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Noem Statement on Anti-Protest Bills Remarkably Rich with Falsehoods

Governor Kristi Noem issues this set of lies in celebration of the rush passage of Senate Bill 189 and Senate Bill 190, her fascist fake-emergency bills to shut down protest against the Keystone XL pipeline:

These bills are pro-economic development, pro-free speech, and take a proactive approach to spreading the risk and costs associated with building a pipeline. I applaud the legislature for their thoughtful review and decisive leadership. I believe this approach will be part of the next generation of major energy infrastructure development [Gov. Kristi Noem, press release, 2019.03.07].

Truth?! That's so cute! Governor Kristi Noem.
Truth?! That’s so cute!

Pro-economic development? Keystone XL is coming with or without SB 189 and SB 190. Keystone XL will create 50 permanent jobs, just barely enough to offset the job losses from the closure of the Violet Tschetter nursing home in Huron. Keystone XL will also raise gasoline prices in South Dakota.

Pro-free speech? Asked how the bills would impact fundraising for peaceful protest activities, the Governor’s corporate lobbyist refused to say, leaving chilling uncertainty about whether any of us dare criticize TransCanada’s pipeline project or express support for the tribes who might protest.

Spreading the risks and costs associated with building a pipeline? It is not my obligation or anyone’s obligation but TransCanada’s to pay for its project. The state is socializing costs to help Big Oil maximize profits.

Thoughtful review? No one saw SB 189 or SB 190 in public until Monday afternoon. The Legislature held one public hearing with less than 48 hours’ notice. The Senate and House approved both bills on the same day, within three hours. Compared to other bills before the Legislature, SB 189 and SB 190 were afforded almost no time for thoughtful review.

Decisive leadership? Governor Noem said jump, and the Legislature jumped.

Next generation of major energy infrastructure development? Oil is finite. We aren’t making more. The next generation of energy development belongs to renewable resources, not fossil fuels that will run out.

South Dakota’s Governor is a mini-Trump. She uses language with complete disregard for truth.

15 Comments

  1. jerry 2019-03-08 07:42

    Fuel prices in South Dakota will rise with this pipeline. Go to New Castle, Wyoming to see how much gas is right out of the refinery or any other place in Wyoming. At least in Wyoming, the citizens do get the benefit of money for education. Teachers can actually afford to drive there, but that will not happen here. Tax and spend republicans will see to the giveaway to industries that don’t need it.

  2. Irene Heinert 2019-03-08 10:35

    Absolutely, Cory! Woe to us- We here in SD have been double “trumped”!

  3. Nick Nemec 2019-03-08 10:51

    “A proactive approach to spreading the risk and costs associated with building a pipeline.” What in the heck does that even mean? What risks and costs does she intend to spread? Who does she intend to spread them to? Why?

  4. jerry 2019-03-08 10:59

    The risk is to the Koch brothers, her benevolent benefactors. NOem could give a toot about anything in South Dakota other than her and Bry bry’s long pockets. So, how are her legislators compensated for this fascism? That’s where the transparency wears off.. once again.

  5. Buckobear 2019-03-08 11:09

    …. but we’re so much safer now. //s//

  6. Jenny 2019-03-08 12:28

    Noem says it is pro-Free Speech??? LOL!! Sigh…….

  7. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2019-03-08 12:30

    Nick, 4 times out of 5, the term “proactive” signals that the speaker is trying to fluff up her speech without adding any meaning.

  8. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2019-03-08 12:31

    Buckobear, to echo a sentiment I’ve heard elsewhere, maybe all the Lakota people and their allies can make themselves feel safer by carrying concealed pistols without a permit.

  9. o 2019-03-08 12:46

    I noticed the rhetoric is to spread the risk and costs but not the benefits of the pipeline. Again, make sure society pays, both financially and environmentally, for the development of industry — a development that ONLY industry profits from.

  10. Jenny 2019-03-08 13:08

    Let Kristi’s future great grandkids drink from the water there after oil has been leaked into the ground from an accident.

  11. Jenny 2019-03-08 13:13

    I’m sure the Republicans would all just want to buy that land that’s right around there after oil spills happen,which will eventually happen.. Yes that is pro economic development Republican style.

  12. Debbo 2019-03-08 15:03

    SD’s Liar-in-Chief.

  13. Cory Allen Heidelberger Post author | 2019-03-08 18:22

    Jenny, I’ll bet the Noem kids will make it 20 miles in the desert before they consider drinking that oil:

  14. Moses6 2019-03-08 18:31

    Yeah like no mandatory funding for health care for veterans ,Which i ASKED HER ABUT AT TOWN HALL MEETING WE WILL TAKE A LOOK AT THAT .lIKE AFTER THAT I KNEW THE ANSWER.

  15. leslie 2019-03-09 15:15

    Nick – honestly ;). Buckobear we already ALL tried that.

Comments are closed.