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Last-minute prison revelations were shocking only for their timing and source
Less than 24 hours before South Dakota lawmakers met last week to consider building a prison, one of them disseminated shocking new revelations in a press release. I have confirmed, the press release said, that the South Dakota Department of Corrections has been using your tax dollars to provide transgender cross-sex hormones to convicted criminals…
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Trumps attacks on First Amendment would revive crime of seditious libel
In a week that witnessed President Donald Trumps unrelenting, frontal assault on the First Amendment freedoms of speech, press and expression, it became crystal clear, in his own words, that what he wants to do is to suppress speech that is critical of him. On Sept. 19, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that…
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South Dakota lawmakers fixated on property taxes need to widen their focus
During the last legislative session, lawmakers passed Gov. Larry Rhodens bill designed to help homeowners get relief from the high cost of paying property taxes. Dont expect that to be the last word on the subject. Dramatic increases in property taxes have given rise to some strident calls for change. Owner-occupied dwellings, in particular, have…
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Rounding up support for new South Dakota prison was difficult
Its tough rounding up 1,500 buffalo in the annual buffalo roundup, but its a whole lot tougher rounding up a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature to support a new prison. Regardless, we got both done last week, and what a week it was! South Dakotans pride ourselves on getting things done no…
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A federal lifeline for South Dakota innovation is at risk
In just a few days, one of the federal governments most effective tools for boosting rural economies could disappear. The Small Business Innovation Research program a funding pipeline that has supported countless scientific and medical breakthroughs that grow the economy and save lives will expire on Sept. 30 unless Congress acts. Here in South Dakota,…
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School cellphone debate makes local control an early casualty of governor race in South Dakota
The beauty of South Dakotas public school system is that each school district is different. Each has its own funding challenges. Some may put an emphasis on college preparation while others may seek to get students ready for the workforce. The beauty of local control is that it allows the school district patrons, through their…
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Investing in public safety is important in South Dakota
Government isnt very good at solving problems. You might find that rich coming from someone whos served in public office for 20 plus years, but its true it isnt government that solves our problems. Even when bills get passed by the Legislature, its citizen legislators elected by their neighbors who come to Pierre for a…
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Thune steams while Democrats do nation a favor by slowing Trump’s nominees
U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune was hot under the collar. It wasnt just because of the August weather, or the crowd at the Dakotafest agricultural trade show in Mitchell, or the pole barn where the crowd was jammed in. Thune was hot because of the way hes being treated by Senate Democrats. Those pesky…
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Open and civil discourse is crucial
Decades before the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin wrote, Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom; and no such thing as public liberty, without freedom of speech. Our Founding Fathers believed so strongly in civil and open public discourse that they put freedom of speech in the First Amendment. They knew…
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Beware of Christian nationalism, even on a T-shirt
Coming out of mass the other day, I noticed the T-shirt worn by a woman I didnt recognize. It read: This City Belongs to Jesus. And in smaller print: Rapid City, SD. Im pretty big on Jesus. Im also pretty uncomfortable with the message on that T-shirt. Ive seen it before. It has been a…
