Bernie Hunhoff writes a great letter about how GOP lawmakers in Pierre are all about talking about transparency, but when it comes to action, they scurry like freaking rats;
My second concern is that we don’t have enough transparency in government to determine whether any of our existing economic development funds are being spent wisely. I introduced legislation this year to require that the state provide an economic database to report information and results on loans, grants and tax rebates for economic development, but it was opposed by the administration and died on a party-line vote.
Democrats also offered a bill to prevent campaign contributions from companies that receive no-bid contracts from state government. That also was opposed by the administration and killed.
South Dakota has no restrictions on so-called pay-to-play as other states have. You could write campaign checks to South Dakota politicians who ultimately control the purse strings on economic development programs. In fact, this year, a bill was passed over my objections to allow corporations to write checks of up to $10,000 to PACs that can give money to politicians. Surely, there’s no quid pro quo in South Dakota, but we should have laws prohibiting such conduct.
But representative Johnston just tells us to get on the inter-webs and we can download and print out all the info we want;
I am committed to openness and transparency in all aspects of government operations. At the state level, our government has taken many steps to provide online resources for virtually all government records through www.Open.SD.gov. I encourage everyone to visit the site to experience all the information available with the click of a mouse.
Wow! Who knew it was so easy to uncover the state’s secrets? I feel like a total ass that I didn’t know about this website sooner. 🙁
You say you aren’t partisan but you show it when you put up things like this. Dems and GOP do the same thing so why don’t you just open your eyes and start talking about the real problems?
Jim the real problem in SD right now is there no check and balance as one party is in such dominate control.
As a registered republican, last year I vote pretty much R except for one race. This race had probably one of the brightest minds in South Dakota who demanded open government and probably should have ran as an independent. Instead my district voted in a gentleman who has absolutely no qualifications. Why? Because he has an R behind his name.
And it showed this spring in Pierre, all he did was vote party line, campaigned on education but offered no cure, and certainly did not listen to his constituents.
Complete control by one party will never get us ahead, this state and country needs to views and discussions before acting. God help us before what is happening in the Middle East countries happens here.
The Republicans are sacking the Judiciary, too. Witch hunt against Judge Fuller updated:
“Pennington County State’s Attorney Glenn Brenner, Rapid City Police Chief Steve Allender and then Pennington County Sheriff Don Holloway filed the complaint last May after Fuller referred to law enforcement officers as a “bunch of racists.””
What a fucking bunch of racists.
stuck one in the spam box: too many links, maybe.
Jim, I am a registered Indy, and have NO party loyalties. I do however support anyone who is truly for open government. It is pretty obvious which one has a grasp on it, let me give you a clue: it would be the Democrat.
Surely you jest? dems and Repubs are not for open govt, look how the voting goes when the Fed audit bill comes up and gets killed! I also stand by my original statement.