Independent Voice Watch

Stephanie Herseth rode to victory largely on her claim to be an "independent voice" for South Dakota:

"We are South Dakotans first, not Democrats or Republicans," Herseth told several members of that group Friday at her Sioux Falls headquarters.

"They want their representative to be an independent voice because South Dakotans are independent folks. You won't have any doubt whose side I'm on," she said.

Now the AP has this report:

In a release, the National Republican Congressional Committee criticized Herseth, D-S.D., for her first vote in Washington.

Herseth voted against HR444, the Back to Work Incentive Act of 2003, which would give eligible unemployed workers up to $3,000 to use for job training and other services that help them get back to work.

''Representative Herseth forgot who elected her,'' said Carl Forti, NRCC communications director. ''It's sad to say, but with her very first vote, we see Stephanie is more concerned with appeasing the liberals who got her elected than delivering needed help for South Dakotans.''

The bill, strongly backed by the Bush administration, passed the House 213-203 and now heads to the Senate, where its future is uncertain.

You can access the roll call vote on HR444 HERE. For all roll call votes this session, click HERE.