Column: Week 7 Update
It was a historic week in the State Senate, but for all the wrong reasons. When Kristi Noem first appointed me to the Senate and then when the people of District 8 elected me to the office, you expected me to show up and vote on every bill.
Last week, members of the Senate dodged votes to avoid tough decisions and play political games. That is unacceptable and would not have been allowed in the previous 99 sessions and definitely not when I helped lead the Senate Republicans.
South Dakotans elected us to show up to work and do our job. If anyone can’t meet that basic expectation, they should be voted out or resign. It’s a disgrace to the people of South Dakota and a disrespect to the Legislature. John Carley and the senators who supported his absence should be ashamed and they will have to answer why they were unable to deliver millions of dollars of tax relief opportunities to South Dakota.
Three of my colleagues lost close family members in recent days, and they still showed up to represent their district. When I heard Carley’s various excuses, the BS meter didn’t just spike—it broke. District 29 deserves better, and the Senate’s institutional integrity deserves better.
Carley dodged three key pieces of legislation on purpose. One would have sent property tax rebates to homeowners. Another supported President Trump’s quest for American energy dominance by cutting red tape related to projects generating onsite power for themselves. The last would have reenergized South Dakota’s economic development tools to create new, good-paying jobs and create new property tax revenues that would help lower costs for hard working South Dakotans. Thanks to Carley and those that supported him, those bills didn’t move to the House where they would have passed.
Usually, you hear about political dysfunction in Congress, but South Dakota has typically risen above petty politics and dishonesty to focus on making the state a better place. Sadly, some Senators and House members subscribe to a different class of politics, and all of South Dakota is worse off as a result.
This is why I suspended my campaign for Congress. It is clear to me that my leadership skills are needed in South Dakota right now to move us back to a place of Reagan Republicans and America First Trump Republicans.
When I kicked off my Congressional campaign, “America First, South Dakota Always” became my platform and mission. I still hold true to this mantra as I move forward making South Dakota a better place, and we need to elect Legislators with that same vision—do what is best for South Dakota based on conservative principles to improve the lives of our people, especially the next generation.
I was reminded on Thursday what I’m fighting for in South Dakota. It’s the next generation. The fourth-grade students at Madison Elementary visited the Capitol as part of their Little Legislators program. Every year, they write bills, debate them, vote on them, and they follow the work we do in the legislature. We need to set a good example and deliver results for them.
Our kids truly are our future, but only if we can keep them in South Dakota. I’ve worked my professional and political career to make sure our kids have opportunities to stay in South Dakota. While others think “economic development” is a dirty phrase, I wholeheartedly disagree. Economic development means more jobs, better pay and a higher quality of living. It means rural towns are vibrant, not dying. And it means you can visit your kids and grandkids in South Dakota instead of somewhere else in the world.
As I move into the final two weeks of session, I’ll keep fighting for the next generation, and I’ll continue to lean on America First, South Dakota Always. It’s not a catchphrase; it’s a mission to do what’s best for the people of our great state.
Hopefully the primary will take care of this one…And a few others.
Dodger John Carley is in good company with draft dodger Phil Jensen.
This is why I hope Crabtree remains in Pierre and doesn’t step away from politics entirely. We need people who are willing to step behind the plate and call a strike a strike and a ball a ball regardless of what team is up to bat.
Anon, I am a former ASA/USA Umpire and I am running for the House of Representatives in District 18. i umpired Fast pitch softball for 28 years and I also know how to call Balls and Strikes.
‘This is why I suspended my campaign for Congress. It is clear to me that my leadership skills are needed in South Dakota right now….. ‘ Such BS blather He was getting his butt kicked and he knew it. This is stretching altruism to new depths
Yeeppp. Plus
“South Dakota has typically risen above petty politics and dishonesty”
Sure, Jan.
Crabtree sold off what little integrity he had left when he presented himself as the Trump candidate for Congress. He did NOT suspend his campaign because of dysfunction, as if anything, he has contributed to it. He suspended his campaign because he has Zero statewide support and was destined for a historic, ego-shattering defeat.
Bingo.He’s a wannabe with zero charisma. He tries hard though lol!
It would have been far more honest to have said, “Jackley has the name ID and the war chest for the primary. If he was not in the race, I would have had a good chance.” That would have been fair.
If Mr. Crabtree is indeed so concerned with Mr. Carley’s conduct, well, then the Senate does have a code of ethics. It would certainly be in order for Casey to bring forth a motion to create a committee to investigate Carley’s conduct. He really should, or we can expect similar antics from other legislators more often in the future. That investigation does not need to be held during session.
But it’s doubtful that Mr. Crabtree will put his actions behind his rhetoric.
In which case, what’s the difference between Carley and Crabtree?
No one senator can make that motion. It actually takes 6 Senators in writing to make the motion and 18 to approve it
Well Mr. Crabtree can certainly start the process now can’t he?
Crabtree has zero integrity. Typical do what im told, no original ideas politican. He was getting his butt kicked all over the place by Marty Jackley in polling and raising money. He couldn’t hang on to his leadership post in Pierre because at least half of his peers didnt believe in his ability to actually lead. Now, Pierre needs him, thats why he’s not running for congres, give me a break, thats also a BS excuse. Maybe his wife should check both he and Carleys eyes… While what Carley did is disappointing, Crabtree is no better a politican in any facet. Let’s also primary and vote Casey Crabtree out of the the state legislature and elect someone with a little integrity from that district. If someone, almost anyone else writes this article, maybe is has some merit.
Clearly you started paying attention to Casey about five seconds ago. He’s authored and passed tens of bills during his time in the legislature, several of which greatly benefit West River via new water projects. But I bet you support Mr. Carley’s ilk who vote against those same projects.
Regardless of why he suspended his campaign, he’s spot on. This is the most succinct, to the point description of what Carley did (and ultimately obstructed). All that matters is paragraph #5. They need to publish that over and over in Carley’s district.
The anonymous comments disparaging Sen. Crabtree are not just cowardly, they are wrong. He has been part of some of the most substantial, long-term good legislation we have had – including a permanent revolving loan fund that has seen infrastructure installed for workforce housing statewide. I’m glad for S.D. that we have a chance to get him back in Pierre – his leadership is needed.
Crabtree is a serious legislator. I don’t always agree with his positions, but he is one of the few adults in the room. Pierre needs more legislators like him.