Wednesday, November 29, 2017
YOUNGSTOWN
Video Set
U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan said Congress needs to overhaul how it handles sexual harassment allegations and increase training.
“The whole thing was set up clearly to protect and to try to prevent [people] from filing” harassment complaints, said Ryan, of Howland, D-13th, during a Tuesday editorial board meeting with The Vindicator. “We have to adopt transparency, getting rid of these archaic rules that are in place. We need to make it easier to file” complaints.
VIDEO SET: Rep. Tim Ryan with The Vindicator editorial board
Ryan said he wants an “expedited” investigation into a number of sexual harassment complaints leveled against U.S. Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat and the House’s most-senior member. Ryan wants it to be completed in a week.
“I want to get the facts in the Conyers issue, but if everything proves to be true, then yeah,” he should resign, said Ryan, who added: “I personally believe the women who are coming forward” against Conyers as well as U.S. Sen. Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat.
“As far as Franken, the Senate is having a similar investigation,” Ryan said. “Once the investigation is done, I’ll comment on that.”
When asked if he’s concerned he’ll be caught up in a sexual harassment scandal, Ryan, an eight-term congressman, said, “No, I do not.”
He added: “People in power abusing women or men in any regard is something that is unacceptable.”
A vote in the House is scheduled today on legislation to require training for members and staff to prevent sexual harassment. Also, the House early next month will have a hearing on whether the Office of Compliance, which handles harassment complaints for the legislative body, is permitted to reveal details of sexual harassment settlements, according to Politico.
“We need to beef up the Office of Compliance, we need to add staff, we need training – face-to-face training – and we need more engagement from the Office of Compliance,” he said.
Meanwhile, Ryan reiterated his opposition to the Republican-backed tax-reform plan that was approved earlier this month by the House and will be considered shortly by the Senate. The Senate Budget Committee voted Tuesday along party lines 12-11 to approve the bill and move it to the full Senate for a vote.
Republicans are “in need of a political victory” and “one thing they can agree on is tax cuts,” Ryan said.
However, he said the proposal’s “problem is not only is it going to hurt the middle class, but they’re going to borrow $2.3 trillion primarily from China and Saudi Arabia to fund this thing, and [the cuts] will primarily go to the wealthiest people. It’s a real dangerous thing to do at this point. We can’t afford it.” Also, “there’s no proof in economic history that this works.”
Ryan said half of all Americans will see tax increases by 2027.
“The tax bill is inadequate,” he said. “It’s going to put us even further behind.”
Ryan remains a critic of President Donald Trump, a Republican, who won the congressman’s home county of Trumbull on his way to winning Ohio and the national election last year.
“Trump has lied, he clearly has,” Ryan said. “He told people what he thought they wanted to hear. It sounds good for Trump to say he’s going to bring all the steel mills back. That is a lie.”
Ryan also said Trump lied about returning the coal industry to prominence, taking a hard stance on trade – particularly with China – and improving the health-care system.
Ryan said he doesn’t see himself moving into Democratic House leadership. Ryan unsuccessfully challenged Nancy Pelosi in November 2016 for minority leader, losing 134 to 63. But since then, he’s raised his national profile by appearing numerous times on cable news talk shows.
“I’m on the Appropriations Committee and moving up in seniority,” he said. “It’s a lot of responsibility. I can help craft a message” without seeking a leadership position.