On behalf of the National Whistleblower Center, M2Q is promoting Action 4 of 2024. We are supporting the IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act to reform and strengthen the IRS Whistleblower Program.
Presently, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) fails to promptly compensate whistleblowers. As a result, these delays, which the IRS admits are average over 10-years, cause untold hardship to whistleblowers. Consequently, many have lost their jobs and careers. Thus, their only hope for economic survival is the compensation promised under law.
Since its establishment in 2006, the IRS Whistleblower Program has become an integral part of the IRS’s enforcement efforts. The program, which offers monetary awards and anti-retaliation protections to individuals who report large-scale tax fraud, has allowed the U.S. to recover over $6.6 billion from wealthy tax cheats and corporations non-compliant with tax law.
In recent years, though, the program has been plagued by many issues and its efficacy is waning. Most notably, the program suffers from massive delays and whistleblowers are not remaining anonymous before Tax Court.
Specifically, the bipartisan IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act addresses these issues and others through six common sense reforms:
1. Clarifies a de novo standard of review for Tax Court appeals
2. Incentivizes prompt award disbursal
3. Establishes a presumption of anonymity for whistleblowers
4. Ends the sequestration of whistleblower awards
5. Improves the program’s annual report to Congress
6. Modifies the treatment of attorney’s fees to be in line with other whistleblower programs.
Along with bipartisan support, advocacy groups like the National Whistleblower Center support this bill.
A strong IRS Whistleblower Program is undeniably key to closing down the tax gap and holding tax cheats accountable. The IRS Whistleblower Program Improvement Act goes a long way in making this possible.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
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Motion to Quash LLC urges Congress to strengthen the SEC Whistleblower Program and protect internal corporate whistleblowers by (1) passing the bipartisan SEC Whistleblower Reform Act of 2023 and (2) Calling on the SEC to broaden its definition of a voluntary whistleblower.
The SEC Whistleblower Program has revolutionized the enforcement efforts of the SEC. Since it was established in 2010, the program has recovered over $6.3 billion in sanctions from fraudsters, allowing over $1.5 billion to be returned to harmed investors. However, it has the potential to work even better if we fix these two problems.
Problem #1: One of the keys to the program’s success are the anti-retaliation protections provided to whistleblowers. Whistleblowers all too often face devastating consequences for blowing the whistle and these protections are key in both offering relief to brave whistleblowers and in incentivizing would-be-whistleblowers to come forward despite the threat of retaliation.
Unfortunately, a 2018 Supreme Court ruling weakened the program by stripping anti-retaliation protections from whistleblowers who report to internal compliance programs but not directly to the SEC. Since a vast majority of whistleblowers report internally this ruling has been devastating for whistleblowers.
The bipartisan SEC Whistleblower Reform Act would restore anti-retaliation protections for internal whistleblowers and make a number of other small common sense reforms to strengthen the program. The bill is widely supported by whistleblower advocacy groups including National Whistleblower Center. Corporate whistleblowers have proven to be essential in keeping our markets fair and free of fraud. They need to be protected.
Problem #2: The regulations approved by the SEC 12 years ago continue to violate the statutory rights granted whistleblowers under the Dodd-Frank Act and strip otherwise qualified whistleblowers of their rights. For instance, whistleblowers who first report to the news media have been denied protection and compensation, even though the law itself does not exclude them from protections. We know that 20% of FCPA prosecutions by the DOJ stem from tips by the media, and yet, the regulations by the SEC have cut these sources off from U.S. whistleblower qualifications, undermining the anti-corruption Strategy outlined by the White House.
Congress must tell the SEC not to exclude whistleblowers who have informed the media or other Federal agencies first from their definition of whistleblowers with “original information.” Please see more info here: www.whistleblowers.org/campaigns/reform-sec-regulations/.
https://motiontoquash.org Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org.Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2020 and amendments to the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019. NWC’s mission is to support whistleblowers in their efforts to expose and help prosecute corruption and other wrongdoing around the world.
Action 2 of 2024 asks Congress to contact the Department of Justice to remind them to fully implement the law. The DOJ still hasn’t implemented procedures for dealing with confidential anonymous whistleblowers who report violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. The department has been legally obligated to do so since January 2021.
This includes illegal money laundering and the use of crypto currency exchanges to allow violations of law.
In December 2022, this law extended to whistleblowers worldwide. These individuals report violations of sanctions covering Russia, Hamas, ISIS, and other covered entities.
It contempt of its legal requirements, the Justice Department has ignored the law to adopt regulations permitting anonymous whistleblowing. Congress did its job, but Justice has dropped the ball. Action 2 demands that the Attorney General fully implement the United States Anti-corruption Strategy as a critical national security measure.
Action 2 for 2024
Urge Congress to contact the Department of Justice to remind them of their obligations to fully implement the law. Sometimes, whistleblowers are the best asset to fight against corruption, if given the proper protections and incentives. But, they are vulnerable when these protections are eroded. By extension, our democracy is also vulnerable.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
Action 1 of 2024 urges legislators to DEMAND that FinCEN ensures that the process for whistleblowers aligns with U.S. anti-corruption priorities.
In December 2022, Congress passed the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Whistleblower Improvement Act. The law establishes a whistleblower award program for individuals who report money laundering and sanctions violations. It is the most important anti-corruption law passed in decades.
Despite the urgent nature of this issue, the U.S. Treasury Department and Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) have not implemented the AML Whistleblower Improvement Act. Action 1 of 2024 calls on FinCEN to enact AML regulations.
Money laundering is intimately tied to corruption around the globe. Because the AML Whistleblower Program has a transnational reach, whistleblowers do not need to be U.S. citizens to qualify for awards. The program helps U.S. authorities tackle corruption overseas, including the most pressing national security crises. For example, the war between Hamas and Israel, the war between Russia and Ukraine, terrorist financing, and drug trafficking. It is vital that FinCEN implement its whistleblower program quickly and that its regulations fulfill the mandate in the U.S. Strategy on Countering Corruption.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
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The scrutiny of Jefferson Parish Council candidates for the 2023 elections reveals potential abuses linked to the False Claims Act. Council members Jennifer Van Vrancken and Ricky Templet received significant contributions after securing taxpayer-backed loans, raising concerns about campaign finance abuses. Motion to Quash advocates for transparency and accountability.
Corruption Scorecards Jefferson Parish Councilman at Large Div. A by Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | October 6, 2023
Candidates for Jefferson Parish Councilman for the 2023 elections are being scrutinized under the False Claims Act. The False Claims Act is a federal law that imposes liability on those who defraud governmental programs. It is the federal government’s primary litigation tool in combating fraud against the government.
Corruption Scorecards Jefferson Parish Councilman at Large Div. A
Motion to Quash conducted an analysis of federal data. It showed Council members Jennifer Van Vrancken and Ricky Templet received over a half million dollars.
Over 350 entities made political contributions after receiving over $73 million dollars in taxpayer-backed SBA loans.
In both instances, candidates received large donations after companies they controlled, or companies owned by family members, obtained loans.
Frankie Hayers, the only other candidate, financed his own campaign.
Balcony Enterprises Inc, a family owned enterprise, received a total of $365,491 from the SBA. Afterward, The Balcony Ballroom issued a political contribution to Jennifer Van Vrancken of $5,000.
Hearing Health Care of Louisiana Inc, owned by family member Ryan Templet, received $186,812 from the Paycheck Protection Program. After receiving the taxpayer backed funds, Ryan Templet issued $5000 to Ricky Templet’s political campaign.
These funds were meant for struggling businesses. Generous campaign contributions just before or after receiving disaster assistance raises concerns about the legitimacy of their need for assistance. “It suggests the entities misled the SBA to obtain government funds and should be obligated to repay the taxpayers. Fraud schemes like this are the costliest for the taxpayers.” a spokesperson for Motion to Quash said.
Most Egregious Abuses of the PPP
The M2Q analysis identified two major abuses of the Paycheck Protection Program. These were Adams & Reese Law Firm and Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC.
Adams and Reese Law Firm received $9.2 million dollars from the taxpayer backed Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Later, Adams and Reese and ARPAC issued nearly $800,000 in political contributions. This amount includes over $100,000 paid to its own Political Action Committee.
Harvey Gulf International Marine LLC received $8.8 million dollars from the Paycheck Protection Program. They then issued over $600,000 to political campaigns. This included $100,000 to the Republican Party and $100,000 to Louisiana Citizens for Job Creators Inc.
Recouping Stolen Pandemic Loan Funds
Motion to Quash is a powerful representation of the fight against corruption in Jefferson Parish. The Anti Corruption Scorecard serves as a reminder of the importance of transparency and honesty in our political system. The scorecards are adequate to give precise assessments. They offer reliable and sound judgment of campaign finance abuse. This is particularly useful for those interested in the 2023 Elections and the stand against corruption.
Contributions alone are not enough for an investigation. Nevertheless, generous campaign contributions and confidential disclosures submitted to the Inspector General are enough evidence to lead to criminal prosecutions.
“When the pandemic started, the SBA took on an outsized role in restarting our nation’s economy. The PPP and EIDL programs were vital to saving small businesses, but that fact does not excuse $200 billion in fraud,” explained Chairman Roger Williams (R-TX). “It’s a top priority of this Committee to recoup these stolen funds, and yesterday’s hearing looked at new, innovative private sector solutions to do just that. I’m very grateful for our four witnesses, and we’ll continue our work on holding these fraudsters accountable.”
Click the link to read the Statement of Michael E. Horowitz, Chair, Pandemic Response Accountability Committee, Inspector General, U.S. Department of Justice before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis about “Examining Federal Efforts To Prevent, Detect, And Prosecute Pandemic Relief Fraud To Safeguard Funds For All Eligible Americans”
M2Q obtained Campaign finance reports from the Louisiana Ethics Board website. It obtained Disaster Recipient Profiles at usaspending.gov.
Approach
For consistency, we based the total scores on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC), Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of motiontoquash.org. You can reach her at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019. NWC’s mission is to support whistleblowers. They also help prosecute other wrongdoing around the world.
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Digital media provides measurable results. $500 can get you two banners in front of your target audience for an entire month. An effective advertising campaign will include placing ads across the Motion to Quash website using both branding and call-to-action messages. Click here to buy ads or use the QR code.
An analysis by Motion to Quash LLC reveals corruption concerns among Louisiana House of Representatives candidates, with over $200 million in taxpayer-backed disaster assistance payments linked to political donations. The group’s anti-corruption scorecard shows varied scores among candidates, indicating issues in campaign finance and transparency ahead of the 2023 elections.
Corruption Scores Jefferson Parish House of Reps Election 2023 by Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | Sept. 22, 2023
According to an analysis of federal government data by Motion to Quash LLC., Louisiana House of Representatives received payments from over 100 entities. These payments amounted to over $200 million dollars in taxpayer-backed Disaster Assistance.
The investigation of loan fraud by PPP loan recipients and Louisiana lawmakers is alarming. Businesses issued large political donations after receiving taxpayer backed pandemic loans. This raises concerns about the legitimacy of their need for assistance.
“Loan recipients made campaign contributions after getting their awards. They should repay the loans,” a spokesperson for Motion to Quash said. “Fraud schemes like this are the costliest for the taxpayers.”
Motion to Quash is a powerful representation of the fight against corruption in Jefferson Parish. The House of Representative Anti Corruption Scorecard serves as a reminder. It highlights the importance of transparency and honesty in our political system. The scorecards give precise and reliable judgment. They offer sound assessment of campaign finance abuse. This is particularly relevant for those interested in the 2023 Elections and the stand against corruption.
Motion to Quash obtained campaign finance reports from the Louisiana Ethics Board website. Disaster Relief Profiles were found at usaspending.gov.
Corruption Scores Jefferson Parish House of Reps Election 2023-SCORE DISTRIBUTION OVERVIEW
Of the 21 candidates for State Representative on the Jefferson Parish sample ballot, 6 scored A+ (28.6%), 1 scored B+ (4.8%), 1 scored B- (4.8%), 2 scored C (9.5%), 8 scored D (38.1%), and 3 scored F (14.3%)
Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)
From the time period 2020 to the current, candidates received a grand total of contributions over $1.4 million dollars including a sum of over $600,000 from pharmaceuticals, gaming interests, government contractors, and PPP disaster recipients. By far the most frequent recipient is Timothy Kerner Sr.
Approach
For consistency, we based the total scores on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center, Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Click here to donate Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC.
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Advertise with Motion to Quash LLC
Digital media provides measurable results. $500 can get you two banners in front of your target audience for an entire month. An effective advertising campaign will include placing ads across the Motion to Quash website using both branding and call-to-action messages. Click here to buy ads or use the QR code.
Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | August 27, 2023
The use of political campaign funds has recently sparked great interest in Louisiana. This interest is shared among both voters and members of the Louisiana Board of Ethics. The Motion to Quash scorecards are enough to give precise, reliable and sound judgment of campaign finance abuse. Motion to Quash compiles and analyzes campaign contribution data. It identifies quid pro quo through its understanding of the electoral and public policy-making process.
Anti Corruption Scorecard for Jefferson Parish State Senator Candidates
Of the 9 candidates for State Senator on the Jefferson Parish sample ballot, 2 scored A+ (22.2%), 1 scored B- (11.1%), 5 scored C (55.6%), and 1 scored F (11.1%).
Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI)
Candidates received a sum of $225,670 from pharmaceuticals, gaming interests, and government contractors. The most frequent recipients are Kirk Talbot and Timothy Kerner.
Methodology
For consistency, the total scores were based on these three principles:
Campaign contributions issued (5 points)
Campaign contributions received (5 points)
Disclosures/conflicts of interest (5 points)
Only when candidates scored 15 for the whole package did they score 100 percent.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback. If you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the National Whistleblower Center, Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC successfully promoted legislation that supports the American Money Laundering Act and the Whistleblower Protection Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by donating today. Click here to donate. The National Whistleblower Center (NWC) is the leading nonprofit dedicated to protecting and rewarding whistleblowers around the world.
Join us for our 10th Anniversary Event on July 27th
Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | May 30, 2023
I’m so grateful to be recognized, again, by the National Whistleblower Center! I remain committed to advocating for whistleblowers and spreading public awareness about the adversity we face.
On behalf of Motion to Quash LLC, I would like to extend a warm invitation to you for this year’s 10th Anniversary National Whistleblower Day event July 27th on Capitol Hill. The success of our past NWD events was dependent upon the support of people like you. We hope you will join us again this year for our celebration, which will include a live panel of whistleblowers, a speech from whistleblower supporter Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and a discussion from National Whistleblower Center founder Stephen Kohn.
This live, in-person event on July 27th will honor the contributions of whistleblowers to our nation, and the storied history of whistleblowing in the U.S.
Hope to see you there! We can’t celebrate without you! Seats to this event are limited, so please R.S.V.P. HERE
The National Whistleblower Day campaign aims to make National Whistleblower Day permanent by urging President Biden to sign an Executive Order mandating that all federal agencies recognize July 30th as National Whistleblower Day. For more information and ways you can support the campaign, please visit:
National Whistleblower Day 2023 on Capitol Hill Why We Celebrate National Whistleblower Day
The history of National Whistleblower Day dates back to the founding days of our nation. On July 30th 1778, The U.S. Continental Congress passed America’s first whistleblower law during the height of the American Revolution. To honor this history and the foundational nature of of whistleblowing in America, we celebrate National Whistleblower Day every year on July 30th.
Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) signed the first National Whistleblower Day 10 years ago.Since then, NWC has supported an incredible group of whistleblowers and their bi-partisan allies in Congress to continue the NWD tradition.
In recognition of the sacrifices of whistleblowers, and in honor of the crucial contributions that whistleblowers have made to our democracy, Motion to Quash LLC stands with NWC wholeheartedly alongside the whistleblowers. We’re calling on both chambers of Congress and President Biden to permanently designate July 30 as National Whistleblower Day in the U.S. This is the single most important action the Federal Government can take to acknowledge the importance of whistleblowing and combating the culture of retaliation against whistleblowers. To learn more about these critical efforts to make National Whistleblower Day permanent, visit:
Tracie Burke is Louisiana author of Motion to Quash. She can be reached at tracie@motiontoquash.org. Motion to Quash LLC promotes legislation that supports the American Anti-Corruption Act. Please Support journalism in the public interest by contributing today. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC 2019 Click here to donate.
I’m honored to be recognized on National Whistleblower Day 2022 by the National Whistleblower Center (NWC). This is my third year for disclosing public corruption, fraud, and misuse of public funds in Louisiana.
On July 30th, the United States celebrates National Whistleblower Day, the 244th anniversary of the country’s first whistleblower law. This year, we will celebrate with three days of live events.
Each year, the NWC holds an annual event to celebrate the accomplishments and impacts of notable whistleblowers. From across the political spectrum, speakers, participants, and the whistleblowers join together to recognize the importance of protecting whistleblowers.
Past speakers include Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Senator Chuck Grassley, and Senator Tammy Duckworth. Dozens of different advocates, policymakers, and whistleblowers spoke on the full range of pressing whistleblower issues.
This year, the National Whistleblower Day program will span from July 28 through July 30th. Firstly, day 1 will focus on Legislators, Regulators, and government officials. Then, day 2 will feature International Whistleblowers and International Whistleblower Advocates. Finally, day 3 will celebrate Recognizing Whistleblowers and Advocates.
If you would like to attend, RSVP for National Whistleblower Day here. (link expired)
SUPPORT NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER DAY 2022
National Whistleblower Day 2022 is only days away and we need your support. The fundraising goal is $5,000, so donate today to help keep momentum going. Every donation helps move us toward our goal, and sharing this message with friends will also help.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
Dr. Frederick Graves d/b/a Jurisdictionary authorized this ad.
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By Tracie Burke | Motion to Quash LLC | September 26, 2021
Integrity is a top issue facing Louisiana voters. Unfair business practices and long standing financial connections are breeding grounds for corruption. See how candidates score on integrity for the November 2021 Statewide/Multi-Parish Elections.
We based the candidate integrity scores on these three principles: Campaign Contributions Issued, Campaign Contributions Received, and Disclosures/Conflicts of Interest.
Click here to view the SCORECARD. You can download and print the complimentary spreadsheet. Click on the Grades Tab to view each Candidate’s folder.
METHODOLOGY
Candidates are graded on the number of critical issues for anti-corruption. These issues are listed in the candidate scorecard. They are divided into three overarching principles. We believe all of these issues are crucial for candidate integrity.
We assigned a total possible score of 5 for each principle. For the sake of consistency, we treat individual issues equally. Calculating fewer of these critical issues gets candidates a higher score. Only when they score 15 for the whole package do they score 100 percent.
We compiled candidate information from their campaign websites, in interviews, or from public and private sources.
Campaigns are dynamic. We welcome your feedback—if you see a candidate’s position has changed, send us an email to info@motiontoquash.org with the new information.
Recognized by the NWC,Tracie Burke is author of Motion to Quash. If you would like to support journalism in the public interest, click here to donate. Motion to Quash ISSN 2644-1594 is the copyrighted property of Motion to Quash LLC .
Recognized by the
