J Silver wrote: Today, 2/1/17 the South Dakota legislature completed a FASCISTS plot to use
emergency powers to repeal a landmark Anti-Corruption Act passed into
law by voter referendum less than three months ago.
Emboldened by President Trump's motto...'Make America great again' the South Dakota voters ran a passionate grassroots campaign to pass a
ballot initiative mandating basic anti-corruption and ethics guidelines
for their elected officials. This from a state ranked 47th in the nation in
government integrity, according to the Center for Public Integrity.
In response, South Dakota state lawmakers have retorted condescendingly that the voters didn’t understand what they were voting for, and have used procedures traditionally reserved for genuine catastrophes as a way to fast-track a deeply unpopular repeal proposal as quickly and quietly as possible.
In response, South Dakota state lawmakers have retorted condescendingly that the voters didn’t understand what they were voting for, and have used procedures traditionally reserved for genuine catastrophes as a way to fast-track a deeply unpopular repeal proposal as quickly and quietly as possible.
By including an
“emergency clause” in the repeal bill, the state legislature has
denied voters their right to another vote to overturn the repeal of the
South Dakota Government Accountability and Anti-Corruption Act.
The only
“emergency” here, as it turns out, is the legislature’s desire to both
kill the law and prevent voters from doing anything so sensible ever
again.
State Sen. Stace Nelson called the repeal
and a “hypocritical assault on the will of South Dakotans.” Truthfully, the repeal effort is a blatant abuse of the law.
What exactly did the people of South Dakota vote for that so frightened lawmakers that they immediately revoked the will of the people?
1. Legislators and their immediate family members would be prohibited from accepting gifts from lobbyists worth more than $100 per year. South Dakota is the only state that lets lawmakers accept unlimited, undisclosed gifts from lobbyists.
2. Bribing a state lawmaker would be a felony, not a misdemeanor.
When a lobbyist tries to influence the governor’s office, it would actually count as lobbying and have to be disclosed.
3. An independent state ethics commission would be created to investigate and enforce anti-corruption and ethics laws. South Dakota remains one of a handful of states without any independent ethics enforcement agency.
4. Transparency requirements would increase, with more frequent fundraising and lobbying disclosures through a modern, searchable website. Now the press and public have to dig through reams of hand-written forms scanned and uploaded to an aging state website to know where their politicians get their funding will have to continue.
3. An independent state ethics commission would be created to investigate and enforce anti-corruption and ethics laws. South Dakota remains one of a handful of states without any independent ethics enforcement agency.
4. Transparency requirements would increase, with more frequent fundraising and lobbying disclosures through a modern, searchable website. Now the press and public have to dig through reams of hand-written forms scanned and uploaded to an aging state website to know where their politicians get their funding will have to continue.
If you wish to contact South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugarrd, below is a form letter seeking redress for voters of South Dakota and those who do not live in the state of South Dakota. Please contact the office of the governor and let your voice be known. Evil ONLY wins when good men do nothing...
Mailing Address:
Office of the Governor500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, S.D. 57501
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