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Madigan asks Bustos, Mendoza and Ammons to “develop a plan for elevating the status of women in the party”

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* The Sun-Times broke a story earlier today about Speaker Madigan’s new letter to members of his state party’s central committee. Most of the letter restates what he told his own House members on Friday (click here to see a copy of that letter). The new Madigan letter is at the bottom of the Sun-Times story (click here). What’s new is in the excerpt below…

Dear Members of the Democratic State Central Committee:

I am writing to address the recent situation and call your attention to the issue of harassment and gender equality in the workplace. […]

As a first step, I have asked Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Comptroller Suzanna Mendoza, and State Representative Carol Ammons to take the lead on facilitating a statewide discussion about the role of women in the Democratic Party of Illinois, both as elected officials and campaign personnel (including contractors, employees, interns, and volunteers), and how we can work to change the culture of politics. Their mission is to develop a plan for elevating the status of women in the party and a strategy for making the party and campaigns more inclusive. This requires changing the culture and recognizing we can no longer employ the “business as usual” mentality with our campaigns or our political offices. Persons within our party should be rewarded for their value and contribution, regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation. It’s time to move beyond our current way of thinking. I recognize this change must start at the top, which means it starts with me and with each of you.

I am committed to working to find ways to change the culture and move the Party forward. Please reach out to me if you have any questions or need further information.

With kindest personal regards, I remain

Sincerely yours,

MICHAEL J. MADIGAN
Chair, Democratic Party of Illinois

* Rep. Ammons is an independent progressive Democrat who earlier this week called on the state party to come up with anti-sexual harassment procedures and “have a conversation about this issue.” She also said this, which likely got Madigan’s attention…

Ammons said all accusers need to come forward.

“Wherever they are, they need to come forward,” Ammons said, “so that we can clean the complete house of this issue of sexual harassment.”

* Comptroller Mendoza had this to say about the sexual harassment issue…

“Yeah, the state central committee should look into that,” Mendoza said, “but so should every single elected officer, whether they’re a statewide constitutional [officer], or just someone at home running for state [representative] to make sure there’s a policy in place for any of your employees, male or female, to be able to seek a thoughtful ear and know that there’s going to be a path to a resolution, one way or the other. I think that’s the biggest issue that’s failing right now.”

* US Rep. Bustos helped introduce the “Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act.”

…Adding… Chris Kennedy’s running mate responds…

Step one, elect new Chairman #Twill #ILGov https://t.co/mBfOtOK9ml

— Ra Joy (@Ra_Joy) February 18, 2018

* Related…

* Speaker Madigan: ‘I take responsibility’ for not doing enough on sexual harassment issue

* Harassment allegations roil Illinois politics

posted by Rich Miller
Saturday, Feb 17, 18 @ 7:05 pm

Comments

Dear Mr Speaker, if you take harassment - in all its forms - so seriously as you say, then the fact you’ve done nothing for 34 years of your 35 years as Speaker, then quit.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 8:49 am
White, male Chicago Machine Speaker Madigan asks women to come up with sexual harassment policy for women in the IL Dem Party. Next post, female IL Dem Party members ask white, male Chicago Machine Speaker Madigan to write the policy himself and then just go away…

Comment by E Pluribus Unum Tuesday, Feb 20, 18 @ 9:14 am