South Dakotans

God I love it when I’m right

“Jodi, run and get me another box of tissues, the state doesn’t love us anymore.”

“We aren’t lacking road projects. We’re lacking dollars for those road projects and that’s what the stimulus bill could really do to help us,” Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson said. 

Gee, too bad you didn’t spend some of the record tax revenue over the past 6 years on those projects instead of building crap we didn’t need. And all of sudden Highway 100 is the project of the freaking century.

“That’s such an important roadway for us and this area. And we really need to get that road finished so we can develop on that east side,” said Mayor Munson. 

Develop the Eastside? How about filling some of these empty retail spaces we have now before building more. If Target wants a new road out there, have them pony up.

But Dave also cries to the Gargoyle Leader about not getting his dirty grubs on the money;

“I don’t think it’s going to create that many jobs,” Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson said of the state’s priority list. “To me, the stimulus program was to build infrastructure and create jobs.”

Over a month ago I addressed the council that we may not see much money in Sioux Falls from Mr. Stimulus Bill because of our low unemployment rates (don’t really need to create jobs in a place that doesn’t need any creation). At the time, I was talking out of my ass and figured I would be eating crow. Well guess what’s on the City Hall menu for lunch today.

I warned that borrowing money and paying for these projects up front gives the appearance in Washington that Sioux Falls is doing AOK and we don’t need Washington’s assistance. I also said that main purpose of the stimulus was to provide jobs where they are needed – that’s not in Sioux Falls.

“Quite honestly, we’re not sure what to make of all this,” he said. “If this is the whole plan,” Hanks added, “I’d be terribly disappointed. If you want to get people back to work, the best way is through the local level.”

Well guess what, Mayor Hanks, the rest of South Dakota is whole lot worse off economically then Rapid City or Sioux Falls. I commend Rounds for taking care of the entire state first before bowing to the two largest cities. Maybe Jodi can spare some of those tissues.

No time for Doddlers

Ever get in line behind someone at the bank or fast-food counter who doesn’t know what they want? Governor Rounds is the biggest offender;

While many states have made their lists of “ready-to-go” projects available for public review, others have resisted.

Only a fraction of the projects will receive money and watchdog groups say some state officials fear angering constituents if a project appears on a wish list and gets scratched.

So we might be $85 million short in tax revenue this year, and you have no clue where we could spend the money? As Archie Bunker would say, “GEEEEEEEEEEZ”

Is that a zucchini in your pocket, or are just happy to see me?

There will be plenty of ‘wood’ to go around once the feds start cutting checks to South Dakota;

State officials are lining up millions of dollars in ready-to-go projects in preparation for the expected surge of federal spending included in the $790-billion economic plan now sitting at the edge of congressional approval.

How much you wanna bet who will be budging in that line to try to get to the front? Let me give you a clue; “Ah yeah, Tim, remember that TV ad I did for you, praising you for all the things (you promised) you would do for our tiny little town? Member? Member? Well, I was wondering, if Eugene and I could stop by and like, ah, get repayment? Oh, you should of seen the Hell I had to go thru with the SD GOP caucus, Christ, because of my blantant brown nosing of you.”

“Congress has made it very clear that if you don’t spend the money in the time frame given, it could go back,” Bergquist said. “We want to make sure we’re spending all of ours but are also ready to take advantage of any extra we might get.”

Ah, you don’t know much about Northside Dave, do you? That money is already f’ing spent. It’s a Sioux Falls tradition.

Gov. Mike Rounds was evaluating the compromise package Thursday and is scheduled to discuss it during a news conference in the Capitol on Friday.

Poor King Mike, he has to accept a crisp check from a Black Democratic President. I know it’s gonna be tough Mike, since you are so used to taking money from your rich, well connected, Republican Lawyers and business owners. Don’t worry Mike, there is one thing I have learned about Republicans, they take money from anyone as long as it makes them a dime.

One more reason why we need publicly funded campaigns

The monument to hypocrisy?

Not only does Denny want to control science and medical care in our state, he also wants to pick the next governor;

Sioux Falls banking mogul T. Denny Sanford has given Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and state Sen. Dave Knudson $20,000 each in their young campaigns for the Republican nomination for governor.

And that could be just the start of campaign gift-giving for the billionaire donor, who dropped $200,000 into his own political action committee just days before a state law made such large contributions illegal.

No wonder Dennis and Dave never try to make waves in Pierre, they can’t upset their sugar daddy Denny too much.