In 2019, after signing legislation to strengthen protections against workplace sexual harassment and support victims, Governor JB Pritzker declared that Illinois would no longer tolerate looking the other way.
At the bill signing, the Governor said:
"Sexual harassment is unacceptable and will not be tolerated in the state of Illinois."
He also promised:
"...This commonsense law makes it clear that the days of turning a blind eye to sexual harassment in the workplace are over."
Seven years later, those words ring hollow.
As questions mount over Speaker Welch's mishandling of sexual harassment allegations involving disgraced former State Representative Harry Benton, Governor Pritzker is refusing to hold the Speaker accountable.
Asked yesterday whether new leadership in the House is needed, the Governor responded:
"There is more to learn here I think before you know anybody's calling for, and remember, this is a decision ultimately by the members of the House."
What more is there to learn?
The facts surrounding Speaker Welch's mishandling of the Benton allegations have already raised serious questions about his leadership. Yet instead of standing by the principles he championed in 2019, Governor Pritzker is choosing to defer, rather than lead.
The Governor once said the days of turning a blind eye were over. But when faced with an opportunity to hold the most powerful Democrat in the Illinois House accountable, he is doing exactly what he once condemned.
While the Governor wavers, House Republicans will continue fighting for meaningful ethics reforms and real accountability, even as the majority party refuses to act, such as on House Bill 1382.