If you support our initiative to lower sales taxes I encourage you attend or watch the council meeting tonight at 7 PM. You can either watch it LIVE on cable channel 16 or online LIVE at http://siouxfalls.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2.

Our group will be confronting the council about the legality of borrowing money against a higher tax rate, in essence possibly ending our petition drive and tying the hands of future councils and mayors to reduce our taxes.

The Argus Leader wrote an article today on the matter;

A group of residents trying to lower the sales tax rate in Sioux Falls fears that tonight’s City Council vote to authorize $38 million in new bonds could undercut their efforts.

The group, Citizens for a Responsible Sales Tax, is collecting signatures to put the sales tax question to a citywide vote. If the group collects enough signatures, voters would have the choice of keeping the city’s share of sales tax at 2 percent or dropping it to 1.9 percent.

But the decision to issue bonds could put a stop to that effort because the South Dakota Constitution says that any revenue source pledged to pay off bonds or other debts is “irrepealable” until the debt is paid off.

Even if this ordinance would not undercut our effort I find it fiscally irresponsible to borrow money that we have to pay interest on for 20 years if there is a good possibility we will be getting the money interest free from Washington to do the project with the only disadvantage being we may have to wait an extra 12 months to move dirt. Big Whoop.

“It is kind of ironic that this is the way it’s going - that someone in Minneapolis is telling us about South Dakota law,” Staggers said.

Amundson said Sunday that bond work is highly specialized, one reason he wants Aby to render an opinion. Amundson also thinks the people working for the initiated measure should get their own opinion from their own lawyer.

“I think the person who it comes from is the attorney for the people who file the initiative,” he said.

Once again, another Munson political appointee forgets who pays his wages and who he works for. The people. We own the city, not the mayor. It seems he thinks his job is defending Munson from the very people who pay his salary and elected him. I think it may be time for him to reread his job description.

It’s unclear what, if any, effect today’s bond vote will have on efforts to lower the sales tax. Portions of the tax already are pledged to pay off other bonds. But in two previous citywide elections, the administration of Mayor Dave Munson has come out on the losing end - once to raise the sales tax to pay for a recreation center and once to borrow $12 million to build an indoor swimming pool.

And that is what is making us suspicious. If Munson can’t beat us at the polls, he’ll try to beat us with the horribly written state laws we have. Go figure. I have to be honest with you. If this does make the ballot I have no idea which way the vote will go. There will be a lot of support and good arguments on both sides. This isn’t about that, it’s about letting the citizens decide and educating the community on the spending spree Mr. Munson has been on.

Please join us tonight. I’ll be the one wearing the cowboy hat and boots.

The Rounds Administration’s idea of openess

You can tell it’s a Monday, the Argus Leader Editorial board actually is on the right side of an issue for once. Now if we can get them to stop supporting tax increases for the poor.

Yes, these contracts have their place, and state department heads need the flexibility to use them when it’s appropriate.

But government transparency is the linchpin to accountability in how no-bid contracts are used.

This year’s Legislature needs to insist that accountability is in place.

South Dakota urgently needs to reach a place where we finally can change the subject.

Yah Think?

Some people think this is what God looks like

Who has time for tolerance when you are a Christian who writes letter’s to the editor?

We say Merry Christmas because we celebrate the birth of Christ on Dec. 25. Happy Holidays is something people say because they don’t want to acknowledge that there is a God and that he sent his son to earth to save the world.

No. Happy Holidays is in reference to the many holidays during this season. Thanksgiving, Zwaanza, Hanukah, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s eve. It has nothing to do with the ‘War on Christmas’ conspiracy. I say ‘Merry Christmas’ on Christmas.

Our forefathers came to America for religious freedom so they could worship the way they chose. Again, no one is forced to do this.

The Pilgrims wrote our Constitution? Who knew?

Other people have their own beliefs and cultures, which is fine. But some want to remove “In God We Trust” from our currency. They want to remove “One Nation Under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. They don’t’ want us to pray in schools and elsewhere.

Who is that? Counterfeiters? And who is stopping you from praying in schools?

Just another loser Viking

Ah, it’s that time of the year. Cold weather and the Vikings not going to the Super Bowl.

Though I don’t follow sports, Viking’s fans amuse me every year on TV when they give their long list of why the Vikes didn’t pull it off, again, this year. Let me sum it up in one word - CHOKE!

Wonder if they will get that new stadium?

No crimes would have been committed, just standard operating procedures - just ask Mike Rounds.

Richardson naturally denies any wrongdoing in giving state contracts to campaign donors, but the damage has been done.

I’ll have to be honest, I never really was a big fan of Bill anyway, good riddance. Now maybe Obama can pick someone qualified for the job.

I just watched Dick Cheney tell his 1000th and 1001th lie on ‘Face the Nation’.

Not only did he think the invasion of Iraq was carried out ‘Masterfully’ but he doesn’t think he or the president did anything wrong when it comes to the warrantless wiretaps. He also goes on to say that the surveillence was handled ‘masterfully’ (apparently he likes that word) but he didn’t think anybody’s civil liberties were violated (except of course their 4th Amendment Rights, etc, etc, but who pays attention the constitution?).

I hope he leaves Washington in a Black Mariah.

Kathy Griffin hosted CNN’s NYE party at Times Square with Anderson Cooper. As this video shows, they didn’t censor her. It is towards the end - and it is not what you expect.

I would marry that woman in a heartbeat.

What a guy! People are losing their jobs left and right, the economy is in the pooper, and Mike’s solution, stick it to the man a little harder.

SouthDakotaMac puts the beat down on him.

The Budget Sock Puppet delivers the Rounds spin on their new maniac tax spree: We’re long past due – in fact we’ve one tax hike that was last changed way back in 1951!

And those water permit fees ain’t been hiked up since 1977. And lookee here, boys! We got $8 drivers license taxes and now let’s hike those suckers up to 20 bucks!!! WooooooooWEEEE! And look yonder, Governor, heah comes Princess Shantel and she’s gonna increase taxes 12 million bucks on old cars and pickups ‘cause them stupid po’ folk want to pay mo’ taxes too! YeeeeeeHAW!!!! Who the hell cares if po’ folks are losing their jobs and the banks are foreclosing on homes and repossessin’ their cars. We gonna have us a passel o’ tax increases and party like it’s 2 double-ott nine!