Accountability for Ethics Complaints Lacking

Governor’s Office Discusses Complaint Process

Governor Rauner took a beating from primary opponent and State Representative Jeanne Ives during a Tribune debate yesterday. Governor Rauner’s office also met with the House Harassment Task Force and the Department of Human Rights Monday regarding processes in place to log ethics complaints; some complaints could take up to seven years to resolve.

Bruce Rauner

Video of the Rauner/Ives Tribune debate can be found here.

An article from Illinois News Network:

There’s more fallout from the legislative inspector general report all but clearing state Sen. Ira Silverstein of harassment.

Silverstein, D-Chicago, was accused by anti-violence activist Denise Rotheimer that he abused his power by making unwanted sexual advances.

Following a harassment task force hearing Monday in Springfield, House Majority Leader Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, said she read the LIG’s report clearing Silverstein, and it’s “solid.”

“Was it behavior unbecoming, oh, I think no question about it,” Currie said. “Sophomoric behavior, generally speaking, does not sit well with grownups.”

Rotheimer said earlier during a news conference the LIG report from Julie Porter was incomplete, contradictory and full of errors.

She said people should be outraged.

Mike Madigan looks on as Denise Rotherimer speaks.

“But if this is how the legislators want to behave at the taxpayer expense while not wanting to provide us representation and incurring higher taxes because of all this misconduct and corruption, then it will be high time for the people to be outraged,” Rotheimer said.

The House harassment task force heard from the governor’s office and the Department of Human Rights Monday about the processes they have in place to log ethics complaints.

State Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez, R-Leland Grove, said it was startling to learn some complaints could take seven years to resolve.

“If you’re a victim in a case like this, you would want some answers before seven years,” Jimenez said.

Currie said the panel will try to get current LIG Porter to testify at an upcoming hearing.

“I would like to hear from her if she’s willing to be heard from about what changes she thinks may be needed in order for her to get the job done more effectively but at the same time with due process,” Currie said.

Currie noted that Porter is a temporary LIG. Porter filled the post that was vacant for nearly three years while more than two dozen complaints were filed against legislators that ended up collecting dust with some expiring before they could be investigated.

More harassment task force hearings are expected, but the next hearing has not been scheduled.

You can read more news from Illinois News Network at: www.ilnews.org


Comments

Accountability for Ethics Complaints Lacking — 2 Comments

  1. Jeanne “The Crusher” Ives will dispatch this RINO traitor, it’s only a matter of time.
    Tic Tock, Tic Tock, Tic Tock.

  2. Madigan looks like he just got back from a pornographers convention.

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