Show PERILS PERIL OF DE HATCHING DE t j i I S Ki W lW REVISE V art x Sort of beautifies the place dont don't you agree Should we let federal employees engage in political activity like everybody else It sounds only fair and a bill pending in Congress H HR R 10 to would do just that by relaxing the Hatch Act prohibition on such activity by most employees of the executive branch Its It's needed supporters say to restore a basic right to government workers But is it that simple We think opponents of hatching de have the stronger ar ar- They point out that the Hatch Act was put on the books to protect both federal workers and the general public from political pressure Without such protection what's to prevent a federal supervisor supervisor-or or a federal union union from from coercing coercing coercing ing employees into helping candidates they dont don't support For that matter what would prevent political activists from harassing harassing harass harass- ing citizens outside the government in this age of widening government influence and power The Hatch Act was passed to protect the federal worker and the public Both still need that protection |