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We’re just five weeks into 2010 and already state employees have already been caught stealing, abusing travel privileges, and embezzling taxpayer money. The abuses have been uncovered by journalisms and inspectors general. While reporters are getting praised for their investigations, Whitney ray tells us the inspectors, who work for the state, sometimes get fired.

The Department of Transportation, the Department of Corrections, and Florida A&M University all forced out their top watchdogs after they uncovered corruption.

Each state agency has an inspector general who keeps watch over the office, but if they’re too good at their job they risk getting fired. Since 2003, four state inspectors have been forced to quit after uncovering corruption.

State Senator Dave Aronberg is sponsoring legislation that would take away an agency heads power to fire an inspector general and give the authority to the governor and state cabinet.

“I’m trying to give an added level of independence to the inspector general, to say the agency head can’t fire the inspector general, it’s up to the Governor and the Cabinet and there has to be good cause,” said Aronberg.

The legislation would also lengthen the window of time an inspector’s employment status hangs in the balance.

“It also creates 14 days for the Governor and the Cabinet to make a decision, so it creates the potential for a more deliberate process,” said Brad Ashwell with Florida PIRG.

The bill would also provide funding protection for inspectors so agency heads can’t cut their budgets to stop investigations.

The inspectors general legislation could have political implications. The bill’s sponsor is a Democrat running for Attorney General. One Republican candidate for the position is a former agency head who asked her inspector to step down after the watchdog critiqued a pilot program she supported.