In my series of conversations with legislators yesterday in Pierre, Democrats were more willing to share with me observations about what the Legislature failed to do this session than were Republicans. (Imagine that!)
Senator Scott Parsley says he’s glad we found more funding for schools and health care providers:
…but he agrees with Rep. Jim Bolin that pouring money into a state captive insurance company isn’t a great idea. Senator Parsley also shares a widely held disappointment with the process that crafted (wait, that verb seems to overstate the sausage-making) the road bill:
Senator Parsley joined Senator Bernie Hunhoff (D-18/Yankton) on the Senate floor in saying that the road bill, Senate Bill 1, actually got worse as it proceeded through the Legislature. It was the first bill in the hopper but the last one (except for the full state budget) to pass.
Sorry, but pathetic increases for education shouldn’t be called good.
The Argus headline for a AP story that they didn’t have the time to send one of their own reads:
“S.D. lawmakers boost education, health care”
How misleading is that!
The AP should be ashamed for merely being a mouth piece for the GOP and their Governor and the Argus should be ashamed for their headline and lack of real coverage of what went on in Pierre.
http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2015/03/14/sd-lawmakers-approve-billion-state-budget/24776269/