The Senate Republican PAC is hosting a golf fundraiser.. at the start of pheasant hunting season.. according to the e-mail I was forwarded from Senate Majority Leader Jim Mehlhaff.
Hearing the wind blow outside as I’m writing this, and I’m wondering if the weather is going to cooperate? Maybe something hunting related would be a better draw for the end of October?
As part of the event, Sen. Mehlhaff is asking Republican Senators to carve out time & show up early as he indicates that “a major contributor has asked for 5 minutes to visit with the caucus.”
I wonder who that could be. Does that mean Sen. Perry has switched allegiances again, and is going to force them to listen to Toby Doeden? We’ll see. The identity of the major donor could be the most interesting tidbit to come out of the whole thing.
Update – my inside sources tell me that it’s not Toby, but Auto Dealers, who attend every year. (Not sure why they made a big thing out of it.)
Large contributions get exclusive, on-demand, access to politicians.
grudznick wonders what else might be going on in Sioux Falls that weekend?
yeah, not a good look. Come early to hear from big donor.
Seems like what most associations pay for by going to their golf outing. This is about as normal as it gets.
I want to make clear that I did not forward the email referenced in this story to the SDWC. I sent this email to the other 31 members of our GOP caucus, to update them on the retreat and fundraising events planned for the weekend.
Caucus meetings and communications are supposed to stay within the caucus, but obviously we have a weasel among us, as this is the second time an email that I sent to the caucus has been shared with media. Disappointing … but I can’t say I’m surprised.
BTW… I am not ashamed of anything in the email. Anyone who has been around politics for any period of time knows that this is how it works.
It is not very becoming for a leader to take to a political blog to defend their inability to manage his/her rank and file Senators. Sorry that you have lost all control and sanity.
I am not defending anything. I am just telling it like it is… With my name on my comment.
I for one appreciate it Jim. Much to do about nothing.
Jim, I hope you run for senate again. Pierre needs your leadership.
Keep up the good work and thanks for being a positive leader in such a divisive place.
You are leading the caucus because you are fair and the previous majority leader (already forgot his name) lost his way.
You do a heck of a good job.
Most definately. Melhaff and Karr have done any outstanding job on the Property Tax Summer Study. Jim has been a big part of keeping it on the rails, especially with the makeup of the members.
Laughable – Jim and Karr have done nothing other than micromanage at every turn, build a leadership team of idiots, consolidate power, let the house make the decisions, and alienate good legislators.
Mehlhaff has integrity. He’s a good guy. Even if you don’t agree with him he’s honest about his positions.
With love, Carl.
“Caucus meetings and communications are supposed to stay within the caucus..”
No offense intended, but I guarantee that I have heard this lament from Majority Leaders from both chambers for 20 years. I appreciate that it’s your job to keep it on the DL, but it’s my job to dig a little.
Besides, the reality was a lot less exciting than when we didn’t know.
It’s a great facility. I have golfed there in a blizzard. Never gotten cold. Nothing to see here.
I’m guessing the event is golf because it’s a lot safer for participants to hand Senator California Carley a golf club than a shotgun.
Come on now, his campaign page shows he’s a member of the American Legion as well as the South Dakota stock growers so I’m sure he’s handled an M-16 and being a rancher “who runs cattle and horses” per his campaign page, I’m sure he has had to extinguish a coyote or 2. On a related topic, for the life of me, I have not been able to confirm his military service which allows Legion Membership and the campground doesn’t seem real ranchy so maybe golf is a better option.