SPRINGFIELD - Apparently the sexual harassment outrage has subsided in the Illinois House, as a measure proposed by State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) was stifled in the Illinois House Executive Committee Friday morning - effectively protecting harassers that have had complaints filed against them.
Executive Committee members include:
The following GOP House members co-sponsored the bill with Rep Ives: Barbara Wheeler, Sheri Jesiel, Margo McDermed, Rita Mayfield, Peter Breen, Mark Batinick, Reginald Phillips, Brad Halbrook, Mike Fortner, Allen Skillicorn, Randy E. Frese, John M. Cabello, Jerry Lee Long and Tim Butler. Democrat Linda Chapa LaVia made the measure bipartisan.
HB4840 was rejected unanimously by both Democrats and Republicans on the Executive Committee. Rep. Ives wrote the following on her Facebook page shortly after the bill was heard:
Today Denise Rotheimer testified on my bill, HB4840, that gives Illinois residents rights to notification, information, and participation in the process when they file a complaint with any Inspector General in state government.
Shamefully Republicans and Democrats all voted against the bill citing the task force working on the issue. This is an often used excuse to delay real action.
Here's the rub, Denise is the whistleblower who pushed for her complaint to be heard and only because she kept asking about it was it revealed that the Legislative Inspector General position was vacant for three years. But, for her diligence, we still would not know 27 complaints sat for up to three years unheard.
She was also the first person to go through the complaint process once an LIG was appointed. She had no rights in the process which is why she helped write HB4840.
Unbelievably, the Sexual Harassment Task Force has refused to have her testify.
Complaintants need rights now. Not after a task force of elected officials water down the issue.
