Olson Votes for 3 out of 5 Veto Overrides

I give Representative Russell Olson (D-8/Madison) a lot of grief here. I've maybe even suggested that Olson is just another lapdog for Governor MMichael Rounds.

But on Veto Day in Pierre yesterday, Russell Olson wasn't the one rolling over and saying "woof" to the governor on HB 1233, the searchable online state checkbook bill. As a matter of fact, on the five vetoes the House considered overriding, Olson voted against the Governor three times:

Bill	Olson	Gassman
HB 1016 (tech school funding change)	Nay	Yea
HB 1233 (searchable state checkbook)	Yea	Yea
HB 1242 (deaf education)	Yea	Yea
HB 1258 (gift certif. expiration dates)	Nay	Yea
HB 1269 (beer and wine licenses)	Yea	Yea

Note that Rep. Dave Gassman (D-8/Canova) was solid in his opposition to the Governor's vetoes (my friends across the aisle will say Gassman is just a yes-man for the Dem leadership... but Dave can't help it if he's a yes-man for the guys who are right).

The other two vetoes under consideration were Senate bills. Each chamber votes first on its own vetoed bills, and the Senate failed to overturn either veto. Odd -- the Senate has a lower proportion of Republicans than the House, but the Senate had a harder time rousting up votes against our Republican governor's vetoes.

I would have included Senator Dan Sutton's (D-8/Flandreau) votes, but the Senate failed to post its roll call votes, much to the chagrin of many of us bloggers, who would love to know exactly who in the Senate voted to let die our favorite bill, HB 1233.

But for now, the Madville Times is willing to acknowledge that, just in time for the campaign, Russell Olson has proven he is not just a yes-man for Governor Rounds. Hmmm... maybe instead of picking on him, I'll work on convincing him to switch parties. ;-)

And now that Veto Day is over, Russ, Dave, get your petitions in!