A legislative crackerbarrel was held in Rapid City this morning featuring several Black Hills area legislators. The event was held at the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology, and was sponsored by the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce. Presentations were given by a few of the legislators, then questions were taken from the audience.

The “Republican” supermajority South Dakota Senate voted 34-0 today of SCR 4, calling on congress to support “equity and sales tax fairness.” The text of the bill makes it clear that it targets internet sales when it talks about “remote sellers that have no physical presence in the taxing state.”

From Jan. 28 through April 15, AARP will offer free tax preparation at nine Black Hills area locations through the AARP and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) programs. The programs are geared to senior citizens and low- to moderate-income families but there are no age or income requirements.

The South Dakota House voted today in favor of HCR 1001 which seeks to make a distinction between a tax and a fee. The bill says a tax is “a compulsory financial contribution levied by a government for the general support of the government and the services it provides,” while a fee is “a charge levied by a government on specific persons, activities, or properties as payment for a direct benefit received.”

Some of the notable bills being considered by the South Dakota Legislature today include legislation on sex offenders, an Article V convention, a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution, taxes and fees, and election law.

These are some of the important bills being considered today in the South Dakota Legislature. Among the legislation being considered is one that seeks to limit the authoirty of delegates to an Article V convention, human traffickers, appropriations for natural resource conservation, gambling taxes, election law, and a major overhaul of the juvenile justice system.

One can understand and accept that private individuals and organizations should be able to make an appeal to their own government in protection of their own interest. But what about government appealing to government in its own interest? When it comes to taxpayer-funded lobbyists in Pierre, the taxpaying public doesn’t have a chance against this crew. Here’s why.

his past week, following the nation’s celebration of the birthday of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the U.S. Supreme Court heard an important case related to landmark law enacted during the civil rights era – the Fair Housing Law of 1968. This case highlights how some policies that followed civil rights era legislation – in this case government low-income housing projects – actually have hurt the very communities they were supposed to help.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will host a town hall meeting on Friday, January 16, 2015, at the Historic Theater at the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City to discuss opportunities to advance key South Dakota priorities during the new session of Congress. Thune will focus on the Powder River Training Complex expansion, tax reform, regulatory reform, and his agenda as Chairman of the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.

So many people have accepted the argument that progressive taxation is just, necessary, and fair, so I know this article will offend many. Hopefully it will also make a few people reconsider their acceptance of policy.