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Here's Rep. Deutsch's full statement after Gov. Daugaard vetoed H.B. 1008 @KDLTNews pic.twitter.com/gHlkw0F188

— Sydney Kern (@s_kernKDLT) March 1, 2016

Here’s the actual statement if you don’t want to squint at the picture:

The 2016 South Dakota legislature should be proud of the difficult but necessary decision to increase taxes to increase our teacher’s salaries. And that is what South Dakota should be known as: cautious to raise taxes but practical when confronted with a problem.

We will continue to have the lowest tax burden in the country, BUT we will no longer by 51st in teacher pay.

HB 1008 was intended to be a practical solution to our evolving social values on gender issues. Unfortunately emotions on both sides of this issue have dominated the news coverage and the recent debate. I still believe an objective reading of the proposed law is consistent with my intent to be non-discriminatory and fair to all students and parents.

However, because I think the national focus on South Dakota should be on our positive business environment, strong labor market and the excellent work our schools do, I am going to ask my legislative colleagues to concur with the Governor’s veto. Further focus on this issue will detract from the other significant accomplishments of the legislature this session.

Respectfully,
Rep. Fred Deutsch

Gov. Daugaard Vetoes HB 1008

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard has vetoed the following bill:

HB 1008 – An Act to restrict access to certain restrooms and locker rooms in public schools.

For more information about this bill and other bills, visit legis.sd.gov.

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Note: A copy of the Governor’s veto message follows:

March 1, 2016

The Honorable Dean Wink
Speaker of the House of Representatives
500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501

Dear Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives,

I respectfully return to you House Bill 1008, with my VETO.

House Bill 1008 does not address any pressing issue concerning the school districts of South Dakota. As policymakers in South Dakota, we often recite that the best government is the government closest to the people. Local school districts can, and have, made necessary restroom and locker room accommodations that serve the best interests of all students, regardless of biological sex or gender identity.

This bill seeks to impose statewide standards on “every restroom, locker room, and shower room located in a public elementary or secondary school.” It removes the ability of local school districts to determine the most appropriate accommodations for their individual students and replaces that flexibility with a state mandate.

If and when these rare situations arise, I believe local school officials are best positioned to address them. Instead of encouraging local solutions, this bill broadly regulates in a manner that invites conflict and litigation, diverting energy and resources from the education of the children of this state.

Preserving local control is particularly important because this bill would place every school district in the difficult position of following state law while knowing it openly invites federal litigation. Although there have been promises by an outside entity to provide legal defense to a school district, this provision is not memorialized in the bill. Nor would such defense eliminate the need for school or state legal counsel, nor avoid expenses relating to expert witnesses, depositions and travel, or other defense costs. Nor does the commitment extend to coverage over settlement or damage expenses. This law will create a certain liability for school districts and the state in an area where no such liability exists today.

For these reasons, I oppose this bill and ask that you sustain my veto.

Respectfully submitted,

Dennis Daugaard

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South Dakota House Bill 1182 – the measure to raise the sales tax by a 1/2 cent to fund education and property tax relief, just passed the South Dakota State Senate on a vote of 25 to 10, giving the tax measure the 2/3 majority it needed to pass.

If I was listening correctly, The bill passed unamended, and now moves on to the Governor for signature.

Any thoughts or comments?

Representative Schoenbeck visits the Senate during the ed tax debate.

Rounds Supports Senate Ag Committee Passage of Bill to Stop States from Mandatory Biotechnology Labeling

Agrees to Cosponsor Bill as it Heads to Full Senate for Consideration

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today supported the Senate Agriculture Committee’s passage of legislation to prevent mandatory labeling of food produced from biotechnology seeds – commonly referred to as GMOs – at the state level by creating a national voluntary labeling system for bioengineered foods. The bill would pre-empt states mandatory labeling and create a voluntary federal standard. The bill passed out of the Senate Ag Committee by a vote of 14-6 with bipartisan support.

“While extensive testing and scientific studies have demonstrated that genetically engineered crops are just as safe as non-GMO crops, consumers should have the option to purchase products without them if they so choose. Nothing in federal law prevents companies from selling such products today. But food companies – who often sell their products across state lines to consumers in many different states – should not be unnecessarily burdened with 50 different labeling requirements. A voluntary, streamlined approach that sets a new national labeling standard will reduce compliance costs without forcing companies to include – or not include – labeling information on the bioengineered content of their products.”

This legislation is supported by South Dakota Agri-Business Association, South Dakota Farm Bureau and more than 650 agribusiness organizations.

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In District 33, Local Rapid City Businessman Dave “The Tree Guy” Johnson filed petitions with the Secretary of State today for the State House of Representatives.   You may remember Dave from the Senate Republican Primary against Phil Jensen in 2014. Now, State Rep Jacqueline Sly is taking on Senator Jensen after being termed out of the House, and Johnson is running for the seat that Sly held.

Stay tuned!

 

Since she left office in 2006, former State Representative Casey Murschel had been in charge of NARAL – SD for several years, and for the past few she’s been lobbying for Child Advocacy Centers of South Dakota.

She had run for office again in 2010, losing to Hal Wick & Manny Steele. And her committee has been maintained as open since.

But, as I just noticed, it’s curious that she’s filed a brand new statement of organization for 2016.

Might she be jumping into the race for the open house seat in 12?

Daugaard says he won't ask lawmakers to take up Medicaid expansion this year, but conversation isn't over pic.twitter.com/gfKRHMuNI4

— Dana Ferguson (@bydanaferguson) February 29, 2016

Recalling an announcement this past summer, in the prior story mentioning Blake Curd running for State Senate, I was going to mention that it had already been announced that unsuccessful District 12 Democrat candidate Ellee Spawn had noted she was going to be a candidate for the seat.

In fact, I had made note of it this past summer, that Spawn had announced as a candidate, because that’s what Democrats in South Dakota do; run marginal candidates for higher office. (Marginal candidate: definition. see Paula Hawks).

I went to confirm with current information, as I vaguely thought I’d seen something about her running in 13.  Because apparently District 12 was not inhospitable enough for a liberal Democrat.

As I went to look, I noted her Twitter feed header has her listed as a candidate for State Senate in District 13, which would have her opposing Phyllis Heineman.

Except in her twitter feed, it has her ignoring Heineman, and taking pokes at State Representatives Westra and Mickelson, who are both obviously in the House.

If you look at Spawn’s Twitter header, it actually says Spawn for District 13 House in the Graphic, and if you click on the link, it does take you to a page titled “Ellee Spawn for District 13 State House.”

In fact, in looking for what she’s running for, she has a website also set up at “Democracy.com” with the following announcement pictured to the left.

Note the Date – on the page, she has a post on an “Official Campaign Announcement” that back on April 12th of last year, she made an official announcement “that she is running for House of Representatives in District 13 in 2016.”

And a follow up post dated from September of last year had also her noting “As your next state representative from District 13, her leadership will continue to reflect the priorities and concerns of our community.”

But….  Going back to the original announcement for District 12 State Senate, as late as July 2015, she was actively running against Blake Curd for State Senate in District 12.

So, at the same time she was running for State Senate in District 12, she was running for the House in District 13? Hmph. Her candidacy for the House in District 13 seems far less than a calling to public service than it does someone job hopping.

If anyone manages to figure out what Ellee Spawn is running for, be sure to let us know.

And they should probably tell Ellee, as she seems to be having trouble figuring it out as well.

Talking with a legislator last night, its looking as if the District 12 State Legislative slate is starting to coalesce with rumors about people running and not running being struck down.

What I’m hearing is (as of last night) that State Senator Blake Curd will be a candidate for District 12 State Senate again, removing that as a potentially open seat.

State Representative Arch Beal will be returning as a candidate for the State House, and will be as formidable as he was in 2014.

The open seat from Representative Alex Jensen moving into District 13 (He’s getting married, you know) has already seen some interest, and City Councilor/Mayoral Hopeful Greg Jamison will be running as a candidate for the office.

To my knowledge, no one else is popping up on the GOP ticket at this time, but with an open seat, who knows!