On the recordDecember 19, 2012
The adoption today of S. 2170 will mark an important step in the Oversight and Government Reform Committee's long-term effort to modernize the Hatch Act. At its best, the Hatch Act keeps partisan politics out of the workplace and prevents those in political power from abusing their authority to advance partisan political causes. At its worst, however, the Hatch Act causes the Federal Government to unnecessarily interfere with the rights of well-qualified candidates to run for local office. S. 2170 addresses these flaws by easing restrictions on State and local government employees and on employees of the District of Columbia Government who are covered by the Hatch Act. The bill also provides a greater range of penalties, in addition to termination, for those Federal employees who violate the law. S. 2170 will allow more individuals the right to run for public office without violating the Hatch Act. Under current law, State and local government employees may not run for partisan office if their jobs are connected to Federal funding. For example, in Pennsylvania, a K-9 officer was not allowed to run for a local school board because his partner, a black Labrador, was tied to funding from the Department of Homeland Security. In another case, the U.S.…
