Posted on 11/16/2017 2:16:37 PM PST by Hojczyk
State governments’ practice of spending taxpayer funds to settle sexual harassment lawsuits against legislators and staff has created an uproar in California’s Legislature and other statehouses around the country. Now a picture is emerging of how the U.S. Congress is doing the same thing, with less fanfare and even less transparency.
Democratic Rep. Jackie Speier of Hillsborough said Wednesday that over the last 20 years, Congress has settled 260 complaints of workplace discrimination “at a cost to taxpayers of this country of $15 million,” reiterating a figure she quoted on NBC Tuesday. But it’s unclear how many of those complaints were related to sexual harassment, versus racial or other forms of discrimination, because Congress doesn’t release that information, nor is it subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.
As of now, even members of Congress like Speier don’t have access to that information. The Ethics Committees in the House and Senate can access records from the OOC. But per House rules, the only lawmakers who are allowed to review the settlements are the chairman and ranking member of the House Administration Committee, which oversees the chamber’s internal operations. The funding for the settlements comes from a Treasury Department account dedicated to court judgements and settlements against the federal government. The current Administration Committee chairman, Republican Rep. Gregg Harper of Mississippi, has yet to receive any settlement requests since taking over at the beginning of 2017.
(Excerpt) Read more at mcclatchydc.com ...
$15 million , so how big is Congress’s Slush Fund anyway
“Republican Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania said Wednesday. “I think all of our constituents will want to know that we take that obligation seriously.”
“WE TAKE THAT OBLIGATION SERIOUSLY!” Another group of words when spoken by a member of our government cause me to convulse with laughter. The ONLY THINGS TAKEN SERIOUSLY are their individual self-preservation and compensation.
“$15 million , so how big is Congress’s Slush Fund anyway”
This is rounding error!
The fact that this ran in McClatchy popped my eyes open.
The Swamp is teetering.
So when are we going to get an accounting of how our money is being used to get these slimeballs out of a jam? Crickets...
As our President would (will) say, “It’s rigged!”
We’re starting to see why the first thing the GOP tried to do after the 2016 elections was shut down the so called “Congressional Ethics Department”. Too many government bureaucrats and politicians sitting around on their @$$es all day doing nothing. If there were “ethics” in the District of Corruption, they’d be no politicians there. Normal, “hardworking, middle class” Americans would be running that joint.
Is I said on another post: How about one of the conservative millionaire/billionaire donor types do a full bore opposition research on every dem congress critter and see what they come up with. Do a bimbo eruptions unit and have Steponallofus run it, or better yet Hillary, or at least she could consult. lol They play dirty, lets go after them for once. Alinsky back at 'em!
Know your place, Plebe!
Nice to see the beltway pigs exempted themselves in the FOIA. Scum. They are pathetic beyond words.
This amount includes a lot more than “ sex harassment”.
OSHA, etc.
“...$15 million , so how big is Congress’s Slush Fund anyway...”
Well, to put it in perspective: That $15 million would be like 15 cents to the normal working person. Yeah, that’ how the UniParty spends our hard-earned tax dollars. Nice, huh? Every one of those low-life SOBs ought to be tried and have to pay for it all with their OWN money, not ours.
Don’t worry, we’ll teach ‘em in the midterms by re-electing most of them.
Publish the list and let the winter of furflying hysteria commence.
Surely sex can distract us from the Dems being in bed with Canada, the Russians, The brits and the Hexicans to steal elections and slander good citizens. Pitting the hetero women against the hetero men ? It’ll be more amusing than a Vick dogfight. And the genderwierd will be giggling in the wings sipping pina coladas with little umbrellas, waiting to dry the tears, or more. (And notice there are no headlines against gay men or gals harassing gals and guys, although it’s rampant and everyone knows it.) Just one more thing to give thanks for this Thanksgiving. Another American spectacle to entertain the world. (do I need the /s?)
Time to step through the door you opened, Dems. But we should warn you, The Trump Train can smell a red herring a mile away. So get on with your petty little sex games, have fun with the headlines, and we’ll keep on multi-tasking and chipping away, one sliver at a time.
MAGA!
The funding for the settlements comes from a Treasury Department account dedicated to court judgements and settlements against the federal government.
This means President Donald J Trump can PUBLISH AND RELEASE the Records with Impunity. He Alone is in Charge of the Treasury Department, It is the Executive Branch!!!
President Trump,
Please RELEASE THE RECORDS OF PAYMENT
The fund needs to be funded by the fines leveled at congressional Senators and Representatives, not by taxpayers and there needs to be full disclosure so that constituents can vote them out.
Well maybe this is how they keep people in line to vote..vote are way or else
Perks for Pervs
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