A lobbyist who says she was sexually harassed by a state legislator requested Pennsylvania lawmakers Friday to strengthen the legislature’s misconduct coverage.
Andi Perez, a lobbyist for the labor union SEIU, described the harassment throughout a discussion board in Philadelphia organized by state Home Speaker Mark Rozzi (D., Berks). The occasion at St. Joseph’s College was a part of a “listening tour” Rozzi started this week to get enter from the general public about the way to reform Harrisburg.
Showing earlier than Rozzi and different lawmakers, Perez recounted how she was discussing laws with a sitting lawmaker outdoors the Capitol constructing when he harassed her.
“This lawmaker determined to caress my leg – I used to be carrying a skirt – all of the whereas telling me he was impressed by my ardour and data of the problems we have been discussing. … I moved away from him, hoping he would cease,“ Perez stated. “He didn’t.”
When Perez tried to file a grievance with the Home Ethics Committee, she stated, she was instructed that beneath Home guidelines, solely staff of the Home can file such complaints. “There was nothing within the Home guidelines that allowed management to formally take any additional motion,” she stated.
Perez stated she desires the Home guidelines to vary to “shield any individual from harassment from a lawmaker.”
She didn’t establish the legislator who harassed her.
On the conclusion of her remarks, Rozzi instructed her: “Thanks, Andi. Thanks on your bravery.”
» READ MORE: Lobbyist says she was harassed by present Pa. lawmaker
Home stalls out over guidelines
Rozzi’s listening tour comes amid an deadlock amongst Home leaders over the foundations governing the legislative physique. Sometimes the foundations are enacted the primary day of the brand new session – as was the case earlier this month within the GOP-led Senate. However within the narrowly divided Home – there are 101 Republicans and 99 Democrats – the events haven’t handed a guidelines package deal.
The Home can’t legislate with out guidelines, and Rozzi has recessed the chamber till Feb. 27. The Senate can be in recess.
By that cut-off date, Democrats are anticipated to carry a majority. Three particular elections are scheduled for Feb. 7 to fill vacancies in districts that favor Democrats.
These wins would give the get together a one-seat majority – assuming Rozzi stays a Democrat. That’s an open query, as a result of he’s stated he would govern as an unbiased.
» READ MORE: Pa.’s prime Home chief desires you to assist repair gridlock in Harrisburg
Rozzi this week stated he would preserve the state Home doorways locked till lawmakers compromise on guidelines and promise to go a constitutional modification to permit adults who suffered childhood sexual abuse to file civil swimsuit in a two-year window.
The Republican-led Senate handed the modification this month as a part of a broader package deal, together with one measure that may impose stricter voter ID necessities. Democrats largely opposed the bundling of these amendments, saying the problem of abuse shouldn’t be paired with what they known as extra partisan initiatives. The amendments didn’t come up for a vote within the Home.
“I do know the solutions are usually not going to come back from the very individuals who acquired us right here within the first place,” Rozzi stated Friday in Philadelphia. “We have to look outdoors of Harrisburg and attain out on to the individuals.”
Considerations about guidelines, primaries, and redistricting
A number of audio system criticized how energy is concentrated in legislative management and committee chairs, who can halt payments even when they’ve broad help. They stated guidelines must be modified to empower rank-and-file members and the minority get together.
Some known as for Pennsylvania to open major elections to voters who aren’t affiliated with both main get together, and for an unbiased redistricting fee.
“As an alternative of, ‘love your neighbor as your self,’ the golden rule in Harrisburg is: ‘The man with the gold makes the foundations.’ It’s structured to favor big-moneyed particular pursuits,” stated Rabbi Michael Pollack, government director of March on Harrisburg.
Some Harrisburg observers have expressed skepticism towards Rozzi’s strategy.
Elizabeth Stelle, director of coverage evaluation on the conservative-leaning Commonwealth Basis, urged Rozzi to reconvene the Home.
“The pursuit of this listening tour drowns out the voice of all Pennsylvanians desperate to make their voice heard by means of the time-tried democratic strategy of consultant authorities,” Stelle stated in ready remarks throughout Rozzi’s Pittsburgh discussion board Wednesday.
Laslo Boyd, head of the Democratic political group Change PA, described the tour as a “gimmick.”
“Rozzi, after failing to even get settlement on a Guidelines package deal for the session, stated that, regardless of having served in Harrisburg for 10 years, he has simply found that the system is damaged,” Boyd wrote in an electronic mail to donors this week. “Critically, is that what constitutes management lately?”