Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius — the person most responsible for implementing the Frankenstein monster called ObamaCare — seems to have serious difficulty following federal law herself.
The Office of Special Counsel — an independent investigative and prosecutorial agency overseeing federal employees — has determined that Sebelius violated the Hatch Act, which bars on-duty government employees from engaging in politics.
As The Hill newspaper reported Wednesday, while addressing a Human Rights Campaign function in Charlotte, NC, last February, Sebelius told the gay-activist group that its progress would be “wiped out in a heartbeat” if President Obama isn’t re-elected.
She also called for the defeat of a then-pending anti-gay-marriage referendum (it later passed) and the election of a Democrat as governor of North Carolina.
Sebelius’ trip was initially listed as official travel — meaning taxpayers paid for it and no political activity was allowed.
She admitted to the political cheerleading — and had the Democratic National Committee reimburse the Treasury.
Sebelius, however, refused to admit trying to pull a fast one, claiming her violations were only “technical and minor.”
According to the OSC, the “great majority” of Hatch Act violaters — about 100 a year — usually end up getting punished with a suspension.
Good luck with that.
Obama is Sebelius’ only superior here.
How likely is it that he’d suspend a Cabinet member — even if that’s the law?
A White House spokesman says there won’t be any disciplining because the “mistake was recognized quickly and taxpayers were reimbursed.”
So — despite his health secretary having been caught red-handed — don’t expect the president to do anything.
That’s not exactly a surprise.
Consider how he’s behaved in other areas: With Attorney General Eric Holder refusing to turn subpoenaed “Fast and Furious” documents over to the House, for example, Obama asserted executive privilege.
Kathleen Sebelius can breathe easy.