* NBC Chicago…
Jessica Dixon Heitman, the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator Alan Dixon, was appointed to replace Benton and will have her name instead of his on the November ballot. Questions have surfaced about not only why did it take Welch three years to call for Benton’s ouster, but also why did the Speaker of the House interact with that same former Benton staffer by liking her social media activity with heart emojis?
“If you are in a leadership position,” [Heitman said] “you shouldn’t be sending any sort of responses to any of your staff’s social media, whether you’re a male or a female.”
Governor Pritzker weighed in as well [yesterday].
“The Speaker has a responsibility to be utterly and completely transparent about the situation to make sure that he is letting the public know, as well as in particular his members know exactly what happened.”
- just because - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:16 pm:
Good advise jdh but have to wonder if you knew about the creepy situation in Benton’s office and that is why you left,why did you not report it and be sure something was done to stop it. We need to start having people that see something say something and do something or things are never going to change.
- Save Ferris - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:21 pm:
Saw the Speaker at Lou Mitchell’s this morning. He was on a plate smothered in butter and jam.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:23 pm:
===,why did you not report it ===
Because the victim asked her not to.
We have covered this topic before.
- Tammy - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
Gonna be interesting to see if she takes support from Welch. Doing so would make it easy for the GOP to tie her to the Benton mess. She’s more politically sophisticated than the average newcomer. Would not be surprised if she figures out a work-around. Either way, it won’t be a good look for the Speaker.
- Resign - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:28 pm:
JDH sounds like she might be willing to consider others for Speaker when that time comes. I was shocked that they funded him during the last cycle. The emojis are just the icing on the cake.
- Alton Sinkhole - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:32 pm:
I am asking this honestly: Is Welch’s behavior (liking female staffers photos with heart eyes) not worse than what Madigan ultimately lost the spearkship for?
Note, I’m not saying Madigan’s corruption.
- low level - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:39 pm:
I really like Chris Welch but this is very not good. It sure doesn’t sound like JDH will be voting for him for Speaker but we will see. I dont see how this ends well for him.
- Pundent - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:42 pm:
Heitman’s take on the situation is spot on. Welch should know better. If he can’t demonstrate the judgment expected of a mid-level manager he certainly shouldn’t be in a position with this much responsibility and power.
- Downstate - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 2:54 pm:
Good for you, Rep. Heitman.
Bigger than the emoji is the fact that he invited her to meet him in the bar portion of a restaurant. The connotations, inherent in that location, proffered from a married man to a (presumably) single woman, speak loudly to intent.
- Alton Sinkhole - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 3:22 pm:
Say what you may about Madigan but keeping a flip phone was a surefire way to avoid liking photos of young staffers as a married man….
- Bagger Vance - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 3:26 pm:
=== Because the victim asked her not to. ===
We have discussed this elsewhere Rich, and Heitman’s position is different because it sounds like she was in that office as a volunteer.
But just to be clear, managers and supervisors are mandated by law to report sexual harrassment to HR, even if the victim does not want it reported. That is covered in every annual sexual harrassment training in State government I believe.
What is broken in the General Assembly is that Welch essentially works for Benton and the other members.
The best parallel I can come up with is if you worked for a non-profit, and you were sexually harassed by a board member. Well…the Executive Director is hired, fired, and given raises by the board. So there is an inherent conflict.
That is why I suggested earlier we completely remove the speaker’s HR department from adjudicating hostile workplace and sexual harrassment complaints where the alleged perpetrator is a legislator. If HR recieves a complaint and its regarding a legislator, automatically kick it to the Inspector General.
- Arvey’s Legacy - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 3:39 pm:
What does a head slam against the bar counter emoji look like?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 3:42 pm:
===managers and supervisors are mandated by law to report sexual harrassment to HR===
Not in House district offices. There is no HR for them.
- Friendly Bob Adams - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 4:09 pm:
I’m reading Pritzker’s comment as “You’re on your own, Chris.”
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 4:17 pm:
Getting a sense of a bigger story here. Welch likely has an as yet unknown problem, and his hesitancy to act is the biggest indicator of that. We’ll see, stuff always comes out.
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 4:30 pm:
“The Speaker has a responsibility to be utterly and completely transparent about the situation to make sure that he is letting the public know, as well as in particular his members know exactly what happened.” - JB
Forecast?…still hazy.
- Lord of the Fries - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 4:34 pm:
*insert Mark Ruffalo “they knew and they let it happen” gif* not doing something about it allows Benton to be a creep towards other women… as we’ve seen
As to Pritzker, he’s running for Prez, he’s not jeopardize his chances by defending Welch, wouldn’t be surprised if he calls on him to resign eventually
- Regular democrat - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 4:36 pm:
I appreciate the governors handling of this situation. His position on the situation has been firm and has shown real leadership. Im sure the speaker is feeling the pressure. Good for him.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 4:48 pm:
===Is Welch’s behavior (liking female staffers photos with heart eyes)===
I think you may be cherry picking.
- Pork Belly Futures - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 6:21 pm:
Based on what he is saying to his caucus it seems the Speaker’s career rides on the LIG report lining up with his actions as presented to the Democratic Caucus. I for one will let this play out a bit before judgement. As for googlie eye emoji’s, I’ll let Judge Raines-Welch rule on that.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 6:21 pm:
===the granddaughter of former U.S. Senator Alan Dixon===
What I do love about Illinois politics is that we give up on pretending that there is any pretense of any other reason for her appointment beyond who her grandpappy was.
===I think you may be cherry picking. ===
I’m waiting for the “who among us” defenses to start.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 6:24 pm:
===any other reason for her appointment beyond===
I’m told by labor that she had a lot of local support.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 6:47 pm:
===I’m told by labor that she had a lot of local support.===
She’s in the office and on the ballot. This close to election I take everything with extra salt. I know it’s not healthy, but it just tastes better.
- K3 - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 7:31 pm:
===I’m told by labor that she had a lot of local support.===
I’m sure her family had nothing to do with that local (and labor) support
- Pundent - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 7:53 pm:
=we give up on pretending that there is any pretense of any other reason for her appointment beyond who her grandpappy was.=
Oh please. Alan Dixon died 12 years ago and left the Senate over 30 years ago. Suggesting that the familial connection is the only reason that his granddaughter was selected is a bit of a stretch.
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 10:18 pm:
===Suggesting that the familial connection is the only reason that his granddaughter was selected is a bit of a stretch.===
If you want to suggest nepotism had nothing to do with it and her career in Illinois politics prior to her appointment, okay. That’s fine. I don’t gain anything from tearing down your fantasies. But I do hope you agree if your grand daddy was a Senator that some things do come a bit easier.
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 10:22 pm:
===I’m sure her family===
Kinda hard to do that from his grave.
Her father is a lobbyist, but, sheesh maybe she actually did the work to build local support? Or would that only be a man?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Jul 23, 26 @ 10:25 pm:
=== her career in Illinois politics prior to her appointment===
She worked on Senate comms staff for a bit and I think maybe before that on House staff. Then, years later, she got a job working at Harry’s office.
Hardly a career.
Yeah, her name is Dixon. She’s proud of her heritage. But gramps is long gone.
- Billy the Kid - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 1:09 am:
Well said Downstate…while he may be in trouble with Judge Raines Welch, he has a bigger problem than LIG report, why did he asked to meet this young victim, a married man, via an encrypted tool, at the bar of a suburban restaurant?
Female House caucus members?? Who will stand up in addition to Rep. Canty?
- Frida's Boss - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 2:01 am:
Speaker has all the cash. No one will push him out until after the election. There’s only like $1-2 million in caucus coffers. Not enough to cover targets and try to pick up seats. He has over $11-12 million in his personal account.
Is the women’s caucus going to deplete all their own personal resources to get new people elected or to pay for the targets?
Not if they can word jumble for the next 100 days, let him spend the money on campaigns, and then cap him at the knees on Nov 4.
- low level - Friday, Jul 24, 26 @ 2:06 pm:
==Not if they can word jumble for the next 100 days, let him spend the money on campaigns, and then cap him at the knees on Nov 4.==
Thats how i view it as well. Next January is what to look for.