Detente' in the Dakotas
Says state's politicians work with each other, not against
Washington politicians could stand to act more like South Dakotans.
That was one of the conclusions from Rep. Stephanie Herseth's Friday lunchtime visit with the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce's Government Affairs Committee at the Ramada Inn.
While South Dakotans are able to work together well despite differences, that's not always the case on Capitol Hill, Herseth said.
In reflecting on her still young career, Herseth said she was struck by how much divisiveness there was in Washington when she got there after winning a special election in June 2004. With the general election approaching, tension was high between the parties, Herseth said. That was especially true in the House. So much so, Herseth said, that some lawmakers wouldn't talk to peers who weren't in the same party.
With 2005 not being an election year, things have been better. Herseth said. South Dakota's congressional delegation - Herseth and fellow Democrat Sen. Tim Johnson as well as Sen. John Thune, a Republican - have worked well together in helping produce a transportation bill beneficial to South Dakota. They've also put forward a united front in arguing that it would be unwise to close Ellsworth Air Force Base near Rapid City.
"But we were only able to accomplish (passing an transportation bill that increases the amount of money for South Dakota roads) because we did work with each other very early," Herseth said.
She added that the delegation along with Republican Gov. Mike Rounds and an Ellsworth task force has made progress in potentially keeping the base open.
Because of recent progress, Herseth said, there's "a fighting chance" of getting Ellsworth off the base closure list.
But, Herseth added, "In prior (years when closure lists have been issued) even when the Pentagon has made mistakes, bases have still closed."
Another election year next year may mean the return of tensions in Washington. But, Herseth said, that has never been a problem in South Dakota. In Pierre, Republicans and Democrats get along well. And in Aberdeen, support for a host of new undertakings show the city is headed in the right direction, she said.
Read the whole thing here. I'm almost anticipating a couple readers who come in with hearts and flowers in your eyes and comment "It's a new era of cooperation; we're all working together. Now lets have a big group hug." And you know what, I'm not buying it. Okay, before you get started, absolutely do our elected officials need to work together on big things like Ellsworth, and the transportation bill. They're too important to this state to carp on each other about. They're too important to South Dakota constituents. But let's not get ahead of ourselves and assume that the love is going to continue forever and ever. Because there's an election this next year, and people are going to choose up sides. Cracks in the alliance are going to begin to show by this time next year. The article even note that tensions are sure to rise by then. I think its pretty safe to assume that whomever the GOP puts up for Congress is going to be supported by Senator Thune. And I would expect that Congresswoman Herseth would be supported by Senator Johnson. Two years after that, Both Johnson and Congress will be up and the other will have to choose a side. Two more years, and if Herseth is still around, she's probably going to be the DNC's 1st choice to run against Thune. So, just for the moment, we can sit back and enjoy the harmonic convergence of mutual interests, and feel the love.
Comments