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By Daniel Pulliam dpulliam@govexec.com August 5, 2005
  • 11441

    Sounds more like someone said something that a "higher-up" didn't like and that's the reason for this case being pushed so hard. Thing is, if the HA is supposed to be what it is, to prevent government employees from partisan political talk, then why was Bush allowed to require that a bunch of lies about how well the VA was doing be sent to all VA employees while he was campaigning for the presidency? Isn't that illegal according to the HA? It's really all in who you know (and are) and are sucking up to at the time...isn't it??

    VA counselor Posted August 7, 2005 5:46 PM
  • 11440

    Democrats pushed for and got an easing of the Hatch act restrictions on employees.

    Republicans now try to fire employees for exercising free speech. Not for sending hundreds or thousands of junk email like thier campigns do, but for circulating to a group of less than 10 fellow employees critiques of why they felt they could support one side or the other. And not just a reprimand, but they want them fired.

    Is there any question which side of this equation stands for individual freedom, liberty, and free speech?

    I know how I will vote from now on.

    Jim Posted August 7, 2005 8:51 AM
  • 11425

    Can someone please explain why only government employees have this restriction and also why our government feels that it is significant enough to impose the HA against? Isn't this a conflict of freedom of speech? Except for the HA in my mine it's probably more of a issue of misuse of property. I say eliminate or clarify the HA to allow sharing of information as long as one doesn't use Government property or accomplish during duty hours. An interesting point is there are many requirements of ethics by government employees which aren't enforced yet officials see the HA as enforceable. Why one and not the others? And where does this put the legalities of enforceability?

    GovExec.com reader Posted August 5, 2005 7:49 AM

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