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News from Rep. Stephanie Herseth
For Immediate Release
Contact: Russ Levsen, 202-226-4449

HERSETH: DO-NOTHING CONGRESS HAS MISPLACED PRIORITIES

Fails to Tackle Tough Issues, Avoids Priorities like Drought, Iraq, Budget, Renewable Fuels

September 21, 2006, Washington, D.C. - On a conference call with reporters today, U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth outlined her frustration with the priorities of the current Congress. Herseth said that the House has failed to tackle the tough issues facing our country and South Dakota. Herseth believes that the Congress should have found time to debate drought relief, address gas prices and renewable fuels, strengthen laws to prevent terrorism, and provide oversight and direction on the war in Iraq. Additionally, Congress has failed to pass a budget and will be forced instead to pass a continuing resolution to fund the government.

Herseth said, "Since returning from August recess, and counting today, Congress has only been in session for eight days this month. Overall, Congress is expected to be in session for just 94 days this year, compared to 110 days in session for the "Do-Nothing" Congress that President Harry Truman successfully campaigned against in 1948. This is an embarrassment and Americans deserve better."

On the drought, Herseth said, "House Republican Leadership has steadfastly refused to consider, debate, or vote on disaster assistance for victims of drought in the Heartland. I have requested repeatedly that Majority Leader Boehner and Speaker Hastert schedule a vote, but instead we're voting on meaningless resolutions to rename post offices and ban horse slaughter. I have been proud to stand with a bipartisan, regional coalition of members who are suffering from this drought, but our pleas are falling on deaf ears."

On renewable fuels, she said, "The price of gasoline reached an all time high this summer of $3.08 the week of August 7, and with Middle East as unstable as ever, it is just a matter of time before they increase again. We still face an energy crisis here in America, and we need to continue our transition away from a dependence on foreign oil, in favor of renewable fuels like ethanol and biodiesel that strengthen our national security and provide investment in rural America."

On Iraq, she said, "Congress has a responsibility to provide oversight on the conduct of the war, to work with and assess the needs of military leaders on the ground as they implement a plan of action, and to give our armed forces the tools and information necessary to complete the mission as quickly as possible. For too long, partisans on both sides have politicized the issue of Iraq for political gain. I am disappointed that Congress has avoided a serious discussion about the situation in Iraq, and I believe that politicizing the issue is a disservice to the brave men and women in the military."

And on the budget, Herseth said, "the Republican Congress still has not completed a budget - one of the most basic responsibilities of governing. The budget that we passed in the House earlier this year would do nothing to rein in the record deficits and debt, and would actually increase the debt limit by another $653 billion to more than $9.6 trillion. Now we're faced with the necessity of passing a continuing resolution, and avoiding real debate over this country's funding priorities. The end result will, most likely, be a large omnibus budget that is rushed through during a lame duck session without proper transparency and accountability."

Herseth noted that the vast majority of Americans share her frustration with the current Congress. In fact, earlier today the New York Times released a recent poll showing that "two-thirds of the American public believes that Congress had accomplished less than it typically did in a two-year session." Additionally, most said they "could not name a single major piece of legislation that cleared this Congress." And only 25 percent said they approved of the way Congress was doing its job. Herseth said, "The priorities of this Congress are so far removed from the priorities of the American people, it's no wonder this do nothing Congress has some of the lowest approval ratings of any Congress in history."

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