Hatch Act
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OPM issued the final rule today to implement the Hatch Act Modernization Act that lets federal employees run for local office as an independent.
November 07, 2013 -
On Friday, the Senate passed a bipartisan bill updating the Hatch Act, the law that restricts the political activities of federal employees.
December 03, 2012 -
It's election day, and millions of federal and postal workers, like their neighbors, will go to the polls. the difference is that because of the Hatch (no politics) Act, there are things government employees cannot say, do or wear — at least at the office. Some think that's unfair, while others are comfy under the Hatch Act blanket, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.
November 06, 2012 -
The Office of Special Counsel found the HHS Secretary's remarks in February at a gala violated the law prohibiting federal employees from engaging in partisan actions. Kathleen Sebelius contends she didn't break the law.
September 12, 2012 -
State and local investigations make it difficult for investigators to probe possible Hatch Act violations by federal employees, said Special Counsel Carolyn Lerner. The Office of Special Counsel is asking Congress to remove OSC's duty of policing state and local issues, so it can focus on federal cases.
May 17, 2012 -
The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee moves the Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations, the Keeping Politics Out of Federal Contracting and two other pieces of legislation to the floor for a full vote.
May 16, 2012 -
A group of lawmakers has proposed an update to the law governing federal employees' political activity that would exempt some state and local employees and allow for a range of penalties other than automatic suspension for minor violations.
March 07, 2012 -
The Office of the Special Counsel wants to see the law governing the political activity of federal employees updated. Carolyn Lerner, head of the OSC, told Federal News Radio the law is outdated and has led to unintended consequences. The act was created in 1939 when "typewriters were about the most advanced means of communication," Lerner said.
October 12, 2011 -
House lawmakers want to update the Hatch Act. The last time Congress changed the 1939 law governing political activity of federal employees was in 1993, before the Internet, Facebook and Twitter. Federal News Radio’s Jason…
June 21, 2011 -
The blunder earlier this month from a Secret Service Twitter feed has raised cautionary flags for other feds.
May 31, 2011 -
Carolyn Lerner plans to improve the Office of Special Counsel if confirmed following the agencies two-year span without a Senate confirmed leader.
March 10, 2011 -
Where will you be when Twitter and the Hatch Act collide? Where SHOULD you be? We ask attorney Bill Bransford.
March 10, 2011 -
Quick, because your job may be at stake: The Hatch Act is 1) a 71 year old law protecting feds from political arm-twisting or 2) a 1920s show business review featuring scantily clad pullets. Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says your job could depend on the right answer.
October 27, 2010 -
So far this political season, OSC has fired one federal employee and suspended another without pay for 120 days. Attorney Debra Roth has some tips for not joining the list.
October 21, 2010 -
The Hatch Act restricts how open federal employees can be with political preferences
August 16, 2010