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The Supreme Court has never decided just how far the government can go in limiting the political rights of its employees. It seems clear, though, that it cannot forbid employees from simply expressing political opinions. For example, in Blaylock v. United States Merit Protection Board, 851 F. 2d 1348 (11th Cir. 1988) , the employee in question had written a series of anti-Reagan, pro-Mondale articles for the union newspaper. The appellate court held that these did not violate the Hatch Act (which governs the political activities of federal employees) , but that even if they had, there would be a serious constitutional problem in disciplining an employee based on political expression. In another case, Rogerski v. Board of Fire and Police Commissioners of Moline, 6 Ill. App. 3d 604, 285 N.E. 2d. 230 (1973) , the State court declared that it was unconstitutional to fire a police officer because he had broken a departmental rule by engaging in a casual political discussion with a member of the public. As a general rule, the expression of political opinions by an off-duty government employee will be protected under the First Amendment if it is not part of an organized political campaign. Blaylock. The constitutional issues are not critical in Hawaii because there is a State statute which places some express limitations on the political activities of members of the civil service but which at the same time grants considerable rights. H.R.S. §76-91 provides: Political Activities. No person in the civil service shall (1) use his official authority or influence for the purpose of interfering with an election or affecting the result thereof; (2) use his official authority or influence to coerce the action of any person or party; (3) be obliged to contribute to any political fund or to render any political service, nor shall he be removed or otherwise prejudiced for refusing to do so or (4) solicit or receive any ' political contribution from any officer or employee, or from any person in any State or County building or from any person receiving any benefit under any law of the State appropriating funds for relief or public assistance or discriminate in favor of, or against any officer or employee on account of political contribution. The foregoing prohibited activities shall not be deemed to preclude the right of any person in the civil service to vote as he chooses and to express his opinions on all political subjects and candidates, nor, to be a member of any political party, organization or club. Any person in the civil service may make voluntary contributions to a political organization for its general expenditures. "Contribution" includes a 69.6 . -2-