AI, Trump, Ebola, NAFTA, Seniors, Preschool, Disaster Aid, Energy, Infrastructure, Israel, Veterans, Climate, Medicine, Internet, Sexual Harassment

Today's News from the News-Makers For April 15, 2019

Press Call: Public Citizen, U.S. Rep. Pascrell and Others to Demand Congressional Action After IRS Fails to Deliver Trump Tax Returns
by: Public Citizen
April 15, 2019
On Tax Day 2019, Public Citizen will join U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.), Stand Up America and Tax March for a press call to urge U.S. House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-Mass.) to continue pushing for President Donald Trump’s tax returns and demand that the IRS immediately comply with Neal’s request after failing to meet the deadline for their release.

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In response to yesterday's decision that the Ebola outbreak is not yet a global emergency
by: OxFam America
April 14, 2019
“In the last three weeks, 204 new cases of Ebola have been recorded - an alarming increase and the worst period of the outbreak. These worrying figures show that the current response is not working.

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Pascrell Leads Call for NAFTA Labor Reforms
by: Gary Palmer (R-AL, 6th)
April 12, 2019
“This bill would empower seniors by giving them more control over their healthcare decisions. People should not be forced to give up their private insurance because their Social Security is being held hostage,” Palmer said.

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Palmer Stands for Healthcare Choice for Seniors
by: Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ, 9th)
April 12, 2019
U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), New Jersey’s only member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), led 84 of their colleagues in a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer making clear that Mexico must pass meaningful labor reforms before consideration of any renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

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Early Childhood Advocates Call On The Audacious Project to Reconsider Major Award for Online Preschool
by: Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
April 12, 2019
In their call for The Audacious Project to postpone funding, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC) and Defending the Early Years (DEY) point to their October 2018 Position Statement on Online Preschool, which has been endorsed by more than 100 experts in child development and early education. The experts and advocates say that online preschool programs like UPSTART are poor substitutes for high-quality early education, and that funding online programs instead of high-quality early education will make inequality worse, not better.

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Senators Decry Lack Of Action On Disaster Aid For Suffering States
by: Senator David Perdue (R-GA)
April 11, 2019
The senators have worked to negotiate in good faith since 2018 on a bipartisan disaster relief package to provide funding across the continental United States as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands for regions that have experienced droughts, flooding, hurricanes, storms, volcanoes, wildfires, and other natural disasters. Many of these states, including Georgia, have not received the federal disaster assistance they were promised months ago. Other states would see a down payment on disasters that have occurred more recently, such as in the Midwest where flooding is ongoing, and in Alabama and Georgia where tornadoes devastated lives and communities earlier this year.

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Peters Calls on Colleagues to Support His Bipartisan Legislation to Expand R&D for Fuel Efficient Technologies
by: Senator Gary Peters (D-MI)
April 11, 2019
“Transportation is responsible for roughly two thirds of our national consumption of petroleum and one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. But imagine a future where we could produce low cost – secure – clean energy technologies to move people and goods easily across our nation. Imagine if we could then sell our advanced American technology and products to the rest of the world,” said Senator Peters. “That is a future – that working together – we can achieve… Rapidly emerging technologies have the potential not only help reduce air emissions – their development would help create jobs in Michigan and across the nation—jobs that cannot be outsourced.”

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Portman, Hassan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Transparency of Federal Advisory Committees
by: Senator Rob Portman (R-OH)
April 11, 2019
“American taxpayers deserve greater transparency and accountability from their government, and improving the transparency of federal advisory committees is essential to accomplishing that goal,” said Senator Portman. “I’m particularly pleased that this bipartisan measure will strengthen the independence of federal advisory committees and close loopholes that permit agencies to skirt existing transparency requirements. At the end of the day American taxpayers deserve evidence-based, rather than interest-based, decisions by their government, and this bill will help to ensure that.”

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Palazzo, Leaders Across Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas Reintroduce I-14 Legislation
by: Steven Palazzo (R-MS, 4th)
April 11, 2019
“This legislation paves the way for endless economic opportunities in our region,” said Palazzo. “By approving this designation, we can spur development and connect our military installments to our ports and large commerce centers located throughout the route. I look forward to seeing the designation give Mississippi’s transportation routes a competitive edge.”

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Pocan and Jayapal Denounce Netanyahu Annexation Threats, Urge Adherence to Human Rights and International Law
by: Mark Pocan (D-WI, 2nd)
April 11, 2019
“Prime Minister Netanyahu’s campaign threat to annex the West Bank signals an alarming and unprecedented violation of human rights and international law. This move to entrench Israeli control over disenfranchised Palestinians would be a moral catastrophe, push a two-state solution further out of reach, and undermine Israel’s international standing.

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Pappas, Fitzpatrick, Kuster and Delgado Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Assist Veterans & Service Members Exposed to PFAS Contaminants
by: Chris Pappas (D-NH, 1st)
April 10, 2019
Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the PFAS Registry Act with a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers including Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rep. Annie Kuster (NH-02), and Rep. Antonio Delgado (NY-19), legislation that would create a national database for service members and veterans experiencing health problems possibly due to contamination from per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). PFAS chemicals, like perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), have emerged as a widespread contaminant to the drinking water sources of military bases across the country due to their use in firefighting foam employed by the Armed Services. This bipartisan bill would allow military personnel and veterans to receive updates on recent scientific developments on the effects of PFAS exposure, availability of possible treatment options, and information on what resources may be available to address their health concerns. Congressman Pappas has led efforts in Congress that seek to uncover the health impacts of emerging contaminants in water supplies. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) is introducing companion legislation in the Senate, which is cosponsored by Senator Mike Rounds (R-SD).

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Rep. Peters Unveils The Climate Playbook: Recommendations for Immediate Congressional Action
by: Scott Peters (D-CA, 52nd)
April 10, 2019
Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52) unveiled The Climate Playbook, a comprehensive plan he compiled of already existing legislation authored by both Republicans and Democrats, many of which have already earned bipartisan support. These legislative proposals together would take immediate steps to reduce greenhouse gasses and slow—even reverse—the effects of climate change. They are organized into categories that include ways to reduce emissions from a variety of economic sectors, promote energy efficiency, reduce pollution, increase investment in research and development, spur more investment in adaptation and resiliency, develop a workforce to make all this possible, and support workers and communities displaced or impacted by this transition to clean energy.

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Rep. Phillips Co-Sponsors Bipartisan Bill to Repeal the Medical Device Tax
by: Dean Phillips (D-MN, 3rd)
April 10, 2019
“The medical device tax has overstayed its welcome, and I am pleased to join my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to push for its permanent repeal,” said Phillips. “Too many jobs have been lost and too much innovation has been stifled due to this tax which disproportionately impacts our community. Our government should be supporting progress and new technology, especially in health care. The medical device tax is counterproductive to that mission, and that’s why it has to go.”

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Bill to Protect Free and Open Internet Passes House with Rep. Porter Amendment
by: Katie Porter (D-CA, 45th)
April 10, 2019
“As we vote to restore a free and open internet, we should also vote to provide oversight of agency tasked to protect consumers,” Porter said. “It is important that the FCC acts as the cop on the beat when internet service providers misbehave. When the FCC fines against a bad actor, that fine should be collected. If the FCC is not following through on protecting consumers, Congress should know – so it can take oversight action, if necessary.”

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Pressley, Clark, Murray, Democrats—Joined by Workers, Survivors, and Advocates—Introduce Sweeping Legislation to Address Harassment in the Workplace
by: Ayanna Pressley (D-MA, 7th)
April 9, 2019
“Our bill will put us one step closer to making toxic workplace harassment and discrimination a dark memory of the past,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “This is for the brave women of the Boston Fire Department, for the hotel workers I worked alongside when I was scrapping money together to help my family, for the transgender men and women who face discrimination for living their truth. This is for those workers who shared their stories and instead of justice, faced retaliation. Now is the time to push the conversations and the policies so that those who have been suffering in silence feel seen and represented in our democracy.”

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AI ethics guidance a first step but needs to be transformed into tangible rights for people
by: Access Now
April 8, 2019
On Monday, April 8th, the European Commission’s High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (HLEG) will publish its “Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI”. Access Now, ANEC, and BEUC, all members of the expert group, support these guidelines but stress that they can only be a first step. The European Union has the responsibility to ensure that fundamental and consumer rights are respected and bring benefits to people.

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EEOC Union Condemns Drastic $23.7M Budget Cut to Civil Rights Enforcement in #MeToo Era

by: American Federation for Government Employees

Washington, D.C. - March 21, 2019 - (The Ponder News) -- President Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year that starts Oct. 1 would slash the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s historically low budget by $23.7 million, which will make it harder for workers facing discrimination to get the help they need, the union representing EEOC workers said today.

“The EEOC enforces federal laws barring workplace discrimination, including sexual harassment, and cutting our budget frustrates those efforts,” said Gabrielle Martin, president of American Federation of Government Employees Council 216, the National Council of EEOC Locals. “Victims of workplace discrimination will feel the punch of this cut when they can’t get an appointment or an investigation of their complaint.”

The administration is proposing to slash EEOC’s current budget from $379.5 million to $355.8 million in fiscal 2020, even while the agency is facing rising workloads. EEOC had a backlog of 49,608 cases in fiscal year 2018, and cases continued to pile up while EEOC was closed during the 35-day shutdown. It takes workers months to get an appointment with EEOC and over an hour to reach a live person by telephone. EEOC’s workload this year included 200,000 inquiries, 76,418 charges, 40,000 interviews, and 105,600 calls.

Sexual harassment claims were up 13.6 percent in 2018. While Congress modestly increased EEOC’s budget in response to the #MeToo movement, the agency still has not been able to keep up with demand. Last year, the EEOC’s workforce dropped below 2,000 employees for the first time since before 1980. The president’s budget plan would slash another 180 positions, including mediators, judges, intake representatives, and 50 investigators. The agency’s budget justification concedes there will be a “steady rise in pending inventory” as “there will be no replacement of staff.”

“In a time of rising awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace, it sends the entirely wrong message to cut funding and staff at the agency that handles those complaints,” Martin said.

One consequence of the massive workload and short staffing is a push by EEOC to swiftly close cases by tagging them as “C charges” under the agency’s triage system.

“Ravaging the budget will make matters worse,” Martin warns. “The vast majority of workers who come to EEOC for help receive a dismissal with a ‘right to sue’ letter and are left to find help on their own. Likewise, federal employees with discrimination complaints are affected by EEOC pressing a shrinking unit of administrative judges to hit unattainably high quotas by closing cases through summary judgement or without discovery.”

Martin called upon Congress, civil rights groups, and concerned citizens to take action. “Contact your lawmakers to save EEOC from drastic cuts. Email the EEOC to request a budget in line with its workload. Tweet #StopEEOCbudgetcut. The #MeToo era is not the time to slash EEOC’s budget.”

Sexual Harassment, Budget,

Here are some news items from the press release pile at The Ponder News:



Concerned with Pervasive Sexual Harassment in Industries Outside the Spotlight, Senator Murray Requests Information from Trade Associations in Industries with Millions of Workers
Senator Patty Murray (D - WA)
U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), ranking Democrat on the Senate health committee, sent letters to 12 trade associations requesting information on harassment statistics. These associations represent the industries with some of the highest rates of sexual harassment reporting to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). As many people are coming forward and sharing their stories of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace, Senator Murray is working to ensure every woman and man, no matter where they work, or how much money they make, has a workplace free from harassment.
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MARCHANT VOTES TO STRENGTHEN OUR MILITARY, PROVIDE DISASTER RELIEF FOR TEXAS FAMILIES, IMPROVE MEDICARE FOR TEXAS SENIORS
Kenny Marchant (R-TX, 24th)
This important budget agreement delivers on the promise to rebuild our military, provides disaster relief to Texas communities devastated by Hurricane Harvey, improves Medicare for Texas seniors, cuts government red tape for health care providers and repeals harmful Obamacare IPAB provisions
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Latta Backs Overhaul Of Congressional Sexual Harassment Policies

Source: Robert E. Latta (R OH, 5th)



Washington, D.C. - February 10, 2018 - (The Ponder News) -- Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) joined his colleagues in supporting two pieces of legislation to overhaul Congressional sexual harassment policies and change the process of reporting sexual harassment claims under the Congressional Accountability Act. The bill, H.R. 4924, and resolution, H.Res. 724, both passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a voice vote.

The resolution would establish an office of Employee Advocacy that would provide resources to House employees regarding harassment procedures. It also requires every House office to adopt an anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policy. Congressman Latta’s office already has established anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies in place.

H.R. 4924 requires any payments of discrimination and harassment settlements to be paid from the personal funds of the Member for Congress, not from taxpayer money. Previously, members would be able to pay settlements using House legal settlement funds or the Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA). It also ends the requirement that accusers go through mandatory counseling and mediation to bring forward a case.

“The cases of bad behavior in Congressional offices highlighted over the past few months show just how inadequate Capitol Hill policies are when it comes to discrimination and harassment,” said Latta. “As many in the private sector come to grips with employee harassment, Congress can’t keep its head buried in the sand and keep rules in place that put victims at a distinct disadvantage. The pieces of legislation passed today will overhaul the reporting system, and put in place strong protections for employees.”

Trump supporter Joy Villa says she filed a sexual assault complaint against Corey Lewandowski

Source: Fox News



Singer Joy Villa, an outspoken Trump supporter, is accusing the president’s former campaign manager of sexual assault following an alleged incident at a Trump International Hotel party last month. Villa says she's filed a report with the Metropolitan Police Department stating Corey Lewandowski smacked her on her rear end twice.

Villa, 31, told Politico she met Lewandowski through a mutual friend at an invite-only party in November. However, after a photo opportunity, she claims Lewandowski smacked her on the butt.

Read more about this at Fox News by clicking HERE

Sexual Harassment Remains Persistent Problem for Tipped Workers, Particularly Women of Color

By Senator Elizabeth Warren (D - MA)

Washington, D.C. - December 18, 2017  (The Ponder News) -- Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and 17 of their colleagues sent a letter to Acting Chair of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Victoria Lipnic requesting information on the commission's efforts to address sexual harassment in the food and hospitality industries, which have high numbers of tipped workers. The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal workplace anti-discrimination laws and investigating discrimination charges that employees file with the commission. In fiscal year 2016 alone, the EEOC received close to 13,000 complaints involving sexual harassment.

"Women are coming forward to tell stories of the sexual harassment they have endured in jobs in Hollywood, in Congress, and in the news industry. But there are millions more women who work in jobs outside the limelight who fear coming forward because they can't afford to lose their jobs, " said Senator Warren. "The EEOC was created to protect workers, and we want to know what it is doing to make sure that workers all across this country are safe from sexual harassment.  We want the EEOC to do its job."

"Sexual harassment is pervasive throughout the United States, and it does not discriminate by industry. Yet EEOC data shows that the ‘accommodation and food services' industry-including restaurants and the hospitality industry-is particularly rife with harassment," wrote the senators. "Sexual harassment remains a persistent problem for American workers-particularly women and people of color."

From fiscal years 2005 to 2015, complaints from accommodation and food services workers accounted for 14.2% of all sexual harassment allegations filed with the EEOC. Over 60% of workers who rely on tips are women, and 40% are people of color. Data show that tipped workers are particularly susceptible to sexual harassment. Some evidence also suggests that tipped workers who are paid less than the minimum wage experience higher rates of sexual harassment than tipped workers paid the standard minimum wage.

To better understand the EEOC's ongoing efforts to address sexual harassment, the senators asked the EEOC to provide thorough answers on what the EEOC has done to identify, investigate, and limit sexual harassment in the workplace no later than January 5, 2018. 

Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Corey Booker (D-N.J.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) also signed the letter.

See more headlines at The Ponder News

Gardner, Bipartisan Senators Introduce Legislation to Combat Sexual Harassment in Congress

By Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO)

Washington, D.C. - December 18, 2017  (The Ponder News) --  U.S. Senators Cory Gardner (R-CO), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), along with several of their colleagues, have introduced new bipartisan legislation that would overhaul the current process that victims of harassment in Congress must go through when reporting a claim, eliminate the use of taxpayer funds to pay out claims, and increase public disclosure of claims against Members.

The current process for victims of harassment in Congress lacks transparency and is difficult to navigate. This legislation, the Congressional Harassment Reform Act, would bring transparency and accountability to the current process by extending protections to interns and fellows, eliminating forced mediation, ending the current required secrecy in the process by allowing victims to speak publicly about their case, requiring Members of Congress found personally liable for harassment to pay settlements out of their own pockets, and improving systems to address harassment and discrimination in Congress.

“Over the past few months, our country has experienced a much-needed transformation when it comes to listening to courageous women share their stories about harassment. No one should be forced to work in an environment where they are made to feel uncomfortable or intimidated. Let me be extremely clear: sexual harassment and workplace misconduct has no place in America, and certainly has no place in the United States Congress,” said Senator Gardner. “I’m proud to join Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and my other colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to introduce this bipartisanlegislation that reforms the way Congress deals with harassment. This legislation ensures we have an open, transparent process that does not leave the taxpayers on the hook for Members of Congress’ misconduct. I’m proud to introduce this bill today and call on each of my colleagues to support this important proposal.”

“Congress should never be above the law or play by their own set of rules,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We should treat every person who works here with respect and dignity, and that means creating a climate where there is accountability, fairness, respect, and access to justice if sexual harassment takes place. There are real costs to sexual harassment in the workplace. We now know that many people quit their jobs because of it, or miss out on promotions or raises, all of which can throw off the entire trajectory in their careers. We must ensure that Congress handles complaints to create an environment where staffers can come forward if something happens to them, without having to fear that it will ruin their careers. This bipartisan legislation would bring us much closer to that goal.”

“Sexual harassment is wrong. Every person, man or woman, deserves to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace,” said Senator Cruz. “In recent months, we've seen wave after wave of appalling sexual harassment and assault allegations -- from Hollywood, to newsrooms, to the halls of Congress. And powerful men who have abused their positions have been held to account. Congress is not above the laws, and secret settlements with taxpayer money to cover up harassment should no longer be tolerated. This legislation seeks to empower victims of harassment to report those crimes and to hold the perpetrators accountable."

Specifically, the Congressional Harassment Reform Act would do the following:

1. Extends protections to interns and fellows.
2. Requires everyone working on Capitol Hill, including Members, to take the Office of Compliance training.
3. Changes the name of the Office of Compliance (OOC) to the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights.
4. Puts victims in the driver’s seat by allowing them to choose how to resolve their complaint (e.g. counseling and mediation are both no longer mandatory) and protecting their option to discuss their claim publicly
5. Establishes a Confidential Advisor to consult, on a confidential basis, with any employee who has alleged harassment or discrimination; and assist any employee who has an allegation under Title IV in understanding the procedures, and the significance of the procedures.
6. Gives OOC’s General Counsel the authority to conduct interviews and gather evidence regarding complaints of covered harassment and discrimination filed under this section, including interviews with former employees.
7. Allows individuals to work remotely without penalty throughout proceedings.
Improves tracking of complaints and procedures by implementing an online platform.
8. If a Member of Congress is found to be personally liable for harassment or discrimination, they will be responsible for the cost of any settlement.
9. If a Member of Congress is found to be personally liable for harassment or discrimination, any settlement must be approved by the appropriate Senate or House committee.
10. Requires settlements to be publicly disclosed unless the victims choose to keep them private or the Member of Congress is found to have not committed the harassment or discrimination.
11. Requires offices to post notices with information about employees’ rights and how to contact the Office of Compliance.
12. Provides for a climate survey to identify the pervasiveness of the problem and what gaps continue to exist in its resolution. 

Congressman Backs Legislation Aimed At Stopping Companies From Writing Off Sexual Misconduct Suits As ‘Business Expenses’

Washington, D.C. - December 8, 2017  (The Ponder News) -- Congressman  Brian Fitzpatrick, (R PA, 8th), along with representatives from across the country, have introduced a piece of legislation aimed at prohibiting companies from claiming deductions related to sexual harassment or assault legal settlements.

The Settlement Tax Deductions are Over for Predators Act(STOP Act), would prohibit companies from filing legal settlements, fines, fees, and expenses related to sexual assault and harassment cases as business expenses and claiming tax related deductions. In allowing businesses to currently write off these expenses, the American taxpayer is subsidizing the cost of resolving legal issues related to sexual misconduct. The STOP Act would prohibit deduction of these expenses in cases where the allegations are public or in cases involving a non-disclosure agreement.

“Whether it’s Hollywood, Congress or a corporate boardroom, there is no place for sexual abuse or harassment in the workplace. Just as I’m committed to protecting taxpayer dollars from being misused in Washington to cover up sexual misconduct allegations, I’m also committed to preventing private sector businesses from using tax breaks to sweep these heinous acts under the rug,” Fitzpatrick, a Republican, said in a statement. “This Congress must stand with the victims of this harassment and take swift action to root out those who would sexually harass any other person, regardless of position or title.”

Currently, companies can deduct as ordinary and necessary business expenses any legal settlements, fines, fees, and expenses related to sexual assault and sexual harassment cases. In allowing businesses to write off these expenses, the American taxpayer is effectively subsidizing the cost of resolving legal issues related to sexual misconduct.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which is being considered by the U.S. Senate, includes similar language.

The introduction of legislation into the House comes after Fitzpatrick’s call for an investigation last month into the millions of dollars paid for more than 250 settlements to federal employees.

In mid-November, the Washington Post reported that Congress had made 264 settlements with Capitol Hill employees for various infractions, including sexual harassment. The newspaper said the settlements totaled $17 million over 20 years.

Since the Washington Post’s reporting on the settlements, BuzzFeed News broke the story that Democratic Congressman John Conyers of Michigan settled a complaint using funds from his office budget in 2015. The former employee said she lost her job after not falling for his sexual advances. Conyers announced this week that he will leave congress.

More recently, Republican Congressman Blake Farenthold of Texas was sued by his former communications director for sexual harassment in 2014. The matter was settled with the congressman denying any wrongdoing and using $84,000 in public funds to settle the case.

“It’s unbelievable – and unacceptable – that elected officials have been using taxpayer dollars to cover up sexual harassment suits for years. As if the American people needed another example of politicians playing by a different set of rules, this is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers forced to foot the bill for these heinous actions,” said Fitzpatrick.

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Legislation Promised to Release Accusers from Privacy Agreements

Washington, D.C. - November 30, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- House Representative Luke Messer (R-IA, 6th) has promised that he will introduce legislation to help protect victims of sexual assault and harassment in Congress.

Messer’s bill would ensure victims aren’t silenced by non-disclosure agreements, and prohibit taxpayer dollars from being used to settle sexual harassment claims with members of Congress.

“It’s not OK that taxpayer money is used to silence victims of sexual harassment,” Messer said. “If these victims want to tell their story, they should be empowered to do so.”

This effort by Messer follows recent reports that John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI, 13th) settled a sexual harassment complaint with a former staff member using taxpayer dollars. The Washington Post reports that the government has paid more than $17 million in taxpayer money over the last 20 years to settle sexual harassment claims and other workplace violations filed by employees of Congress.

Messer’s bill would release Congressional staff from current non-disclosure agreements signed as part of a sexual assault settlement with a Member of Congress, and prohibit non-disclosure agreements like this in the future. It would also prevent taxpayer dollars from being used to settle sexual harassment claims by a member of Congress or employee of the House or Senate.

Messer also supports the bipartisan Member and Employee Training and Oversight On Congress Act, which would make sexual harassment training mandatory for all members and staff.

Upon the allegations against John Conyers, Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal called for Conyers to resign, saying, “The actions and subsequent deflections from the growing tide of sexual harassment cases in Congress not only hurt individual women, but they undermine our institution of democracy. For justice to be done in cases with substantial evidence, a simple denial is not sufficient; the relinquishment of power becomes essential. It is not easy for me to reach this conclusion because, as a civil rights activist, I have looked up to Rep. Conyers for decades. I believe these women, I see the pattern and there is only one conclusion – Mr. Conyers must resign.”

Representative Kathleen Rice (D-NY, 4th) has called on Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI, 1st) to intervene in the case of a former employee who accused Rep. John Conyers, Jr. of unwanted sexual advances, and release her from the confidentiality agreement that she was forced to sign as part of a settlement. In a letter sent to Ryan Rice wrote:

“Under the settlement, the complainant was forced into a non-disclosure agreement and has been unable to openly discuss the workplace harassment and abuse she was subjected to, while Rep. Conyers and his attorney, Arnold Reed, have been free to make their case to the public. Three additional women (Maria Reddick, Melanie Sloan, and Deanna Maher) have been able to speak publicly about harassment by Rep. Conyers because they chose not to pursue a complaint through a system that is now universally acknowledged to be stacked against the victim.

“The accuser who attempted to seek help through a deeply flawed system should not continue to be silenced by the institution that failed to protect her in the first place.”

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Legislation Introduced Prohibiting Public Funds to be Used in Sexual Harassment Settlements by Members of Congress

Washington, D.C. - November 29, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- On Tuesday, Congressman Tom Marino (PA-10), introduced H.R. 4458, legislation to ensure that taxpayer funds cannot be used to pay settlements resulting from sexual harassment by a Member of Congress. The bill also requires that the Ethics Committee consider the expulsion of a Congressman or Senator if they commit an act of sexual harassment.

Congressman Marino said the following regarding the introduction of this bill:

“Any form of sexual harassment in the workplace in completely unacceptable and Members of Congress should not be held to a different standard. As more information comes out regarding the secretive process for harassment complaints, it is clear that major changes need to be made.

It is unconscionable that Congressman and Senators have taxpayers foot the bill for their disgusting actions. My bill also requires the Ethics Committee to consider expulsion for any Member of Congress who commits an act of sexual harassment. There must be a serious review to determine whether someone is fit to serve in Congress based on the allegations.

My legislation takes a small, but important step, by ensuring that no taxpayer money can be used to settle harassment claims. This is a serious problem, and Congress must act.”

In the wake of media reporting on millions of dollars paid for more than 250 settlements to federal employees, Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has called for an investigation into the matter.

Fitzpatrick’s call for an investigation followed the Washington Post’s reporting that Congress has made 264 settlements with Capitol Hill employees for various infractions, including sexual harassment. The newspaper said the settlements totaled $17 million over 20 years.

In a statement the congressman said:

“It’s unbelievable – and unacceptable – that elected officials have been using taxpayer dollars to cover up sexual harassment suits for years. As if the American people needed another example of politicians playing by a different set of rules, this is an affront to the hardworking taxpayers forced to foot the bill for these heinous actions. I’m calling on the House Ethics Committee to fully investigate this misuse of taxpayer funds and will work with any member of Congress to prevent this type of abuse. Moreover, this Congress must stand with the victims of this harassment and take swift action to root out those who would sexually harass any other person, regardless of position or title.”

The investigation the congressman is calling for would be handled by the House Committee on Ethics, which enforces standards of ethics and behaviors. The bipartisan committee can forward suggestions on actions that can be taken against members of congress if they are found to have violated standards.

Since the Washington Post’s reporting on the settlements, BuzzFeed News broke the story that Democratic Congressman John Conyers of Michigan settled a complaint using funds from his office budget in 2015. The former employee said she lost her job after not falling for his sexual advances.

Despite calls for a list of settlements to be released, officials have not provided that information.

Fitzpatrick’s office noted that the first-term legislator is a co-sponsor of the Me Too Congress Act that would “set definitive criteria to address sexual harassment in all national legislative branch offices.”

On Wednesday, Congressman Todd Rokita released the following statement after working with Congressman Ron DeSantis (FL-6) to write bipartisan legislation to help ensure justice for victims of sexual harassment and put an end to taxpayers footing the bill to cover up allegations against members of Congress:



“Americans are sick and tired of the special treatment given to members of Congress," said Congressman Rokita. “This legislation will help get justice for victims, and prevent taxpayer dollars from being used as hush money to protect the careers of politicians faced with allegations of sexual harassment. When it comes to draining the swamp, this is a great place to start.”



The Rokita-DeSantis Legislation does the following:

· Prohibits the use of public funds to pay settlements or awards for sexual harassment or assault claims

· Discloses all payments previously made by the Office of Compliance on its website (the name of the victim is expressly prohibited from being disclosed)

· Requires perpetrators to reimburse the taxpayers with interest

· Prohibits non disclosure agreements as a precondition to initiate procedures to address sexual harassment or assault claims

· Permits victims of sexual harassment or assault to make public statements about their claim, regardless of any previously signed non disclosure agreement

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Franken Must Take His Own Medicine

by Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

Sen. Al Franken broke his silence and did a media tour explaining away his sexual offenses. "I'm looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow," he said. He should instead take some of his own medicine and resign.

Five years ago, Franken co-sponsored a bill, the End Trafficking in Government Contracting Act, to strengthen federal legislation on human trafficking, which includes sexual exploitation. The bill, which was approved by the Senate in December 2012, was necessitated because of the failure of the existing "zero tolerance" policy.

In July 2013, Franken co-sponsored another bill, the Military Justice Improvement Act, to deal with the "epidemic of sexual assault in the military." It was necessitated because of the failure of the existing "zero tolerance" policy.

It was noble of Franken to support going beyond "zero tolerance" to combat sexual abuse by government contractors and subcontractors who operate overseas. Similarly, it was noble of him to support going beyond "zero tolerance" to combat sexual molestation in the armed forces.

It was ignoble of him to go back to work today. Does he think that his support for legislation combating sexual abuse should not extend to him? He has admitted to one act of sexual abuse, and is accused by three other women of violating them.

Ironically, it was the Catholic Church that first instituted a "zero tolerance" policy for abusers. And what did Franken do? He mocked it.

Now that Franken has proven that he has no integrity left, it is up to the Senate to show him the door. He is utterly shameless.

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Conyers Sexual Harassment Charge Under Investigation

Washington, D.C. - November 27, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Ranking Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, John Conyers, has stepped down from his post in light of sexual harassment allegations on Monday. Conyers' lawyer maintained that the Pelosi "icon" was not going to resign, however. This has sparked comments and feigned outrage among Democrats in Congress about the charges.

Maxine Waters (D-CA, 43rd) went on the defensive in light of a recent speech at a women's luncheon, with, “When I delivered remarks at the Women’s March Convention Sojourner Truth Luncheon in Detroit, Michigan on October 28, 2017, I acknowledged the women of the United States Congress’ Michigan delegation, Senator Debbie Stabenow, Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence, and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and gave particular recognition to Congressman John Conyers, Jr. whose district includes Detroit. I had no prior knowledge of the very serious and disturbing allegations of sexual assault and misconduct by Mr. Conyers that were first revealed on November 20, 2017, nearly one month after the event. My October 28 comments were solely based on Mr. Conyers’ long history of support for women’s issues and organizations such as the National Organization for Women."

Outraged that sexual harassment claims could be made in Congress, Carolyn Maloney (D-NY, 12th) exclaimed, “There can be no tolerance – whether in Congress or any workplace - for sexual misconduct. We have spent too many years allowing these incidents to be kept a secret and predatory behavior to go on without consequence. Enough is enough. Standards need to change, and we in Congress must start with ourselves. The current system for reporting such incidents in Congress is antithetical to justice. Forcing victims into mandatory mediation with their abuser revictimizes those who chose to come forward. No one should be mandated to wait 90 days to file their formal complaint. This long, dragged out process places an undue burden on victims while shielding abusers. I support a rewrite of these rules through currently proposed legislation like the Me Too Congress Act which will make the reporting process fairer and require staff and Member training to punish and prevent such behaviors.”

This prompted Zoe Lofgren (D-CA, 19th) to demand, “The reports about Congressman Conyers are as serious as they get. The Committee on Ethics should take up this matter immediately with a goal of promptly assessing the validity of the news account. This reported behavior cannot be tolerated in the House of Representatives or anywhere else.”

“The allegations against Ranking Member Conyers are extremely serious and deeply troubling. Obviously, these allegations must be investigated promptly by the Ethics Committee. There can be no tolerance for behavior that subjects women to the kind of conduct alleged. We also must support efforts to reform the way the House of Representatives handles these matters to make the process easier and more supportive of victims, as well as more transparent,” said Jerrold Nadler (D-NY, 10th).

Dina Titus (D-NV, 1st) later stated, “The Ethics Committees in both chambers must investigate credible allegations of sexual harassment. My office has a zero-tolerance policy without exception. Other offices should do the same. Starting with President Trump, no candidate or politician should serve if he or she is guilty of such unspeakable acts. As Minority Leader of the Nevada State Senate, I pushed through the first sexual harassment policy for legislators and lobbyists in 1999. As a member of Congress, I am continuing that effort by supporting much-needed reforms on Capitol Hill.”

This is going to be an interesting ride, ya'll. Hang on to your seats!

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Gillibrand’s Bill Would Increase Accountability and Transparency in Sexual Harassment Reporting Process

Source: Senator Kirsten E.Gillibrand - (D - NY)

Washington, D.C. - November 4, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- As victims of sexual harassment in Congress come forward to tell their stories in an AP report, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has announced that she will introduce comprehensive legislation to combat sexual harassment in Congressional offices. This bill would create more transparency in Congressional offices and give sexual harassment victims the resources and protections they need to report incidents.

“Congress should never be above the law or play by their own set of rules. The current process has little accountability and even less sensitivity to victims of sexual harassment,” said U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. “What we are seeing from the powerful #MeToo campaign is that sexual assault and sexual harassment are pervasive across our entire society. What you see time and again in institutions all around the country is a culture where power and fear keep sexual assault and sexual harassment in the shadows. Congress is no different. The women and men coming forward are an inspiration because they are changing our society in a way that is making it unacceptable for people to turn a blind eye to sexual violence. They are showing we can build a more just society for ourselves, our families and future generations by shining a light on injustice and saying we will not accept it anymore. I will be introducing legislation in the Senate to reform the current inadequate process by creating mandatory annual training for Members and staff, requiring climate surveys to show the true scope of this problem, giving interns the access to the same resources and protections as full-time staff, ending forced mediation, and overhauling the process that Congressional staffers have to report sexual harassment. We must ensure that this institution handles complaints to create an environment where staffers can come forward if something happens to them without having to fear that it will ruin their careers.”

Gillibrand’s legislation would do the following:

Modernize and streamline the process for sexual harassment victims to report within the Office of Compliance
Create a designated person within the Office of Compliance to serve as a confidential advisor for victims of harassment
Require mandatory annual sexual harassment training for both Members and staff
Remove the current requirement that victims go through mediation before filing a complaint against an assailant
Require a climate survey to give a comprehensive analysis of the scope of this problem in Congress
Give interns access to the same resources as full-time staff
Require that each office post notices that detail the rights and protections of employees
Gillibrand has been a leading voice in the Senate in combatting sexual assault, and her bills to address the scourge of sexual assault on college campuses and in the military have broad, bipartisan support.

See more headlines at The Ponder News Web Site

Congresswoman Lawrence Introduces the Congressional Sexual Harassment Training Act

Source: Brenda Lawrence (D-MI, 14th)

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Washington, D.C. - October 28, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Rep. Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) has introduced the Congressional Sexual Harassment Training Act, which would require every congressional office to enroll employees in training to prevent sexual harassment. The Office of Compliance (OOC), which enforces workplace protection laws for the legislative branch, already offers sexual harassment training about employees’ rights and recourses, but it is not mandatory. At the present time, executive branch employees must complete anti-harassment training every two years, while only ethics and cybersecurity trainings are mandatory for congressional offices.

“As a former human resources manager and certified Equal Employment Opportunity investigator for a federal agency, I care deeply about preventing and responding to sexual harassment in federal workplaces, and I believe it is unconscionable that every congressional office is not required to participate in this simple training solution that is already available,” said Rep. Lawrence. “We must take this small, first step to support our employees’ rights and serve as an example to the nation.”

“Sexual harassment is deplorable and unacceptable in any workplace. Recent reports of high-profile and widespread sexual harassment and assault –including the cases of Harvey Weinstein, Bill O’Reilly, Uber, and many others– emphasize that this is a pervasive problem across our country. This must stop. The first step is to use the tools we already have on hand by mandating that every office participate in existing sexual harassment training.”

Since 2011, the OOC has recommended that Congress make anti-harassment training mandatory, but it has not yet done so. This bill would ensure that all offices covered by the OOC, including congressional and support offices, enroll their employees in an existing sexual harassment training, which informs them of their rights and avenues for recourse and educates them on unacceptable behavior in the workplace. The bill requires offices to enroll all employees in the training once every two years and enroll new employees within 60 days. Offices could also offer additional trainings, but every office must complete this minimum requirement. This bill will align the congressional offices with the standards of our federal agencies.

“We must all work together to protect women and all our employees. This is not a divisive or partisan issue, this is something we can do today. More can be done, and more should be done in tackling this important issue; but this is an important first step. It requires every single member of Congress to stand up and be held accountable for preventing sexual harassment. I call on my colleagues to support this legislation and protections for employees, as I intend to stand strong with those who would do the same.”

In a July 2017 Roll Call survey of congressional staff, one in six women said they had personally been the victim of workplace sexual harassment, while four in 10 women said they believe sexual harassment is a problem on Capitol Hill. Only 10% of women are aware of structures in place for reporting harassment in Congress.

The Office of Compliance, which enforces legislative branch workplace protections, has Recommended for years, in its annual reports to Congress, that anti-harassment training be mandatory for each office. Mandatory training is a best practice to help prevent incidents and protect employees.

Congress has not acted to simply make the existing training mandatory. Previous legislative attempts have tried to fund OOC’s harassment training and require House offices to include harassment training in ethics training. This bill requires all covered legislative offices to participate in the training already offered by the OOC. The OOC provides a 23-minute online sexual harassment training.

The bill requires employing offices to ensure that current employees enroll in training every two years, and new employees enroll no more than 60 days after they are hired.

Sexual Harrassment in the National Parks

Washington, D.C. - October 17, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Ranking Member of the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement on the National Park Service’s report on sexual harassment within the agency:

“I am deeply disturbed by this report, which details an unacceptable culture of sexual harassment and hostile work environments at the National Park Service. The incidents described in the report, and the lack of action to address them, should concern all of us.

“Every employee has the right to a safe workplace that is free from harassment. The Department of the Interior and the National Park Service must take steps to finally end this widespread pattern of workplace harassment. As they address this issue, I will work with my colleagues in Congress to hold the Department accountable and ensure that no employee ever faces the kind of mistreatment and abuse outlined in this report.”

In the fiscal year 2017 Interior-Environment appropriations bill, Congresswoman McCollum secured language that instructed the Department of the Interior to report to Congress on corrective steps being taken to address harassment and implement strong and consistent anti-harassment policies.

Ranking Member Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) and Rep. Donald McEachin (VA-04) – the Ranking Member of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee who requested a congressional hearing on sexual harassment at the National Park Service (NPS) in June – released the following statement on a NPS survey in which 38 percent of employees report experiencing some form of sexual harassment:

“Dumping this news on a Friday afternoon, without any clear next steps, suggests this administration still isn’t taking this problem as seriously as it should,” said Ranking Member Raúl Grijalva. “Stopping sexual harassment will require changing the agency’s culture, which has survived through administrations of both political parties, and that won’t happen unless Secretary Zinke makes this a genuine priority. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that Secretary Zinke takes command of ending sexual harassment, and I stand ready to work with Chairman Bishop to hold a hearing on this employee survey and next steps from the Interior Department as soon as possible.”

“I have repeatedly asked Secretary Zinke, both in person and through written correspondence, to prioritize addressing the culture of sexual harassment that has permeated the NPS,” said Congressman Donald McEachin. “This problem is far too serious and has gone on for far too long. We need long-term, systemic solutions. I urge Secretary Zinke to listen closely to the survey results and quickly implement changes that will eliminate all forms of sexual harassment in the NPS. I also implore Chairmen Bishop and Westerman to heed requests to hold congressional hearings to remedy this issue further.”

Among other actions, Natural Resources Committee Democrats requested the initial NPS employee survey as well as its expansion to include seasonal employees; previously requested a hearing on the issue; and, in a budget hearing earlier this year, highlighted the administration’s failure to make an exception to Zinke’s hiring ban to deal with the backlog of sexual harassment cases.

Related News:

Interior's Ryan Zinke cracks down on discrimination and sexual harassment at national parks

Hypersensitivity in Title IX Enforcement

Source: Competitive Enterprise Institute

Los Angeles, CA - September 22, 2017  (The Ponder News) -- Los Angeles lawyer Ken White notes that a professor is being “investigated for writing about being investigated for writing about being investigated.” This Title IX investigation has apparently been going on since last May, making it longer than some other investigations that courts have ruled unconstitutional due to their speech-chilling nature.

Previously, Northwestern University investigated Professor Laura Kipnis after she wrote an essay for The Chronicle of Higher Education titled “Sexual Paranoia Strikes Academe,” which hypersensitive students claimed offended them and constituted sexual harassment in violation of Title IX, the federal statute against sex discrimination in educational institutions. After Kipnis defended herself against the harassment charges on Twitter, students then accused her of “retaliation” in violation of Title IX.  After an outcry from free speech advocates, charges were shelved months later.

These charges against Kipnis over an off-campus essay were made possible by the Obama administration. It changed the Education Department’s interpretation of Title IX to require colleges to investigate even off-campus student or faculty conduct alleged to constitute sexual harassment or assault. The Obama administration’s position was at odds with federal court rulings saying that Title IX does not apply off campus, such as Roe v. St. Louis University (2014).

One of Kipnis’s accusers then filed a defamation suit against Kipnis for her book Unwanted Advances: Sexual Paranoia Comes to Campus, which cast aspersions on a student’s sexual harassment claims against a former professor.

In May 2016, several Northwestern students—including the one who is suing Kipnis—then filed a Title IX complaint against the professor over her book. The University then launched an investigation, which has yet to reach a conclusion.

A lengthy investigation of a person’s speech can violate the First Amendment through its chilling effect, even if the person is never found guilty. For example, a federal appeals court found that an eight month-long civil rights investigation of citizens for their speech opposing a minority housing project protected by the Fair Housing Act was a clear violation of First Amendment rights, in White v. Lee, 227 F.3d 1214 (9th Cir. 2000).

However, Northwestern University is a private university, and thus is not bound by the First Amendment. So Kipnis would have to show that federal pressure or policies caused the investigation of her before she could sue under the First Amendment.

These endless complaints against Kipnis are facilitated by other actions taken by the Obama administration, which left the misimpression that even unreasonable and false allegations of harassment and retaliation are protected by Title IX. According to the courts, sexual harassment allegations made to campus officials are not protected against retaliation if they are either (a) factually false, or (b) based on an unreasonable misinterpretation of what constitutes sexual harassment. [See Vasconcelos v. Meese, 907 F.2d 11 (9th Cir. 1990) (false allegations not protected); Clark County School District v. Breeden, 532 U.S. 268 (2001) (unreasonable allegation not protected, such as complaint about fleeting exposure to sexual material that no reasonable person could have viewed as “severe” or “pervasive”)].

But in its publicly available letters of findings in Title IX investigations, the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights fails to acknowledge that false allegations are not protected, and in 2016, one OCR staff attorney took the position that “reasonableness” should not be used in assessing harassment allegations. In 2015, an OCR regional office found that a student who made false allegations was entitled to Title IX “remedies” against a college. In its investigation of Michigan State University, it required college officials to offer “remedies” such as academic adjustments to “Student A,” whom both it and the University found had made a false allegation of sexual assault against two students. The Education Department’s strange logic was that the university did not begin proceedings against the accused students fast enough—even though it immediately kicked them out of their dorm and ordered them to stay away from the accuser. Such “interim remedies” against accused students who are never found guilty raise serious due-process issues. [See, e.g., Tyree v. Evans, 728 A.2d 101 (D.C. 1999) (due process required opportunity to cross-examine accuser before imposition of one-year no-contact order); Alberti v. Cruise, 383 F.2d 268 (4th Cir. 1967) (overly broad no-contact order violated First Amendment)].

Harvard Law Professor Jeannie Suk Gerson provides disturbing details about the ongoing investigation of Kipnis at The New Yorker:

Kipnis… was surprised when Northwestern once again launched a formal Title IX investigation of her writing. … [I]nvestigators presented her with a spreadsheet laying out dozens of quotations from her book, along with at least eighty written questions, such as “What do you mean by this statement?,” “What is the source/are the sources for this information?,” and “How do you respond to the allegation that this detail is not necessary to your argument and that its inclusion is evidence of retaliatory intent on your part?” Kipnis chose not to answer any questions, following the standard advice of counsel defending the court case.

She did submit a statement saying that “these complaints seem like an attempt to bend the campus judicial system to punish someone whose work involves questioning the campus judicial system, just as bringing Title IX complaints over my first Chronicle essay attempted to do two years ago.” In other words, the process was the punishment. Possible evidence of retaliatory purpose, she learned, included statements in the book that aggressively staked out her refusal to keep quiet. …Her prior Title IX investigation, she writes, “has made me a little mad and possibly a little dangerous. ... I mean, having been hauled up on complaints once, what do I have to lose? ‘Confidentiality’? ‘Conduct befitting a professor’? Kiss my ass. In other words, thank you to my accusers: unwitting collaborators, accidental muses.” Also presented as possible evidence was her Facebook post quoting a book review—“Kipnis doesn’t seem like the sort of enemy you’d want to attract, let alone help create”—on which Kipnis had commented, “I love that.”

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education says that in addition to trampling on academic freedom, the investigation of Kipnis also seems to contradict the logic of a Bush-era 2003 Education Department guidance document that was never withdrawn by the Obama administration.

As Reason’s Robby Soave notes:

It should be obvious that the text of Title IX does not empower university officials to investigate tenured professors for criticizing Title IX, nor was the law intended to weaponize students' grievances. Kipnis’s ongoing ordeal is a testament to the pressing need for the Education Department to rein in the Obama-era guidance that spawned this madness, and a reminder that Secretary Betsy DeVos is wholly justified in doing just that.

I earlier explained why Education Secretary Betsy DeVos was correct to criticize Obama-era Title IX interpretations at this link, since those interpretations undermine free speech and student and faculty rights on campus.

Yellowstone park cracks down on sex harassment

News of the Day

BILLINGS, Mont. — As many as 10 workers in Yellowstone National Park’s maintenance division will be disciplined after an investigation found female employees were subjected to sexual harassment and other problems.

The move comes as widespread reports of harassment, bullying and other misconduct have tarnished the image of the National Park Service and its parent agency, the U.S. Interior Department.

Investigators have uncovered problems at many of the nation’s premier parks — Yellowstone, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, Canaveral National Seashore — as well as inappropriate behavior toward female employees by the Interior Department’s former director of law enforcement.

Read more...

Atheist's Freedom of Religion and more...

Blackburn-sponsored bill making hearing aids affordable, accessible advances
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN 7th)
July 7, 2017
Reps. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Joe Kennedy III (D-Mass.) on Wednesday applauded the bipartisan passage of their Over-the-Counter Hearing Aid Act in the House Energy & Commerce Committee. The legislation would make certain types of hearing aids available over-the-counter to Americans with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Read more...

Trial begins in lawsuit alleging toxic 'boys' club' at Iowa Statehouse
Press-Citizen
July 10, 2017
Kirsten Anderson, a 39-year-old former communications director for the Senate Republican caucus, brought the lawsuit after being fired in May 2013, just seven hours after giving her boss a memo asking for an investigation into workplace culture at the Capitol and for stronger policies against harassment.
Read more...

Opinion

Council Preview: Atheist invocation draws ire
Oskaloosa Herald
July 5, 2017
Atheist activist Justin Scott is scheduled to give a secular invocation at the Oskaloosa City Council meeting at 6 p.m. on Thursday, July 6, and many in the community say they may come out to protest his invocation.
Read more...

Seriously? I am not an atheist by any means. I believe firmly that Christ died for my sins and have excepted Him in my life. However, that does not give me the license to take someone else's freedom to be wrong away from him.

Furthermore, if Christians wish to keep their First Amendment rights, then we'd better learn to let everyone, not just people we like, have them.

To protest this event is lowering yourself to the level of the person protested against in this case. Do unto others: If we wish atheists would stop protesting our rights away, then we need to make sure those rights are able to be enjoyed by atheists.

Finally, atheism is a religion. Religion, according to Webster's Dictionary is "a personal set or institutionalized system of religious attitudes, beliefs, and practices". Therefore, if an atheist believes there is no God, and practices that belief, then atheism is his religion. To protest him is to protest his rights to practice his freedom of religion.

This is just my opinion

Shonda M. Ponder, editor
(Once again saying something that is unpopular, but true.}