The latest report on a Treasury Department fund that pays harassment settlements to accusers of members of Congress further illustrates the lack of transparency that has long allowed lawmakers to get away with bad behavior. The Washington Post story noted that, according to evidence provided by a House committee, $174,000 was paid in 15 harassment settlements related to the behavior of House members from 2008 to 2012.
But with the exception of information about a case involving former Rep. Eric Massa, D-New York, details of the settlements could not be ascertained. The Post also noted that severance payments are also sometimes used to compensate those who file complaints _ and that no information was available on these payments.
As bad as the House has been, the Senate is worse. It balks at any public disclosures of settlements. "You cannot solve a problem if you don't have an idea about (its) scope," said Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Virginia. Or if you don't want to solve the problem.
