Most people wouldn’t think to browse porn at work, but then again, most people aren’t federal employees.
Earlier this year it was discovered that one EPA official had been browsing pornography for two to six hours a day while at work and now Rep. Mark Meadows, (R-N.C.) has introduced a bill explicitly “prohibit[ing] the access of a pornographic or other explicit website from a federal computer.”
Meadows defends the measure as sadly necessary to ensure basic standards of professionalism, Government Executive reported.
“Allowing federal employees to access pornographic materials in the workplace creates an unprofessional and potentially hostile work environment for fellow workers,” Meadows told Government Executive. “This bill is a common-sense measure that ensures federal workers aren’t viewing pornographic materials on the taxpayers’ dime.”
Meadows’ proposed legislation requires that the Office of Management and Budget develop specific guidelines prohibiting viewing pornographic material on government devices excepting those computers “used for an investigative purpose that requires accessing a pornographic website.” The fact that it took a law to ensure such common-sense behavior is not lost on Meadows.
“It’s appalling that it requires an act of Congress to ensure that federal agencies block access to these sites at work,” Meadows said.
Meanwhile, the busted EPA employee has languished on paid administrative leave since May and has not yet been fired, according to Greenwire.
It’s just one more nail in the coffin of common sense.
A previous version of this story incorrectly listed Rep. Mark Meadows as Mark Matthews. It has been changed.
