Hey, Teen Republicans! HS Democrats! Want a project to work on together? Read on….
Out of 388 bills, Governor Daugaard has signed 39 bills, and another 14 are on his desk. Legislators have withdrawn 18 bills. I’m working on my count of bills killed, but there’s still a logjam of legislation to clear by Friday, which is the deadline for each chamber to move its own bills on to the other chamber.
Some of the serious IM22 replacement bills are caught in that logjam. So is Senate Bill 134, Senator Lance Russell’s effort to ban political speech in schools.
One of my fellow high school debate devotees raised the concern yesterday that SB 134 would prohibit students from holding any political meetings at school. SB 134’s main provision—”No public school resources, including personnel time, supplies, communication systems, or facilities may be used to affect the outcome of any political vote”—would mean students couldn’t get together during lunch to organize rallies, lit drops, crackerbarrels, or other programs meant to promote those student organizations’ goals of education, engagement, and voter participation. Student groups couldn’t promote their big spring training events in Pierre (TARs Teen Legislature March 31; HS Dems’ Young Elected Legislative Leaders Retreat April 7).
SB 134 puts a serious crimp in student organizing. So TARs, HS Dems, why not take advantage of the Presidents’ Day weekend to collaborate on some lobbying? Hit the crackerbarrels this weekend and ask legislators why they want to infringe on your political activities with Senate Bill 134. Contact the members of Senate Education (especially Chairman Jim Bolin, who is a former social studies teacher and thus should love hearing from eager, politically engaged students) and urge them to defeat this blow against your ability to participate in politics.
And for the big enchilada, extend the long weekend by a day to go to Pierre on Tuesday and testify before Senate Education, which takes up SB 134 at 7:45 a.m. in Room 423. What a great opportunity for youthful bipartisan collaboration to protect your shared interest in political engagement!
Would this also mean that voting itself could no longer occur at a school? I think many South Dakota’s vote in a school.
My goodness. How does Lance Russell dance with that stick up his keester? In Watertown HS, Government Week was and probably still is a “big effin’ deal”. They used to bus Junior High kids up just to watch. I had all my credits finished as a junior (only took Shakespeare, Aviation, Creative Writing and Geometry as a senior) and practically lived in the auditorium during Government Week. *One of the stars became the famous Mpls. “horse’s ass” blogger John “The Hind Rocket” Hinderaker. Several of the participants went on to Harvard and Yale. What a deplorable bill, Lance. No wonder you were named after the procedure done to a festering boil.
Interesting question, mtr! The brain trust at my table says unlikely. Statute already prohibits electioneering activity within 100 feet of the door of a polling place, so there’s apparently a recognition that a site can host a vote without trying to affect the outcome of the vote. Likewise churches (says my discussant here at the table between rounds at Northern Quals in Watertown (Porter!), where we hear lots of debaters argue that Trump’s policies form the crucial difference between stability and nuclear war), which can host polling places without engaging in any vote-influencing that could cost them their tax-exempt status.
School is supposed to prepare someone for the world. Is politics not part of the world we live in.
Are any crackerbarrels held in schools? Lots of Legislators’ comments at those events could be construed as trying to influence the vote on some upcoming legislation.
Another thought: Shouldn’t a government class or debate class be allowed to have a class debate on a ballot question in an election year? That could be a useful learning activity. Because someone’s vote could be influenced, this would be outlawed.
Do you know what they are doing to boils these days? Lansing them.
Speaking of boils, how ya doing today Me. grudznick?
I think you answered your own question, Mr. jerry. Perhaps you, Mr. Lansing, and Mr. Russell will be referred to as the Tres Furúnculos Lanced from henceforth.
You told us Grudz that you’re not very good at taking tests, going to school and your parents were a bit abusive so here’s a little refresher. This is a “C” and this is an “S”. Lancing is what you do to a boil. Lan-Sing is what I do when courting a pretty lady. Sing like a bird, he does.
Let me get this straight. Does this mean that the local Republican women’s organization can no longer bring voter registration cards to seniors in high school whether it be public or Christian schools? And, will the high school senior field trips to Pierre during session stop?
Same question here, Jody. Perhaps Sen. Russell should take questions BEFORE he proposes highly controversial legislation like this. Hmmmmm, Lance?
Phone Numbers
Home 605-745-6871
Capitol 605-773-3851
Business 605-745-3228 Other Contact Information
Email Lance.Russell@sdlegislature.gov
Fax
It sounds like you are boiling over Mr. grudznick, are you gonna pull a trump and have a meltdown or will you simmer down?
Good one. Boiling over. lol Simmer down.
Jody, that would be the case in public schools. SB 134 would not restrict such activity in private schools.
Jody’s field trip question, CB’s class debate question, Roger’s general prep question—you’re all on the right track. Any activity that could “affect the outcome of any public vote” falls under SB 134. Any education in civics, or even logic, affects the outcome of a lifetime of votes. SB 134 thus makes civics and logic classes illegal.
What about debate class, Cory? This just is so off the wall and makes me sooo glad I don’t live in SD. The GOP controlled state would be bad for my emotional health. Any decent school would want students engaged in the political process and this is a bill meant to stifle that. Young republican or democrat, I want teens excited about government and eager to vote for the first time.
Did Lance have a parent come to him complaining that a teacher was getting too political in the classroom? What is going on in these GOP minds to bring forth a bill like this?
Just the camel’s nose under the tent to cut out all of the already lacking teaching of “government” or “civics” in our society. Aw well, there’s probably an app for it.
Debate class and tournaments totally affected my political votes. I still look at policy through the stock issues paradigm I learned from Gail Means (and numerous judges from other schools) as a Bulldog debater: show me there’s a big problem, show me the problem is doing lots of damage, show me the problem won’t go away on its own, and show me that the plan you’re proposing will solve that problem (and not cause worse problems), and I’ll vote for it.
So yes, Jenny, SB 134 as written outlaws debate class, the greatest civics education our South Dakota schools offer.
SB 134 is a horrible attack on young people speaking their minds and making likeminded friends. I can hardly believe those few Republicans have proposed it.
Think about it… SB 134 is saying, ‘young people are too young to have opinions and organize anything like grown ups.’
High school students today, cannon fodder in the next few months. The trump wants to put boots on the ground in Syria, what could go wrong? I remember when I was in high school and I remember where I spent my 18th year. Couldn’t vote or drink 3.2 beer but damn sure could shoot and not have an opinion about it. Young folks need to understand the implications in allowing old farts to dictate rules that are not democratic to them. Resist at all costs, your young lives may depend on that.
Utterly ridiculous! This not only bans political activities but freedom of speech and assembly! It’s a clear attempt to silence our kids and keep them from getting involved so Republicans can maintain their monopoly of power in Pierre! It’s especially obvious that is the intent because it is imposed only on public schools! Private schools, attended by wealthy kids, are not targeted for this ban so the Republican elites can allow their progeny to learn about politics and follow in their footsteps!
Reminds me of the Jim Crow laws that supported “separate but equal” schools that kept generations of black children poorly educated and unable to participate in the political/governmental process! The Republicans started doing exactly that last year when they rammed through the “tax deduct” for insurance companies who give “scholarships” to private schools! I believe that law is unconstitutional and so is this new one. Hmmm, thought they were so concerned about the unconstitutionality of laws, i.e. IM22! Guess what determines unconstitutionality is who it benefits!!