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Feeling the Heat of Your Political Passions? Have Another Latte Before Hitting the Send Button

Davis settlement?

consultant
HHS
Tue Jan 9, 2007 9:00 AM

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So what happened to Davis? Seems nearly identical cases. The pinishment should be identical. While both cases suggest the employee was too stupid to hold a significant position, neither rise to the level of a Hatch violtion, in my opinion. I guess it depends more on which president appointed the judge than it does on the merits.

Clear Violations

HR Specialist
DoD
Tue Jan 9, 2007 9:28 AM

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How could anyone not think these were Hatch Act violations? A message from the DNC urging people to support the Democratic candidate is clearly a partisan political activity. The article does tell what happened to Davis. He reached a settlement agreement and left Federal employment. Most settlement agreements prohibit releasing the specific terms of the agreement.

Re: Clear Violations

Human Resources Specialist (Employee Relations)
Department of Treasury
Tue Jan 9, 2007 12:17 PM
I agree. Both employees distributed partisan political materials using government eqiupment. There should be consistency in the application of the penalties for violations of the Hatch Act and the initial judge needs to develop a keen sense of the obvious, rather than engage in semantic posturing. I have informed friends and coworkers to not send me any E-mails at work that may be construed as partisan or political. Clearly, both employees have misused their positions to promote political candidates.

Hatch Act Violations

Insulator (Retired)
Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (formerly)
Tue Jan 9, 2007 4:36 PM

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If the employee merely forwards an e-mail with no added comments in support of the email, then they should be disciplined. Removal is way to extreme. There should be penalties for those political groups that send this type of email to federal employees before the employee receives any type of penalty. Perhaps the Hatch Act should be repealed.

Political Expression from the work station

Education Specialist
HHS
Tue Jan 9, 2007 6:57 PM

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Your workstation PC is not the place to vent or to send impassioned political opinions and candidate support. A fed employee should not be surprised if he/she ends up in hot water or the unemployment line after using government time and equipment to expose his/her political beliefs and priorities.

Political Expression from the Work Station

Farm Loan Specialist
Farm Service Agency
Fri Jan 19, 2007 8:02 AM

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Obviously what the two employees did was a clear violation. However, it brings up the subject of political jokes. Many jokes that poke fun at political candidates or politicians circulate freely on the internet. Assuming that these jokes are emailed or forwarded during personal time such as lunch break, can these be interpreted as support, political beliefs, or opinions?

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