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Democrats want action on intern policy

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Highlighting two recent legislator resignations due to conduct related to Capitol interns, House Minority Leader Jake Hummel sent a letter to Speaker Todd Richardson requesting a committee be formed in the interim to address and form a policy.

“This is a serious problem that requires serious and immediate attention,” wrote Hummel.

Read the full letter below.

 

Oct. 14, 2015

The Honorable Todd Richardson

Speaker of the House

State Capitol, Room 308 A

Jefferson City, MO 65101

 

Dear Speaker Richardson:

 

Five months ago, your predecessor was forced to resign in disgrace after his inappropriate relationship with a teenage intern became public. Upon your elevation to speaker under these unfortunate circumstances, you promised the people of Missouri that the House of Representatives would take strong and decisive steps to ensure the young interns who come to the Capitol to learn and work are protected from inappropriate sexual advances and harassment.

 

Since the former speaker departed, a state senator likewise was forced to resign amid allegations he sexually harassed an intern, and several former interns have come forward with stories of how they were victims of sexual harassment at the hands of lawmakers and other adults who work in the Capitol. This is a serious problem that requires serious and immediate attention.

 

The Missouri House of Representatives is obligated to ensure interns who come to the Capitol to learn and work are protected from inappropriate sexual advances and harassment. We owe that much to the people of Missouri, our institutions of higher education and the students they entrust to us. However, other than a vague outline of possible policy changes informally distributed a couple months ago, no action has been taken on this matter.

 

By contrast, just two days after the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported about a plan to build a 2,500-acre state park in Oregon County that is opposed by some local officials and residents, you established the Interim Committee to Investigate State Park Creation, which will hold hearings in the coming weeks. The launching of an immediate and thorough investigation over the building of a new state park appears to elevate its importance over the sexual harassment of young women by lawmakers and others. Although that might not have been your intention, it is the result.

 

With universities beginning the process of placing interns for the upcoming legislative session, it is vital for the House to develop and implement effective policies to help protect interns without further delay. Therefore, we respectfully request that an interim committee be appointed to hold public hearings aimed at eradicating sexual harassment from the Capitol work environment or allow an existing standing committee to do so.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

PDF of Hummel’s signed letter.

UPDATED: October 21 at 6:00 p.m.

House Speaker Todd Richardson issued the following statement regarding efforts by the Missouri House of Representatives to craft a comprehensive intern policy:

“The members of the task force I appointed this summer worked diligently with House attorneys and consulted with officials from several universities to make recommendations for a comprehensive intern policy. From that point, my office engaged in a thorough review process that resulted in additional recommendations that will revise not only intern policy, but also sexual harassment policy for all House members and staff.  We are now in the final stages of preparing our recommendations, and as I am sure Rep. Hummel is aware, the next step will be for the House Administration and Accounts Committee to hold public hearings to discuss and debate the proposed policy changes. I am confident that Reps. Mike Leara and Pat Conway will work with the members of their committee to thoroughly vet the proposal and ultimately approve the new policy that will take significant steps toward improving the environment for interns and staff in the House.”