Presidential candidates back stronger whistleblower protections« Thread Started on Sept 5, 2007, 10:08am » --------------------------------------------------------------------------------Presidential candidates back stronger whistleblower protectionsby Brittany R. Ballenstedt bballenstedt@govexec.com September 4, 2007 read at source> http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0907/090407b1.htmNine presidential candidates have pledged support for pending legislation to enhance protections for federal employees who expose weaknesses or fraud in government programs, according to survey results released Monday by a whistleblower support group.Seven Democratic candidates and two Republicans said in response to a survey by the Washington-based National Whistleblower Center that they endorse legislation (H.R. 985) that would clarify language in the 1989 Whistleblower Protection Act. For instance, the bill states that whistleblowers are protected by law for any disclosure, regardless of whether it is made to someone inside or outside an agency.The bill cleared the House in March, and a Senate version (S. 274) passed at the committee level in June.