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Sen. Silverstein loses leadership slot, interim IG to be appointed as soon as next week

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Illinois

* Press release…

Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton announced Wednesday that Senator Ira Silverstein will no longer serve on the Senate Democratic leadership team. Senator Silverstein resigned from the Majority Caucus Chair post effective immediately.

The post carries a $20,649 annual stipend. It will remain vacant for the immediate future.

Cullerton also announced that a professionally led sexual harassment awareness training seminar for senators will be scheduled for next week. The Senate is in session next week.

In addition, Cullerton anticipates an interim legislative inspector general will be named as soon as next week to fill a vacant investigative post. Cullerton said the expected hiring comes after three candidates had turned down the job in the past year. All four legislative leaders must approve the hiring of a legislative inspector general.

“It’s our duty to fill that post. I take responsibility for my role in that lapse, and I apologize for it,” Cullerton said. “These corrective actions are a first step in changing an unacceptable culture that has existed for too long.”

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:02 pm

Comments

– These corrective actions are a first step in changing an unacceptable culture that has existed for too long —

Notice the passive voice.

Comment by JB13 Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:12 pm
Lot of catch-up being played here.

The “no IG, no official complaint” dodge is pathetic. So is the remarkable lack of curiosity by members of the Legislative Ethics Commission.

I find it very hard to believe that in the gossip-crazy environment of the GA that plenty of legislators on both sides of the aisle did not know about these complaints - or maybe they just willfully avoided knowing about them like the plague.

Actions so far are too little, too late. Full disclosure is needed and let the chips fall where they may.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:15 pm
How many of the 27 will lose their Leadership posts?

Comment by 27 Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:17 pm
-How many of the 27 will lose their Leadership posts?-

Fair question. I’m wondering if those 27 complaints were from 27 individuals or multiple complaints filed against 4-8 (etc.) legislators?

Comment by The Muse Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:21 pm
Next week, while they are working on appointing a new IG and having sexual harassment training, they should also pass a resolution so they can release details on those 27 complaints. It’s their IG, they can change the rules and let us see how bad this all is.

Comment by transparency Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:24 pm
This is not meant to say what happened is ok but if you look at founded reports, they are of legislative employees doing political work on state time and the like, so it is not likely these are 27 sexual harassment claims against legislators. It could be a variety of complaints. Again, none of that is to say it was ok to leave position vacant since 2014.

Comment by Thinking Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:24 pm
He will be at 20 years of service when his term ends in 2019 so if he resigned his seat now he could do the buyout & get the full 85% boat.

Does the stipend count towards pensionable salary - if it did, he should resign his seat immediately too so his pension has a $20k higher base?

Any GARS experts in here?

Comment by Fax Machine Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:25 pm
Fax Machine-

It’s highest X years of salary earnings… it won’t matter if he resigns his leadership post at this point.

Comment by transparency Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:28 pm
Finally, some payback for all the lies I paid Rich to write about Senator Silverstein.

Comment by Quizzical Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:31 pm
“Release the details on the 27 complaints” OK.

What if the evidence shows a certain number are unsubstantiated after investigation?

This certainly speaks to the necessity of the Leg IG in which there are guidelines for investigation and public disclosure.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:33 pm
===Notice the passive voice.===

No. I did notice this however:

“It’s our duty to fill that post. I take responsibility for my role in that lapse, and I apologize for it.”

He’s not ducking this. He’s not saying “mistakes were made.”

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:34 pm
low level-

Of course you’re right. Continuing the culture of silence and cover ups is the way to go.

Comment by transparency Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:34 pm
Lol. Of course, because someone said it it must be true.
Did i say cover up? No. Get the legis IG.

Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:35 pm
Hypothetically, say you’re a legislator or a staffer that I cant stand. To get back at you, I claim you’re engaged in harassment and political work on state time.

I file a complaint.

The news says “Transperacy charged w harrassmnet and misuse of resources”.

Later, its proven that I just didnt like you and the charges were bogus.

Where do you get your reputation back?

Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:41 pm
The only thing that surprises me about this “scandal” and the “scandal” in Hollywood is that people are outraged about the behavior.

Are people really this naive?

Politics and showbiz — among the sleaziest businesses in the world. Always have been; always will be.

Comment by How's it Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:42 pm
The reason grand jury proceedings are secret, unless and until indictments are issued,is the same reason ethics investigations should be secret, unless and until violations are proven.

If Silverstein is the only legislator sanctioned, then he’s bearing the sins for many of his current and former colleagues.

Comment by anon2 Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:48 pm
Seems like members of the Legislative Ethics Commission might want to familiarize themselves with their governing legislation and take a personal interest in their work.

From that legislation:

– (h) The Legislative Ethics Commission shall appoint an Executive Director subject to the approval of at least 3 of the 4 legislative leaders. The compensation of the Executive Director shall be as determined by the Commission. The Executive Director of the Legislative Ethics Commission may employ, subject to the approval of at least 3 of the 4 legislative leaders, and determine the compensation of staff, as appropriations permit.
(Source: P.A. 96-555, eff. 8-18-09.)–

Also:

– A vacancy occurring other than at the end of a term shall be filled in the same manner as an appointment only for the balance of the term of the Legislative Inspector General whose office is vacant. If the Office is vacant, or if a Legislative Inspector General resigns, the Commission shall designate an Acting Legislative Inspector General who shall serve until the vacancy is filled. The Commission shall file the designation in writing with the Secretary of State. –

And:

–Sec. 25-21. Special Legislative Inspectors General.
(a) The Legislative Ethics Commission, on its own initiative and by majority vote, may appoint special Legislative Inspectors General (i) to investigate alleged violations of this Act, if an investigation by the Inspector General was not concluded within 6 months after its initiation, where the Commission finds that the Inspector General’s reasons under Section 25-65 for failing to complete the investigation are insufficient and (ii) to accept referrals from the Commission of allegations made pursuant to this Act concerning the Legislative Inspector General or an employee of the Office of the Legislative Inspector General and to investigate those allegations.–

http://ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=000504300HArt.+25&ActID=2529&ChapterID=2&SeqStart=5200000&SeqEnd=7400000

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:49 pm
Silverstein needs to resign.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 5:59 pm
This has become a big issue in the UK as well…

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-politics-41831268

Comment by low level Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 6:00 pm
== investigations should be secret, unless and until violations are proven.==

That’s reasonable as long as there are, you know, investigations actually being conducted under a process with thoroughness, dignity and authority. That is not the case here, apparently. It’s not that exhaustive investigations are being conducted in secret while people await the results. It is that there are no investigations. Period. And to a lot of people that is starting to look like a feature of the program not a bug in the code.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 6:02 pm
==he’s bearing the sins for many of his current and former colleagues.==

No, he’s bearing the consequences of his own sins. Period.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 6:15 pm
-A remarkable lack of curiosity by members of the Commission-

I’m blown away by this as well, word. It will be interesting to see as the records open up how often they actually met, what was done at the meetings, what their Executive Director has been doing (besides ringing up OAG audit findings) and such.

Based on what I’ve seen so far, I could see the Commission reaching out to a retired military officer to be the perfect IG. You know him, Sgt. Hans Schultz.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 6:30 pm
Good, now who gets the leadership post? cause there are not enough women in leadership.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Nov 1, 17 @ 8:36 pm
3 women in leadership, 8 men, well, now 7. do better.

Comment by Amalia Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 8:07 am
If you do nothing else today read this article. The authors do a tremendous job of explaining the various duties of the Legislative Ethics commission and the Legislative Inspector General.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-capitol-sexual-harassment-changes-20171101-story.html

Comment by Baggs McCoy Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 8:18 am
==3 women in leadership, 8 men, well, now 7. do better.==

So, you’d be supporting the only female candidate running for governor, right?

Comment by VanillaMan Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 8:38 am
Sexual harassment training alone isn’t the answer. State employees are required to take annual sexual harassment, ethics, diversity training, etc. The problem is the tone at the top with management/leadership. The training is all cookie cutter common sense stuff. Many employees already had better ethics and other training as part of professional licensure requirements.

Comment by justacitizen Thursday, Nov 2, 17 @ 9:39 am