Politics & Government

Bill to Protect Legislative Whistle Blowers Killed in State Assembly

The bill, which was introduced by San Marino representative Anthony Portantino, was quickly voted down in an Assembly committee Thursday. It would have extended whistle blower protection to legislative staffers.

Legislation that would protect legislative staffers from workplace retaliation introduced by Assemblyman Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) died in committee Thursday, according to Portantino's office.

The bill would have ensured that staffers got the same protection as other workers in the state, according to Portantino; under AB 1378, anyone found guilty of retaliating against a legislative employee who's blowing the whistle on government fraud and abuse cwould have faced fines up to $10,000 and up to year in county jail.

Portantino, who also represents San Marino, sent out a message condemning the decision of the Assembly's Appropriations Committee to kill the bill.

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"I am disappointed that the Assembly Appropriations Committee chose to kill Whistleblower Protection in the State Capitol,” Portantino wrote.  “Every other state agency has protections in place for folks who bring forward allegations of waste fraud and abuse.  Today’s action continues a self-serving exemption that undermines the public’s confidence and trust."

Portantino's bill comes was introduced just days after the state Assembly released records detailing spending by individual legislator offices, following a .

Find out what's happening in San Marinowith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Last year, Portantino cast the lone Democratic vote against the state budget, after which he claimed Assembly Speaker . This led to questions about the lower chamber's spending and the lawsuit, filed by the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee, requesting the records. On Friday, the Sacramento Bee reported the release of the documents on its website .

Judge Timothy Frawley in the case last month, with a written opinion that largely dismissed the arguments of the Assembly that the spending records should be kept hidden from the public.


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