No access to Congress for Aberdeen
An aspect of Congressional offices that is never mentioned in campaigns
or accounts of representative’s and senator’s service is the work their staffs
do for constituents. Senator Tim
Johnson’s office went through the closing process this month. It won’t be replaced. His successor as U.S.
senator for the state will not have a field office in Aberdeen.
Rep. Kristi Noem does not maintain a service office in Aberdeen, either. She has a staff member who comes to Aberdeen occasionally, but
she does not have any staff members who consult with constituents and on their behalf to resolve issues. Sen. John Thune has an office in Aberdeen, the one vacated
by Tom Daschle’s staff. However, that
office was literally forced on him. As a
congressman, Thune decided not to have an Aberdeen
office, but prominent members of the Republican party in the Aberdeen region were incensed by
his
neglect of their part of the state. He
was opposed to or showed no interest in projects for developing this part of
the state. Party members dragged him
into the area and “educated” him on the projects and insisted that he have a
functioning line of communication that a field office provides for the Aberdeen area.
In
contrast, the Democratic congress people have had fully staffed and very busy
offices in Aberdeen. My spouse worked on the staffs of Sen.
Daschle and Rep. Herseth Sandlin. While
staff members worked on legislative business in representing their employees, a
huge part of their job was helping constituents navigate the government bureaucracies.
Such help might range from someone encountering visa problems in a foreign land
and needing action by the state department, someone needing help in solving a
social security problem, a farmer needing advice and assistance with a
conservation program matter, or someone who has encountered confusion and
difficulty with any aspect of government.
Often people seek federal help in coordinating matters involving state
and local government.
After
Tom Daschle and Stephanie Herseth Sandlin lost elections and their offices were
closing down, the staff members spent days shredding the case files the offices
had accumulated working in behalf of constituents. Staff members not only worked in their offices
to be available to constituents, they were assigned counties which they visited
regularly to represent their Congressional employer and meet with people to
answer questions or offer assistance.
The
question in the operation of the field offices is not a matter of big
government. It’s a matter of making
government work for the people and providing direct communication between
constituents and their elected representatives.
For 8 hours a day, the offices were busy with people who needed
consultation or assistance from Congressional representatives, and the phones
were ringing constantly. As one who
volunteered for work in the offices, I
was often asked to fill in when the staff members had to be out of the office
at staff meetings or constituent business to take messages so that staff
members could get in touch with any constituents who came to the office or
called. The staff members
conscientiously followed up on all inquiries and concerns. The field offices were incredibly busy and
productive in providing information and services to constituents and making
government work for the people.
The
GOP congress people make nominal staff appointments of people who occasionally visit
the county, they don’t believe in providing the vigorous service that actually
solves problems and otherwise makes government work for the people. The difference between the parties is most
starkly apparent in they way they regard and treat their constituents.
When
Democrats were in office, Aberdeen
had three offices carrying on the business of government. Now it is down to the one office that John
Thune grudgingly established when his party supporters insisted that he have a
presence in our part of the state.
Noem
has never offered much in the way of response or service to this part of the
state. Rounds has indicated he will
follow her lead.
The
voters ultimately get what they ask for.
In the cases of Noem and Rounds,
nothing.