Don Browning misinformed...or lying ...again?

In a recent Don Browning, a local resident of Marion County Florida and a Republican Candidate for Congressional House District 6 has begun his attack game. It has become apparent his campaign has lacked traction with his lack luster platform and performance. Mr. Browning's new attack has accused his opponent Cliff Stearns "was using paid congressional staffers for campaign purposes- a possible violation of House rules prohibiting such activity".1 Either Don Browning is misinformed or he has attempted to launch intentional false claims against his opponent. Let's look at the House Rules regarding staff members campaigning:

Campaign Work by House Employees Outside the Congressional Office and on Their Own Time

Once House employees have completed their official duties, they are free to engage in campaign activities on their own time, as volunteers or for pay, as long as they do not do so in congressional offices or facilities, or otherwise use official resources. Executive branch personnel are subject to restrictions on partisan political activity by the Hatch Act (5 U.S.C. § 7321 et seq.), but those restrictions do not apply to congressional employees.16

It should be stressed that although House employees are free to engage in campaign activities on their own time, in no event may a Member or office compel a House employee to do campaign work. To do so would result in an impermissible official subsidy of the Member’s campaign.17 The prohibition against coercing staff or requiring staff members to do campaign work is quite broad. It forbids Members and senior staff from not only threatening or attempting to intimidate employees regarding doing campaign work, but also from directing or otherwise pressuring them to do such work.

What Is an Employee’s “Own Time”?

What constitutes a staff member’s “own time” is determined by the personnel policies that are in place in the employing office. Time that is available to a staff member, under those policies, to engage in personal or other outside activities may instead be used to do campaign work, if the individual so chooses. This free time may include, for example, a lunch period, time after the end of the business day, and annual leave. However, a Member may not adjust the work requirements of the congressional office, or add unpaid interns during the campaign, in order to create more “free” time for staff to do campaign work. To help ensure compliance with the rules, office policies on employee leave and other free time should be in writing and distributed to all employees.

For Don Browning to attempt to stop staff employees of campaigning would be a direct attack on the First Amendment. When any candidate has to use unwarranted attacks and falsehoods to attempt to win a campaign their lack of integrity is so loud I can't hear what they're saying.

Quote from The Jacksonville Observer August 8, 2010