If you’re going to criticize Kristi Noem for extravagant travel on the taxpayers’ dime, you’ve got to avoid extravagantly traveling on the taxpayers’ dime yourself.
Alas, Jamie Smith’s campaign team must have disbanded before they got him that memo. The outgoing Democratic Representative from District 15 and failed gubernatorial candidate flew to Hawaii last week with outgoing Republican Speaker Spencer Gosch and ten other legislators for the Council of State Governments National Conference and had taxpayers pay for it.
Tom Lawrence notes that Smith at least was cautious enough not to break his ankle cliff-jumping the way Gosch did to bring the trip to the press’s attention, but still—
During the campaign, [Smith] frequently criticized Noem for her use of state planes for personal travel, as well her other ethical shortcomings. They were legitimate concerns and Smith was right to point them out.
But seeing him join in a junket to Hawaii kinda takes some of the luster off his reputation. Smith and Gosch were members of different parties, but they told me and others they liked and respected each other. That’s a healthy thing in modern politics.
This conference might be of some use for our lawmakers, but people who won’t take part in a hearing, won’t cast a vote and won’t be part of state government for at least the next two years had no need to attend.
Except, of course, to enjoy a free trip to Hawaii [Tom Lawrence, “S.D. Legislators’ Trip to Hawaii for Conference Just Latest Example of Officials Enjoying Trips on the Public Dime,” South Dakota Standard, 2022.12.12].
For what it’s worth, CSG doesn’t give its member legislators an excuse to go to Hawaii every year. This year’s national conference was the first Hawaii has hosted since 1997. CSG conferred in Santa Fe last year. They went online in 2020. CSG met in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2019; Covington, Kentucky, in 2018, Las Vegas in 2017; Williamsburg, Virginia, in 2016; and Nashville in 2015.
I can make the argument that conferences like this are professional development and are perhaps even more vital for South Dakota’s part-time legislators, who have to take time off from their regular jobs to attend. I can make the argument that we reasonably spend state dollars to make our legislators smarter and more effective by attending good non-partisan conferences like CSG’s annual event, and we shouldn’t refuse to support our legislators’ professional development just because the conference sponsors choose to stage their professional development events in mostly warm places.
It’s just not a fun argument to make when the folks who want to denigrate good government and good Democrats to hide their own corruption can holler about flying to Hawaii in one’s last month in office on the taxpayers’ dime.
This is a great story! But hey, at least the grassland fire danger index isn’t bad today on the frozen tundra under an inch of ice!
It costs much more than a dime Cory. What the heck they work for very little and the conference Was in Hawaii anyway. Did they pay for their drinks? They are South Dakotans after all.
It appears to me that CSG determines the site of its National Convention by the state served by the Governor who serves as the organization’s leader for that year. Gov. Mike Rounds served as that leader in 2010. I think I remember that organization having their conference in South Dakota that year. So, it’s not like they are going to Hawaii every December.
I’ve never seen the benefit of travel to these sorts of conferences as being worth the taxpayers’ money. If the attendees would go to the seminars, take notes and give public presentations on what they learned when they get back, I might be able to see taxpayers benefit. At minimum, they need to post their notes on-line Otherwise, it’s just a waste.
I’ll just sit around in the blizzard today and push snow. Surely more fun than Hawaii.
It was a waste of taxpayer money but not as much as rounds spending $384,000 of taxpayers money for charter flights to Washington because it is inconvenient to drive to Sioux Falls or Rapid City to take a commercial flight
And, do we know whether or not the Republican party didn’t pay for Smith’s ticket???!!!
Surely worth the cost and time for professional development and much cheaper than junkets around the country in the state plane for fun with What’s his name.
This is disappointing on all fronts.
Had hopes they could all be more cautious w/ state taxpayer funds instead of taking adavantage for their own comforts and pleasure.
Selfishness and its not just the (R)’s.
Disappointing and hypocritical. I vote for Jamie and I thought he had a higher moral compass than that. I guess he had the philosophy if you can’t beat em, join em. Just like pigs at the trough.
Having had some experience in travel first remove The word Hawaii from the verbiage.
Listed are other sites of the conference. Now take the flite and “stay” costs for each of those sites for the conference? Compare these costs acrewed .
Back in the day a group met in and stayed in the Black Hills for Four days.
This involved States west of the Mississippi.
Net cost of flites , ground transportation, food and lodging was CHEAPER to go to Hawaii than to get to Hill City. So what’s the cost accrued to meet in Hawaii as compared to any of the previous meeting places all at todays cost?
Very bad timing when the rest of us can’t go anywhere at all, not just because of the snow but because we are broke living in S.D.
I see nothing wrong with the trip. Just because it was in our “50th State” which all of us would love to go. The fact is it was a trip for Council of State Governments “National Conference”. How come the only people targeted for going were Spencer Gosch and Jamie Smith? How about naming the other 10 Legislators?
As a former State Employee, we traveled out of State at least once a year for Conferences. We were told the trips were paid for through Grants which had to be submitted yearly. A lot was learned at these events and many of our speakers were from CDC.
No one has abused travel more than the current Governor who the Republicans put back in office.
Smith should not have gone even if only to prevent magats from claiming both sides do it.
Indeed, Mr. onion. Indeed.
But he did go, because Mr. Smith just doesn’t really care since he can’t be our leader. He’s just sticking his thumb in the nose of the public and the other legislatures and going “Na, na-na, na-na, na-na.”
Ms. Genie, the other fellows will still be in the legislatures next month. The Messrs. Smith and Gosch were taking a joy ride on the tax payer dime when they can’t even vote on things next year. It is not about where the meeting was, it was about taking a joy ride and then not even attending the meetings. It is known these fellows often skip the real meetings and hang around at the beaches and taverns.
Hawaii sucks! It’s way too humid, flying bugs are everywhere and the wind blows non-stop. Sound familiar? #grins
Taxes? SD has been overcharging you on your taxes to the tune of $240 million +? Pat Powers’ boss, Americans For Prosperity has filed suit. #C’monMan!
Hey this is great! Every news story gives us a chance to reinvent ourselves!
So Jamie didn’t win the Governors race. Hey we’re all Governors, right?
So about the Hawaii thing.
Jamie was right about going to Hawaii. The wisdom and information shared there (minutes the Republican cliff jumping!) is what Jamie all the rest of us liberals need. How to “Hawaii-nize our state with or without elections, cool!
The idea that oh no! Our not returning to Pierre legislators took a joy ride to Hawaii is false. Accepting that puts the crankies and the penny pinchers as visionaries? No.
It brings a lot of ideas.
1. Move the Capital to Diamond Head – Honolulu or hey, even Maui! Live large now!
2. Double the legislators up to 210 .
3. 10x the legislators salaries so they can live in Hawaii for 6 months each year. Yes, Legislature can meet from January to June, allow the legislators to come back and Hawaii-nizam our state properly.
4. The big question is, how do we totally nuke the sales tax on food and get MANY of us to Hawaii each year? Answer, high tech internships on the beach! Paid internships.
So you think this will never happen?
Whatever can happen, will happen, if you Believe!