Archive for November, 2008
An incomplete justice. The state says there’s no problem with how they handle restitution. Too bad they’re wrong.
If you aren’t familiar with it, one of the issues I’ve brought up from time to time is how dismally the State handles the administration of restitution orders as provided for by judges. The reality of it for me is pretty close to home. You read about cases such as the one I deal with [...]
Their offices are still open? SDCAC claims they’ll be at session.
From my e-mail box:
26 Nov 08, Pierre, SD – SDCAC today commended Governor Rounds on his announced spending freeze on state government.
Lee Breard, Executive Director of the SD CAC, said, “Financial times are tough across the board and state government is no exception. Concerned taxpayers in South Dakota have cut their personal spending [...]
What’s the gossip on deck for the 2010 Governor’s race?
My spies reported to me last night that Lt. Governor Dennis Daugaard has added a staff person to his campaign effort. As I’m told (via the rumor mill), Joni Johnson will supposedly be working full time.
If this is the Joni I’m thinking of, she’s a Rounds’ cousin who had helped with the currrent Governor’s campaigns [...]
New Legislator’s daughter might be more impressive than himself
District 23 Republican Charlie Hoffman is a “larger than life” figure if you’ve ever met him in person. I had the pleasure of spending time with him at the National Republican Convention in Minneapolis, and trust me, you will never forget Charlie with his boisterous and infectiously exuberant attitude.
In fact, I daresay that you could [...]
Rapid City secret school panel still secret.
I think the Rapid City School board is going to get a spanking on this one.
Despite being impaneled to discuss how taxpayer dollars are going to be spent, the school board’s financial review committee is still meeting in secret. And I suspect they’re going to hear about it from the State’s Open Meetings Commission:
The Rapid [...]
State to throttle back their unprecedented expansion. For the moment.
From KELOland news:
Tuesday, Governor Rounds initiated three cost saving measures to help save the state’s budget. Rounds has immediately put a stop to all hiring in state departments across South Dakota. He’s also putting a freeze on all non-mandatory out of state travel, and putting off major purchases like computers and furniture in the capitol. [...]
Much quieter around the SDGOP office – Max Wetz & wife’s last day at the SDGOP
From my e-mail box. Or at least, as sent to me by a recipient. Why they don’t just automatically include me in those e-mails, I’ll never know:
—–Original Message—–
From: Max Wetz [mailto:max@southdakotagop.com]
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2008 11:30 AM
To: Max Wetz
Subject: Moving on
Hello. I just wanted to send a short note to let you know that I [...]
Pause. Breathe. And look for the facts before you go into a Daschle-gushing session.
Last Friday’s Kranz column left a little to be desired for fact checking amongst all the Daschle-gushing:
With his pending appointment to a Cabinet post, Daschle is believed to be the first South Dakotan to serve in a Cabinet-level position.
After Daschle’s appointment announcement, Ken Blanchard, a Northern State University political science professor, said he thought through [...]
Rounds to Rotary: Bring Nuclear Power to SD
At a meeting of the Pierre Rotary yesterday, Governor Rounds quietly made a statement that might be a foreshadowing of his legislative agenda for the remaining months of his administration – “We can’t walk away from nuclear energy”:
“There is more than 290 megawatts of wind power turning as we speak,” he said.
However, the initial costs [...]
Thune listed as #2 Republican to watch
From the Washington Post “The Fix” political blog, Thune is ranked above Mitt Romney, and just below Bobby Jindal as one of the men to watch as the GOP rights itself to take on the battle anew:
The Friday Line: Ten Republicans To Watch
The great thing about elections is that as soon as the last one [...]
Joe Kafka to be the Gov’s press secretary?
I couldn’t have picked this one. But the announcement was made today that longtime Associated Press journalist Joe Kafka will be Governor Rounds new press secretary:
Gov. Mike Rounds says Joe Kafka (KUHF’-kuh) of Pierre, who has been an Associated Press newsman since 1980, will be his new press secretary.
Rounds calls Kafka a respected and well-known [...]
Bush pardons includes South Dakotan
President Bush, who has been tight with his presidential pardons, just issues one of the final ones for his presidency to a South Dakotan:
The new round of White House pardons are Bush’s first since March and come less than two months before he will end his presidency. The crimes committed by those on the list [...]
Munsterman takes a pass on identifying supporters.
To follow up on my prior post on City of Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman, and the question over “who is lining up behind his fledgling bid for Governor”; I had noted that the Statement of Organization didn’t provide any clues as to who might be assisting or backing Munsterman in his chase for “the big [...]
So far, that’s looking like an awfully small committee.
Brookings Mayor Scott Munsterman’s statement of organization filing has been put on-line by the Secretary of State. And it still doesn’t shed any light on who is serving on his exploratory committee. As you can see here, Scott is acting as both Chair and Treasurer. Click on either of the images to enlarge them.
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I have [...]
Change? What Change? Did Obama offer change?
Obama seems to be having a heard time already in honoring his campaign pledges:
Former Senate Majority Leader Tom Dachle’s (D-S.D.) reported selection as secretary of health and human services could violate one of the pledges set out by President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team, consumer advocacy group Public Citizen said this afternoon.
Daschle’s work as a public [...]
Did I mention I bought my butterball turkey tonight?
Ohhhhh…. so that’s where they come from…..
“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty. ” Mother Theresa
The Nebraska safe haven law debate has been gnawing at me for weeks. For those of you that don’t know the details, Nebraska passed a law a few years ago that allowed parents to drop off their children at hospitals “no questions asked.” See this for more detail: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122480352401164761.html
While the intent was a focus on [...]
RCJ protests secretive school board committee
The Rapid City Journal has a story on a budget committee set up by the Rapid City School Board to review how taxpayer dollars are being spent. The problem they’re concerned about is that this panel is trying to do their review of how taxpayer dollars are being spent…. and they’re not letting any taxpayers [...]
Munsterman for Governor website open for business
While there’s been no official announcement, the website for the Scott Munsterman for Governor exploratory effort opened shop as of yesterday.
munsterman
According to the campaign website, the campaign’s strategy is largely based on what’s been in the local news in South Dakota:
We’ve spent the last two years studying local news from across the state in order [...]
Daschle to be secretary of HHS
From the Washington Post:
President-elect Barack Obama has chosen his close confidante and former Senate Majority Leader Thomas Daschle to serve as secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, according to several sources close to the transition.
Daschle, a South Dakota Democrat, will also reportedly be given a policy portfolio that stretches beyond the department [...]
