South Dakota Searchlight has an article posted on their website today how some legislators reached across the aisle to stop some of the worst legislation to ever hit the legislative hopper, with others noting that the legislature was deeply affected by legislators who don’t understand the process:
As evidence of bipartisan efforts between Democrats and some Republicans, the lawmakers highlighted the amending of legislation dubbed the “locking up librarians” bill, by removing a proposed criminal penalty for distributing harmful or obscene material to minors and instead requiring an appeals process for challenging materials in school and public libraries. The amendment passed the Senate 18-16 before the bill passed the chamber 32-2. The House accepted the amendments in a 36-34 vote, and Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the bill this month.
and..
Rep. Chris Kassin, R-Vermillion, said the push for property tax relief included a determination by some freshmen lawmakers to pass property tax cuts without considering costs. That’s primarily because some lawmakers, he said, were quick to “slam something through” and slow to research and understand a bill’s consequences.
and..
Other notable efforts that some Republicans and Democrats worked together on failed, such as funding the replacement of the state penitentiary.
The Legislature lost leadership with deep institutional knowledge because of the primary defeats, said Sen. Sydney Davis, R-Burbank, leading to less understanding among lawmakers of the process and why bills failed in past sessions.
In the article, House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach – who found himself unable to pass a single House Bill he was the prime sponsor of this session – remarked in the article that he sees the Republican Party is “going back to its roots and we’re going to redefine what it means to be a conservative.” Which makes it noteworthy to point out that the Republican Party elected a 32 year Obama supporting Democrat to serve as it’s chair.
So, I’m not sure what kind of Republican Party Scott is envisioning, but the old one seemed to be working a lot better than the new one.
The political system in South Dakota has failed us but most people are unaware of that. What a mess!
I saw Karla Lems’s dumbass reposting that article as “proof” that Kassin, Davis, and Petersen are all RINOs. I would really like to see the number of times that the dems and the freedumb caucus members voted together.
Every Democrat voted for Lems’ HB 1052. Who’s the RINO now?
Ms. Lems and the Spearfish Leprechaun fellow are indeed RINOs. The Conservatives with Common Sense breakfasting tomorrow will feature much mocking of the Whackadoodles and their inconsistent positions of conservatism. Special breakfast desert provided by a fellow you all know from the District number 33.
Yep! NE SD legislators from Districts 1 and 3 are slamming them as RINOs too! Anyone surprised? There are those like Governor Rhoden that try to make excuses for them as 1st term legislators. Big disagreement there! There is no excuse for them! They never were qualified nor should have been elected in the 1st place. Seasoned legislators did the same thing. Talk about slamming things thru into law if everyday South Dakotans knew what these extremist driven laws will end up costing them they would be pissed! Solutions in search of problems.
So just what are the qualifications fir being a S.D. legislator??
For
21yo.. not a felon.. a pulse..
Ability to fog a mirror.
A lot of blame to go around here. Absolute failure of the executive branch since noem came to town. It seems Larry and his team think she did a swell job of governing/leading and so it’s more of the same. Literally it seems they don’t know or care how the legislature operates. There is zero consequence for what happens. Try to kill the prison? Get a photo op with a bill signing.
Absolute failure of the Republican Party. All knew we’ve been heading for a wreck but no one devised a plan or strategy to avoid where we are now. Enjoy the 2026 convention. Yes ravensberg (sp) was unqualified but soon they all will be.
Absolute failure of the voters, and those who chose not to vote. If you sent John Carley, Travis Ismay, Mikala Viota, Carl Perry, John Sjaarda (and the list goes on and on) to Pierre you get what you deserve.
The future is bleak here. The turn around won’t come by trying to capture the populist movement as some of the young super smart R’s think can be done. The turn around driven by the Lems, Doeden crowd is leading us straight back to the 1950s. And for as much they can do it may be the way this state goes for the foreseeable future. It’s a great time to live in Nebraska.
So Mortenson and Venhuizen voted for 1052 because of political pressure or because they believe in it?
Fair question. I’ve heard both answers.
Populism is not conservatism. Scott Odenbach has confused the two terms.
At least the rest of the legislature realized his bills didn’t merit getting sent to the Governor’s desk.
When common sense republicans are voted out in primaries, we know the party is in the tank.
When a life-long dem is elected GOP chairman, we know the party is in the tank.
When good sense republicans are called rinos and nazis, we know the party is in the tank.
May you right wing extremists all stew in you kettle of sewage.
Open primaries would have improved the state of politics in South Dakota. Too bad voters didn’t want it.
When we all end up being charged to use the bathrooms each time we need to relieve ourselves at state owned facilities to pay for a new paid position being bathroom guardians, their background/criminal checks, training and signage plus lawsuits that will result. This law will grow government even more. We know the party is in the tank.
May you right wing extremists all stew in you kettle of sewage before you are all flushed down the toilet.
Populism is not conservatism. The Conservatives with Common Sense breakfasting eschewed Mr. Odenbach back when Sanfords in Spearfish was still open, for that reason.
You will think of this when your head nestles to your pillow this eve, and you will have shuddering dreams.
These fellows, these populists, are considered leaders in their home towns, and may even do some fine things in small doses. But when you put them all together in the Legislatures, it is like combining a piss bucket of bleach with a spittoon of ammonia. Really, really bad things ensue. Get ready, sleep tight, get ready.
Will Drew Peterson be speaker of the house tomorrow?
That’s laughable