Hatch Act Fallout - What is next.

Yesterday the Standard Examiner published an editorial calling on Senator Greiner to resign as the Ogden City Police Chief. The main concern is the potential loss of $215,000 in federal grant money. No one wants to lose this money and Senator Greiner has a tough decision to make. I spoke with him briefly on Tuesday night and I can tell this weighing on his mind. But what is the real fallout from this ruling on the Hatch Act.

The Standard Examiner did a good job pointing out all of the reasons Greiner needs to resign but I would like to take this discussion a little further. Realize first of all the $215,000 we get next year has already been spent. Since Greiner, according to my sources, has already spent over $250,000 just in legal fees. I would say he is good for one more year to fight this thing. But most importantly what about the scores of politicians and future politicians that are also in charge of federal grant money. What happens to them?

For example:

Terry Thompson and Brett Haycock, both running for Weber County Sheriff, are in charge of numerous federal grants that benefit our county. Do they need to resign if they want to run and if they don't are they in violation of the Hatch Act? Will we even have any candidates this year?

What about Legislators that run Non-profits that receive Federal Grant Money are they now in violation? Should they now resign?

I am willing to bet there are many other Hatch Act violations that now exists because of this ruling, will anyone call them out or has Greiner been unfairly attacked.

I open this up to debate for I don't think we realize how far this ruling will reach.

The Weber Country Forum had a great posts expanding on this topic: See Here