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by Sister Lynn Marie Welbig
Some bills in the 2016 legislature that promoted justice or injustice got our attention. Some that were of particular interest to us were the elimination of the death penalty in South Dakota, Medicaid expansion, anti-abortion, new licensure procedure for payday loans, a bill to exclude Syrian refugees from South Dakota and a bill to remove sales tax on some foods. I am unsure if we changed any votes. We made every effort to bring the light of the Gospel as well as our research and perspective into these deliberations.
Amateurs that we were in 2016, Sister Kathleen Bierne and I were surprised at how we slipped into these uncommon roles, and by the welcome we received from legislators and other lobbyists. We also profited by the assistance and mentoring of two experienced and respected lobbyists, Deb Fischer Clemens and Julie Johnson. Our daily presence in the capitol seemed significant in a world in which some believe ‘church people’ should confine their activities within church walls and meetings.
Being asked by our Presentation leadership team to spend several months in Pierre lobbying was not something I would have gotten in line for, but it proved to be an important experience. While some legislators were less than anxious to engage us in conversations about some controversial issues, most of them were interested in sharing points of view.
Our modus operandi was to watch for bills of interest to come before respective legislative committees, then to testify and to wield a presence throughout the committee discussions. Between meetings we visited legislators, studied issues, sought advice from various sources, and left notes in the mailboxes of respective legislators. We attended the democratic caucuses and were warmly welcomed there; the republican caucuses are closed to outsiders. We also took front row seats in the galleries in the afternoons when the Senate and/or the House were in formal session. I am unsure if we leveraged issues to the degree of changing votes. We made every eff ort to bring the light of the Gospel as well as our research and perspective into many deliberations.
Politics has a bad reputation, much of which has been shaped by politicians. Politics is the art and the science of how a society organizes itself to further the common good of all its citizens. Politics, conducted conscientiously, is sacred work. Pope Francis says,“Politics, though often denigrated, remains a lofty vocation and one of the highest forms of charity, inasmuch as it seeks the common good” [ref. Joy of the Gospel encyclical]. Church and state bring together respective and unique roles to build community, working for the common good of every person. Too often religion is seen as sacred and politics is profane.
Our world has come to a state of debilitating fragmentation and polarization. South Dakota is not spared this condition. Issues of social complexity and technological complexity do not lend themselves to quick fixes. Good politics calls us to shared concern, shared listening and understandings, and to shared visions and commitments. To cultivate fragmentation and polarization exacerbates problems and undermines progress toward a flourishing society which we all desire.
Earlier in his pontificate, Pope Francis urged Sisters to “Go wake up the world! Be a witness of a better way of doing things.” Perhaps lobbying is a means of waking up the world. Our Presentation Sisters hold tight to Nano Nagle, our Venerable foundress, who was an icon of faith and risk-taker in doing God’s work. As Jesus urges, “follow me,” Nano knew this was more than a suggestion. She used everything in her means to better her world. In her spirit and mission the Presentation Sisters find working for justice to be the crying need of this time. Lobbying can be an instrument of doing justice as we walk the Gospel through the capitol.
“Having two Presentation Sisters participating in the legislative process in Pierre can only be described as invaluable. Providing knowledge and wise counsel from sisters who register to lobby is much appreciated by legislators. Legislators, as they make decisions that will impact the people of South Dakota, listen carefully to the Presentation voice in discussions and in testimony. For me personally, having the sisters present in the Capitol brings me comfort, knowing that I have someone to whom I can reach and who will provide me validation of positions and testimony from Avera.”
—Deb Fisher Clemens, Senior Vice President of Public Policy for Avera Health