Representative Ray Ring (D-17/Vermillion) posts his first Legislative update of the 2020 Session and bemoans the lack of vision on the Second Floor:
The session started on Tuesday with Gov. Noem’s State of the State address, which was lacking in detail and almost devoid of new ideas. She reiterated much of what was in her budget address: another round of improving Internet in rural areas, more treatment for substance abuse, especially meth addiction. Who can object to any of those projects? All are important, even critical, and easy to justify. However, the governor said in her budget address that satisfying those critical needs leaves little or no increases for teachers, state employees and folks working for community service providers and nursing homes. The Consumer Price Index (the most common measure of inflation) shows prices have risen by about 2.3 percent over the past year, but the governor’s budget provides no increase to even help them keep up with the cost of living.
Gov. Noem did mention that revenues seem to be a little better than expected, leaving open the possibility of some wage increases, but she gave no details. South Dakota’s average teacher salaries are back to 46th in the nation; adjusted for South Dakota’s lower cost of living, teachers still rank 39th nationally, $5,000 to $15,000 behind teachers in surrounding states.
The governor’s address was as notable for what it ignored as for what it included. Much still needs to be done to make state government more transparent and accountable. There was little or no mention of early childhood education, uninsured South Dakotans who would have health insurance if the state expanded Medicaid, or what to do about our outdated tax system [Rep. Ray Ring, “Openers: What Noem’s Address Didn’t Say,” Yankton Press & Dakotan, 2020.01.22].
A year of churning through staff has left Noem unable to formulate and promulgate a compelling vision for South Dakota. If she wants to reverse her steady slide into unpopularity, she needs to come down the hall and visit with Representative Ring and others who could clue her in on the vision and comprehensive reforms South Dakota needs.
Ye gads, Cory! You’re suggesting Kristi should even recognize the existence of a titular Democrat? A dream, son, merely a dream.
Is the cost of living really less here then elsewhere?
Most don’t give a damn about democracy, it’s all about the benjamin’s. Sell out to Russia, not a big deal as long as they get the money to buy something shinny. That’s all the vision required. Oh, and blanket it all in religious silliness for the details.
Owen, housing is a little lower, but that’s about it.
Klueless Kristi’s nepotists ought to research the definition of “Leadership,” make plenty of copies, and share it among the family.
Owen, no, our cost of living is not that much lower.
Consider how much we have to invest in shovels, snowblowers, and snow removal just to get around for six months of the year. A good half of the country doesn’t have that problem. Most folks in New York City don’t need a shovel; they live in apartment buildings and take mass transit.
Why we cannot afford America. South Dakota cannot grow her economy because we “lack vision” is so true. Leaders and republican legislators only think about corn and beans, oh and punishing children for being born…unless they’re not only white, but straight. Kinda like chalk.
We cannot keep our young folks here because we suck at even trying to. Our kids are broke and in heavy debt, so they leave. The ones that stay are confined to the farm growing crops that put them further into debt.
“Alissa Quart, executive director of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project and author of the recently released book, “Squeezed: Why Our Families Can’t Afford America,” reached a similar conclusion: millennials are struggling, she says, because wages are not keeping up as day-to-day costs soar.
Higher education is more necessary and less affordable: Adjusting for inflation, compared to college tuition in 1988, private school tuition in 2018 has increased 213 percent and four-year public school tuition has increased 129 percent. As a result, much of the generation is drowning in student loan debt.” https://www.cnbc.com/2018/12/04/millennials-spend-less-because-theyre-poorer-federal-reserve-says.html
Why would young folks stay in this un-affordable place when they can move to someplace that provides a better life? Until South Dakota wakes the hell up, we will continue to have an even lower population.
Vision? Here’s what happens when a state decriminalizes possession of small quantities of drugs.
https://www.reddit.com/r/YangForPresidentHQ/comments/etvdpo/portugal_model_works/
it is tragic that those who we send to DC. & that includes our govenor who should be the last people standing in support (cool) country of origin labelin, as it was mandatory in 2015.this was on meat imported into US.these people killed that good law because of the big packers power and the natl.cattlemans beef association.these same people are now supporting this law except for the mandatory provision.these people are like snakes who shed their skins when the pressure becomes great.they are as slippery as the slime they are made of! 2015 was the last year livestock raisers made money in this state. they spent in this state ,buying equipment , repairing houses or building a new one, all of which benefited this state .now they borrow from banks who have short memories!
She (Noem) blamed transgender on the Republican party line “parenting gaps”, in other words, faulty parenting. It’s a biological condition which deserves attention and treatment, not blaming parents. But watch the SD legislature, they’re going to push this atrocity through and tug their lapels with pride. Children deserve the specialized care that they need when they need it.
We also badly need more informative sex education for middle and high school people. It’s the only scientific nonreligious straightforward education they’re going to get. Teaching abstinence is a huge failure. Teach biology, not religion.
Parenting always gets blamed. Historically mothers have been atrociously blamed for every damn thing that ever happened to their children. Lies, ignorance and more lies.
Week Two Comes To A Close
Statehouse
“House Minority Leader Jamie Smith addressed a bill that passed out of committee earlier this week that will make it illegal for medical professionals to perform gender-affirming operations or surgeries or prescribe hormone replacement therapy to aid a child’s gender transition.
“It’s very unfortunate that bill passed state affairs committee. I can’t believe the level of disrespect we are showing to our physicians and for people that think they are helping; I wish they would listen to that population of vulnerable people in our communities. It’s so important to show support to that community and as a caucus we fully support that population,” says Smith.
The ACLU has indicated it will legally challenge the state should House Bill 1057 become law. Senate minority leader Troy Heinert weighed in.
“Last year we paid out a considerable amount of money that passed and later found unconstitutional and if we want to keep writing checks…then we should keep passing this type of stuff,” says Heinert. “It’s not going to stop. We have to be smarter about bills we take up and pass. That money we are paying, that can go to other programs, go to education community support providers. I’m doing mock testimony later today and that money for those kids would be huge but that is money that we just gave away.”
https://www.sdpb.org/blogs/politics-public-policy/week-two-comes-to-a-close/?fbclid=IwAR29d3uqcv4lU3mozOl4JOFXDpKt7QyjPJsIWDV6hjLc1cEuXhpkggQnXco
Good find, Robin.
Heinert’s got it exactly right about the SDGOP throwing $$$ away by the tens of thousands. I guess, since it’s not coming out of their pockets, the SDGOP is happy to waste South Dakotan’s hard earned cash.