From the Argus Leader this morning, via Terry Woster:
The De Smet farmer joined the Legislature as a Republican in 1967. He won elections every two years after that until he decided in 1992 to let someone else represent the folks of Kingsbury County. He died at 83 earlier this month.
The obituaries duly noted that he was a leader on the Joint Appropriations Committee ... [and the] budget [was] always balanced, of course. That's partly because the constitution requires it. During Poppen's years, it was also because he wouldn't have had it any other way.
"I've never thought of it as my money, I guess is why,'' he said once ... Even if he had thought of state revenue as his money, he probably would have acted the same way. I remember a conversation we had one afternoon outside the Senate chamber after legislative campaign reports had been filed. One of the candidates in a large city had spent something like $12,000 or $15,000 to win a seat. Poppen was amazed. He'd spent more like $18.50 or so, whatever it cost for a couple of 2-by-2 ads in the local paper. ...
Most days, most years, he let the battles of words rage about him. When he did decide to stand and say something, the rest of the Senate listened. Like as not, they paid attention, too, because a Poppen floor speech wasn't an everyday occurrence.In that respect, he was a lot like Otto Stern, a Republican from Freeman who was a House leader on appropriations for years. When Otto stood in the House, he'd say something simple and direct, like "I think this is a good bill,'' and the rest of the members would fall all over themselves to vote for it. ...
Once the budget bill had passed the Senate, though, that's when Poppen became dangerous. His major work was done, and he was ready to go home. Of that point in session, a lieutenant governor once said something like, "I have to be careful not to recognize Senator Poppen. He'll move to adjourn. We still have bills to finish, but, who knows? He just might win.''
Recent Comments