South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

January 2014

State Funding State Legislature

ALEC, guns, cold medicine and cell phones

l3wis 13Comments

flu

I’m not making Meth, though it would probably make me feel a lot better now.

It is no secret our State Legislature wastes a lot of time on pointless bills, and they are at it again.

They want to put you in a private database for the pharma companies to track sales of cold medicine, which in no way stops meth production (you can make meth from several substances besides cold medicine).

Secondly, they want a statewide ban on texting, which is not needed, because distracted driving laws already cover texting and driving recklessly.

This is all a distraction. Why? First of all, our state legislature doesn’t have a clue, that is why they go running to daddy (ALEC) anytime they need legislation. They even go as far as defending the very organization that is funded by big pharma (the ones that want the database) saying they ‘teach’ legislators (more like brainwash).

Why not have a bill that requires all handgun owners be registered on a public website? Wouldn’t you like to know if your neighbor had a handgun? And the numbers don’t lie, handguns in our country kill more people then any other country in the world. If we are worried about texting and meth production, shouldn’t we be worried about people who carry dangerous weapons?

Oh, I know the argument, not every one that carries a handgun is dangerous. Couldn’t agree more. Just like everyone who texts doesn’t do it while driving and everyone who buys cold medicine isn’t making meth.

Double standard if you ask me. But big Pharma could care less about gun ownership.

The legislature needs to focus on more important things that actually make our state better, like bringing in living wage jobs, ending the food tax and funding education properly.

It’s time that Pierre pulled ALEC out of their asses and did the work of the people.

 

Gregg Jamison

Jamison Events

l3wis 7Comments

Greg Jamison to Announce Part two of his People First Initiative

Sioux Falls SD – Greg Jamison a candidate for Sioux Falls Mayor will announce part two of his People First Initiative.  Jamison’s initiative will continue to encompass many new innovative ideas that will ensure the Mayors’ focus is returned to serving the people of Sioux Falls.

The People First Initiative is Jamison’s vision for the future of Sioux Falls. Part Two of Jamison’s People First Initiative is to address a growing need in our community.  Jamison goes on to explain, “We have a serious problem in public safety and it needs to be improved. Our Police department does a great job but we need to give them a higher priority and more resources. I want to put the focus of the Mayor’s office on creating a pro-active plan for crime prevention.”

The announcement will be held inside the Police Department Lobby at 320 West Fourth Street on Tuesday January 28, at 10 am.  For more information – visit our Twitter, Facebook, or website at www.JamisonForMayor.com or call (605) 941-5444.

5 by 7 Invite

Downtown Sioux Falls Sioux Falls

New Women’s Drinkery coming to Sioux Falls?

l3wis 12Comments

chatterbox

Rumor has it, this small national franchise is looking to open up shop in DTSF. The concept is simple, The Chatterbox caters to women (I heard there is a sign on the door of the establishment that says, Men enter at your own risk). The interiors have a bistro/coffee house feel about them, but a lot of pastel motifs. And unlike a normal bar or coffee house, where you order from someone, The CB charges a cover at the door of $10 and $1 for each additional hour you are there (you pay as you leave). You help yourself to complimentary Moscato white wine or Mich Ultra that is on tap. There is no staff assistance at the CB, you simply pay with a credit card when you leave.

I guess the lady who started the place says this about her concept, “I just wanted a place where I could shoot the breeze with the ladies for hours on end, without the interruption of servers or men, while solving none of the world’s problems.”

SF City Council Sioux Falls

#1 Council Candidate issue?

l3wis 18Comments

If I were running for council, make no mistake I would make our city’s exploding debt my number one issue in relationship with quality of life bonds. As Ellis points out on Sunday in his column, an indoor pool would be nice (and I agree) but how are we going to pay for it?

Did you know the city’s current or authorized debt of more than $400 million exceeds the state’s debt? I didn’t until recently. South Dakota’s debt obligations are a little north of $310 million. And the governor has proposed paying that down this year by 20 percent. Sioux Falls has more debt than the state.” 90 million more debt!

That is almost $2,500 of debt for every resident. It is an interesting thought for SF residents that they are on the hook for $710 million total debt between the state and the city! And the city wants it’s citizens to embrace more debt with an indoor pool. And that is the real issue here.

Am I opposed to the city bonding more debt? No, but those kind of loans should be reserved for NEEDED infrastructure projects and emergencies, not swimming pools. We can still maintain and have quality of life projects in Sioux Falls (snowgates for example) but we must budget for them while trying to pay down our current debt.

Rick Weiland for Senate

The Rick Weiland Campaign

l3wis 20Comments

RickbyTree

Believe it or not, I got asked to attend a coffee this morning hosted by Weiland at the SF Downtown Library by a Republican who hasn’t been pleased with Mr. Rounds.

She was impressed, as was I.

Trust me, I am always skeptical of ANY politician, don’t care what party they are from, but I do like a couple of messages Rick has put out there;

1) Medicare Choice for all (Single-Payer option through our payroll taxes)

2) Increasing the FICA on the wealthy

3) Getting ‘Big Money’ out of politics

I learned a lot today from Rick’s visit, including his sense of ‘civility’. When asked about EB-5, he said he would prefer to let it play out before he comments on the situation (the Federal investigation is still impending).

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