Sebelius violated Hatch Act, OSC concludes

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated the Hatch Act, which prohibits certain political activity, when she made "extemporaneous partisan remarks" during a speech in her official capacity earlier this year, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel said Wednesday. The office sent an official report outlining the rare Hatch Act violation and Sebelius's response to President Barack Obama. The Office of Special Counsel said she made the political remarks in her capacity as a federal employee and thus violated the Hatch Act. If Sebelius had made those remarks in her personal capacity, they would have been acceptable.