Note: This is a Northwest Observer Editorial

While observing committee hearings in the virtual Oregon 2021 Legislative session, the staff here at the Northwest Observer came across the House Business and Labor hearing on March 1, 2021. The public is still not allowed to attend hearings in person, and video is the only way that a member of the public may witness.

The start of the video on OLIS was clunky and apparently the “blue light” that indicates to the committee, staff and others the hearing is now “live” to the public, came on before the chair of the committee, Rep. Paul Holvey (D-Eugene) knew he was live.

We don’t know what was said before the blue light came on but, noticed that the members were apparently discussing something that led to the opening exchange between Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis (R-Tangent) and the chair.

State legislators are required to take several hours of mandatory training on sexual harassment, workplace behavior and more.

In this video, an older, white male Democrat leader seems to be what we would call “aggressive” toward a younger female member. Watch the body language of Boshart Davis after the chair’s comment. Women will immediately notice the noticeably discomfort she is experiencing.

It appears that Democrat men in the Legislature (Diego Hernandez, David Gomberg and Paul Holvey) have a problem that the mandatory training is not addressing. They are aggressive toward younger women.

The reporting staff here at the Northwest Observer believe that House Speaker Tina Kotek should open an investigation from the Legislative Equity Office and its Director Jackie Sandmeyer into this video. And believe that Rep. Holvey should be brought before the Rule 27 Conduct Committee.

If this had been a Republican male making such remarks and aggressive behavior toward a younger female member of the House Democrat caucus, this would be “front page news” in all of the Portland media. We understand that Rep. Holvey most likely did not mean anything by his remarks, but in this day and age of #MeToo and #TimesUp, we must hold people accountable for actions such as these. We hope that at the very least a public apology will come from the chair of the Business and Labor committee, preferably on the floor of the Oregon House.

For context, here is the entire hearing from that committee: (The video clip above is at the :24 mark of this longer video)


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2021-03-04 11:27:08

Last Update: 2021-03-04 18:48:19