Listening to the Medical Marijuana Committee interim legislative committee today, which I have a few items to bring you later, because there are some clown show items that readers should hear about.
Not from today’s hearing, but on 10/22 at the end of the meeting, representing Watertown, State Representative Josephine Garcia apparently had quite the rant, where she talks about masturbation:
Umm.. yeah.. Not a comment that we usually hear from someone during a committee hearing.
Otherwise, I do like the part where she says she may not come back.
Please?
Send this hag back to the east coast. She wants to lock up librarians too but never mind her language.
How much more embarrassment are you district 5 voters going to put up with?
Completely unacceptable.
Legislative Leadership has a very important role to maintain a protocol for engagement when discussing issues including relevance, start and finish and end decision point while monitoring time and schedule. Sounds like there needs to be a protocol and procedure that must be adopted and adhered to to avoid the “mental masterbation” result.
According to the LRC, Josephine Garcia is a: Healthcare Provider, Assistant Professor, and Business Owner. This in turn leads me to believe that Ms. Garcia must have some level of intellect for which a wide array of alternative metaphors could have been used. “Dog and pony show.” “Painting a dirt floor.” “A lobotomy.” Sadly, Representative Garcia chose the lowest common denominator. Not even close to the excellent representation that people in that district once had.
A healthcare provider????
Does she still use leeches and shock treatment?
She spoke at a committee meeting, promoting a nonsensical bill to have blood donations sorted according to the covid vaccination status of the donors, but since the antibodies produced by vaccination and infection are identical, the idea was idiotic. Donor blood units could indeed be tested for covid antibodies, but there would be no way to discern how they got there. So it didn’t get out of committee. With 84% of the state’s population vaccinated and the remaining 16% most likely infected, testing for covid antibodies would be a waste of time. We’ve all got the antibodies now.
During that committee meeting she was asked if she is a doctor, and she answered that she went to medical school but she didn’t do a residency. It was a strange answer.
If she’s really a doctor, she should know that everybody’s already got covid antibodies now.
Noting that this is a lyric from a Sammy Hagar song, “There’s Only One Way To Rock”. Was that the reference, hmmm??
This whole committee is embarrassing. These people are supposed to be providing oversight of specific laws and rules and the committee don’t even know the laws or rules. They expected the industry to brief them on the law today! ?? Wtf. What a waste of time for the public.
I had the committee running in the background today.. You certainly got all three rings of a circus.
I’ve never seen a committee chair just mute public comment because the chair didn’t like what they were saying. Not profane, not over time. She just muted them just because. Today, Garcia just did it left and right.
Then we had functional illiterate State Rep. Travis Ismay running to the microphone that someone hugged someone in the hall, as if there was nefarious collusion. That wasn’t muted.
The comment was made that they should bring legislation to end the committee, and to just let the state handle it. Getting rid of this absolute dumpster fire of a committee might be the best suggestion to come out of the testifiers.
I came to add these same comments. Never, ever, have I seen a chairperson of a committee gavel someone quiet and tell them they were “treading in dangerous waters” after the person speaking simply said a FACT. Something that is verifiably and unquestionably true. And then shortly thereafter, mute the persons mic because she didnt like what they were saying and claimed that staff had told her the person giving testimony had been posting comments that she considered derogatory. The person giving testimony wasnt being vulgar, wasnt raising his voice, he wasnt doing anything that would give even the slightest rise to the level where a mic should have been muted.
This group claims to be constitutionalists. Garcia clearly doesnt have the slightest clue what the Constitution means when it comes to something like this. More or less, unless someone is threatening you with physical violence, the show goes on. Things can get heated, people have every right to say things that others dont like or dont want to hear. That is the entire point. I would be very interested to see what Garcia thinks about Meyer being removed from the Minnehaha Co. Commission meeting. Because I suspect her view of that is very different than this one.
If I was the person giving testimony who got cut off, I would be filing a lawsuit. Lessons need to be learned.
This is a sad day in South Dakota politics. We can do better. And we need to do better.
You should also mention she let the Haugaard for AG campaign drone on (off topic) about smoke shops for nine minutes compared to the stated five minute time limit she imposed on others. When a committee member called a point of order about his comments she overruled them because he is the former speaker of the house so what he has to say is definitely relevant (it wasn’t). Total abuse of power by the chair. At least Haugaard didn’t use his trademark phrase about a “wrung-out whore” because I doubt the committee chair would have ruled that out of order. Then Carley bravely stating they aren’t required to post their motions in advance- so much for “transparency” .
Mr. Carley, who is from California, does not understand what transparency is. Mr. Carley is an out-of-state embarrassment from east of the I-90 and not a Black Hills dweller. In California, where Mr. Carley is from, they do things in a way demonstrated by these ineptest of them all. These fellows make Mr. Kloucek seem extremely ept.
Who was the testifier that Garcia cut off and warned was treading in dangerous waters?
Emmett Reistroffer. He had stated that more people voted for medical marijuana in SD than voted for President Trump. Which is true. That is when she gaveled him and told him he was treading in dangerous waters. Mr. Reistroffer later stated that Garcia co-sponsored legislation to get rid of medical marijuana in SD, another fact, and she then cut his mic. She later said that she was told Mr. Reistroffer was posting what she considered derogatory remarks about her. I don’t care what side of the MJ issue you are on, this is unacceptable behavior from an elected official.
Once again, LRC wanted Emmett gaveled out…
The Council of Research for the Legislatures is like the man behind the curtain in Oz. They run the show from the back seats, especially when you have “leadership” like the Messrs. Odenbach and Hansen who cannot even reach the control levers. This gives the deep staters within the LRC the chance to drive the machine for their own purposes. The weak brained ladies and fellows who vote in that “leadership” are setting up the legislatures to be puppeted.
The individual testifying threatened the committee stating to the committee “you’re treading in dangerous waters” not the committee…
I had read the story wrong but went and listened to the audio. You are correct in that Reistroffer was the one that stated “youre treading in dangerous waters.” However, in no way is that, or was that, a threat. If you think that is a threat, please either never have anything to do with politics or get out of politics immediately.
Does the Leadership choose who sits on these committees? How are these committees chosen?
Hansen & Odenbach
Why am I not surprised. Their committee selections across all committees show a complete lack of leadership. I pray there is a change in House Leadership this session.
Don’t forget that Ismay said it was an inspector. AND it wasn’t.
Perjury, no?
He did not perjure himself because he was a private citizen and not under oath. He is however a liar, which is not against the law but is not in keeping with the spirit of the 9th Commandment. His actions are between him and the Lord and not a court of law..
Ismay corrected himself. Did you even listen/watch? Yet you’re here criticizing 🤡
Hi Travis. You admitted your error to try to avoid the public lie you were caught in, eh?
That’s not Travis. It’s his wife Dusta. You can tell by how many words were spelled right.
He didn’t correct himself. He was corrected and then had to come back and admit he was wrong. Quite different. Yes I watched that debacle and embarrassment. I’m talking about both the meeting and Ismay.
How did we get here??
We elected idiots to the legislature but expect that our state won’t look like idiots are running the show. Until the silent majority wakes up we are screwed.
And way too many idiots.
Electing anyone with an R beside their name without doing any sort of due diligence into their beliefs and character.
Totally correct!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
They are the real Rinos. They are like Marxists.
Do you even know what a Marxist is? 🤡
Would you like “tyrant” better?
Well, who amongst you is surprised that Ms. Garcia and Mr. California Carley run a poopshow of a committee? Please…don’t raise your hands, write your names down on this scrap of tissue grudznick has. BuwahahaHAHAHAHA. Ms. Garcia is a joke.
What people forget is all these wack o s say whatever they want unchecked, look a Pischke you would think he has a back door deal with the media to not do story’s on all his antics….. oh wait the Dakota Scout has never report accurately on him. It’s like they are hiding something on him. Trump is right when he says Fake news for sure e
Pischke definitely has the Moody County Enterprise running cover for him in District 25.
She will be a 1 term representative. District 5 will reevaluate.
Who did she beat out? Bring him back, he must have more common sense than this jokester.
Hugh Bartels
Byron Callies. We really need you to run again Byron!!!
What a joke
Byron and bartles are the joke not Garcia
You sure about that? They searched the whole country to find a place to setup their quack medical clinic and chose Watertown, SD! I think they know their voter base well and you’ll see her stay.
So sad but true.
Clearly you’re not from district 5… forgetting Prairie lakes cardiology program started up by Dr Garcia that contributed millions to the community… but continue defaming behind a computer screen 🙂
I thought she said she didn’t complete a residency? If so, not a doctor. She may have a medical degree, but not a doctor.
She may have a medical degree but if she did not do a residency it suggests she was not accepted into one.
Medical centers are selective about which new medical graduates they will take on, as the residents are responsible for assessing, diagnosing and treating most of the hospitalized patients. The liability is huge. They are not going to take on a brand new doctor who poses a risk.
I thought her husband, the Cardiologist, was the driving force in that program at Prairie Lakes?
How is that Prairie Lakes program today, still being led by the victim, Garcia? You snowflakes need to get thicker skin. Always turning to cancel culture, did we “misgender” you? Thoughts and prayers to your oppression.
Is anyone investigating whether or not she violated state open meetings laws by kicking out reistroffer? Surely she had no grounds to do so, the guy was stating his dissatisfaction with the committee, is that not allowed?
Sick of these tyrants pretending to fight for our freedom and then do the exact opposit. A pipeline got them elected but potheads will get them ousted.
Word is that a complaint has already been filed. I would like to a lawsuit as well.
100%
Misinformation. The LRC kicked them out for slandering the chair. Hopefully that will be a lawsuit for slandering and threatening a legislator.
What was the slanderous language? What was the threat? If you’re going to make these claims, you better have receipts. Because it’s doubtful you do.
The LRC shut down your so called fine lobbyist. It was not Representative Garcia as you so claimed. She’s the chair and carries out what the committee and public want. There’s no need for aggressiveness and disrespect. The representatives and senators on that committee gave everyone a fair opportunity to speak. As representative Garcia stated, it’s an oversight committee. For you all to be going at the integrity of these legislators is exactly why our nation has the problems it does. The entire committee stated several times the need to “work together.” I don’t see how your arguments and comments on this forum contributes to that goal whatsoever. I suppose that’s where this will stay. You’ll be here continuing to spout your frustration by name calling these good people doing their best to see both sides for our community. If you truly want to make a difference, don’t put others down, work together and provide solutions. See the good in people, don’t call them clowns and shame them. There’s a reason you’re not in their position as a legislator.
Go listen to the audio. I did, and transcribed.
4:40:20 – (Reistroffer) Thank you chair, Emmett Reistroffer, director of government relations for genesis farms. I may not have clarified earlier so ill clarify now, I am testifying from home today, I want to make it clear I am not testifying on behalf of Genisis Farms, especially with these comments. I have always tried to be respectful, im going to continue to, I don’t think there is a rule i have to be nice though. So I really want to come out and say what i feel needs to be said. 70% of the voters passed medical marijuana in South Dakota. That is thousands more voters than who voted for President Trump and any other ballot measure in the last 20 years that i can find. You are treading in dangerous waters and in my opinion after seeing these last several motions, i get two minutes to address 20 different motions, I think this is a show committee, you might not like my opinion, but I have the right to state my opinion. Mrs. Garcia, respectfully, you co-sponsored Mr. Ismay’s bill to repeal the medical cannabis program, I don’t think you have any business chairing an oversight committee on a program that you publicly opposed in the last legislative session.
4:41:27: (Garcia cuts in) – her audio is difficult to understand but it sounds like “…… gaveled ya out, thank you sir.”
4:41:28: Reistroffer – Of course you dont like what i have to say but i have two minutes, i am a citizen of the state of South Dakota.
4:41:32 – Reistroffers mic is muted.
4:41:40: Reistroffers mic comes back on – You cant mute of member of the public, just because you dont like, I did not use profanity, I was not disrespectful, Im stating my opinion. Further cements the fact that this is a show committee
4:41:49 – Reistroffers mic muted for good.
4:41:56 – Garcia – The reason that gentleman was gaveled out was for many reasons. I didn’t realize during this committee he had things going online defaming or whatever he was doing to me which was caught by the LRC.
4:42:53 – Garcia – He had to be gaveled out because of disrespect not only to me, but to the committee and to bring in extenuating issues, thats just not right. This is an oversight committee, Ive stated that. Thats all i really have to say why he was gaveled out.
First, you have no idea who I am so you have no idea what position I may or may not hold. Regardless of who hit the button to mute the mic, it is Garcias committee. She is responsible for it.
There is a long line of first amendment US Supreme Court cases stating that what happened at this meeting violates the first amendment. Most notably, in NY Times v. Sulliven, Justice Brennan famously wrote that the first amendment is “a profound national commitment to the principle that debate on public issues should be uninhibited, robust, and wide-open, and that it may well include vehement, caustic, and sometimes unpleasantly sharp attacks on government and public officials.”
The Council of the Legislatures Research are but minions to the chairs like Ms. Garcia. They grinningly do whatever they are bade to do. You cannot blame them, for they are but the grunt soldiers of the insaner officers at the helm of the committees.
Ms. Garcia ran a real poopshow of a committee. It was humorous that Mr. Murphy, a fine lobbist, verbally beat her and Mr. Carley, who is from California, about the head and shoulders with his words. For a supporter of the Demon Weed, Mr. Murphy seems a swell enough fellow.
Mr. Ismay is pulling the levels from behind the scenes. A wink here. a wink there. Certain gestures or movements. He is the one in charge.
It seems everyone on this forum is a whacky liberal yet calls themselves a proud South Dakotan. I’m shocked at how far you all will go here to bash others that are much braver than you to run for a political position and fight for what their constituents want. Maybe Dr Garcia isn’t using a politically correct term in that exact moment, but I am very happy with her as my representative and throughout the is committee. You all can continue complaining but she was one of the ONLY representatives to go against the jail bill that guess what? We’re going to pay for. Couldn’t be happier. She’s got my vote. And she’s right. Too much mental masturbation even here on this forum.
Who would you like to pay for the South Dakota state penitentiary?
The only person being bashed is the east coast tyrant who thinks she can shut down the speech of persons who testify.
She will pay the price for her whack-a-doodle-ness
More threats, you keyboard warriors are the real clowns 🤡. East coast tyrant? Did you even attend or listen to the 5-hour long meeting? She did a very professional job of being unbiased, keeping people on task, and giving adequate time to each and every person. Once again, the LRC demanded the individual be shut down, but continue with your fake news. The committee said it well, they agreed with 70% of what the industry presented. Take emotions out of it, the committee was run very well as an oversight committee. Say what you want but it sounds like your feelings got hurt. Maybe you’re the one who was raging like a lunatic at the meeting and now you’re hiding behind this forum 🤡🤡🤡🤡
Sorry but that meeting was not professional. It was horribly ran. Garcia came off looking very bad. Garcia is biased and it showed. If there was integrity left in any of these people, she would have stated her position and bias (absolutely nothing wrong with that) and declined to chair the committee allowing a more neutral colleague to take the seat.
Appropriations is gonna be busy trying to find money for all of California Carley’s unfunded motions/mandates.
The Department of Health is gonna require so many FTEs to keep up with Carley’s requirements. He is also very disingenuous. In one statement he claims that medical marijuana is considered a medicine and needs labels like medications, which if he did any research before hand, this is already required per rule. Then goes on to ask Department of Health to provide information on accidents/poison control that aren’t required of other medications?
Hiding? Keyboard warriors? What? As you post this comment anonymously…. LMFAO. Sit down and let the adults handle this.
The REAL GOP is coming back to bring back order and common sense to the GOP. I served in the state legislature for a long time, as well as local offices. We didn’t have this shit because we all worked together, across the isle, FOR the people and WE GOT SHIT DONE.
Now, you people are only about yourself, not people and you bring national politics into SD, when NO ONE WANTS NATIONAL POLITCS IN OUR STATE. There’s a massive movement in SD of GOP’s that are sick and tired of the crazy far rights and internal party fighting. When i say massive, I mean it.
300K registered GOP’s in this state and 71.4% of them want change within the party to come back to normalcy. Myself and many others are on standby to come out and fix this shit show, and it will happen. And we do not care who the next Governor is, we WILL fix it.
So who in the heck is running these committee meetings? Unelected beaureacrats from the LRC or elected officials who chair the committees?
Did you watch a committee hearing being broadcast from fantasyland? This was a dumpster fire, and it was Garcia fanning the flames. And yes, it was her, and not LRC muting speakers.
Her speech on the prison was the most embarrassing floor speech I’ve ever watched. LIES LIES LIES!
Best thing they could do is cancel that committee. They reminded me why I left working for the government. It’s an embarrassment of uneducated people.
The biggest embarrassments of this legislature
Garcia
Ismay
Jordan
Howard
Pischke
Hansen
Odenbach
Jensen Phil
and the list grows
Commandment Carley
I am so glad Senator Carley brought up conflict of interest discussion as it pertains to committee member selection and recusing one from voting on an issue that may very well put money in one’s pocket. I will be looking for the abstention this next session from Carley and many others when it comes time to vote on putting $7k of taxpayer money in their own pockets/immediate family member’s pocket for each home school/private school kid based on unconstitutional school voucher scams.
After listening to Garcia’s interview afterwards in NE SD radio, it became clear that Leadership (Odenbach/Hansen) set this committee up for failure by not providing the entire committee of freshman legislators some direction. Shame on them. It’s also obvious the committee was stacked based on the selection of Odenbach’s PA buddy from Hill City. Garcia admitted that she didn’t have direction from Leadership. Also, shame on Haugard for inserting himself in the last meeting and steering so far off of what the committee was supposed to be looking at and be responsible for. He knows better but couldn’t help himself. 1/2 of Carley’s motions have absolutely zero to do with medicinal marijuana. I sometimes don’t agree with Lauren Nelson, but she appeared to be the one that understood what the committee was there for and should be commended for trying to keep everything on the rails.
Odenbach is an utter failure as leader. Look no further than the appointment of Jana hunt to the property tax group. She lives at home with her mom. Who lives on trust land and pays no taxes. What can she contribute to the property tax discussion as someone who has never had to pay them? Listening to her and Ismay(who also has never paid property taxes because he lives on land owned by his daddy’s LLC) try to explain how property taxes work will turn your brain inside out.