Amid sexual harassment allegations in his organization, House Speaker Michael Madigan trumpets

[TexasTowelie]

Amid sexual harassment allegations in his organization, House Speaker Michael Madigan trumpets signing of anti-harassment law


Facing extensive criticism for his political and government offices’ handling of sexual harassment allegations, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is trumpeting passage of sweeping anti-harassment legislation that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Friday.

Spurred by the #MeToo movement, allegations of sexual harassment have rocked Madigan’s inner circle since early last year, when he dismissed a top political operative following a campaign worker’s allegations. The Chicago Tribune reported last month that federal investigators are looking into $10,000 in payments from current and former Commonwealth Edison lobbyists — including longtime Madigan ally Michael McClain — to that operative, Kevin Quinn, after he was ousted from the speaker’s organization.

Against that backdrop, the speaker’s office released a statement Friday describing the legislation Pritzker signed as “a major package of stronger protections against sexual harassment and state ethics reforms championed by Speaker Michael J. Madigan and House Democrats.” In the statement, Madigan, who also leads the state Democratic Party, thanked “all those whose participation and ideas made this bill stronger.”

“Building better cultures is not a quick or easy job, but it is a necessary one,” Madigan said in the statement. “Harassment occurs in every workplace, and must be addressed in every workplace. It is not exclusively a public sector or private sector problem. It is not exclusively a Democratic or Republican problem. It is a challenge we all face. So it’s appropriate that this bill represents a truly collaborative effort of Democrats and Republicans, representatives and senators, public employers and private employers.”

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-jb-pritzker-sexual-harassment-law-michael-madigan-20190809-odmqtiil6jd5hpwzcpuv5244ca-story.html

[murielm99]

1. I am skeptical of some of these allegations.

Former governor Rauner was doing everything he could think of to oust the powerful Madigan. This was just one more thing.

[Thekaspervote]

2. So true! For all the terrible flack mr Madigan takes he's a good dem thru and thru

We got so we called old brucey ruiner .. which he certainly tried. So glad he’s gone