Posted on 12/15/2017 9:38:29 PM PST by Oshkalaboomboom
The time is now to make a change.
Regardless of their career, women have had it with being diminished, condescended to, passed over, and belittled. They have had it with inappropriate touching, leering words, innuendos, and emotional or verbal abuse. Regardless if it’s the entertainment world, a school, a doctor’s office, a bank, or Capitol Hill, women have a right to expect behavioral decency in the workplace. Throughout my career, whether in the private or public sector, I have sought to encourage women in the workplace. An acceptance of seediness and vulgarity has seeped into our culture, and now it is up to us to take a stand against it. Enough is enough.
I have spoken to so many women around my district who are at the end of their careers. They are now thrilled that their daughters and granddaughters will have someone to listen to their complaint when they report men behaving badly. It is time. Shame on us if we let this opportunity pass and not change the workplace culture.
To be elected a representative and to fight each and every day on Capitol Hill for the people I serve is truly something I will forever be grateful for. Elected officials owe it to their constituents to work as hard as they can each and every day. We are here to serve and listen to their concerns.
I felt disgust and disappointment when I heard there was a secret hush fund for members of Congress to settle sexual harassment and sexual assault claims. It highlights why D.C. truly is “the swamp”.
The Congressional Accountability and Hush Fund Elimination Act is a step in the right direction. I, like many members of Congress, had no idea this hush fund even existed. It is part of the Office of Compliance, and $17 million of taxpayer money has been used to settle claims against members of Congress. While we don’t know how much was used for sexual harassment and sexual assault settlements, it is something that we are going to find out, and we are going to require that those Members who did use this fund pay back this money to the American people- with interest. It will also prevent settlements of this kind in the future, bringing accountability and transparency to the process.
One of the most important parts of this act is that it will no longer require women who step forward with a sexual harassment or sexual assault claim to sign a non-disclosure agreement. They will not be silenced. It will also expose members of Congress who used this fund as a personal bailout. It will not, however, expose the victims’ names. If they want to step forward, that is their choice.
It is time for us to take active steps to ensure there is a workplace culture that consists of respect and equal treatment. This starts within the halls of Congress. We need to set a standard that tells the rest of the world that mistreatment of women will not be tolerated. Women should feel free to step forward and make their voices heard, knowing there will be transparency throughout the process, but also knowing they will not be hurt by the process. The American people, equally, should know that their hard-earned money is not being used for a secret hush fund, to bail out an elected member when they behave in a wrong way.
We have reached a tipping point. As a conservative woman who has worked hard my whole life to fight these unacceptable standards, I am proud that there can finally be a change, so let’s pass this bi-partisan legislation. We must create a system of accountability and transparency so every American can thrive. Sexual harassment isn’t something we should just accept as a consequence of putting men and women together in a work environment.
“It will not, however, expose the victims’ names. If they want to step forward, that is their choice.”
As a society, we are trying to figure out what standards of evidence (if any) to apply to these cases. “Beyond a reasonable doubt” may be too high. “Preponderance of evidence” may also be too demanding a standard. “Story sounds plausible” is too low. But a separate issue is whether the accused gets a chance to confront the accuser and try to refute the charges. In my opinion, anonymous denunciations are inherently dangerous. It may be hard, but if you have a problem, you have to step forward and make your case publicly. Those (and there may be many) who are too weak or too afraid to defend themselves may wind up without effective redress, and I feel sympathy for anyone in that situation. I don’t know any answer for them except to encourage them to be strong and stand up for themselves in the face of what amounts to bullying, or to accept their fate in silence if they can’t. Anonymous charges are too prone to abuse to be a workable answer.
Ryan Lizza, a major writer for the New Yorker lost his job with them, plus his teaching job at Georgetown University, plus his appearances on CNN and MSNBC all in one morning due to allegations from a woman who shielded her identity and made her charges through her attorney. We can’t know who she is and his career goes from great to non-existent in no time at all and without any due process that I can see. He may richly deserve it, but we have no way of knowing.
I have been in the professional world for almost 30 years. I literally have no idea whT these idiots are talking about. Never been touched, commented to, harassed, etc... in fact I MUCH prefer working with men to women- who are catty, annoying and cause unwanted drama in the workplace. In fact, my only negative encounters in the workplace have been with other women- never men!
Wouldn’t it be funny if that burka clad one was a naked man and a flasher?
Marsha Blackburn is my Rep and she sure will get my vote next year to become my Senator. She always represented my town and county very well. I am convinced she will continue to do so as Senator. Unlike that RINO that she is replacing
I got a money request letter from Marsha yesterday. I guess I’ll send her some money
Tennessee is a Republican state and so far the GOPe candidate has not come forward. As a general rule,Marsha cannot win because she is not sufficiently Republican
So did I, and so will I.
Yeah, sure. And what about the women who falsely accuse men?
Dress codes, ethics and moral codes and office rules need to be reviewed or overhauled.
With the ignorance of and the loss of the desire to lead a Christian life, all day long, the virtues are neither taught nor sought, and evidently not practiced. Therefore, the unchurched or the non-practicing are behaving as heathens will behave.
The gang assault on men all at once by career climbing, publicity seeking women, with their decades old tales of “harassment” seems organized, perhaps Alinsky inspired.
PS: For your ping list, please.
Sunday night, at 9 PM Eastern, CSPAN II, After Words Program,
Author, Keith Koffler, BANNON: Always the Rebel, will be interviewed by Louie Gomert.
You’re quite right. But, surely, this tax payer funded slush fund was not by vote. There are insurance policies to be taken out in the light of day aren’t there?
Not sure I understand your post on this thread-—
However, IF your car is older, you may need to check & see if using Synthetic oil is OK. Newer cars have tighter clearances in the moving parts of the engines & they use synthetic oil.
Older cars have a larger clearance, and synthetic oil doesn’t work for them. Ask an engine builder——NOT an auto parts sales counter person.
Same for me- but for a much longer time—over 60 years.
The biggest part that is bothering me is that “None of the Congressional Leaders knew about these taxpayer payouts”.
I find that very difficult to believe.
SOOOO—ALL of the persons who needed these payouts were ALL not high up in Congressional halls? Only the lowly?
I am not buying that, either.
Thee was a vote to create both of these “Offices” & there had to be a vote to hire staff & a vote for a budget.
Either members of Congress are voting willy-nilly for spending taxpayer money or they are trying to cover up for themselves.
Every single aspect of this has to be exposed.
IMO, this is bigger than Watergate because it involves far more people & is a rip off of taxpayer money.
Heads should roll, and I want both Paul Ryan & Mitch McConnell on the hot seats—along with prior Speakers of the House & Senate leaders.
IF they did not know of these payouts-—does that mean there is a SHADOW GOVERNMENT within Congress itself—doing as it pleases with taxpayer money???
As a life long bookkeeper/accounting person, this is embezzlement. I want charges brought & every single person who got money paid out in heir behalf exposed, kicked out of Congress, and they all must pay the monies back with interest.
SOMEONE had to vote to create this ‘office’ & vote to staff it & vote to let this money be paid out.
WHO signed the checks or signed/approved the electronic transfer of funds???
What various budgets did the money come from??????
Who signed off on $220,000 payout in behalf of Hastings bad behavior. ????
This cannot happen in a vacuum. Someone handled it. Someone voted on the origination of these 2 ‘offices’ in the first place.
I was speaking of a public vote for such a thing.
There was none.
Representatives are saying they never heard of this arrangement and are calling for an investigation and a vote to stop this mis-use of tax payer money footing the bill.
I was saying the vote to stop it will sail through the House. That’s all. It isn’t
exactly a vote of courage, but one of common sense that no one dare vote against if they expect to get themselves re-elected.
So many children in women's bodies.
Meaning men can kiss "due process" goodbye.
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