South Dakotans

Less talk and more action

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.

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

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.

I would like to introduce Senator Drescher

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 . . .

The Dems in Pierre have a plan

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.

I guess the Gargoyle Leader Editorial board is taking a page from DaCola

Look who just rolled into Pierre (well actually he has been there a long time, but our media has finally woke up and figured it out).

I’ve been saying since last legislative session that Rounds does what he wants and the legislature lets him get away with it. Now look who finally chimes in on the matter;

The question remains: Will our Legislature stand up to the governor? Doubtful. Unfortunately, Abdallah is serving his final term and Hunhoff is, well, a Democrat.

Don’t be so sure Hunhoff won’t put a bill out there. I’m crossing my fingers that at the very least a bill will be presented by the Dems.

And in a time of enormous economic challenge, Rounds has successfully seized the upper hand politically by warning lawmakers they must – absolutely must – be frugal with the people’s money. No fool, he.

Yeah, what an economic genius, Huh? I guess he didn’t bother opening the books until December 15th?

So what happens next? We’ve all seen this drama before. Most likely we’ll hear some griping here and there, followed closely by a grudging acknowledgement that Rounds is, after all, the governor.

And in South Dakota, at least, the governor gets to do what he wants.

Or ‘Off with their heads!’