Rookie Representative Tamara St. John (R-1/Sisseton) finally put some meat on the bones of her House Bill 1246, a bill she hopes will get the state to promote tribal economic development.
In her testimony Friday to House State Affairs, Rep. St. John said her bill is important to “send a message.” The text she finally cobbled together last week reads like something that sends a message but doesn’t put real state muscle and money into promoting economic development in Indian Country:
In order to encourage participation in state economic development initiatives and bring new business to the state, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, or another designated state agency, shall:
- Identify and coordinate with liaisons for each of the nine federally recognized tribes in South Dakota to ensure awareness of and organize participation in the state economic development initiatives; and
- Assist implementation of a Uniform Commercial Code for each of the nine federally recognized tribes in South Dakota to facilitate business to business relationships with tribal members and to foster new business in the state.
The state is authorized and encouraged to accomplish the activities under this Act through partnerships with public higher education institutions located within the state [HB 1246, as amended 2019.02.20].
Identify and coordinate with liaisons… ensure awareness… organize participation… authorized and encouraged to accomplish…. that all sounds like adminspeak, like language we use to make it sound like we’re doing something when really not one new policy is identified, not one new penny is spent to make happen things that aren’t happening now, and not one standard or outcome is specified to hold us accountable for moving the economic development needle in Sisseton, Pine Ridge, Rosebud, or Eagle Butte.
St. John said in her testimony that South Dakota already has great economic development programs; apparently all the tribes need to lift themselves out of economic difficulties is just to be told what Pierre already offers.
Because House Bill 1246 doesn’t appear to do anything, House State Affairs had nothing to say about it. They voted 9–1 to send it to the House; Rep. Jon Hansen (R-25/Dell Rapids) was the only nay, without comment.
As it stands, HB 1246 is a lost opportunity for the rookie Republican Representative from Sisseton to use her Native voice to get her majority party’s ear to do something substantive for tribal economic development. If HB 1246 survives Crossover Day, perhaps St. John’s Democratic co-sponsor, rookie Senator Red Dawn Foster (D-27/Pine Ridge) can use her voice to amend the bill into something oriented toward more measurable action and results.
I can’t speak to the other South Dakota tribes, but the Oglala Sioux Tribe has had a UCC (Universal Commercial Code) in place for more than thirty years, I know because I helped write it.
Tribes that wanted to get into gaming and be more aggressive about economic development implemented the UCC years ago.
The words I didn’t see in this legislation are research, direct, and fund.
Excellent point Roger, especially your last sentence.
Is the governor or GOED originator of this bill?
I don’t know why the Governor would care about a toothless bill like this, and the GOED works for the Governor and wouldn’t do anything without her direction, so I can only assume this is the brain child of Ms. St. Johns or from some macabre lobbyist who got to her to play an initiation trick.
Nope, Leslie, Rep. St. John brought this “message” herself. And yesterday, the House tabled it, leaving it to die without a real vote.
Listen to Rep. St. John’s speech at 5:33:00 in yesterday’s SDPB video. She asked the House to table her bill—i.e., kill it—because she has been told the Governor’s office has big plans for economic development in Indian Country and should be allowed to proceed unhindered by the Legislature to carry out its plans.
Subtext1: Kristi gets to take credit for whatever happens.
Subtext2: So much for the Legislature asserting the increased power Speaker Haugaard was fantasizing about.
Thx Cory. That’s what my comment meant. Kristi jumped into St Johns bed. Unwanted or not.