The American Principles in Action group graded the Republican presidential candidates on their support for or opposition to the controversial educational standards that the big-government types are trying to shove down our throats.

Below are some of the important bills being considered in the South Dakota. They include legislation on expanding gambling in Deadwood, a youth minimum wage, immunizations, abortions, Medicaid funding, wind farm taxes, as well as some “empty shell” bills that we’ll have to wait to “find out what is in them.”

There are a lot of bills scheduled to be considered in the South Dakota Legislature today. Several deal with education, including an attempt to “smoke out” a bill to pull the state out of Common Core that was killed in committee, legislation to do away with marriage licenses, and a bill to protect religious freedom from homosexual activists.

At the Rapid City legislative crackerbarrel meeting today, questions were asked about several bills attempting to rein in Common Core national education standards, and why they had been killed in committee. One such question dealt with HB 1223 which was killed in committee, but opponents of Common Core are attempting to revive or “smoke out” the bill so hit can be discussed on the House floor.

During the legislative crackerbarrel meeting in Rapid City today, a question was asked about why the education committee kills so many bills designed to give parents more flexibility in their children’s education and to protect privacy. One such bill that was mentioned was SB 117 which was killed recently, as well as HB 1223, which was killed in committee but supporters are attempting to revive or “smoke out.”

The third legislative crackerbarrel of the 2015 South Dakota legislative session was held in Rapid City today, hosted by the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce. Questions were taken from the audience on a variety of topics including climate change, teacher pay, Common Core education standards, taxes, evolution, student privacy, Medicaid expansion and more.

Adding 9 + 6 is just too simple, isn’t it? Or is it too complicated? Maybe that depends on whether you’re a believer in big-government centrally planned “solutions” for everything. See how Common Core would have you add 9 + 6.

Not since conservatives virtually deserted the battlefield over textbook content and curricula in the 1970s leading to the gradual acceptance of the legitimacy of a federal Department of Education, has the public revolted against education policy so completely. The unifying factor is the Obama Administration’s Common Core program that was sold to states as a means to receive federal education dollars.

Dr. Duke Pesta will be the featured speaker for a series of presentations on Common Core in the Black Hills Aug. 22-24, 2014. The chilling truth behind these new national educational “standards” will terrify you. Common Core represents the latest and most comprehensive step in the drive toward complete government control of our children’s education.

There’s something about America’s stubborn sense of independence and strong families that forms the bedrock of greatness in this country. The rest of the world does not produce the Thomas Edisons, Bill Gates, or Steve Jobs of the world.