State Funding

State Legislature GOP Majority; Freaks, Geeks and Weirdos

l3wis February 20, 2011 16Comments

Attorney of Law in Brandon, rodeo clown in Pierre

I have held my tongue about the legislative session this year, not because I’m not infuriated about the idiotic legislation that is proposed, but because I have come to expect our legislature to ignore the elephant in the room (the budget) and focus on lunacy. This of course should come as no surprise, the GOP is in control, big time, and they love social wedge issues,

“The big gorilla is the budget cuts,” said William Richardson, a political science professor at the University of South Dakota. “You are not going to get any of your favorite programs funded, so what else is there to which one can attach one’s name and be reasonably assured of getting some notice and reform that appeals to your constituents?”

Finally, someone from the AL writes a story about the circus;

‘There were some extremists elected’

That theory makes sense to former longtime legislator Dave Knudson, a Sioux Falls Republican who served as Senate majority leader from 2007 to 2010.

“I think there were some extremists elected in November. That they would come in with agenda-driven bills is not surprising,” Knudson said.

Just like I said above, no shockers here. Same shit, different day.

In these kinds of cases, legislation proposals simply are mirroring national themes, according to Knudson, Fry and others.

“I think that is clearly true,” Knudson said. “People go to conferences and pick these ideas up and want to run with them.”

This bothers me the most. I could care less what your ‘Save the Whales’ issue is, I just wish our legislature was more creative, something I have often argued, liberal progressives have an edge on. Of course these are the same people who think the world is 6,000 years old, so go figure.

Former legislator Scott Heidepriem said that an overwhelming Republican dominance of the Legislature this year also is a factor.

“Republicans are free to entertain all kinds of odd conversations and unfortunate nonsense,” said Heidepriem, a Sioux Falls Democrat who served as Senate minority leader from 2007 to 2010. “It makes South Dakota look bad. But they do it when they are in complete control.

Odd conversations? More like bloody fucking absurd (but I’m sure the AL wouldn’t print that, or they would have to give you a $25 parking ticket 🙂

Heidepriem said that the state constitution does not direct legislators to entertain social issues. “It does say give kids an adequate education and have an adequate infrastructure.”

But, Scooter, that stuff is a yawn. Who wants to talk about bridges, roads and books, when we can talk about killing abortion doctors, denying married couples to have children, beaners, and shootin’ up things?

“Most legislative leaders figure if somebody is elected, they have earned the right to present issues they think are important to their constituents,” said House Minority Leader Bernie Hunhoff, D-Yankton.

ERRRRR, Wrong! While social issues are important, they should not overshadow a basic function of a democracy, using tax dollars to provide citizens services. It’s not about writing foolish laws, it’s about protecting and serving the public.

“It takes a toll on civility – the gun thing, the pro-life thing. They create an emotionally charged energy that divides people when they need to be brought together,” especially to deal with the overwhelming budget issues, Hunhoff said.

Gotta love ‘group hug’ Bernie. It’s too bad he is not a Republican, he could probably be our governor now. But in all seriousness, Bernie is right. We are in really dire straits, and it’s not about guns, babies or immigrants, it’s about the budget. Just like in Wisconsin, where the gov wants to cut government services to hand out more corporate refunds and tax breaks, SD is in the same boat. Why are we not talking about this? Why are we not in the streets of Pierre protesting (which would require five-buckle overboots, or waders for that matter)?

Because SD voters are thick. Thick in the skull.

LMFAO quote of the day

l3wis February 18, 2011 2Comments

I guess citizens are lining up to start a petition drive to raise taxes;

Gov. Dennis Daugaard, while he opposes new taxes to erase the state’s $127 million structural deficit, said Thursday that he’d have no problem with such an initiated measure.

“Certainly, that’s democracy in action,” he said. “If the citizens choose to raise taxes through that initiative, then it’s certainly within their power, and I support their ability to do that.”

Somehow I feel Doogard was being sarcastic. Funny how legislators are backing away from raising taxes permanently when citizens have the lawful right to get involved;

Lawmakers were talking about dedicating revenue from a new one-cent sales tax for schools, Medicaid and perhaps property tax relief, it said.

But that momentum came to a halt Thursday when Sen. Mark Johnston, R-Sioux Falls, decided against bringing an amendment to Senate Bill 126 to the Senate floor.

Johnston is part of a group of Republicans working on solutions for education and Medicaid funding. He had considered changing his bill into a permanent sales tax increase but suddenly decided to leave it alone.

Why’s that Mark? Because it is f’ing stupid? Ironic how RICH Republicans like Mark (Executive with Sanford Health and staunch opponent of our sales tax initiative petition drive, to reduce city sales taxes) are all for raising regressive taxes on working people but run like a chickenshit away from fair taxes like on income, advertising and luxury items. Cry all you want, but there are two ways to fix our budget problems; heavy cuts to a bloated state government, and other forms of creative taxation, like I mentioned. You can’t continue to bleed workers, the only thing an increase in sales taxes will do is that people will buy less (locally), which hurts local business and hurts local jobs.

Is this our state legislature?

l3wis February 17, 2011 6Comments

They are actually pushing a bill through that makes sense;

PIERRE, SD – The South Dakota House has approved a measure that would boost annual registration fees for cars and trucks to provide an extra $30 million a year to help counties and townships take care of their roads and bridges.

Representatives voted 53-13 on Wednesday to send the measure to the Senate for further debate. The bill would raise registration fees in two stages. The increase this year would raise an extra $18 million a year, and the second stage in 2013 would raise an additional $12 million annually.

The bill also reduces the number of vehicles eligible to get a discount on the annual registration fee. The discount now goes to vehicles at least five years old. The bill would give that discount only to vehicles at least 10 years old.

I have often thought that our vehicle registration fees could be higher, but I think they also need to be more fair. I think you should pay a higher fee based on (real) weight, gas mileage and usage. Maybe they will figure that out one of these days, but this is a good first step.

Legislative updates (H/T – B)

l3wis February 10, 2011 1Comments

Here are more bills that have been killed.

HB1152 was defeated. It would have provided for drug testing for TANF.

SB160 was defeated. It would have extended sales tax to commodities and securities brokers, like other professional services.

HB1223 and 1224 were defeated. They would have reduced problems with payday loans and title loans.

On SB177 was defeated this morning. It rather sounded like this was defeated at the governor’s request because of the economy and not knowing yet what federal highway assistance may be coming. The state needs money for highways, so this will be an ongoing discussion for the next legislature. Meanwhile people struggling now to pay for gas to get to work can breathe a little easier for the time being.

Coming up

On sales tax increases, there have several bills. Only one remains: SB174. It was postponed to next Monday, 2/14 10:00AM. It raises sales tax from 4% to 5% (state portion) during June-July-August for the next 4 summers.

It is really important to prevent education cuts and Medicaid cuts, but it should be noted that sales tax is not the only option, and certainly not an increase on food.

Coming Today:

1. SB123 allows unemployment benefits for a worker looking for a new job when her/his military spouse is being relocated. Contact before 10:00AM, Thursday 2/10, to ask SUPPORT for SB123 of the Senate Commerce committee:

Senators Adelstein 32, Buhl  15, Johnston 12, Lederman 16, Tom Nelson 31, Nygaard 17, Rave 25

2. SB191 to drop the refund program for the food tax.

It is 10th on the agenda, but the Senate Appropriations Committee might get to it.

If you want to weigh in on it, contact these before 8:00AM today, 2/10.

Senators Brown 23, Haverly 35, Heineman 13, Novstrup(Al)  3, Peters 9, Putnam 19, Rampelberg 30, Sutton 26, Tidemann 7