What is the deal with this guy and airplanes anyhoo?
PIERRE – When state Sen. Gene Abdallah wanted to know how many aircraft the state owns, he figured it would be easy to get the information.
Ha, Ha, Ha. Really Gene? You thought it would be easy to get this information from the Red Baron himself who guards his fleet of personal, ah, I mean, state owned aircrafts like they were the Holy Grail? Please, if there is one thing legislators need to learn from the Rounds administration, stop being so naive, he uses to his advantage.
Officials in the executive branch will not release information about state programs or spending unless they know the names of lawmakers requesting information . . .
Um, can you say Germany, 1930’s . . .
The situation has created a subplot at the Capitol – another example where legislators complain the executive branch isn’t respecting their role. And for some, it’s a reason why South Dakota needs to follow the other 49 states by adopting a law that opens government records to pubic inspection.
Yup, kiddies, we are the last little dictatorship on the Prairie. “Pa, can I go with Mary fishin’?” “Did you finish sewing those armbands yet, half-pint?”
In an internal e-mail explaining the policy, a top official in the Rounds administration said the executive branch wants the identities of lawmakers so it can “better taylor (sic) the information towards the legislator’s knowledge and understanding of the issue.”
It also helps to figure out how they are gonna spin it, and who they are gonna rough up behind The Longbranch at the end of the legislative day.
“Information is knowledge – it’s power,” said Rep. Bernie Hunhoff, the minority leader for House Democrats. “When you don’t have it, you can’t make the decisions the public expects you to make.”
And that is part of the problem in Pierre, well, the major problem. Our legislators continue to fail us, because the info they need to make educated decisions is controlled by a select few. Your not King, Mike, so stop acting like it.
While Knudson said he does not request anonymity when he seeks information from the executive branch, he said some lawmakers do want anonymity.
“Different legislators have different feelings and might have good reasons for not wanting their names disclosed,” he said. “I’m not in the position to question why.”
Yeah, Dave, it’s kinda hard to be anonymous when your Mike’s buddy.
“If I can’t find out, how can the public know?” Abdallah asks.
Hunhoff, who is back in the Legislature after a 10-year hiatus, said there’s more interest in government transparency now than he’s seen. Last year, a bill that would have presumed that all government records are public made it through the Senate but died in a House committee. Officials in both parties expect another effort this year.
Hunhoff said all residents should have access to government information – including lawmakers.
“The idea that nonelected bureaucrats and state officials have more access to information than elected officials is wrongheaded,” he said.
AMEN.