few years. "It's a miserable existence. The money certainly helps after going through all this. But in the interim, after being fired for being a whistleblower, it's very difficult." But for those willing to stick their necks out, Illinois has done what it can to make it worth their while. It now has a comprehensive law that offers meaningful incentives for whistleblowers and deterrents for wrongdoers. Illinois also has an attorney general who, by all accounts, has empowered a strong staff to take on these cases. In the fight against corruption, this law is another tool in our toolbox, the BGA's Stewart says. We'll take it. In the corrupt Land of Lincoln, we can use all the help we can get.

Comments

Hey Pat,
I have been a whistleblower while in Streets and Sanatation, I been suspended many times,total days suspended is over 100 days. (I did file a appeal, and got paid for those suspensions)I was told not to "hang out"with certain people or else I was going to get fired !!! I did file a complaint against this person, but the city refused to do anything about this. (Sanchez's henchwoman ) I never want to go thru that again. I filed a case with the FEDERAL COURT. I spent over $13,000 and lost my case because My lawyer abandoned me. and Judge Bucklo left me out in the cold. This was before the indictment of Commissioner Sanchez. ( Sanchez was a defendant in my case)
If you become a whistle blower, you get these looks and words from your co-workers, you get harassed, intimadated,bad work assignments, bad vehicles to drive, unsafe vehicles ( the Water Department Foreman gave me a truck to drive that had a bad gas pedal- had to use a rope to stop the truck !!!!) filed a grivence about this, but that went nowhere.
All I got to say is if you can handle the whispers, looks, comments that your co-workers say, then I say "GO ALL THE WAY"
FIGHT THESE NO GOOD PEOPLE.
I am still fighting these people here at the WATER DEPT. It is a rough road.

cry cry cry. everyone left you. maybe that should be a hint a******. even the guy you pay left you. get a life and get over it.CLOUT is something earned. its not a bad thing like all you idiots are claiming. if my family works hard and i get awarded for it that is how it works.now go to work, be happy you have a great job, and shut your mouth.

(Response) I heard Eugene Moore went to the 11th ward meeting last Wednesday asking for you support.

From the under-construction website for Mr. Serpico

"This website... strives to be a resource for people who feel that “Doing the Right Thing” is important. In a speech that Frank delivered a while back for the Project on Government Oversight, he expressed his displeasure with the word “Whistleblowers,” and in the spirit with which Paul Revere lit the lamps in the tower, Frank coined the term “Lamplighters,’” for individuals who seek truth and justice, even when confronted with the prospect of great personal loss. This website is dedicated to Lamplighters everywhere!


Working with Frank over the last several years has given me the opportunity to be involved with many worthwhile projects focused on “Doing the Right Thing.” I have met many interesting people who have dedicated themselves to fighting the good fight, and speaking truth to power even at the risk of great personal sacrifice. Given the current situation in America and the world, we are at a unique time in history where it is of paramount importance, perhaps more than ever, to “Do the Right Thing.” Those in charge need to be watched and it is the job of all citizens to keep those in “power” in check.


Whether government agencies, law enforcement, big business, or your neighbor down the street, it is important to send the message that living in the grey-zone of morality is not acceptable. We have found over the years that the greatest challenge that many Lamplighters face is a feeling of isolation and loneliness. Lamplighters oftentimes feel that it is them against the world. Frank cannot respond individually to all the letters that he receives, so our hope is that this website will serve as a resource and sounding board for Lamplighters around the world..."

Hey Pat,
I forgot to mention something. These people that say "Shut up and be Happy" Well you see I have learned some thing from all of this "WHISTLEBLOWING-LAMPLIGHTING" I do know what I need to do to HANG these people now, its called "PROOF" and I got the proof NOW. I got 2 years to file my charges in "FEDERAL COURT" and you betcha I got the proof this time. Paperwork, and more paperwork, copies of orders, dates, times, locations,names of Boss's in charge, union people, I fu****g got them !!!! I got 2 years to file in federal court. and you betcha I am going to file, So I say to all my brother's and sisters "WHISTLEBLOWERS-LAMPLIGHTERS" lets do a class action against these WRONG DOERS.
YOU NEED TO KEEP RECORDS, TIMES, DATES, LOCATIONS,WHO IS IN CHARGE, ALL THE WORKERS THAT WERE THERE, WHO SAID WHAT, GET COPIES OF STUFF THAT PROVES YOUR FACT. GET A CAMERA, TAPE RECORDER FOR THREATS MADE AGAINST YOU, ANY THING YOU CAN PROVE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, GET A LITTLE NOTEBOOK THAT YOU CAN KEEP NOTES ON. MAKE ANOTHER NOTEBOOK ON WHO YOU CALLED ABOUT THE INCIDENT !! AND WHAT THEY TOLD YOU. THESE NOTE'S MIGHT NOT MAKE SENSE TO YOU AT THE TIME, BUT LATER ON DOWN THE ROAD THESE NOTE,S WILL BECOME SO IMPORTANT!!!!

(Response) I strongly advise all city workers to do everything needed to keep your job. Watch your back!

So now employees who violate the work rules can go crying I am being pick on because I am a whistleblower.

I strongly advise all supervisors or managers or co workers who are being harrassed by these employees who break the rules and then hide as whistleblower to keep the pressure on.

(Response) Lord have Mercy! Nice Try!

Response to the mental patient Bruce Randazzo, I have some clout, I have been doing your job from my living room kicking back in my lazyboy drinking a six pack enjoying CNN laughing at how you justify your clout fantacy. It's 2009, not 1972 Corporate America changes, you either play with it or you'll pay for it. I recieved a extra paycheck this week from our boss, if you see him tomorrow, tell him Thanks cause I will be sleeping....It's hard to be 18.