Remember last week when the Hughes County States Attorney noted the following to Senator Tom Pischke when he tried to gin up criminal charges against 27 of his Senate colleagues? And the Hughes County State’s Attorney said no dice:
The South Dakota Supreme Court has ruled that neither the Executive Branch nor the Judicial Branch have any role in the internal working of the Legislative Branch. McIntyre v. Wick, 1996 SD 147, 558 NW2d 347 (1996) relying on State ex rel. Ingles v. Circuit Court of Spink County, 63 SD 313, 258 N.W. 278 (1934). This includes the investigation and discipline of a member of the Legislature.
and…
The law is clear in South Dakota. The Executive Branch, which includes State’s Attorneys, cannot interfere in the internal workings of the Legislature including the investigation and discipline of a legislator.
Read that here, and it’s pretty clear..
It was clear from the State’s Attorney’s reply that it’s more than settled law that the executive branch cannot interfere in the internal workings of the Legislature. So what does Senator Pischke do for his seatmate? Instead of spending his time representing his district, he’s stuck on stupid, and asking the question again, this time going to the Attorney General – a member of the executive branch – for the same thing:
“I write to request the intervention of the Attorney General’s Office; as the highest law enforcement office in the State of SD, with power to review criminal conduct on the part of government officials, especially upon failure or refusal of the local State’s Attorney to act, or in the event of a conflict of interest,” reads a letter Pischke sent to Jackley Tuesday.
and..
Unsatisfied, Pischke wrote to Jackley that he is “angry, appalled and embarrassed” that “members of the State Legislature, lawmakers, are above the law.”
Maybe if Senator Pischke devoted more time working for the interests of the constituents of his district, and less time working for the interests of his seatmate and lactation consultant gone wild Julie Frye-Mueller, he might actually be able to pass legislation.
I’m angry, appalled, and embarrassed that we keep someone this stupid in the party.
Jackleys office ought to find the state’s attorneys response and ctrl+c, ctrl v.
indeed he should.
if pischke spent half this energy helping his deadbeat dads, moms would be losing their kids all over the state. talk about ignoring your constituency.
indeed. i’m angry, appalled and embarrassed that this has not already happened as of yet.
I’m angry, appalled and embarrassed that “shocked” wouldn’t fit neatly into his triad of dismay.
There are a few out in hard right GOP land that defy all logic, ignore all wisdom and believe anything they think is somehow Gospel.
That’s a really horrific place to be in Government on any level at every end of the spectrum.
I am laughing and crying about your “lactation consultant gone wild”. Too funny!
DITTO!!!
Not gonna lie, I was only skimming and got hung up on Sen. Pischke’s triad of dismay and completely overlooked this comedic gem. 🤣 Holy crap that’s funny.
What is the underlying reason that the Senator is pursuing this issue? What does he hope to gain from this?
a dozen years ago, a wingnut fave on the rapid city council – sam kooiker- dumpster-dove for discarded print items to make a case for waste of spending in city transit. transit officials complained to the mayor, who convened a censure hearing where every person with a gripe against kooiker piled on, and censure was approved.
shortly thereafter, kooiker took a wave of public sentiment against the censure and leveraged it into a winning race for mayor.
i think pischke, muellers and the gang are trying to create some fake lightning and catch it in a bottle for future political use.
having said this, i feel it’s important to point out that kooiker worked hard for years to lay strong foundations to do the things he needed to do to reach for the mayors office, with the gift of a lopsided censure. this situation – – mmmmmm not seeing the work, the foundation, just the smoke and mirrors.