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• Steve, The IG is protected from political games so they can point out things that are illegal without fear of reprisal, until now that is. Can you see how many IG's around the country just burried their heads in the sand so they won't be fired? One of the citizens few remaining tools of keeping an eye on the government has been thrown away. Tom Posted November 16, 2009 2:10 PM
• After criticism from a high-ranking Republican Senator over President Obama's dismissal of the Inspector General (IG)overseeing AmeriCorps Thursday, June 11, 2009, the White House has provided assurances that the decision was "carefully considered" and conducted in full compliance with the Inspector General Reform Act. Gerald Walpin, IG of the Corporation for National and Community Service, recently spearheaded an investigation into the alleged misuse of AmeriCorps grants by a nonprofit agency run by recently elected Sacramento, CA, Mayor Kevin Johnson, a former National Basketball Association star and a friend of Obama's. Walpin's conduct of the investigation has been questioned by the acting U.S. attorney for Sacramento, who referred the case to an ethics panel that oversees IGs. A White House spokesman declined to explain the dismissal. "For obvious reasons, we won't get into details of a personnel decision like this, but I can tell you that the president lost confidence in Mr. Walpin's performance," he said. "The president will appoint a replacement in whom he has full confidence as the corporation carries out its important mission." WHAT A FARCE! Does this man not have an honest bone in his body? Will the WH appointed IGs be honest or chronies, do an unbiased inspection, or be tied to the whims of the President and Senate in order to keep their job? I think the last option will be true! When everything moves to government control we no longer have a Democracy, but a Socialist government. POSTED BY JOAN IN JUNE: Any firing connected to a "whistleblowing" action is questionable. In this case, the fact that ST HOPE repaid $425,000 in a settlement indicates something was amiss. Organizations don't voluntarily return monetary grants or gifts. Had Gerald Walpin not investigated, would there have been a return of the funds? It is always disappointing to learn that where political connections are concerned (a friend of President Obama?) nothing changes. Concerned American Citizen Posted November 16, 2009 8:27 AM
• Tom - What big difference is that? I keep seeing people saying US Attorneys "serve at the pleasure of the President" but IG's don't. Why? Before answering, look at the statutes (5 USC §3 and 28 USC §541). IG's - like US Attorneys - are appointed by the President with the "advice and consent of the Senate," report to the heads of their respective agencies (NOT to Congress, as people keep saying), and can be removed by the President. I'm not suggesting either firing was right, *if* motivated primarily by politics, but what is this "big difference"? SteveG23 Posted November 12, 2009 9:03 AM