Here’s the last video dump from Saturday’s Aberdeen crackerbarrel:
Asked by local economic development honcho Mike Bockorny if South Dakota would catch up with its driving workforce needs and 44 other states and offer driver license exams in Spanish, Senator Brock Greenfield, Senator Al Novstrup, and Representative Carl Perry all said yes:
Neither Greenfield nor Novstrup mentioned why they didn’t sign on to last year’s SB 136 that would have provided exactly this reform or explained why their fellow Republicans killed that bill in committee.
To his credit, Representative Carl Perry gave an impassioned defense of diversity, change, and inclusion. I hope that speech signals that he won’t be attending the local anti-immigrant hate rallies with Senator Novstrup and Representative Dennert.
One of the new Americans whom Representative Perry is so eager to include in our community rose to ask if there was any environmental or animal legislation coming this Session. Rep. Dennert took twenty seconds to say no; Senator Greenfield too four minutes to say no and then replow other ground:
Finally, the closing speeches:
Highlights:
- Rep. Kaleb Weis: “I am slow….”
- Rep. Carl Perry: Dakota Free Press, “is holding people accountable… and that’s good.”
- Sen. Al Novstrup: “You’re into transparent? Ha ha ha ha!“
You can view the entire January 26 crackerbarrel on this YouTube Dakota Free Press playlist. You can also bring your own questions to our next crackerbarrel, Saturday, February 2, 10 a.m., at the NSU Student Union (kids! come over between plays at the State One-Act Festival! Ask about the civics tests Kristi Noem wans to force you to take!).
Perry seems too decent to last in the SDGOP. Hope I’m wrong.
He’s says just enough to make wonder, Debbo. None of the bills he’s prime-sponsoring are whack-job bills. But he is co-sponsor on permitless carry, civics stickers, Weis’s dumb state seal bill, the reduction of early-voting time, and guns in the Capitol.