Statehouse Alert, Jan 30

An e-newsletter of the South Dakota Democratic Party sent to you because it's time to bring change to Pierre.

STATEHOUSE ALERT'S TOP NEWS STORIES

Rounds "goes Blago" with GOP legislators and leaders (oh yeah, Dems
too)

A talk with reporters, editors and publishers attending the S.D. Press Association's annual conference turned into a melt-down for Gov. Mike Rounds who accused the Republican-controlled Legislature of having no "guts" to raise taxes and fees. Here's a sample from today's Pierre Capital Journal in an article by Reporter David Montgomery:

"My message has been, if you want the program, then have the guts to fund it right. I don't think this legislative body has the coordination to do a two-thirds vote for a revenue increase." And: "If they did (pass a tax increase), they couldn't spend all the money. They have to put it back in and say, 'I had to raise your taxes but it's just to pay for the stuff that I'm already providing for you and that I've already delivered to you.' That's going to be a very difficult thing for this legislative body to do."

Presently, Republicans control both the House and the Senate. In the Senate, Republicans hold 21 out of 35 seats, led by Republican candidate for Governor Sen. Dave Knudson of Sioux Falls, and in the House, Republicans hold 46 out of 70 seats, led by Rep. Bob Faehn of Watertown. Knudson is a liberal Republican and Faehn is a soft-spoken moderate who was elected to leadership last month to replace Larry Rhoden.

Democratic leaders Sen. Scott Heidepriem and Rep. Bernie Hunhoff introduced a package of budget cuts and revenue resources that didn't require raising taxes this year to balance Rounds' budget. They announced their package in a press conference in Sioux Falls on Jan. 19 as a common sense alternative.

A few days later, Rounds introduced his Do-Over Budget on Jan. 22 after realizing his Dec. 9 budget was off the mark by tens of millions of dollars. Rounds' second-budget attempts to force tax hikes by cutting the State Fair, the S.D. School for the Deaf, children and women health programs, and state support to school districts has stirred anger and disbelief among VIP Republicans throughout the state.

To read today's Pierre Capitol Journal article on Rounds' comments:
http://www.capjournal.com/articles/2009/01/30/news/doc49827e766d7bd157526156.txt

To review the Democratic leaders' budget plan, see Associated Press story:
http://www.yankton.net/articles/2009/01/20/news/doc49756c07c1392491496960.txt