Simons Expelled. Now Work to Fix the Environment at the Capitol

Luke Simons (R) has been expelled. Never in our state’s history has that happened. 69 votes declaring the documented behavior will not be tolerated in the workplace. 25 votes willing to look the other way. Now that Simons is gone, the Legislature must work to address the environment and correct the processes that allowed that behavior to continue for years.

This historic move was necessary. The gut-wrenching recollection from House colleagues who were subjected to the harassment cannot be ignored. They had to relive it before the public. Watch it. Listen to them. The arrogance and lack of remorse from Simons demonstrated he would not change his behavior. There was no other option than expulsion that would have proven the point that time for a change and need to address this type of behavior was long past due.

Unfortunately, the work is not done. The pitiful attempt to hide behind “process” by the 25 House members willing to look the other way also cannot be ignored. Many of them have routinely stood in the way of formalizing a “process” to deal with unacceptable behavior from a lawmaker the whole time.

Some of those same lawmakers claimed there was no need for a workplace harassment policy when it was first implemented just a couple of years ago. They claimed that type of harassing behavior didn’t happen from lawmakers in the North Dakota Legislature.

Read more: https://ndxplains.com/2021/03/06/simons-expelled-now-work-to-fix-the-environment-at-the-capitol/