Back at the beginning of Session, the Legislature’s Executive Board passed two noteworthy resolutions pertaining to the process for calling a Special Session. According to the January 11 minutes, the E-Board voted 11–1 to clarify that petitions calling for a Special Session are public record. This vote put in policy Senator Lee Schoenbeck’s position that South Dakotans have a right to know which legislators have called for a Special Session and whether enough legislators have indeed fulfilled the constitutional requirement for convening the Legislature.
The E-Board passed a second motion in January that sets an expiration date on calls for a Special Session. Senator Al Novstrup, Representative Jon Hansen, and a few other ignorami in the Legislature were calling last fall for a Special Session to undermine coronavirus vaccine requirements. Governor Noem and several legislators resisted that call, but the petition for such a Special Session was still hanging out there as the regular 2022 Session approached. To keep things clean, the E-Board voted 12–0 to declare any pending Special Session petitions void upon the start of the regular Session.
That time limit makes sense: if agitated legislators can’t muster two-thirds support in both chambers for a Special Session before January, those legislators can scratch their lawmaking itch by introducing whatever measures they desire in the regular Session. The beginning of Session on the second Tuesday in January negates any need for the Legislature to specially convene for two and a half months.
They would like we the people not pass referendums and initiated laws.
We got the higher minimum wage done.
We have to boldly pass good laws our selves that the R group is unable to pass.
The answer We have to do good things Faster than the Legis. can. Elections only every 2 years? How 19th century.
We can do this! Absolutely yes !