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Herseth Sandlin pleased by ‘tone of outreach’ of President Obama
April 24, 2009 | By: Seth Tupper, The Mitchell Daily Republic

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., gave a mostly positive review Thursday of the first 100 days of the Obama administration while noting her clashes with the administration on three issues. Wednesday will be President Barack Obama’s 100th day in office. Herseth Sandlin said the president has faced “challenges unprecedented in our nation’s history.”

U.S. Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, D-S.D., gave a mostly positive review Thursday of the first 100 days of the Obama administration while noting her clashes with the administration on three issues.

Wednesday will be President Barack Obama’s 100th day in office. Herseth Sandlin said the president has faced “challenges unprecedented in our nation’s history.”

“I’ve been pleased with the tone of outreach and bipartisanship we’ve seen thus far,” she said during a conference call with reporters. “I haven’t agreed with everything the new administration has put forth, but I’ve found willing listeners who are open to hearing arguments about what’s good for South Dakota and rural America.”

Herseth Sandlin said she is pleased that the Obama administration put forth an “honest budget” that accounts for the war spending in Iraq and Afghanistan, unlike the budgets of the Bush adminis- tration. She also appreciates the new administration’s support of pay-as-you-go budget rules, which require new spending to be offset with other savings.

Obama and his staff have been supportive of wind-energy development in South Dakota, Herseth Sandlin said, and they understand the importance of updating the energy grid to capitalize on it. Obama’s economic stimulus package also contained “significant investments in new energy infrastructure,” she said.

Herseth Sandlin praised Obama’s easing of some trade restrictions on Cuba, because she views that nation as a potentially growing market for South Dakota commodities. She also lauded Obama’s signing of legislation expanding the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, known as SCHIP.

Herseth Sandlin did not support Obama’s successful request for access to the second half of the $700 billion financial-sector bailout, known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or TARP.

Additionally, she said, she opposed Obama’s proposal to reduce direct subsidy payments to farmers with sales revenue of more than $500,000 annually. That proposal was nixed by opponents in Congress.

“Anyone who understands the nature of farming and ranching today in rural areas knows that the president’s proposal could affect more than just large agribusiness,” she said. “It could actually hurt smaller farmers and producers in South Dakota.”

Herseth Sandlin said she “strongly opposed” an Obama plan to charge veterans’ private insurance plans for health care costs related to service-connected injuries. The plan was eventually dropped by the White House.

Despite her disagreements with the Obama administration on farmers’ direct payments and veterans’ insurance, Herseth Sandlin said she appreciates the way both issues were handled.

“I’m pleased that the administration allowed for disagreement and discussion,” she said, “and ultimately chose to pursue other options to cut costs.”

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