It seems there has been quite a stir over the recent release of voting score cards. Many Republicans are VERY unhappy about these scorecards. They don’t like the fact that Tea Party folks are holding them accountable.
Everything was just “fine” as long as Legislators were not being held accountable for their votes. These score cards have not been a personal attack on any Legislator. Many of these public servants are (or perhaps were) friends of mine. But really, shouldn’t voting records be information easily accessible to the voters? Doesn’t the fact that “good” South Dakota Republicans voted for $60 million dollars per year in tax increases last year bother anyone? Isn’t it significant that they told voters they balanced the budget without raising taxes? Now, they find it offensive that their voting records are being made public? I don’t have much sympathy.
Bring it on!!!
Some have said score cards don’t tell the whole story. We welcome any of them to provide information regarding their votes.. We will give them time and space to defend their votes to increase taxes, against the Republican Party Platform or against faith and family issues.
Most of these Legislators have been pretty quiet. A few have chosen to take personal shots at those who helped put these score cards together. My personal favorite is from a Legislator/friend who admitted he was a bit “miffed” at his score. I reminded him that voters were a little “miffed” at tax increases (and other votes).
To this point, it seems that the legislative Research Council and the Republican Leadership have stonewalled efforts by Representative Stace Nelson to make it easy for taxpayers to see how their representatives have voted. Instead, Representative Nelson has been rewarded by being thrown off the Ag committee by Speaker of the House Val Rausch, and being treated as a leper by fellow Republicans who have scored poorly on score cards that reveal their votes.
At a recent meeting in Rapid City, about a dozen State Legislators were part of the capacity crowd that filled the room. After the meeting, one attendee remarked “It looks like the 50% Republicans are after the 92% Republican”. It is hard to argue with that observation.
It’s time for Republicans to return to the principles that made our country great; principles supported in the Republican Party Platform. I am talking about things like… no tax increases and support of faith and family issues. The very issues that cause the majority of South Dakota Republican Legislators to get a failing grade on score cards.
For now, many have chosen to attack those who created the score cards. I hope they do some soul-searching and realize that they can’t blame anyone other than themselves for their personal voting records.
***Gordon Howie is a nationally syndicated author and CEO of Life and Liberty Media***
