Don’t you hate those politicians who say one thing in Washington Pierre and another back home?
Don’t you hate those politicians who say one thing in Washington Pierre and another back home?
The leading Democrat in the state Senate said Wednesday that South Dakota’s budget shortfall is so extreme that across-the-board cuts in services could be the only way to balance the budget.
Sen. Scott Heidepriem blamed years of irresponsible spending for the current hole in the state budget, saying South Dakota has not been governed by fiscal conservatives in the last seven years.
But, wasn’t the Democrat’s choir boy singing another tune back in FEBRUARY??
“……typically we would increase the amount we make available to take care of those needs. But not this year. Why? Because we’re facing a budget crisis? No. We aren’t.”
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- Scott Heidepriem, debate on HB 1300, 39th legislative day.
Okay, so let me try to understand this. Back in February, 80 million in the hole wasn’t a fiscal crisis, and he was complaining because we weren’t spending more money? And only now we’re in a crisis?
The only difference is that Heidepriem had ambitions to spend more money then, and now his ambitions are directed towards running for governor.
Senator Heidepriem is complaining that South Dakota has not been governed by fiscal conservatives in the last seven years? He’d better cast that first stone at the big government spending figure in his mirror.
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Comments
PP- I didn’t realize the Dems were in control the past seven years in Pierre? Who cares what Scott thinks, his party is powerless to change it. Instead of criticizing Dems, maybe you should looking in the mirror, when is your party going to get their poop in a group?
(When Republicans start voting like Republicans. And instead of criticizing Republicans, why don’t you step up and run for office yourself? -PP)
Last year we had a budget shortfall, and then just like magic delivered at the precise moment, the fed Dems stepped in with their marvelous stimulus money which our congress couldn’t gobble up fast enough. Now the strings will keep us from cutting what we spent stimulus on evidently; is this correct? Please, to all those state legislators, do NOT look to the feds to bail us out; it simply gives away more of our state rights when you do so, which is exactly what the present administration wants.
Every single one in Pierre this year needs to be a fiscal conservative. Make cuts. Balance the budget. Realize we need to keep our state soverignty. Don’t blame one side or the other. Work together. I don’t spend what I don’t have. Pierre needs to operate on the budget philosophy I do. PLEASE.
You are so right springer. Does anyone know what would happen if we simply sent the stimulus money back and cut those “ties that bind”?
Yet Republican controlled Pierre gladly took the money. You guys sit here and bash Democrats for things your party is doing in this state. I have never understood how the SD GOP can get away with blaming Dems for everything the Repubs are doing wrong.
Springer some day we need to visit, I will buy coffee or adult beverages. We need more people like you! Det Lew, don’t you get it? Forehead is telling lies. Doesn’t that bother you?
All of the reps that meet in Pierre, Washington or wherever, you better be thinking of ways to cut spending! I visit with a lot of people and the public is ready to vote out those who would spend too much of our money.
Amazing. Heidepriem says one thing back in February, and has a press conference on the opposite in November. No wonder people think he’s THE BIGGEST PHONY IN SOUTH DAKOTA!
Springer your spot on and its something simmilar that I posted a long time ago. I would love to be a part of that coffee and throw Troy in there too. Common sence, what happened to it?
Detroit, quit blamming and hold all elected officals accountable, I thought you were a “independednt”, (laughing hystreically).
I so agree that for the last 7 years we have not had a balance and ALL are to balme. It goes back to what I have always felt which is a true party system is needed in goverment on EVERY level. One party rules , no matter what party, NEVER works.
I have served with SH the last three years and I have to say that for him to claim high ground as a fiscal conservative is beyond laughable. Just look at his record. Scott has tryed several times to break the seal on the trust funds in order to fund the increases in state government that he supports. Last year he led the Senate Dems to block vote against the general bill because he wanted more spending. He has never shown a conservative bone in his body outside the retoric he spews to gain support from the conservative electorate.
ymous – when you and Sprigner and troy have coffee, I’d love to join you – watching Pierre this year will be interesting – I suggest a gathering about the time of sine die. I think then we will finally hear the answer to political budget rule of physics question: “if you drive your fiscal train off a cliff in the woods, will it really make noise when it hits the bottom?” and the corollary: “will the conductors survive, politically speaking?”
The forehead’s mansion is officially on the market. Maybe when he sells his $1.15 million house, he can donate the proceeds for debt reduction. No problem with wealth, good for him. But to downscale in order to give the appearance that he’s one of the guys, a working man’s working man is preposterous.
See site below and get yours today…
Pat,
Where exactly is that second quote coming from? It’s clear that you have cut off the quote. I just wonder what the full context of the quote actually is. It is hard to pass judgment when you are obviously not giving the full quote in it’s full context.
Please keep it on topic, or I’ll exercise the editor’s pen.
Otherwise, Anon. No, I didn’t cut off the quote. It was the end of his sentence.
I hope the politicos from BOTH parties realize that, more now than ever, it’s the ECONOMY STUPID! Voters need to purge anyone that doesn’t display some fiscal sanity.
PP,
If your guy Munsterman is the one to solve the budget problems of SD why is he not talking about it. I find it interesting that the only person bringing up the budget shortfall is SH and you attack him for not wanting the last 7 of 8 years to continue. Maybe what we need is someone that is not apart of the machine that has been growing our state government irresponsibly.
(Todd/Anon:
What rock have you been living under?
I believe that was back on September 16th.
Otherwise, posting the same thing under multiple pseudonyms gets you deleted. -PP)
My understanding of the quote that you linked is that it is in reference to an amendment on the budget and not the budget in its entirety. The amendment would have taken a relatively small amount money from the large property tax reduction trust fund in order to give it to state funded caregivers in South Dakota. The reason that this was proposed was because the federal government was willing to match these funds. So it would have been a good return on our investment. Scott’s quote was in reference to the argument that we couldn’t take any money from the trust fund because we are in a budget crisis. His point was not that we weren’t in a budget crisis. His point was that there was plenty of money in the trust fund (in fact it grew last year). So he was debunking the argument against helping caregivers in the state.
Was this fed money (my taxpayer dollars BTW) part of the stimulus money, as referred to above by Edward?
PP, why are you deleating posts that actually ARE on topic, but are proving that your quote is being taken out of context? Edward’s post at 11:27 proved that you are taking the quote completely out of context – I guess that being truthful is “off topic” (and I have the screen shot of it, I just don’t know how to paste it here otherwise I would).
Additionally, Scott’s quote comes from an amendment on the budget that would have taken 4 million from the property tax reduction fund and give it to state funded caregivers because the federal government would have matched those funds, which is damn good fiscal policy. His quote was not about the entire state budget.
I’m fine with disagreements, but let’s keep to the facts please and I’m staying on topic, so I hope my post doesn’t get deleated!
(Travis, what are you talking about? Aside from the fact the quote is not out of context. -PP)
this guy is an opportunistic huckster. during the legislative session, he thought he could score political points and grab headlines by having his tiny caucus object to the budget bill and instead spend our limited reserve funds. now that he’s running for Governor of a state that doesn’t elect liberal Democrats who want to increase spending, he is abandoning that plan and attempting to re-invent himself as a moderate. give me a break
This is why they are politicians. They have mastered the fine art of double speak.
The 2010 Budget is going to be worse than last year’s and, barring any major economic shift, It will be worse the year after.
This upcoming budget debate will be interesting. Three people in the State Senate are running for Governor. Some will be running for re-election, others are looking to switch houses. They will be watched closely by the public, and the legislature knows it. I would venture to guess, many of the words will be chosen very carefully this next session.
Make a run for office myself? The thought has crossed my mind a time or two. A few other things needs to fall in place before I throw my hat in to the ring.
Lee-
I dont know enough about PPs gov guy yet but you and Dusty were my fiscal boys and you both bowed out. Not to say it but you had a great chance as to what I know to date. Scott H’s house was in a private sell mode months before it was public. The whole neighborhood new he was running people through it to keep it quiet. Any time on that Lee I believe you know me.
1:44,
The amount of money that he was going to put towards assisting state funded caregivers was a tiny drop in the bucket of what is in that trust fund (not too mention we have two other funds, the education and cement plant fund.)So it is not fair to say that Heidepriem was trying to drain the trust funds, especially considering the money was going to be matched by the federal government. I agree with TD that that seems like you are getting the most bang for your buck that way.
Also let’s not forget that it is unrestrained republican spending that has gotten us into this mess. They have been in control for decades. They have increased the size, scope, and cost of government. So I don’t really think that you can blame any structural deficit on Heidepriem or the Democrats.
Perhaps Rounds, Daugaard, and the repulican party should take responsibility for the budget mess they have created.
PP:
If Munsterman was to win the nomination do you have any idea who his top 5 or 6 picks for Lt. Gov would be?
I’m curious who Daugaard and Knudson lean towards.
I know we need someone who can stand up to Hiedepriem.
Certainly all of the candidates must have choices that overlap.
Who would Heidepriem pick?
Question mark,
I think for all candidates, that’s a pretty fluid thing until it gets down to the wire.
Pat – Please consider posting more of Scott’s quote. At least one poster on here is trying to imply that you took a clip out of context. That’s not the case.
If you listen to more of his speech (which I just did), you will were that Scott, on the last day of the main run of the 2009 session, was trying to add more spending to the general bill.
the commentator “DUH” put in a link to Hidey’s home listing. Check out the library. We dont need no stinkin’ paperback books. Only hardcover limited editions will do. And they must all be of a uniform height. That be show library, bro.
Heidespin really will say or do anything to get elected. Anybody who has paid attention to Pierre the last several years knows he has been pushing for more spending and opposing the cuts the Republicans have made. He has no credibility. Watching him try to reinvent himself his hillarious.
2:15 Sickandtired
The Republicans will take responsibility for getting the state through this mess that the Federal Democrats created.
You can talk all you want about the Repubs and the way we have handled state government but it doesn’t change the fact that Scott Heidepriem has consistenly worked to increase spending and even led the Senate Democrats in a block vote against returning the additional tax dollars from the 07 cigarette tax back to the citizens in the form of property tax relief and additional dollars for k-12 funding.
As far as the run away spending, SD has one of the lowest deficits per capita in the nation.
As far as I can see it the Republicans have had their shot at running this state. The over the top spending when what we should have been doing was saving, just in case. Do not blame the democrats for the mess that republicans have got the state into. Frivolous spending is the worst thing a state can do. How many airplanes does a state need?
As far as I can see it the Republicans have had their shot at running this state. The over the top spending when what we should have been doing was saving, just in case. Do not blame the democrats for the mess that republicans have got the state into. Frivolous spending is the worst thing a state can do. How many airplanes does a state need? Focus on what the state truly needs. A balanced budget, a better education system, and responsibility.
What’s done, is done. The state has a severe budget issue this upcoming legislative session.
How would you solve it? Keep in mind some legislators are running for re-election.
Are you democrats seriously saying you would have spent less money? Seriously? Look at the national seen and what they have done in the short time in power.
The difference on the state level is you would have implemented a state income tax to solve money issues. It would simply be tax and spend and would be far worse off. The republicans to get there s— back together and become the party of Regan and fiscal discpline again. The dems fiscally sound, thats a good one hahahahah.
12:23,
How many state dollars went to the purchase of airplanes?
How many millions are in the state’s reserve account and trust funds?
What did state Republicans do to cause the huge dip in tax revenues?
What frivolous spending did the Democrats vote against?
How many times did the Democrats vote against the state’s spending bill because of over the top spending?
Should we have spent less and saved more? You Bet, but look at the track record of spending bills on the R side versus the D side. If you think things are bad now, I shutter to think what a “REAL” mess we would be in had the Democrats had their way.
I know the answers but you probably won’t believe me until you look it up yourself.
We are running out of reasons to vote republican in the next cycle if our best argument is ” it could be worse”.
Anon @ 11:19
I wouldn’t want you to vote Republican or Democrat. I would much rather have you vote for the person who best represents your interests. If your sole reason to vote for someone is that they belong to one party or another, then don’t vote at all.
While party affiliation is a great starting point, you, the voter need to do your homework, and see which candidate best shares your views on the issues that are important to you.
Voting is important responsibility. It is up to us to become informed on the issues, and candidates, then make the appropriate choice.
it kills me that he thinks he’s a fiscal conservative. there are a lot of legislators in pierre — repub and dem — who think they are, but really aren’t. it’s downright insulting for guys like heiedieipreiem to claim that mantle.