Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of HR0890
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Full Text of HR0890  100th General Assembly

HR0890 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY


  

 


 
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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, On November 7, 2017, the Illinois House of
3Representatives and the Illinois Senate adopted House Joint
4Resolution 83 which urged action to address the issue of sexual
5harassment in Springfield and throughout Illinois State
6government; and
 
7    WHEREAS, House Joint Resolution 83 resolved that "those
8supporting this resolution are committed to saying #IWILL do
9better and I will work with my colleagues to change the culture
10that breeds such behavior"; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Since the adoption of House Joint Resolution 83,
12the Illinois General Assembly has not done better; and
 
13    WHEREAS, Since the adoption of House Joint Resolution 83,
14new allegations of sexual harassment and abuse in and around
15Illinois State government and political campaign organizations
16continue to be made public on a regular basis, diminishing the
17integrity of the Illinois General Assembly and the State of
18Illinois; and
 
19    WHEREAS, Since the adoption of House Joint Resolution 83,
20it has become public that allegations of sexual harassment,
21abuse and misconduct continue to be mishandled and minimized by

 

 

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1the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives and his
2staff and attorneys; and
 
3    WHEREAS, Since the adoption of House Joint Resolution 83,
4there has been a lack of transparency from the Speaker of the
5Illinois House of Representatives and his staff and attorneys
6and an apparent effort to use propaganda to divert attention
7from very serious and troubling allegations of sexual
8harassment, abuse, and misconduct; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Since the adoption of House Joint Resolution 83,
10it has become clear that the Speaker of the Illinois House of
11Representatives and his staff and attorneys should not be in
12charge of investigating allegations of sexual harassment,
13abuse, and misconduct; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Calls have been made for an independent
15investigation into allegations of sexual harassment, abuse,
16and misconduct in Illinois State government and political
17campaign organizations, yet no action has been taken on these
18calls, and no process is in place to allow for a truly
19independent investigation; and
 
20    WHEREAS, Since the adoption of House Joint Resolution 83,
21it has become clear that an independent special counsel who is
22in no way controlled by the Speaker of the Illinois House of

 

 

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1Representatives, his staff, his attorneys, or anyone else under
2the direct control of an Illinois government official is the
3only way for a truly independent investigation to take place;
4and
 
5    WHEREAS, The time has come for every legislator in the
6Illinois House of Representatives to stand up for Illinois
7citizens and demand the immediate appointment of an independent
8special counsel to investigate and, where necessary, litigate
9and prosecute, allegations of sexual harassment, abuse, and
10misconduct; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Time is of the essence; therefore, be it
 
12    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE
13HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that those
14supporting this resolution are committed to saying Time's Up
15and are urging the immediate enactment of whatever legislation
16is necessary to allow for the appointment of an independent
17special counsel who is in no way controlled by the Speaker of
18the Illinois House of Representatives, his staff, his
19attorneys, or anyone else under the direct control of an
20Illinois government official, as this is the only way for a
21truly independent investigation to take place; and be it
22further
 

 

 

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1    RESOLVED, That the independent special counsel shall have
2the authority to issue subpoenas, command testimony under oath,
3open a statewide grand jury, and investigate and, where
4necessary, litigate and prosecute, allegations of sexual
5harassment, abuse, and misconduct; and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
7presented to every member of the General Assembly.