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Scorecard rates South Dakota members of Congress poorly on pro-democracy positions • South Dakota Searchlight [1]
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Date: 2024-09-15
South Dakota’s three members of Congress scored poorly on a watchdog group’s new Democracy Scorecard, which evaluates congressional positions on democracy-related bills and resolutions.
Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1970 by Republican John W. Gardner, “the father of campaign finance reform” and President Lyndon Johnson’s secretary of health, education and welfare.
This article is part of U.S. Democracy Day, a nationwide collaborative on Sept. 15, the International Day of Democracy, in which news organizations cover how democracy works and the threats it faces. To learn more, visit usdemocracyday.org.
The organization’s 2024 scorecard gave South Dakota’s Republican Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds zeros out of 10 — zero meaning they took no pro-democracy positions on legislation analyzed by the organization— and Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson one out of 13.
Johnson’s one point reflects his vote to expel Rep. George Santos, R-New York. Common Cause said removing the representative for ethical violations was pro-democracy because it upheld accountability and integrity within the legislative body, ensuring trust in U.S. institutions.
None of the spokespeople for South Dakota’s congressional delegation offered a comment on the scorecard when contacted by South Dakota Searchlight.
No Republican scored greater than a two on the scorecard, and no Democrat received less than a seven.
Common Cause is critical of the 118th Congress, calling it one of the most dysfunctional in U.S. history, with many pro-democracy bills failing to move forward due to partisan gridlock.
The scorecard highlights how in January 2023, the House of Representatives took four days and 15 votes to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, as speaker. Nine months later, the House made history by removing McCarthy, remaining at a standstill for three weeks before electing Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, as the new speaker.
Shortly after, the House expelled Santos. Then, this summer, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, became the first sitting member of Congress to face charges of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. He was subsequently convicted and resigned.
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