Auditor General DePasquale Seeks to End Use of Taxpayer Money to Settle Sexual Harassment Claims Against Elected Officials
Says audit of sexual harassment policies, legislative accounts long overdue
Auditor General DePasquale Seeks to End Use of Taxpayer Money to Settle Sexual Harassment Claims Against Elected Officials
Says audit of sexual harassment policies, legislative accounts long overdue
HARRISBURG (Dec. 20, 2017) – Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today sent a letter to House and Senate leaders offering his department’s services to audit legislative accounts and review sexual harassment policies and procedures similar to his recent audit of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
“It is outrageous that the public is just now learning that the House of Representatives used more than half a million dollars of taxpayer money since 2007 to settle claims by employees,” DePasquale said.
“Taxpayer money should never be used to settle sexual harassment claims against an elected official,” he said. “As a former legislator, I know that many members, including myself, were unaware that these payments were made. We need to put a stop to it.
“Based on my team’s excellent work reviewing the sexual harassment policies and procedures of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, today I offer those services to the General Assembly.”
In April, DePasquale sent a letter to legislative leaders offering his office’s audit services to review legislative accounts. Rep. Bob Freeman and a bi-partisan group of legislators introduced and sponsored legislation (House Bill 1257) to authorize the Department of the Auditor General to audit the General Assembly and legislative agencies.
“I commend Reps. Freeman, Schlossberg, Samuelson, B. Miller, Mullery, Simmons, Thomas, Solomon, and Deasy for taking a bi-partisan stand for transparency by sponsoring a bill that would allow my office to audit legislative accounts.
“It is unfortunate that House Bill 1257 has been stuck in the Finance Committee since April 20,” DePasquale said. “If the General Assembly would have allowed me to conduct an audit, we may have already uncovered this abuse of taxpayer funds.”
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Attached is a copy of the letter Auditor General DePasquale sent today to leaders of the General Assembly.
December 20, 2017
President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati Speaker of the House Mike Turzai
292 Main Capitol 139 Main Capitol
Pennsylvania Senate Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Harrisburg, PA 17120 Harrisburg, PA 17120
The Honorable Jake Corman The Honorable Jay Costa
350 Main Capitol 535 Main Capitol
Pennsylvania Senate Pennsylvania Senate
Harrisburg, PA 17120 Harrisburg, PA 17120
The Honorable Dave Reed The Honorable Frank Dermody
110 Main Capitol 423 Main Capitol
Pennsylvania House of Representatives Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Harrisburg, PA 17120 Harrisburg, PA 17120
Dear Leaders of the General Assembly,
Given revelations this week that more than half a million dollars of taxpayer money was used since 2007 to settle claims by employees, I am again offering my Department’s services to audit legislative accounts and review sexual harassment policies and procedures similar to my recent audit of the Philadelphia Parking Authority.
A review by the Department of the Auditor General could help you provide the maximum level of transparency and openness to taxpayers.
While HB 1257 is currently stalled in the Finance Committee, you currently have the authority to engage the services of my Department simply by inviting my Department to review the appropriate accounts along with the caucuses’ various sexual harassment policies and procedures. The Philadelphia Parking Authority appreciated my team’s work and updated its sexual harassment policies providing greater protections for women in the office. We can help you do the same.
If you wish to avail your caucuses of my Department’s services, please contact my office.
Sincerely,
Eugene A. DePasquale
Auditor General
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