Bill would update Hatch Act, which regulates federal worker involvement in politics
The Hatch Act, which regulates federal employee involvement in elective politics, prohibits state and local government workers with federal funding from running for partisan positions.
...a bipartisan, bicameral group of legislators introduced a bill Wednesday that would update the Hatch Act.
...The legislation would allow candidates to seek local partisan positions even if they hold state or local government jobs that involve federal funding. The measure also would allow a greater range of penalties for federal employees who violate Hatch Act provisions. Currently, federal violators must be fired, even for minor offenses, unless the Merit Systems Protection Board unanimously agrees to a milder punishment.
full: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bill-would-update-hatch-act-which-regulates-federal-worker-involvement-in-politics/2012/03/07/gIQA67D2xR_story.html