South Dakota Rep. Lynne DiSanto was one of the featured speakers at the Rapid City Legislative Crackerbarrel meeting today. DiSanto spoke about some of the bills she has sponsored. She also discussed HB 1182, the education tax increase bill.

South Dakota Rep. Brian Gosch was one of the featured speakers at the Rapid City Legislative Crackerbarrel meeting today  (video below). Gosch is the House Majority Leader in the South Dakota Legislature.  Gosch said there are 247 bills in the House this year, 171 bills in the Senate, 14 House concurrent resolutions, 2 Senate concurrent resolutions, 2 House joint resolutions, and 4 Senate joint resolutions.  Gosch explained that resolutions have no force of law and only make a statement, and concurrent resolutions affect both chambers.  Joint resolutions can be used to refer matters to the ballot. The deadline for action on bills is Tuesday for every bill to be through committee, and Wednesday for every bill to have been voted on in its originating house before it can advance to consideration by the other body of the legislature. This is known as “crossover day.”  There are three weeks to go in […]

At the Rapid City Legislative Crackerbarrel meeting today, South Dakota Rep. Scott Craig was one of the featured speakers. Craig used his time primarily to address his change of heart on HB 1182, the education tax increase.

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.

The Student Physical Privacy Act (HB1008) passed in the Senate Tuesday afternoon with a vote of 20-15. It now sits on the desk of Governor Dennis Daugaard. “Boots on the ground” in Pierre are telling us that the Governor’s phone is ringing off the wall (so to speak) from those across the country who don’t want to see this bill signed into law. To say that there is enormous pressure to veto would be an understatement.

Usually, when you hear about someone promoting the “compassionate” use of marijuana, just the tiniest bit of examination reveals that it’s nothing but a cheap “Cheech and Chong” smokescreen intended to facilitate and move us closer to the legalization of recreational drugs.

When you’re a conservative these days, you never have to wait very long before you encounter someone eager to sully your reputation. South Dakota Senator Phil Jensen is one of the state’s most conservative legislators, so his most dedicated “fan” is always ready with his brush.

Cory Heidelburger. Many of you are familiar with his work as a blogger on the Dakota Free Press, others may have heard his name in the last couple weeks when he announced his candidacy for the state Senate. But for those of you who are unfamiliar with him let me take a minute to introduce him to you.

We are pleased to report that HB1008, the student privacy bill, passed in the Senate yesterday afternoon with a vote of 20-15. HB1008 now heads to the Governor. Urge him to sign HB1008, the student privacy bill.

A few years ago, a Democrat sponsored a bill to provide taxpayer-funded health care to pregnant illegal aliens. That bill failed, but since then, Republicans have been duped into picking up this dirty flag and flying it the past couple of years. Like sour milk that keeps coming up the gullet, it’s back again this year in HB 1110.