Adviser wants Human Resources staffer to address sexual harassment at Iowa Capitol

DES MOINES - In the wake of sexual harassment allegations and a settled lawsuit that cost Iowa taxpayers $1.8 million, the Iowa Legislature needs a guiding mission statement that makes clear sexual harassment will not be tolerated, Mary Kramer said.

Kramer, a former state legislator and U.S. ambassador to Barbados, was asked to make recommendations to leaders in the Iowa Legislature about how to prevent sexual harassment in the Iowa Capitol and how to deal with future accusations.

Kramer talked about her efforts during taping for this weekend's 'Iowa Press” on Iowa Public Television.

The show will air Sunday at noon.

'I'm going to ask that there be a legislative branch-wide resolution that states the goal of creating and maintaining a culture that is safe, respectful and professional,” said Kramer, a former human resources official for the health insurance company Wellmark.

Kramer said everyone who works in the Capitol - legislators, staff, lobbyists and reporters - should be engaged in understanding that goal and the reporting process.

Kramer is completing her work at the behest of state Sen. Bill Dix, the leader of the Iowa Senate Republicans.

Former Senate Republican staff member Kirsten Anderson said she experienced sexual harassment while working at the Capitol and alleged she was fired in 2013 for reporting the allegations to leadership.

Senate Republican leaders said Anderson was fired for poor work performance, but a judge this year ruled in Anderson's favor. The state settled for $1.8 million, which was paid out of its general fund.

Dix this year conducted an internal investigation, which he published with some redactions. Dix also said he would hire a human resources director to oversee the Iowa Senate, but reversed course and said he would first bring in Kramer to make recommendations.

Kramer said she will recommend legislators hire a human resources professional to oversee both the Iowa Senate and Iowa House.

'There is no boss at the Capitol,” she said. 'There is no one person in charge of either chamber or the media or the lobby, the House as a group, the Senate. All of that is fairly autonomous, to use that word loosely.

'So how is it that we're going to get a common goal that we want a safe, respectful, productive workplace at the legislative branch of the Capitol? How do we get there?”

Kramer said she thinks the current wave of allegations of sexual misconduct that is sweeping the country shows women making such accusations finally are being heard.

She said that wasn't necessarily the case when she was a state legislator from 1991 through 2003, and she expressed regret for not doing more at the time.

'I thought (the culture) was not good when I was there,” Kramer said. 'And I'm cross with myself a little bit that I did not institutionalize a human resources process at the time.

'I don't know whether it was time, or I just don't know why that didn't occur to me that it would have been helpful to do that.

'What is most difficult is if there is a culture that there is no trust or belief that anything will be done, that people won't come forward,” Kramer said. 'I think that is the biggest change that has happened, is that women who have come forward now in the last few months, maybe a year, people believe them. They have credibility.”

Kramer said she thinks the wave of allegations also will make it easier to educate those who work at the Capitol about sexual harassment.

'I like the Chinese proverb that says when the student is ready, the teacher appears,” Kramer said. 'I don't think the students have been ready up until this point.”