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Pa. legislative leaders aren’t rushing to support grand jury’s proposal for creation of new approach to member discipline

Several legislative leaders countered they felt they weren’t being given credit for strong steps already taken.

  • Charles Thompson/PennLive
The Pennsylvania State Capitol is seen in this file photo.

 Tom Downing / WITF

The Pennsylvania State Capitol is seen in this file photo.

(Harrisburg) — Reaction from top leaders of the Pennsylvania Legislature was mixed Monday to a Dauphin County grand jury’s recommendation for a new way to investigate and impose discipline for sexual or other misconduct by elected members or their staff.

The grand jury report was released Monday after a months-long investigation into allegations that former state Rep. Brian Ellis, R-Butler County, had sexually assaulted a woman at his Harrisburg apartment.

Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo said he won’t file charges against Ellis – who resigned in March after the allegations against him became public – because of apparent evidentiary holes in the 2015 case.

But he did throw his support Monday behind the proposed creation of a new Office of Legislative Responsibility. As outlined in the grand jury’s report, the new office would be the central receiving point for any complaint of misconduct by a sitting member of the state House or Senate, or their staffers.

Several legislative leaders countered Monday that, while they share the goal of bringing an end to sexual misconduct and other bad behavior, they felt they weren’t being given credit for strong steps that have already been taken.

None fully endorsed the creation of the proposed office.

Katie Meyer / WITF

Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, state Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm, and attorney Shea Rhodes brief reporters on the results of the grand jury’s investigation.

Here’s a sampling of what we heard from the Capitol Monday:

House Republicans: They said they have adopted a strict zero-tolerance policy on sexual abuse and harassment, and gave teeth to that stance in January with changes to House Rules that specifically gave the House Ethics Committee the purview to investigate claims of sexual harassment, to refer them to law enforcement officials if warranted, and to recommend discipline up to expulsion of a sitting House member.

House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny County, and Majority Leader Bryan Cutler, R-Lancaster County, said they believe the Ethics Committee is already playing the role the grand jury hopes to create with the new office, with appropriate confidentiality protections for victims.

“We offer these comments because we take any and all instances of harassment seriously and are disappointed the gravity of our actions to address the problem was not properly explained to the grand jury,” the leaders said in a joint statement.

Senate Republicans: Jennifer Kocher, spokeswoman for the majority Senate Republican caucus, said the grand jury’s recommendation is very similar to a proposed Legislative Conduct Review Board that’s been introduced this session by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Lisa Baker, R-Luzerne County.

Under Baker’s bill, a 12-member commission would be charged with investigating all misconduct accusations against lawmakers.

Upon a preliminary determination of credibility, an accused House or Senate member would be suspended from voting on legislation or committee participation while a fuller investigation ensues.

Baker’s bill has not yet received committee action this session.

Like in the House, however, Kocher argued Senate Republicans have handled complaints against members and / or staff appropriately in the past.

Senate Democrats: Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny County, said his caucus has recently taken steps to professionalize its response to harassment and other complaints with the creation of a Department of Human Resources and mandating more training for members and staff.

Costa said he agrees with the grand jury that more can be done, and he noted that he is among the co-sponsors of Baker’s bill in the Senate.

House Democrats: Efforts to reach the House Democratic caucus were not immediately successful.

 

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