[PenDems (169)] Open Letter to SD Dems from Judy Olsen Duhamel

October 25, 2009

Dear Friends,

As we draw closer to 2010 I hope you are as excited and as motivated as I am when it comes to furthering the priorities that we as Democrats hold dear. As a party, it’s more critical than ever that we work together on behalf of South Dakota families and businesses.

The fabric of our party is vibrant with passion and energy . . . and there is no shortage of good ideas. Those qualities are what make us strong. Democrats have traditionally been a party that avoids litmus tests and remains open to diverse viewpoints—an approach that yields success. I’m asking that we do just that--------respect diverse points of view,

I’m sorry to address an uncomfortable subject, but I am compelled to write after reading a recent essay by Sam Hurst that you may have seen. As passionate as he is---and we all know that he is passionate and articulate---Sam’s attacks on Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin are unfounded and misplaced. I like Sam and admire his talent, but I must take a moment to express my thoughts about our exceptional Congresswoman---------clearly a rising star on all levels.

Please, let’s not forget what a strong leader, committed advocate, and tireless champion Stephanie Herseth Sandlin has been for us on critical priorities since she arrived in Congress.

* She serves on the Agriculture Committee, where she fought tirelessly to ensure that the new Farm Bill fairly represented the interests of our farmers and ranchers. One of her signature accomplishments in that fight was in achieving a new program to benefit “Beginning Farmers and Ranchers”.
* In her relatively short time in Congress she has already ascended to become the Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee for Economic Opportunity, where she works to ensure that our male and female veterans have all the benefits they deserve when they return from their service. A key focus for the Congresswoman has been concentrating on the unique needs of female veterans to make sure that the VA reflects the changing demographic of our military. And just this past week she traveled to the White House to join President Obama for a signing ceremony for the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency signing ceremony for the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act--a critical bill, which is now law, that will help ensure that resources for veterans are not affected by legislative delays in the yearly budget process.
* She also serves on the House Natural Resources Committee which allows her to represent the interests of South Dakota’s nine sovereign Sioux tribes. No one, and I do mean no one questions Stephanie’s commitment and results when it comes to advocating for Indian Country. Whether it’s law enforcement, health care, education or economic development, Stephanie IS a dedicated advocate and partner on these issues.
* Stephanie has been a top leader in the House on establishing energy independence and, in particular, working for a strong new renewable fuels standard that includes aggressive goals for advanced ethanol made from inputs other than corn. As we all know, this not only helps our environment, it helps our economy and our national security as we strive for energy independence. It’s also worth noting that Speaker Nancy Pelosi appointed Stephanie to the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming in order to ensure that rural America has a seat at the table.
* Our Congresswoman is also a strong voice for fiscal responsibility--an issue that all South Dakota Democrats understand. Stephanie has also been a leader in communicating the idea that the deficit didn’t magically appear when President Obama took office-----it resulted from years of wasteful spending under President Bush and the Republican-controlled Congress. But regardless of who caused it, she’s committed to ensuring American’s fiscal security—for your children and grandchildren.
* Just recently, you may have read in the Argus-Leader or the Rapid City Journal about her work to raise awareness about domestic violence. In South Dakota, this is a particularly acute problem in Indian Country. Recently, in Rapid City our Congresswoman braved the cold to hand out purple shawls and in Sioux Falls, she organized and hosted a roundtable for brave victims of domestic violence to tell their stories and provide courage and inspiration to others.

Whether it’s supporting our ag economy, fighting for those who have served our country, representing Indian Country, working for energy independence, guarding our tax dollars, ensuring that women can make decisions about their own health care without government interference, or drawing attention to critical issues like domestic violence, it is clear to me that our Congresswoman is fighting for the issues that matter.

Of course, South Dakota does have a diverse Democratic party, and we aren’t going to agree on every issue. That has always been true regardless of who has represented us in the House or the Senate, and it is true of both political parties. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. Particularly on the issue of health care, while many of us may disagree on elements of this bill, it’s important to know that Stephanie is working to ensure that South Dakota gets treated fairly. I’d ask you to consider that fact that her comprehension of the complexity of health care issues is far greater than the understanding most of us have.

Like all Democrats and most South Dakotans, she recognizes that the current system is unsustainable. I have heard her say many times that “We can’t afford not to reform health care”. I know she is committed to serious reform that makes health care more affordable and available for all. She proved that last year when she helped pass a strong reauthorization of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program. And now, she is working productively with House leadership to craft a bill that will not only reform our health care system, but keep health costs down, and improve coverage. You know how deeply she cares and I know how deeply she cares. At a minimum she deserves our respect.

Thank you all for your continued passion, involvement and investment in South Dakota, the state that we love. Please, let’s not forget in the heat of these battles the one fight we have already won---------we have a smart, aggressive, talented and effective rising star in the United States Congress working hard every day for us.

Genuinely,

Judy Olson Duhamel