#MeToo moment of reckoning arrives in Pa.

A #MeToo moment of reckoning of sex harassment has arrived in Harrisburg - and not a moment too soon.

The day of reckoning for sexual harassment – already reverberating around the worlds of entertainment, media and Washington, D.C. – has arrived in Harrisburg.

And two women legislators are leading the charge.

It does not come a minute too soon.

Last week state Reps. Leanne Krueger-Braneky, D-161, and Margo Davidson, D-164, were among a group of lawmakers who rolled out a package of bills designed to offer more protection to women who are victims of sexual harassment and assault in the workplace.

The bills would require better workplace training and extend protections to employees of small businesses; create a task force to examine sexual assault on college campuses; and prevent non-disclosure agreements for sexual assault claims.

The legislation is the latest ripple from the explosion of women coming forward with claims of harassment.

They toppled Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein; led to the firing of NBC mega-star Matt Lauer, the longtime morning host of the ‘Today’ show; and caused the resignation of U.S. Sen. Al Franken, D-Minnesota.

Now it’s time for Harrisburg – long a bastion of male power and under-representation for women – to look in the mirror.

“The recent stories from around the country and right here in the Pennsylvania Legislature show that sexual harassment and abuse have been overlooked for far too long,” said Davidson, the chair of the Democratic Women’s Caucus.

The ink was barely dry on the package of bills when the headlines started to roil the state Capitol.

First there was state Sen. Daylin Leach. Several women accuse him of acting in inappropriate ways – including touching and bawdy language that made them uncomfortable.

Ironically, Leach, D-17, who represents parts of Montgomery and Delaware counties, has been a longtime champion of many women’s issues.

Leach, who was one of the frontrunners for the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. Pat Meehan in the 2018 midterm elections, did not do himself any favors with his initial reaction to the accusations.

Leach, long known for his humor and witty repartee, fired back at his accusers on social media.

A day later, he apparently thought better of it and announced he was “stepping back” from his Congressional campaign. This came after Gov. Tom Wolf not only called for him to get out of the race, but that he also should resign from the state Senate. Leach left open the possibility of getting back into the race at some point and has steadfastly rejected calls to give up his Senate post.

Krueger-Braneky, joined the chorus calling on Leach to resign from the Legislature.

“The allegations are disturbing and Sen. Leach’s reactions to the report and subsequent #MeToo stories are deeply alarming,” the state rep said.

“Attempting to attack the character of the women in the article, as well as those who have come forward with stories since it broke, is conduct well beyond the pale for an elected official.”

Another aspect of the package of bills quickly came into focus when word broke last weekend that taxpayers were on the hook for a $250,000 confidential settlement involving a state representative.

Rep. Tom Caltagirone, DBerks, was the target of a complaint by a legislative assistant in his district office.

He has insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing and rejected calls that he resign, one of them again coming from the Democratic governor’s office.

In a written statement Caltagirone said he was prohibited from discussing any details of the settlement, but noted that he has denied the accusation from the beginning.

It’s not the only such case. House Minority Leader Frank Dermody, D-Allegheny, said his caucus has agreed to pay out more than $500,000 to settle such claims. Two were for sexual harassment complaints against two members.

Sexual harassment in the workplace is bad enough. That it is being shrouded under a cloud of secrecy – at taxpayer expense – is outrageous.

The package of bills put up by Krueger-Braneky and Davidson is long overdue.

This kind of behavior is no longer tolerable. Not in Hollywood. Not in the Big Apple. Not in Washington, D.C. And not in Harrisburg.

And certainly not on the taxpayers’ dime.