South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

Minnehaha County

Minnehaha County SF City Council

So let me get this straight . . .

l3wis 5Comments

. . . the county wants the city to charge sales taxes at the fair then give that revenue to them? Huh?

Commissioners are proposing that the city begin charging sales tax at the fairgrounds and, in return, give them back about $50,000 a year.

Are our local politicians getting dumber by the day? Believe it or not Vernon ‘The Sweet Velvet Hammer’ Brown was the voice of reason;

Councilor Vernon Brown said he’s not opposed to the county’s suggestion but would like to know what kind of economic impact the fairgrounds has on the city. He added that the city already does some in-kind help for the fairgrounds and has improved some of its access roads.

Exactly. If you want $50,000 from us – just ask. I’m not opposed to charging the sales tax, but we shouldn’t be giving it to the county. Like Vernon says, we do plenty with the roads around the fairgrounds.

Bob Litz Minnehaha County

Thank Gawd Bob Litz is at the helm

l3wis 3Comments

This scares me a bit, and makes me a little sick;

Minnehaha County auditor Bob Litz says the county might need to cut back by at least 7 percent in 2012, based on early income and cash flow numbers.

Litz says cash on hand in March was $1.35 million, when it is typically about $4 million at that time of year. He says expenses are running nearly $6 million over income each month.

Commissioners approved a $64 million budget for 2011. That was more than $22,000 less than the 2010 budget.

I just hope they find money for a decorating budget for Bob’s office. Though the cardboard boxes do match his skin tone.

 

Jeff Barth Minnehaha County

Increasing taxes on liquor doesn’t harm the liquor producers

l3wis 17Comments

Barth: There wasn’t a sin tax I didn’t love

It is just another SIN tax that affects the poor, working poor and lower middle class. Say what you will about taxing alcohol, which is not a bad thing, I just find the argument that we are somehow punishing the liquor companies by increasing this tax to be silly:

Every day, more booze-related (or booze-caused) costs pile up. Who pays for the ambulance, the helicopter, the squad car, the medical care, the funerals? Certainly not the alcohol industry.

So what is Minnehaha county commissioner Barth’s solution? Tax us more to buy it;

An additional 10 percent sales tax on alcohol is not too heavy a burden. An $8 six-pack of beer would be $8.80. I’d still buy it.

I have a better solution. Stiffer penalties to people who sell underage, stiffer penalties to DUI offenders, and actually force people to pay restitution, or work off that restitution in a work release program while living in jail. Taxing RESPONSIBLE drinkers to pay for the crimes of IRRESPONSIBLE drinkers is idiotic. If someone commits a crime while intoxicated, they should pay for the consequences. Not the average Joe who drinks a tomato beer every once in a while.

Minnehaha County

Detroit Lewis Endorsements

l3wis 13Comments

Please. Turn the light switch off.

Oh, I know, like the Gargoyle Leader, I’m sure no one cares about my endorsements, but here they are, suckers . . .

• John Thune. Leave it blank. Make a statement, even though no one is running against him let your voice be heard, by not saying anything.

• Thomas Marking. While I disagree with Marking on the Fair Tax concept and Healthcare reform, I still think he is more knowledgable on the issues then Noem or Steffy. He also vows not to play party politics which excites me. Okay, we both know he will not win, but please don’t waste your vote in the other camps. It’s kinda like drinking decaf.

• Governor’s race. Leave it blank. Neither candidate deserves to be governor. While one of the Republicans is smarter then the other, I feel like this is a race between the established SD GOP and the unestablished GOP. It’s kinda disgusting. I also like that fact that Heidi-Scott admitted his ‘competing casino’ idea didn’t get much traction. Yah think?!

SOS: Ben Nesselhuf. After watching his opponent’s commercial about voter registration falsehoods, I decided that Ben is the real choice. Maybe Jason can be a spokesperson for Jenny Craig instead (you should get Pat Powers to come with you to the meetings).

• AG. Leave it blank. This is like picking between Hitler and Che Guevara 🙂

• PUC: Dusty Johnson. Maybe it’s his Charlie Brown appeal, who knows. I have disagreed with Dusty on a number of issues, but I will give him credit, he has reached out to me and clarified his stances. While I think he could do more on green energy in our state, I also think he would be the only one to discuss this with. He knows his shit. Hands down. Don’t fear the ginger.

• Yes on IM13. Mary Jane is our friend. Big Pharma is not.

• Yes on IM12. Duh.

• Minnehaha County commission; Nesiba and Barth. Both men have displayed genuine concerns for county residents. I really don’t give a shit who you vote for as the 3rd candidate. Just don’t vote for that condescending creep Beninga who constantly cried about me being in his shoes everytime I showed up to a council meeting. If you don’t like those shoes, why do you keep wearing them?

What a jackass. Seriously.

County Commission Minnehaha County

Seems the County Commission had a change of heart

l3wis 1Comments

I have a feeling it had little to do with the coaxing of State’s Attorney Aaron McGowan;

Two weeks ago, members spoke out against accepting a federal grant that would have paid for a special DUI prosecutor. It’s a position that would handle strictly the growing case load in the county. But Tuesday, commissioners voted unanimously in favor of it.

I have a feeling commissioners received many angry calls and emails for not approving this position the first time around. Like I said before, we pay Federal taxes, if the Feds are giving us money to improve our community, we take it. Because if we don’t someone else will.

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