I’m sitting here at my desk trying to wrap my head around a topic to write on, but not doing very well.
Yesterday was spent working at my desk in a zombie-like manner after my youngest daughter was up all night with the flu. Plus, I was busy with work, so that was a lost cause. So I was hoping today would give me a flash of inspiration. But a couple of hours into the morning, and I’m not doing so well.
I was contemplating writing on what gift would be appropriate for my new son-in-law who happens to be a Democrat. This Bernie Sanders mug might be appropriate.
I was also contemplating writing about the IM22 case that’s set to be heard in court on December 8th. I’m hearing that the pro-IM22 people may have hired Scott Heidepreim to be their attorney. However, they might want to ask him to triple check and make sure no one in his office is representing someone else in the case.
Attorney General Marty Jackley has just announced who he appointed to a task force to address questions and concerns about Marsy’s law. Maybe it’s just me, but I see a lot of attorneys on the panel. And I see a lot of members of law enforcement. But remembering that the measure was introduced, campaigned on, and passed by South Dakotans for stronger rights for victims, I counted how many positions on this 25 member group represent victims of crimes. How many are there to represent victims? One. Krista Heeren-Graber, SD Network Against Family Violence & Sexual Assault.
Don’t get me wrong. I think the world of Marty. But speaking as someone who voted for this measure because South Dakota’s laws on victim rights had been lacking, as this group gets together to pick at the problems they see with the measure, I fear that this group’s focus might be a bit off.
Back to the salt mines….
So law enforcement doesn’t “represent victims of crimes”? You might as well register as a Dem and make it official.
What a stupendously ignorant statement.
Law enforcement is it’s own separate category. So are victims of crimes. They have different interests. If you can’t figure that out, you might as well “register as a Dem and make it official” yourself.
I agree law enforcement is the number one victims rights group.
Marty has missteps aplenty but so will Kristi. Like her previous mistakes on committee attendance. It’s just that people grow as candidates and officials.
Hmmm . . . I thought a reasonable goal would to have the case heard on a date prior to the Gov’s budget address. Guess not.
Why don’t you write a response to Rick Weiland’s idiotic interview yesterday on Dakota Midday on IM22. When asked if buying a cup of coffee for a legislator is an issue, he responded “yes, it’s an issue.”
He believes the lawsuit is “just a line of defense from the establishment,” and states legislators are “trying to plant seeds of fear.”
http://listen.sdpb.org/post/dakota-midday-measure-22s-challenges-and-opportunities
Franklin,
I don’t know whether to thank or curse you for the link to listen to that.
The good: Sometimes you wonder “how can a candidate not get at least support equal to his parties registration?” I listened and I no longer wonder.
The bad: Did I really have to know why he was such a bad candidate? I didn’t.
How about covering the government transparency issues brought on by Marcy’s law.
I understand Pat’s concern about a lot of lawyers and law enforcement, but putting Jason Glodt on the committee was a political masterstroke. If he were left off the committee, he’s have a reason to criticize every step taken as well as who was appointed. If I were appointing committee members, the only change I’d make to Jackley’s list is that I would have included one or two “lay people” – a private citizen or two with no specific organizational affiliation.
My concern was not about too many attorneys or members of law enforcement. It’s about too few people representing actual victims.
The measure is designed to protect and preserve the rights of victims, not attorneys or law enforcement.
South Dakota does not have much in the way of organized victim groups, but I think it is important that they have a strong voice in terms of how the law is implemented.
Too many people are ready to run roughshod over the rights of victims or surviving family members after a crime has occurred. The voices of victims should be equal to the voices of other parties concerned about the implementation of this law.
Some of the uninformed think I’m taking issue with Marty by saying victims need more representation. That could not be farther from the truth. I think Marty has done an outstanding job, and can point to some work I’ve seen Marty do in defense of victims.
Wanting to see more victim voices on this panel is a personal opinion, which last time I checked I am entitled to.
OK, so I’m hopelessly uninformed. I didn’t realize that Glodt is also Jackley’s campaign manager. What a conflict of interest!
The problem is that if Jackley were to rescind Glodt’s appointment, and especially if he also found a new campaign manager, that would free Glodt to lob potshots at will, challenging the legitimacy and work of the committee.
No problem! I know it’s all meant in a friendly vein. There’s a couple of others throwing rocks.