Subject: Getting results
From: Danielle Brian <[email-masked]>
To: John Podesta <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 28 Dec 2015 11:31:39 -0600

Project On Government Oversight
http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=_b0bqtzISPaQiDE6HzHetA
*****

Dear John,

For more than three decades, POGO has played a vital role in
achieving a more effective, accountable, open, and ethical
federal government. This year was no exception. As 2015 draws to
a close, I want to share with you a few of our successful
investigations this year:

* Revealing mass misconduct by federal prosecutors: We discovered
that hundreds of federal prosecutors and other Department of
Justice employees violated rules, laws, and ethical standards
from 2002-13.

* Playing a major role in the introduction of the VA Patient
Protection Act of 2015: Based on our testimony, Senators Mark
Kirk (R-IL) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced a bipartisan
bill that would improve how whistleblower complaints at the VA
are addressed, and perhaps more importantly, how those who
retaliate against VA whistleblowers are punished.

* Removing people who abused power and thwarting a flawed nominee:
As a result of POGO investigations, there were consequences for people
who failed to effectively serve taxpayers:

* Air Force General James Post was removed from command for
accusing A-10 whistleblowers of committing "treason";

* Ineffective Inspectors General at Commerce, the Department of
Defense, and the Department of Veterans Affairs resigned; and

* The White House withdrew the nomination of Wall Street banker
Antonio Weiss for the third most powerful position at the
Treasury Department after POGO discovered a $21 million payout.

* Holding the Air Force's feet to the fire on its skewed weapons
systems priorities: We continued to expose significant
deficiencies in the $1.4 trillion F-35 program--the most expensive
acquisition program in the Pentagon's history and one of the most
egregious cases of government waste--and worked with Congress to
defeat the Air Force's attempt to retire the A-10.

* Raising questions about the quality of FDA oversight: One day
after POGO reported on problems with the FDA's handling of the
blood thinner Pradaxa, including approving the drug in the
absence of an antidote that could stop patients from bleeding
uncontrollably, the FDA approved an antidote and declared it
"medically necessary"; later, the FDA said it was reviewing the
matter, and the FDA's European counterpart said it was
investigating whether the trial was compromised; and because of
POGO's work on a similar blood thinner, Xarelto, The New York
Times cited POGO in an editorial questioning President Obama's
nominee to lead the FDA because of his role in helping oversee
that trial.

Your support gives us the ability to take on investigations like
these to expose government corruption and waste ( http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=NU-fKbd21BvpVkzgXjwB5Q ). We look forward to continuing the work in 2016 and beyond.

( http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=u1zCDfnVgNyxkoeJpdTljQ )

Will you join us in building a better government? 

( http://getinvolved.pogo.org/site/R?i=XIOCunegAp2BywRzZBg34w )

Warmly,

Danielle Brian
Executive Director

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