South Dakotans

Casino Heidepriem South Dakotans State Funding State Legislature Taxes

SD Legislators really need to grow a brain

l3wis February 1, 2009 2Comments

It’s Alive! More stupid legislation.

My favorite (and only qualified journalist in Sioux Falls) Ellis wrote an article today about a new brainchild(?) legislators Heidepreim and Abdallah are cooking up. They want to change the state constitution so we can become (more dependent) on gambling.

Faced with the threat of a large-scale casino resort opening just across the Iowa border, two Sioux Falls lawmakers are proposing a simple but controversial solution: Clear the way for a casino of our own.

A Las Vegas-style gaming casino in or near Sioux Falls would stymie a similar development in nearby Larchwood, Iowa, that officials long have feared will take money out of South Dakota’s pockets.

But the proposal first must overcome a series of obstacles, including a change to the South Dakota Constitution.

Though I do understand their revenue concerns, changing the state constitution to allow more harmful social ills is the wrong move.

Sioux Falls lawyer Brian J. Bauer said he suggested an effort be made to change the state Constitution, an idea that Heidepriem agreed with. Bauer said he doesn’t want to see the Sioux Falls economy hurt by a resort in Iowa.

Study, after study has proven gambling costs taxpayers more than we gain from it, in criminal and social costs. But hey, look who is proposing the change – lawyers – go figure, the very people who suck from the criminal sow’s tit. I’m sure video lottery laoyyists had a hand in this to. This isn’t about keeping the state’s $111 million dollar cut, it’s about keeping their cut, even though, they would like you to think differently though;

He proposes that revenues from the facility be put in a “lockbox” to be used specifically for education.

LMFAO! Lockbox, smockbox. They use this bullshit argument everytime and it is starting to get old. can’t they get more creative and say the money will be used to buy Hoverounds for all Senior citizens that can’t afford them or FREE icecream for kids under six on Sundays?! Cut the crap!

If approved, it could open the door for a significant expansion of gaming in South Dakota.

Bauer realizes the proposal is likely to draw fire.

“Bottom line is, it’s coming to this region anyway,” he said. “You might as well have it on the South Dakota side rather than the Iowa side of the border.”

Enough already. Instead of expanding gaming, start taxing people based on their income, that’s a no-brainer of a plan I would be willing to put a bet on.

Munson Rounds South Dakotans State Funding State Legislature

Less talk and more action

l3wis January 24, 2009 6Comments

Rounds hard at work fixing another dilemma

I guess the recession came out of nowhere, according to Rounds;

Like the rest of the nation, South Dakota is in a recession. Governor Mike Rounds says the dramatic drop in state revenue linked to sales tax is unlike anything he’s ever witnessed. He says this current recession is the largest since the great depression.

This has been taking shape for over 13 months, and when a entire country, heck even world, go into a global tailspin, you take action, fast. Nope, not Mike’s style. Let’s wait until the entire bottom drops out before we take action. When would have been a good time? Well if I was Mike I would have started making cuts this summer when gas prices went through the roof. I think if the governor would have at least made an attempt to cut back across the board 7-8 months ago we wouldn’t be in such a pickle right now.

It tells me something I have known about Mike, for a very long time;

He is an incompetent leader that is more concerned about paying back his contributors in no-bid contracts than helping the hardworking citizens of this state. It think it is grounds for impeachment leaving the taxpayers of this state holding the (empty) bag. Sad. Very sad.

“It doesn’t mean that we’re done. Next year, this same legislative body will be back here for our budget proposal for the next year which is 2011. It’s not that far away. They will begin with a structural deficit of $30 million,” the governor said.

And now I am wondering when Mayor Munson is going to wakeup from his deep sleep and take action. It’s no secret a big chunk of that budget comes from Sioux Falls so what is Northside Davey gonna do? Keep borrowing and spending on projects that are either unneeded or would have been paid for by the Feds? It seems Dave would prefer to hand his financial irresponsibility and massive debt service over to the next mayor and council.

Big government Republicans – scary stuff.

Mt. Rushmore Rounds South Dakotans State Funding State Legislature State Tourism

SD is the Rushmore state . . . but what does that mean? We better advertise and let the rest of the country know.

l3wis January 23, 2009 5Comments

I’m sure you noticed that Rounds didn’t make one single cut to tourism in his budget. His argument is tourism brings in $26 million to the state (I would like to know whose ass he pulled that number out of). For the sake of the argument, let’s suppose that’s true, but who’s to say if we cut the tourism budget or even did no advertising at all except on inexpensive websites, people wouldn’t come to visit our state anyway? I mean, how many people who take summer vacations don’t know where Mt. Rushmore is? If they don’t know, they don’t deserve to visit anyway.

America Media Rounds Sioux Falls South Dakotans State Funding State Legislature US Senate Washington Pavilion

I would like to introduce Senator Drescher

l3wis January 22, 2009 12Comments

Kennedy drops out of NY Senate race

Looks like Fran may have a chance. Kennedy says she is dropping out for personal reasons, some suspect Teddy’s brain cancer, but I have also heard she wasn’t going to be asked because Governor Patterson got annoyed by Kennedy’s lawyers (what did I say about giving seats to elitists? Huh? Huh?) Kinda hard to get rejected when you are not in the running anymore. Way to save face Caroline!

Obama retakes oath

Obama’s counsel advises him to retake oath to quell the media about Roberts fumble (mainly FUX News and Wallace). So he retook the oath last night. But only allowed print media, which of course pissed off the TV news, again, mainly FUX News and Wallace.

Obama expected to close Gitmo today

Or at least get the process started. Which has wingnuts up in arms. Who cares where the terrorist prison is, Hell put it in Pierre, South Dakota, there’s a lot of BACKROOMS we could hold them in the Capital and Governor’s office.

Governor (Dictator) Rounds decides it’s ok to give info to anon legislators

Well thank you Mikey! It only took you a few days to realize we live in a Democracy. Hunhoff’s comment is the best;

“It’s the right position and one that should have been in place for the last 100 years,” he said of the agreement. “But it could change the next time we have a new bureaucrat.”

The Washington Pavilion is getting in the Pre-School business

When I first read this story, I thought it was a joke. Nope. The Pavilion has decided that they aren’t wasting the public’s time and money fast enough.

“This isn’t going to be a money maker for us, but my requirement was that it at least be a cost-neutral program,” Wood said Wednesday.

Ah, Gary, since when was the Pavilion concerned about ‘making money’? Is this something new we should know about? Even though they claim to breakeven on the program, other people say it is expensive;

Charging “on the higher end” of area rates can be justified by the services and resources the Pavilion provides, said Lacie Petersen.

Well, I couldn’t agree more, but you also have to consider the Pavilion’s track record . . .

Democrats South Dakotans State Funding State Legislature

The Dems in Pierre have a plan

l3wis January 20, 2009 0Comments

Just one of many republican legislators that will wipe their feet on the dems budget plan.

So how long will it take King Rounds and the Republicans to rip this to shreds? I give it about 4-5 days.

The Democrats’ plan comes in three parts: $16.9 million in spending cuts; new revenue totaling $29.4 million; and $38 million taken from reserves and economic development funds.

I don’t agree with the entire plan, for instance I think they should take a 70% cut of VL and keep it permanent. And that there is still no proposal on the table to tax advertising at the same rate as food and utilities. But I also don’t see anything wrong with it either. Most of the adjustments will be temporary and can be put back in 2010 if things start turning around. But the ruling party for 30 years still weilds a pretty big sword in Pierre, so we’ll see how much of this gets passed.

If I was a Democratic state legislator, I would only show up on the last 5 days of session, when actual budget work gets done.

SD Legislators really need to grow a brain

Less talk and more action

SD is the Rushmore state . . . but what does that mean? We better advertise and let the rest of the country know.

I would like to introduce Senator Drescher

The Dems in Pierre have a plan

You Missed

Will the Sioux Falls City Council amend the Rex Rolfing Rule?

Poopy Reflections

This is F’ing Priceless!

Maybe I am wrong, but is this a typo?