On November 30, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed S2170, which makes it possible for certain government employees to run for partisan office. Under existing law, if a state or local government employee’s salary is paid in part by federal government money, that employee cannot run for partisan office, just as federal employees under civil service can’t run for partisan office.
The bill changes the rules for state and local government employees. If it is signed into law, only state and local government employees whose salary is entirely paid by the federal government will be barred from running for partisan office.
The bill also says that employees of the District of Columbia government should no longer be treated as though they were federal employees, for purposes of the prohibition in running for partisan office. Thanks to Rick Hasen for this news.
This can be a bad idea. We just might get more government and more spending by folks who have their best interest’s at heart instead of us the citizens.
Just because someone works for the government doesn’t mean he or she has any particular political views. Many Libertarians have worked for government.
Perhaps some of those government workers who run for office will have a critical view of how government works from practical experience, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
I don’t doubt that a lot of libertarians also work for government. But there are plenty of other folks who have their own agenda’s. I’ll have to check and see how many government employee’s in my state are also members of the legislature. As taxpayers we end up paying these folks twice.