Legislative Equity News Today

As a workplace, the Oregon Capitol stinks.

Breese-Iverson did not address the beer comment, but continued to advocate for her bill. Witt responded: “I’m not wedded to beer by any means. Could be dinner or ….?” “Or what?” Breese-Iverson texted back. “I’ve made two offerings,” Witt responded. “If you wanna meet, find something better than dinner or beer.” “Trying to get a vote count,” Breese-Iverson texted in the final message included in the report. Breese-Iverson that week filed a formal complaint with the Legi...

Lawyer: Representative didnt intend sexual favors for vote May 19, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail SALEM, Ore. (AP) — An investigator hired by the Oregon Legislature has concluded that Democrat Rep. Brad Witt, of Clatskanie, did not intend to tell a colleague that he would vote for her bill in exchange for sexual favors. However, the investigator did find that Republican Rep. Vikki Breese-Iverson, of Prineville, “was not unreasonable” to interpret Witt’s text message as sexual harassment, The...

Lawmaker says harassment by colleague was unacceptable April 22, 2021 FacebookTwitterEmail BEND, Ore. (AP) — A Republican state lawmaker who says she was subjected to sexual harassment by Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, said he responded inappropriately when she asked him to support a bill. “I asked for a yes vote,” Rep. Vikki Breese Iverson of Prineville told the Central Oregon Daily News. “He responded with some questions. I responded to his questions. He interjected with, going out for...

GARY A. WARNER Oregon Capital Bureau Rep. Vikki Breese Iverson, R-Prineville, has gone public with her allegation that she was sexually harassed in texts from Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie. Iverson said Tuesday that she was the previously anonymous lawmaker who accused Witt of sexual harassment. She said she was speaking out after the bipartisan House Conduct Committee rejected a recommendation that Witt be removed from chairmanship of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Comm...

Oregon state representative defends letting protesters into Capitol Print this article An Oregon state representative, who faced widespread criticism for allowing anti-lockdown protesters to enter the state Capitol during a Dec. 21 special session, defended his actions on Wednesday and said he has faced "mob justice" from the House speaker. Video from the incident show state Rep. Mike Nearman, a Republican, walk out a door that protesters were standing on the other side of. Two protesters run...

Oregon House Republicans awaiting investigation findings to weigh in on Nearman’s actions Updated Jan 13, 2021; Posted Jan 13, 2021 Rep. Mike Nearman, a Republican from outside Independence, is shown taking the oath of office along with other House lawmakers at the state Capitol on January 11, 2021. Nearmans Republican colleagues said they are withholding judgment pending investigations into Nearman opening a door to violent demonstrators last month.Brooke Herbert/The Oregonian Facebook Sh...

State lawmakers action letting in protesters Dec. 21 breached the public trust. House Speaker Tina Kotek has turned up the pressure on Republican Rep. Mike Nearman to resign his seat after video surveillance showed him allowing anti-lockdown protesters to enter the closed Oregon Capitol during a Dec. 21 special session. Kotek announced several actions against the Republican from Independence, who took the oath for a fourth term on opening day Monday, Jan. 11. She disclosed last week that Near...

An Oregon lawmaker who allowed far-right demonstrators into the state Capitol last month now faces formal discipline and fines. He’s also losing unfettered access to the statehouse. Surveillance footage shows state Rep. Mike Nearman, R-Independence, allowing far-right demonstrators into the state Capitol on Dec. 21, 2020. Credit screen capture from video footage Addressing his fellow House members Monday, Representative Mike Nearman announced a set of terms he’d agreed to in the wake of the...