Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Panel’s focus shifting away from sexual harassment and toward access

Posted in:

Illinois

* From the Anti-Harassment, Equality and Access Panel’s website…

The panel will put forth a set of recommendations intended to:

— Promote and support a culture of equality, safety and respect in Illinois politics free of sexual harassment.

— Improve the process for combating and reporting sexual harassment in Illinois political campaigns.

— Increase the number of women in leadership positions and those on track to leadership positions at all levels of Illinois politics by expanding access and tools for professional and leadership development.

— Facilitate more women running for office in Illinois by identifying and reducing structural obstacles that prevent them from doing so.

* Alee Quick at the Southern Illinoisan…

In response to the national and state harassment allegations, two lawmakers and the state comptroller are traveling Illinois, gathering stories from women in politics — or who want to be in politics — about barriers that keep them out of leadership roles. The Anti-Harassment, Equality and Access Panel has held meetings in Champaign, Chicago and the Metro East, and will next hear stories from women in Springfield and Carbondale.

And, as it turns out, those stories are about a whole lot more than sexual harassment.

Comptroller Susana Mendoza told me on Monday that the panel’s work has become about elevating women into leadership positions around the state — with the eventual goal of Illinois becoming the first state to boast a majority of women in the Legislature. […]

[Mendoza] says one goal of the panel is to find ways parties can actively encourage women to get involved.

“(Sexual harassment) is an issue that is pervasive across … parties, industries, public and private — it just exists everywhere,” Mendoza says. “What we can do to address sexual harassment is look at the (political) party structure.”

“We’re going to do something really amazing that no one has ever done,” she says. “And get behind this effort of putting more women in office, and doing it intentionally.”

* Doug Finke…

The panel came to Springfield Monday to get input from Springfield-area women about their experiences being involved in politics and public service and steps that can be taken to improve the experience. Springfield is the fifth location for the listening sessions and two more are planned.

“We’re trying to develop policies and guidelines for political parties that are more inclusive for women and that will remove barriers so that more women will feel comfortable working in politics and running for office,” Bush said.

“We started out really focused on the whole issue of sexual harassment,” Mendoza said. “In terms of the panel’s work itself and the people who come to talk to us, it’s amazing how more of the conversation has shifted to the barriers to entry to politics. The fact that there are not enough women in politics seems to be an issue that keeps coming up over and over again.”

In the Illinois General Assembly, 35 percent of lawmakers are women. That puts Illinois sixth among states with the largest percentage of female lawmakers. Bush said it isn’t enough.

“Our representation should look like us,” she said. “We’re 51 percent of the population.”

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 12:37 pm

Comments

Did Melinda Bush’s white male chief of staff write that? Or was it her white male district director (who somehow ended up on the ballot for county board)?

Comment by Hmmm Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 12:41 pm
Exactly what we should have expected. This panel is being used as a distraction and no real change is going to come from it.

Don’t worry about the touching. Don’t worry about the bullying. Don’t worry about the culture. Let’s just elect more women! That’s the solution.

Let’s remember what necessitated this “Panel”. Alaina Hampton was harassed while she was working for Juliana Stratton, by a male supervisor. Tim Mapes was a staffer, not an elected official. Sure, more women leaders will likely help. But focusing on electing more women totally ignores that how women are treated in Springfield and on campaigns in Illinois has been a massive problem that has been obvious to anyone paying attention.

This is gross. Comptroller Mendoza should be ashamed. And I expected a lot more from Senator Bush.

Move along… nothing to see here.

Comment by Anonchalant Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 12:53 pm
=== “Our representation should look like us,” she said. “We’re 51 percent of the population.” ===

Interesting principle — if it were applied across the board. There would be more Asian-Americans in the legislature, as well as more immigrants, and maybe a Muslim, with less representation from proportionately overrepresented groups.

Comment by anon2 Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 12:59 pm
Panel’s focus shifts from politically hazardous issue and towards something politically advantageous

Comment by Zeep Bow Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:05 pm
Bustos leaving this group was an excellent political decision. I can’t believe they are transitioning away from sexual harassment to electing more women. All that’s missing is a mission accomplished banner.

Comment by Almost the weekend Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:14 pm
Term limited state legislatures enjoy greater diversity.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:15 pm
Women: hey, we’ve been having conversations with women in poltics and they say this is a way to help deal with long standing issues of institutional sexism that allows for mistreatment, harassment, bullying and otherwise boys club of the Capitol that the national #metoo movement brought to light.
Men on this blog: booooo if you’re not calling for someone to be publicly flayed you’re doing it wrong. These women are clearly all just shrinks for the Speaker with no thoughts of their own

*head hits desk over and over*

Comment by Ughhhhhhhhhh Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:21 pm
==“Our representation should look like us,” she said. “We’re 51 percent of the population.”==

If only they were 51% as interested in running for public office…

Maybe the best first rule of candidates ought to be, “you shouldn’t have to get talked into running”. Women who are interested seem to do well. When it’s not their idea in the first place, they do as well as men who get talked into running.

Gotta want it.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:33 pm
“Comptroller Susana Mendoza told me on Monday that the panel’s work has become about elevating women into leadership positions around the state — with the eventual goal of Illinois becoming the first state to boast a majority of women in the Legislature. […]”

Nevada may beat Illinois in that race.

https://www.rgj.com/story/news/politics/2018/07/23/nevada-legislature-elect-first-female-majority/801728002/

Comment by a drop in Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:41 pm
To the shift:
I give them this. It’s the most transparent pivot I might have ever seen. Ugh.

Comment by A guy Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:41 pm
The panel tasked with investigating sexual harassment is doing exactly what the sexual harassers want?

Is this a joke?

Comment by Only in Illinois Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 1:51 pm
Seems to me they are taking direction from the people interacting with the panel and unless someone who has participated says otherwise I don’t see anything wrong with that.

Comment by Procker Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 2:06 pm
Only in Illinois, its not the panel’s job to investigate sexual harassment. It is the panel’s job to find ways to combat sexual harassment going forward.

My guess is that a lot of women feel that if the party establishment is run by a bunch of old white guys, it makes it more of a challenge to have harassment appropriately dealt with when it does occur.

And what is it that the panel is saying that the harassers want? Are you suggesting more women in politics leads to more sexual harassment?

Comment by Juice Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 2:19 pm
Why no Republican women on this panel? This shouldn’t be a partisan matter but the makeup of this panel seems to be a clearly partisan perspective.

Comment by SuburbanRepublican Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 2:26 pm
@Juice Melinda Bush has hired white males as her top staff. She’s also taken thousands from Madigan. Total hypocrite. *sad trombone*

Comment by Hmmm Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 2:31 pm
Whoa, whoa, whoa! Hey male commentators, the panel is talking to real WOMEN about what changes they - not YOU - want to see in Illinois politics. Changing the sexual harassment culture is one thing and raising women up through the ranks to more leadership positions and to office is part of that equation. Get used to it. Party bosses should embrace it. Stop trying to change the narrative because you don’t own it.

And Melinda Bush trolls, go back to the hole you crawled out from. Glad to see such a strong woman turn you into such scaredy cats.

Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 3:00 pm
===Why no Republican women on this panel? ===

It was formed by Madigan. Also, the GOP leaders didn’t come forward to offer any.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 3:05 pm
@Shytown Why are you afraid of addressing the facts? Melinda Bush has been a hypocrite on this. She expects certain behavior from others but doesn’t practice what she preaches. You should complain to her, not about me.

Comment by Hmmm Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 3:16 pm
@Hmmm (Him)…She’s a fighter. Smart. Tough. Takes on her own party. no complaints on my end.

Comment by Shytown Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 3:20 pm
If you’re going to take a shot at the group at least provide an idea of what they could be doing better or an honest failing. Melinda Bush employing a man isn’t really addressing the bigger issues here.

Comment by Procker Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 3:36 pm
@Procker “more women will feel comfortable working in politics” >> Hiring women for top positions suddenly isn’t relevant? Really?

@Shytown You’re doing nothing but spin. How does taking thousands of dollars from Mike Madigan and his top lawyer (FACT) make Melinda Bush independent from her party? It doesn’t. But, yes, attack me or praise her without any facts. Just keep saying “tough” and “independent” and blah, blah, blah.

Comment by Hmmm Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 4:09 pm
Zeep Bow - Well said. Nothing more to add.

Comment by Ms Silence Dogood Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 4:20 pm
Had these reporters and the suddenly-concerned-about-women commenters here been paying attention from the beginning, they would have noted in the panel’s inaugural news release said, “The only significant and sustaining solution will be to change the dynamics and composition of leadership in politics.” In every statement, the panel has noted one of its main charges is to grow the number of women in leadership positions to help change the culture. Mendoza points out the stronger-than-expected focus by women who testify at the panel about the need to recruit more women for higher office. Some commenters appear far less interested in hearing from these women and far more interested in hijacking this issue as a vehicle to attack Madigan and every member of his party in Illinois. The panel, by contrast, appears focused on long-term solutions to solve the problem of sexual harassment.

Comment by History Buff Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 4:55 pm
In life when faced with a choice, you can take a risk or play it safe.

- Democrats playing it safe elected Donald Trump
- Democrats and Republicans playing it safe facilitates sexual harassment.

Illinois needs leaders willing to take risks. Hopefully some women with courage head this call.

Comment by Only in Illinois Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 5:13 pm
This panel has addressed many ways to prevent sexual harassment, encourage reporting and improve the outcome for victims. Additionally, elevating women is essential to stopping the sexism and sexual harassment in this arena. There is not much recourse when the person you are supposed to report to, is the person you need to report. I have never met anyone who so deeply cares about stopping sexual harassment and assault as these women.

Taking something awful and creating something positive is what we women do. While acknowledging the negative, we focus on forcing people to move forward. Thank you Senator, Representative, and Comptroller for your hard work. I am deeply appreciative.

Comment by Been There Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 7:46 pm
@HistoryBuff I don’t know if you’re referring to me or not. I was making my comments in good faith. I can’t speak for others. If the very person quoted and leading the panel doesn’t practice what she preaches, she puts the entire panel and mission in jeopardy. That’s no different than elected officials in both parties pushing something to be done but not doing it themselves. It’s hypocrisy, even if you like the goal and the people on the panel.

Comment by Hmmm Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 8:07 pm
Without transparency, both during the investigation, and after, there is no due protection afforded to wistleblowers in the legislative and executive inspector general processes.

The whole point of this commission was to change this process. But the general assembly told them not to, so they stopped. The status quo will continue. Victims will continue to be swept under the rug.

Comment by Only in Illinois Tuesday, Jul 24, 18 @ 9:28 pm
@OnlyinIllinois No, the whole point of the panel was not to “change this process” ie, investigations etc. Their focus is not on the legislature; it’s on campaigns and political organizations. There are already two other task forces addressing the process that the legislature should follow regarding sexual harassment claims. Facts please.

Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 11:25 am
@Shytown Put more women into power is not really a policy. It’s also not something Melinda Bush practices.

Comment by Hmmm Wednesday, Jul 25, 18 @ 3:43 pm