The latest Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting was held at the South Dakota School of Mines today. The recently voted down education tax increase was the dominating topic at the gathering.

Tomorrow, February 6, 2016, would have been Ronald Reagan’s 105th birthday. If you’re in or around Rapid City tomorrow around 9am, come to the Pizza Ranch on the south side of town, off 5th Street near the new Wal-Mart, and join Mark the Freedom Poet as conservatives recognize the life and accomplishments of one of America’s greatest presidents.

On Saturday, February 13, SDNG Major Dana Limbo of Sturgis will visually present his combat experiences in the 2003-2004 Iraq War at Ellsworth Air Force Base’s South Dakota Air and Space Museum, 9:00 to 11:30 am (first half hour is social period). This free event is sponsored by the Black Hills Veterans Writing Group.

During the second legislative crackerbarrel meeting in Rapid City today, a question was asked about HB 1076 to drug test welfare recipients; this bill was killed in committee earlier this week. Responding to the question were Rep. Kristin Conzet, Rep. Jacqueline Sly, the prime sponsor of the bill, Rep. Lynne DiSanto, and Rep. Chip Campbell, a co-sponsor of the bill.

At today’s legislative crackerbarrel meeting in Rapid City, a question was asked about why bills (HB 1008 and HB 11112) to deal with transgender issues in public schools was being brought when there had been no problems yet identified in public schools because of this.

At the legislative crackerbarrel meeting in Rapid City today, a question was asked about whether the legislature might consider creating a corporate income tax to fund education and teacher salaries. Answering the question were South Dakota Rep. Jacqueline Sly (who served on the South Dakota Blue Ribbon Task Force on education), Senator Craig Tieszen, and Senator Phil Jensen.

South Dakota Rep. Lance Russell of District 30 was one of the featured speakers at the second Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting today at the South Dakota School of Mines. Russell spoke about the discussions dominating the legislature concerning education funding, and specifically increasing teacher pay.

Today’s second Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting covered topics such as education funding, teacher pay, video lottery revenue, crime and punishment, transgender issues, and more.

Americans for Prosperity South Dakota hosted a dinner and a special presentation this evening in Rapid City. The presentation was entitled “The Sordid History of Political Correctness” by the Grassroots Leadership Academy’s Stephanie Maier.

Conservatives will be meeting in Rapid City on Saturday, January 16 from 9:00am to 11:30 am at the south side Pizza Ranch.