Midwest Dems rock

Via the GF Herald...

Upper Midwest Democrats gain clout
By Scott Wente, Forum Communications

WASHINGTON - The road to power on Capitol Hill now passes through the Upper Midwest.

And there are several stops along the way.

The November election handed Democrats control of the U.S. House and Senate for the first time in a dozen years. It also elevated more federal lawmakers from the region into influential positions this year than at any time in recent memory.

That left Rep. Jim Oberstar shaking his head in amazement. Now in his 33rd year in Congress, Oberstar couldn't recall a similar scenario during his tenure.

“Never. Haven't seen that before,” he said while sitting in his spacious Capitol Hill office.

Oberstar, of northeastern Minnesota's 8th District, has taken control of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee just as several of his area colleagues similarly have ascended.

New Democratic leaders from North Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa are poised to put their thumbprint on a host of topics important to the region. The list includes farm, energy, highway funding and budget issues.

Read on...