2009

The Gargoyle Leader ED Board gets it right for once

And they actually make some good points along the way;

Trying to use a rather obscure, defensive posture is an unusual attempt to remedy a perceived threat to the state’s gambling revenues. But no matter how good the intention, this particular strategy isn’t something to encode in the South Dakota Constitution.

That last part got my gander up to, talk about opening a big f’ing can of worms.

Supporters of the bill say the Lyons County casino could siphon potential gambling revenues from South Dakota while leaving the state to deal with the casino’s social costs.

No it won’t. It will provide good jobs, more retail revenue to the eastside of Sioux Falls and on a positive note possibly close down some of those telephone booth casinos on the eastside.

This is bad legislation all around.

MORE BAYBEEZ! But only at a hospital

The state house has rejected a bill that would have allowed home births to be conducted by certified midwives. Despite a good record from the 24 states that allow the practice, it seems it just won’t cut it here.

The first comment on the Argus Leader article about the bill says it best.  In a state where a large percentage of the population lives in the middle of nowhere, it makes sense to have certified midwives who can deliver babies at home. It’s perfectly reasonable to do so, and the hundred or so baby books I’ve read lately all sing the praises of midwives and home birth – just have lots of towels.

One wonders about how the two largest health care systems in the state may have influenced this vote as well…

One more reason why we need publicly funded campaigns

The monument to hypocrisy?

Not only does Denny want to control science and medical care in our state, he also wants to pick the next governor;

Sioux Falls banking mogul T. Denny Sanford has given Lt. Gov. Dennis Daugaard and state Sen. Dave Knudson $20,000 each in their young campaigns for the Republican nomination for governor.

And that could be just the start of campaign gift-giving for the billionaire donor, who dropped $200,000 into his own political action committee just days before a state law made such large contributions illegal.

No wonder Dennis and Dave never try to make waves in Pierre, they can’t upset their sugar daddy Denny too much.

And why did it take almost 10 years to figure this out?

During the informational meeting yesterday, Councilor Brown bragged that the (reissue) of First Fridays at the Pavilion was wildly successful, and over 700 people showed up.

Ah, well, Duh.

Anytime you open a entertainment and arts facility during a time when working families can attend it, it’s gonna be successful. What I cannot figure out is why it took so long to figure this out. Just think of the amount of money we have lost and missed revenue opportunities. Talk about ‘leaking money’. When the city requested a review of the Pavilion about 5 years ago, one of the main recommendations was to open the facility at night. So what do they do, wait 5 years.

I’m glad they are ‘finally’ doing it. But what took so damn long?! Geez!