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The Madigan PR campaign continues

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Illinois

* Press release…

House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and members of the House Democratic Women’s Caucus are calling on the Trump administration to stop a plan to roll back protections against sexual harassment in public schools and college campuses.

Madigan, Assistant Majority Leader Kelly Burke and House education committee chairs Michelle Mussman, Rita Mayfield and Sue Scherer are working with the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) to submit public testimony to Trump’s Department of Education ahead of a vote this week on proposed rule changes that would make it harder for students to report abuse.

“Here in Illinois we have taken important steps to allow all students learn and reach their full potential in an environment free of harassment, but the Trump administration’s extreme ideology is threatening to take our schools backwards,” Madigan said. “No student should face harassment in school, but the administration’s onerous new rules would silence survivors and create an environment where unacceptable behavior is ignored, excused or accepted as normal. We will not sit back and allow this to happen.”

Madigan, Burke and fellow House Democrats have submitted letters decrying the Trump administration’s proposed changes to Title IX. Under the proposed rules, schools would no longer be required to take action on complaints made to teachers and counselors; only reports made to the few school employees with “authority to institute corrective measures” would require follow up. When an investigation does occur, the rules would require schools to assume no harassment had occurred, and schools would be encouraged to use a standard of proof the NWLC says “stacks the deck against survivors.” Additionally, schools would also be required to ignore harassment that occurs outside of a school activity, including most off-campus and online harassment, even if a student must see her assailant each day at school.

“The House Democratic Women’s Caucus and Speaker Madigan are dedicated to working together to create a culture free of harassment. But the Trump administration’s policies undermine these efforts in our schools, where we can least afford it,” Burke said. “The administration’s message to young people is that they should remain silent. In Illinois, we will do the opposite. We will speak up on behalf of survivors and continue to work toward a better culture for all.”

Citizens can join House Democrats in expressing concern about the Trump administration’s proposed changes to Title IX by joining NWLC letter campaign to submit testimony to the Department of Education at ilhousedems.com and facebook.com/HouseDemsIL.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 2:46 pm

Comments

#WokeMadigan

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 2:57 pm
Somebody in his caucus probably told him to either lead, follow or get out of the way, so he decided to follow.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:00 pm
That’s great. I’m happy for the federal workers who live in Illinois. But what about the state workers harmed by rauner? I know it’s hard to get zero pay and feel the pain all at once but we have lost so much more over 3.5 years. Didn’t we just have a gofundme for someone feeling the pain?

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:25 pm
Title IX has been a mess for years. Let the Feds keep trying to find a balance.

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:28 pm
how long until we get a “you like me, you really, really like me” speech?

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:28 pm
===That’s great. I’m happy for the federal workers who live in Illinois. But what about the state workers harmed by rauner? I know it’s hard to get zero pay and feel the pain all at once but we have lost so much more over 3.5 years. Didn’t we just have a gofundme for someone feeling the pain?===

Wrong post, but to that…

“I’m frustrated too but taking steps to reform Illinois is more important than a short term budget stalemate.”

Rauner and Munger agreed… and yet state employees were paid… imagine if it was zero during Rauner. It probably wouldn’t had gone two years, but…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:32 pm
I wonder how many ads we will see next election cycle about people voting to do away with due process, and liking kangaroo courts?

Comment by Fav Human Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:42 pm
Do people want to get rid of due process for the accused?

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 3:49 pm
Fav ans Steve: Title IX is not a criminal statute. No one is taking anyone’s liberty in Title IX.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 4:09 pm
“Do people want to get rid of due process for the accused?”

The ‘Me Too’ folks don’t want to get rid of it. They want to redefine it to mean always believe the accuser and then proceed with an investigation of the charges.

Comment by CapnCrunch Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 4:25 pm
===They want to redefine it to mean always believe the accuser and then proceed with an investigation of the charges.===

Another victim heard from.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 4:28 pm
“Another victim heard from.”

Just quoting ‘Me Too’ founder Tarana Burke. Can’t really speak to her victim status.

Comment by CapnCrunch Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 7:39 pm
–Do people want to get rid of due process for the accused?–

Of course, Tucker. Everybody’s out to get you.

What are you talking about, exactly? I’m pretty sure Larry Nassar and Jerry Sandusky got due process.

It would have been swell, though, if those real victims, those real young victims, over many decades, had more than one avenue to report abuse.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Jan 23, 19 @ 9:38 pm