Democrat Brian Bengs evidently made a Libertarian friend while he was out campaigning last year. The former U.S. Senate candidate filed a statement of organization on June 16 for the ballot question committee he needs to fundraise for his proposed amendment to protect voter-approved initiatives from Legislative sabotage and repeal. Aberdonian Bengs lists as his co-chair Vale’s Collin Duprel:
Duprel was the Libertarian candidate for U.S. House in 2022. Like Bengs, Duprel was a first-time candidate. Duprel lost to incumbent Dusty Johnson 77% to 23%, which at least distinguished him as the first Liberatarian to win more than 20% of a statewide vote in South Dakota. Bengs did just a little better, losing to incumbent John Thune 70% to 26%, with Libertarian Tamara Lesnar taking 4%.
Like Bengs, Duprel has been vocal in his opposition to Summit Carbon Solutions’ theft of land from South Dakota farmers for its private carbon-dioxide pipeline. And evidently, like Bengs, Duprel is opposed to the Legislature’s theft of the will of the people through its resistance to popular initiatives.
It’s nice to see Democrats and Libertarians working together for their common values.
I would of loved to have seen these two gentlemen stand for SD in DC. They have so much to offer and clearly are not too mealy to get after it. They did great in their debates. Mr. Duprel cracked me up in one of his arguments with Congressman Johnson when he said something like, “Back when I graduated college….well, actually I never did but…” it was spot on and he kept his idea rolling in a relatable manner. This organization is a great step in the left direction.
I was duly impressed with Collin Duprel during the debate.
Pass on your next case of beer and send money to support Bengs and Duprel.
With a focused support group, and grass roots efforts Dan Lederman and his cancerous Ioweegans can K. M. A. and go away.
Political partisans reaching out to solve real problems in South Dakota, who would’a thought? Solving real problems by reaching out doesn’t get the sensational headlines like shutting down reproductive choice for women or censoring history curricula to appease morons, but it seems it worked today for U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, R-SD. Conservative columnist and bespectacled sage George F. Will gave Mike some lovin’ for doing the right thing.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/06/23/mike-rounds-senate-immigration-reform/
Kudos and a tip o’ the hat to Collin Duprel and Brian Bengs.
The whole [problem with Dr. Bengs’ proposed amendment, as I’ve pointed out before, is that the wording will allow the legislature – after a period of; is it three years?, the legislature can just go ahead and change it to be made entirely ineffective.
Anticipate the skullduggery and make it this instead:
Consent of the Governed Act:
“Any initiated act or Constitutional Amendment passed by a direct vote of the people, shall not be nullified or altered or amended in any way by any means other to a direct vote of the people.”
Great Job. They are each exceptional individuals in their own right but working together will create a new era of synergism and cooperation in South Dakota.
JOB WELL DONE Brian and Collin!
Mr. Kloucek, do you think those fellows might entertain adding you to their ticket? Have you asked, or are you standing down and just handing out kolaches these days? How could a Kloucek backed ticket possibly lose!?
This ticket will be what happens when Ferguson and Tilsen join together to circulate a measure, initiated.