Senator Al Novstrup (R-3/Aberdeen) gets some space at the bottom of a budget article to talk about the $15.7 million in unspent appropriations Governor Daugaard says we’ll see due to lower-than-expected K-12 enrollments, higher-than-expected property tax collections, and lower-than-expected Medicaid enrollments. As usual, Senator Novstrup manages to evince no vision:
District 3 Sen. Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen, said Daugaard’s budget proposal is just that. It’s a proposal that’s subject to change by Gov.-elect Kristi Noem and also by the Legislature before it gets approved during the 2019 session.
Novstrup said often when there’s unspent funding from one year, it’s rolled into the budget the following year. But, that’s not what Daugaard’s budget proposed [Elisa Sand, “State Education, DSS Budget Surpluses Totaling $15.7M Not About Unprovided Services,” Aberdeen American News, 2018.12.28].
Funny: I’d think a local politician committed to advocating for local needs would jump at the chance to say, “$15.7 million? Holy cow! Here’s we should use that money to help District 3!” But not Senator Novstrup; predictably, he timidly recounts what the boss has done and what the boss is going to do and waits to be told what to think and how to vote.
When is this deadwood flotsam scheduled to retire?
Amidst heavy traffic, I think Al MAY BE the dumbest member of the legislature. Sorry, Brock, Jeff, Stace.
Mr. Novstrup, the elder, is wise. He sits and mulls his options, waiting for this new Governor to make her move. Then he will pounce with his strategic initiatives. A wise person in the legislatures does not tip their hands, ala Mr. Nelson, prematurely. A wise person watches, then pounces.
But if my good friend Bob were Governor, and he had me as his Vice Governor, we would have us a time. As Libertarians, we could rule with chaos, and that is what is needed more of in the legislatures. Chaos, and dysfunction, and Bob and I could enhance that. Vote Newland and grudznick next time around.
Reflect that the voters are not the shiniest rock in the creek.
Government is a ‘dirty word’ – except that it pays the bills because the dunderheads can’t or won’t.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/21/business/economy/harlan-county-republican-welfare.html
Mr. John, grudznick has long purported that voters are stupid and easily deflected by shiny objects put forth by big, out-of-state, dark money, as was demonstrated by the heinous I.M. # 22.
Voters are indeed stupid, which is why the efforts of fellows like Mr. Bolin to crank down on the out-of-staters meddling should perhaps be supported by public tax dollars. grudznick may see to it that a law bill comes forward to use tax dollars to support the protection of keeping the out-of-staters out of our business. Indeed.
When voters prefer mediocrity, there is no scheduled retirement.
Calling Novstrup “mediocre” is actually handing him high praise.
From ancient Amoco commercial- You expect more from a leader, but this IS South Dakota.
Nosestrap is just a really, really dim bulb. 10 watts.
Noem’s budget agenda should consider a few social trends (hat tip to the Kansas City Fed).
See #1, past the scooters:
In the past 18 years nearly 73% of US towns with fewer than 10,000 people shrunk.
In the past 18 years nearly 54% of US towns between 10,000 to 25,000 people shrunk.
Rhetorical question: what the stats for SD towns? Which are worth saving? With what investments? (We cannot and should fritter resources trying vainly to save everything.)
For generations the ‘economic model’ for Aberdeen/Huron/pick-a-town was serving as a retirement community for retired farm and tiny (dying) town couples. That population ‘input’ is about died out. What’s next?
#s 3&4:
What are the rent, home building, and housing formation trends in SD towns? What, if anything, is or should the state do to encourage successful trends and communities? (Conversely, do not reinforce failed trends/communities – prolonging the day they become ghost towns.)
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-12-30/what-eight-social-trends-told-us-about-america-s-economy-in-2018?srnd=premium
The state should save targeted towns, and leave others to fend for themselves or die on the vine.
Save Hill City, not Hermosa.
Save Custer, not Edgemont.
Save Spearfish, not Belle Forche.
Save 50% of the small towns west of the James River, save no small towns east of the James River, as they will all become absorbed by the growing metropolitan areas.