Director’s Notes

People have often asked us why there have been so many ballot issues lately. I believe there are two reasons: First, it is easy to get on our ballot and cheap to run a campaign; and second, the perception that the Legislature is just not listening – Look at he initiated minimum wage, and the pay-day loan measure – both issues had been before the legislature for years, and couldn’t get anywhere. They passed on the ballot.

While there are certainly still many good legislators, more and more legislators are being elected with their views set in stone – they represent the few, but not the many; they put ideology before the public good. They don’t come to Pierre to solve problems, they come to create obstacles.

SD has what I call a big ball of a problem – things that are all interrelated: Infrastructure – both maintenance and repair, and keeping up with growth; Workforce Housing – not low income, but the housing affordable to people making the average wage in SD; and the Workforce Shortage – we simply do not have enough people to work here. Related to all of these are quality of life facilities you all work for and a growing drug epidemic.

How many of those issues did we address this year? None. Instead, we had 11 gun bills – I don’t know how many more ways we can find to say we love guns here. Next year, we’ve already been told there will be bills to preempt local entities from doing things no one is even talking about here – cities setting minimum wage, or creating a ‘sanctuary city.’ It’s another election year, so hang on, it will be full of “statement legislation” rather than constructive, forwardlooking solutions to actual problems.

The legislature is more and more taking the small view: So many committee hearings seem like King Solomon’s court, splitting a baby and dealing with individual issues. The narrow view of some legislators means they become a personal legislator for a very small group of people – all at the expense of the bigger view, and at the expense of the greater good. They come to Pierre to fight government on behalf of their little posse back home, not to do what is best for the state as a whole.

The narrow view legislators think the Governor is a raging liberal because he supported funding for the basic infrastructure of state roads, and for state funding for education. We are conservative in SD – and that is good. We balance our budgets, we don’t do stupid things with our retirement system, and we don’t spend tax dollars lightly. But we do not seem to distinguish between spending and investing. We need to invest if we want a state, and cities and towns, our kids and grandkids want to stay in.

Last year we sounded warnings about the toll term limits are taking on the legislative process, but it was too late to encourage you to run – this year there is plenty of time! We had some bright gleams of hope with new legislators – all of which came from a local government background. You can become a ray of hope for our state – if you have any interest at all, please explore a run for your legislative seat. If you have employees who have an interest, please allow it, and encourage it. South Dakota needs the broader view those of you who get things done locally can contribute.

Until next month, remember we are always available at 1-800-658-3633 or yvonne@sdmunicipalleague.org.

SD Municipal Attorneys' Association Meeting

What: Luncheon Meeting When: Thursday, June 22, 2017 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Where: Ramkota Hotel, Rapid City Visit www.sdmunicipalleague.org/sdmlevents for the agenda and registration. Yvonne Taylor Executive Director