Iowa Congressman Jim Nussle juggles two jobs as he runs for Governor

Suggested Host Intro: It is campaign season and that has added stress to the lives of Congressmen throughout the country, especially those running for Governor like Iowa’s Jim Nussle. Our Capitol Hill bureau reports on how these lawmakers are coping with two full-time jobs in two different places.

NARR: With his eighth term as a United States Congressman rolling to a close Manchester Republican Jim Nussle is looking to move his main office from D.C. back to Iowa. Only this time he’s hoping to set up office at Terrace Hill.

Getting to the Governor’s Mansion is difficult; it takes dedication, energy, and being visible to the voters. For Nussle the task is complicated by the fact that he’s already got a full time job - as a lawmaker in Washington. And if he’s not present for Congressional votes the voters might not be present for him come November.

Professor Larry Sabato Directs The Center for Politics at the University of Virginia.

SABATO4-NOT-AS-DEDICATED.mp3 “If they simply skip the votes in order to campaign for the new office it does suggest that they’re perhaps not as dedicated as one might like.”  

But Nussle isn’t the only lawmaker juggling a gubernatorial campaign and congressional duties. There are other MEMBERS- like Republican Bob Beauprez (bo-pray) from Colorado and Democrats Jim Davis of Florida and Ted Strickland of Ohio

This year out of 357 votes Beauprez has missed 16 and Strickland has missed 87. Davis is at the head of the pack with 127 missed votes.

Congressman Nussle has missed 77 votes.

Sabato says to a certain degree missing votes is a character issue.

SABATO3-OATH “Because after all to get elected to Congress, the individual has made a pledge and taken an oath to fulfill the responsibilities of that office. That means showing up to vote.”

 But Sabato says if a Congressman is too dedicated to his work in Washington he can hurt himself in his race back at home. 

SABATO2-COSTS-THEM. “Of course that costs them because they’re not able to participate in events in the home state – they miss forums and the home folks notice it. “

Dr. Peverill (Pev-er-ill) Squire, who teaches Political Science at the University of Iowa, says this tension just makes their lives trickier.

SQUIRE1-EXCLUSION-OF-TIME. :26 “I’m not sure people are displeased to have a member of Congress running for Governor but it does make it difficult for the candidate. He has to tend to business in Washington, he’ll be criticized if he fails to do that, yet his opponent will be free to campaign around the state while Mr. Nussle is pinned down in Washington. So it’s a difficult juggling act, and you can’t spend too much time as a candidate to the exclusion of time as a representative.”

Kiron (Ky-Rin) Republican Congressman Steve King believes there is actually a need for these candidates to miss some votes. 

KING1-QUALIFIED-2-DAYS-1-VOTE. “We had one vote last week that took up two days and for a candidate for a state wide office to sit around this town for two days for one vote that wasn’t going to make a difference in the passage of that bill. I would say that if he did that was he qualified to hold that office he was running for.”

It is with that in mind that Nussle and the other Congressmen running for Governor have instituted an unwritten strategy to overcome that challenge. They know that they can’t make every vote, so they use their best judgment to decide what votes to attend and which to miss. Congressman Nussle declined to comment on this story, but Democrat Ted Strickland says . . .

STRICKLAND2-PRIORITIES “Well you have to make choices, obviously, and determine priorities.”

They’re more willing to skip suspension votes which are usually about non-controversial items.  

Colorado Republican Bob Beauprez has another name for them... 

BEAUPREZ13-MISSED VOTES - IMP VOTES.mp3 “We’ve got what we often call the attendance votes, first day of the week where we’re naming post offices and patting various groups on the back. Those aren’t so critical to be here for – but what we’re doing here today, dealing with appropriations bills, I’ll be here for that.”

Another way these Congressmen are able to fulfill the duties of two full time jobs is by relying on the help of their relatives. Nussle’s wife, Karen frequently speaks to various groups throughout the state, while Strickland often has his brother, Roger speak at Ohio rallies in his stead.

STRICKLAND10-LOVE-BROTHER.mp3 “People love him; he goes over very very well.”

House member’s schedules usually demand that they are in Washington working on legislation and voting at least four days a week.  Then they must catch up on the campaign trail over the weekend- and over the upcoming August Congressional recess.

This is the script for a radio feature by The LCB founder Matt Laslo.