Karen Soli, a Lutheran minister who served in the State House from 2013-18, passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Her funeral is tomorrow, and Governor Larry Rhoden has ordered flags at the State Capitol to fly at half-staff in her honor.
Rep. Soli’s years in the State House coincided with my years in Governor Dennis Daugaard’s office. I often worked with the Democratic leadership on things, but my path never crossed with Rep. Soli.
That changed in 2017, when the State Legislature repealed Initiated Measure 22. This had been a self-described “anti-corruption” ballot measure that the voters narrowly passed in 2016. The measure was very badly written, and in December 2016 it had been enjoined as being unconstitutional. Legislators, with Governor Daugaard’s support, had repealed IM22 early in the 2017 session, with the understanding that its major components would be replaced with several bills that were well-drafted and workable.
One idea from IM22 that didn’t have very strong support, initially, was the creation of a state ethics commission. There was a widespread concern among Republicans that such an entity would be politicized, as had happened in other states. For much of the session, I assumed that this was a component of IM22 that would not be replaced.
That was before Rep. Soli went to work. She was determined that the state needed to find a way to create a replacement for the ethics commission. I remember vividly when she came to my office to talk to me about it (I was chief of staff at this time). She explained to me what she had in mind. I told her that my understanding was the Attorney General Jackley was opposed to the idea. She said “no” – she had met with Jackley and won him over. Then I said that the Republican legislators would never go for it. She said “no again” – she had met with House Speaker Mark Mickelson and gotten him on board, too.
At this point, I told her I would visit with the Governor and follow up with her. I went up to Speaker Mickelson’s office and he verified what Rep. Soli had told me – “You know, Tony, I think she’s got a point.” The attorney general also agreed with her account. At this point I talked to Governor Daugaard, who asked me to work with Rep. Soli on the details.
I have to admit the entire thing was a little mystifying. On the Governor’s staff, we joked that Rep. Soli must be a Jedi, like Obi-Wan Kenobi or Yoda, using mind tricks to win over a series of implacable opponents: “This is the bill you’re looking for.”
There were still concerns about politicization, though, so Rep. Soli and I worked with the other stakeholders to find a compromise. The Government Accountability Board, as it would be called, would be made up entirely of retired Supreme Court justices or circuit judges. Like a professional licensure board, initial complaints and deliberations would be done in secret, until a complaint had been substantiated, to avoid politically-motivated, unsubstantiated complaints.
The final bill, House Bill 1076, passed the Senate 29-6 and the House 60-3 and was signed into law by Governor Daugaard. At the end of the process, Rep. Soli said to me: “Tony, I didn’t really know you, and I didn’t think I would like you – but I do!” I told her I would take choose to take that a compliment, as she has intended. It was a good example of how, in the South Dakota State Legislature, good people can come together, regardless of party, to find common ground. And, how one determined legislator, even a member of the minority party like Rep. Karen Soli, can make a real difference.
SoDak Governors 