There must be some pretty damning evidence in the NPR story if the governor is on the defensive before the story is even being released;
From: Venhuizen, Tony
Sent: Tuesday, October 18, 2011 4:22 PM
Subject: Upcoming NPR story
Please forward this email to legislators. Â Thanks! Â Tony Venhuizen
Over the past several months, an investigative reporter from NPR has been working a story about the Indian Child Welfare Act in South Dakota.
Through her questions, it appears likely to us that NPR will be raising questions about services that Children’s Home Society of South Dakota provided, under contracts with the Department of Social Services, while Governor Daugaard was lieutenant governor.
Everyone who interacted with the NPR reporter commented that she came into her interviews with a clear bias and predetermined outcome, and she was not interested in contrary facts.
I HAVE ATTACHED A FACT SHEET THAT ADDRESSES THESE QUESTIONS.
The Governor believes strongly in openness and transparency, and that the best way to address questions is to be forthcoming with the facts – even before NPR runs their story:
- Children’s Home has a relationship with the state dating to 1978, long before Governor Daugaard was associated with Children’s Home.
- Children’s Home has gone through Request for Proposal processes for two key contracts, and have always been treated in exactly the same way as other non-profits providing services in South Dakota.
- All of the relevant facts have been publicly available and widely-known. Â Dennis Daugaard was a part-time lieutenant governor whose full-time role as CEO of Children’s Home Society was very public.
- Likewise, the state’s contracts with Children’s Home were open to public inspection, and Children’s Home was widely-known to be a major provider of services to children.
The governor wants EVERYONE in South Dakota to know the FACTS – not just the NPR version of the story.
The diversion:Setting the Record Straight