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Return to Article: Special counsel finds GSA chief violated Hatch Act

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  For those who wish to relook the Hatch Act, while I agree many of our laws could use a little "fine tuning" I hope this act stays intact, particularly during an Administration that has show itself to be a master manipulator of meaning and whose legacy is an unprecedented extension of the Executive Office powers and restriction of our own civil liberties.

  Having said that, I admit that the Hatch Act appears to be a specific inhibition of our freedom of speech, and yet it is not. While we may not be able to run in partisan elections nor use the prestige of our careers and offices to the benefit of our candidate, we can support our candidates in other ways.

  Why should the Hatch Act not be "interpreted" for current times? We can only exist and perform our mission as civil servants under the thin shield of political neutrality that is the Hatch Act and the more substantive current legislative civil service regulations. If such public rebuttals of authoritarian abuses as Ms. Doan's are so easily dismissed, then what next happens to the Whistle Blower protections? What does this investigation and that of the Attorney General's fiasco have in common? Several things; they both reflect support of the current regime (not the Constitution), loss of civilian protections, and actions of retribution both implied and taken.

  This Administration, in the effort to provide us security, has taken their perceived political mandate to the level of misguided despotism. NSPS, itself, is a prime example of autocracy and an exercise in control; control of finances, advancement, AND employment that threatens to bring back the spoils system so evidently sponsored by Ms. Doan. Each chip at our shield of protections does not individually harm us, but collectively may render us to the status of political automatons, programmed with the 'philosophy du jour' and aids in the manipulation and further dissolution of the Constitution and our Bill of Rights.

  The statue of justice is blinded for a reason; but lately it seems she's been sneaking a peek of what flies in a wind that blows naught but ill boding.

  Tip off Posted May 29, 2007 10:44 AM
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  Well it is nice to see the double standard at work again in this administration. If Ms. Doan's career executives committed the same statutory infraction the penalty under the Hatch Act would be removal. OSC went after a DC school teacher for removal under this really nasty statute.

  And now Ms. Doan flagrantly violates the statute and her penalty is a report to the President saying appropriate action should be taken. Given that this President sent his minions into a hospital intensive care unit to twist the arm of a very sick AG, I doubt very much this President cares about the integrity of his GSA Administrator.

  HR Specialist Posted May 25, 2007 7:06 AM
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  Lurita A. Doan has some serious leadership and integrity shortcomings. She has displayed for the American people that she is an incompetent, vindictive manager who lies under oath. I hope that the GSA employees she slandered have their day in court for justice. How would you like to have Lurita Doan as your boss? How can she lead GSA with the example she has set? It's obvious Bush cares about as much for the GSA federal employees as he does for our struggling troops in Iraq. Mr. Bush could make a substantial improvement in his job approval ratings if he would be the first to demand the resignations of his foul-up subordinates.

  fedwatcher Posted May 25, 2007 1:31 AM
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  The natural consequence will be, not to correct the behaviors of wayward senior executives, but to impose another hour of Hatch Act training on otherwise compliant front line federal employees.

  Jim Curlott Posted May 24, 2007 3:19 PM
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  After these most recent revelations about her lying to cover her tracks, Ms. Doan should have the common decency to resign and return to private industry before this episode becomes more and more embarrassing. Also, how is this affecting GSA's ability to operate and how much longer will we have to deal with this? I'm sure fleecing the tax payer from the outside is much more lucrative.

  Don Posted May 24, 2007 2:57 PM
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  Interesing. I find it amazing however, that Miss Doan would make the allegations and statements she did "During" the investigation of her antics. The investigators themselves easily disproved her, and appear to be a bit incredulous as well. Well, the average persons who commit crimes are not all that intelligent or wise.

  Former Repub Posted May 24, 2007 2:35 PM
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  I don't know all the ins and outs of this specific case, but I do have two comments. The first is that I heard Ms. Doan testifying and was pleased to hear her say that she realizes that she stepped across the line. How refreshing to hear someone in a high-visibility position make such an admission. So many times our leaders get caught doing something wrong and they just make it worse by continuing to deny and rebut. We need more willingness to admit mistakes, seek whatever remediation and/or forgiveness necessary and move on. My second comment is that I believe the Hatch Act needs to be revamped. I agree that we need protections from political pressures in the federal government. However, nobody knows more about how government should operate than those of us that have been managers in the government for a number of years. And yet, we are forbidden from taking any active role in giving and getting better guidance within the political sector. Some of that is from the mis-interpretation to the effect that federal employees are not allowed to have any activity within the polical world - which is dead wrong. So, better education of exactly where that line is would help. However, the Hatch Act is - in my opinion - restrictive to the point that it actually works against the appropriate flow of government.

  Craig Rockwell Posted May 24, 2007 1:04 PM
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  Mr. Pulliam's defense of Doan falls into the convenient defense "almost pregnant," "didn't steal a lot," "my client didn't mean to pull the trigger" category that suggests the laws are poorly crafted and the poor dear isn't smart enough to grasp the simple concept of "don't cross this line." What irony: Whenever a law works, its detractors want it revisited. Regardless of who appointed her, by her own words, she lacks the character to serve and protect the taxpayers interests - or is that a concept to narrow for Government Executive to fathom?

  Jay Zavala Posted May 24, 2007 12:00 PM
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  The Hatch Act was designed to prevent managers from using their authority to force employees to supporting a candidate or party. This does not appear to be the case with Ms. Doan. She simply asked for her own information. Unless she told her managers something like 'Make sure your people get Republicans elected.' she isn't guilty of anything. Yes, the meeting probably should not have been in the GSA offices and yes, was not a good use of government time. That's bad judgement,but not a Hatch Act violation.

  The Hatch Act needs to be revisited. It should allow people to run for school board and city/county counsel seats even if they are partisan elections. But it should continue the ban on workplace pressure to vote a certain way. The penalties are too stiff (30 days minimum) and need to allow for more flexibility (written warning, verbal coaching, etc).

  Ga Liberal Posted May 24, 2007 11:24 AM
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  What a surprise!! Apparently, the only one who didn't think there was a Hatch Act violation was Ms. Doan.

  Michelle Posted May 24, 2007 9:28 AM
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  Another GOP administration politico with a bad memory. Almost makes you wonder if the real cause of Ronnie's failed memory wasn't something genetically tied to be a member of the party.

  Nobushite Posted May 23, 2007 5:31 PM