Ryca rear set problems

The right hand rear-set is giving me trouble when I use the foot brake pedal. Since the peg rotates with the pedal, the weight/drag of my right foot on the peg keeps the pedal from coming back smoothly and fully. The pedal comes back all the way when I’m off the bike and I try it with my hand, but not so when underway.

First: is it normal for the foot peg on a rear set to rotate when you move the pedal? Stock bikes don’t do this and I’m pretty sure high-end rear sets don’t either.

Second (and most importantly): How do I make the Ryca brake pedal work properly without lifting my foot (awkward and unsafe to do) each time I use the rear brake?