Ohio’s John Kaisch in Pierre yesterday preaching the gospel of the balanced budget.
From the Pierre Capitol Journal, Governor Daugaard and Republican legislators visited with John Kaisch over the need for a balanced budget amendment at the federal level:
But he did praise state Republican leaders who dominate this state like the party dominates no other after November’s election.
“It’s fantastic what you are doing here with 3 percent unemployment. That’s great,” he said. “Don’t blow it.”
He talked about himself easily, and how the Republicans blew the surplus he helped win 20 years ago in Congress.
He preached a brand of compassionate conservatism, saying he won’t ignore the needy but that “if you don’t cut taxes and don’t grow the economy, nothing else gets done. “
“I’m not in this to get anywhere,” he said.
Rather he’s touring six Western states this week to whip up more support for holding a constitutional convention to add an amendment requiring Congress to balance the federal budget, he said. It’s the only way Congress ever will find the discipline to stop deficit spending, he said, pointing out that South Dakota, like Ohio and many states, has similar state laws for legislatures.
“I’m in this to get something done.”