If wishes were ponies, then beggars would ride, and if resolutions were bills, then legislators might get things done.
Cowed by their failure to take real action to promote South Dakota’s access to the global market, the House yesterday approved House Concurrent Resolution 6022, exhorting the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to “serve as a center for advocacy on behalf of South Dakota exporters, provide research and education regarding export opportunities, identify export issues and impediments and pursue initiatives to address such, and organize and participate in trade missions, as well as collaborate with or work collectively with public and private sector entities to generate and collect pertinent data.” Sponsor Rep. Michael Saba (D-9/Hartford) earlier proposed House Bill 1223 to create an actual, functioning, dedicated office of international business and trade office like North Dakota and several other states have, but House State Affairs killed that idea, in part on faith in baloney from the Governor’s office and in part on the tacit maxim that a good idea isn’t good enough until a Republican proposes it.
In floor debate, Rep. Saba said he’s heard from a number of legislators who are interested in studying international trade and doing something to move us up from 50th in the nation (ahead of only the District of Columbia) in export activity. Rep. Tim Goodwin (R-30/Rapid City) tossed Rep. Saba a friendly question about where North Dakota ranks in international trade. Rep. Saba said North Dakota is 32nd—35th if you don’t count its oil output.
But even a toothless resolution was too much for Rep. Caleb Finck (R-21/Tripp), who argued that, as an ag producer, he wants to see more focus on local markets. He advocated feeding more corn to the booming numbers of CAFO hogs; he did not address whether we can sell all that pork locally. Rep. Finck also contended that he’s never seen a trade deal that has boosted his farm prices.
Minority Leader Jamie Smith (D-15/Sioux Falls) said that not wanting to open our markets and seek new trading partners runs counter to the Governor’s own “Open for Business” slogan. “Let people in this world know how good we are.” Rep. Scyller Borglum (R-32/Rapid City) said you don’t have to sell to foreign markets if you don’t want to, but she said there’s no harm in encouraging exports from South Dakota. Rep. Lesmeister said that shopping locally is great, but there are times—like when the Taiwanese trade delegation visits—when being open to international trade is a really good idea.
Rep. Saba agreed that local trade is great, but international trade is a source of new dollars. The House mostly agreed, approving HCR 6022 on a 57–6 vote to say yay! but do nothing in particular.
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