Many people across the state are having a good chuckle (or good cry) about the hypocrisy of Mickelson’s proposal to limit big money influence in initiatives. Besides the fact that the Koch brothers have funneled millions into our state from out-of-state donors from ALEC supporters to Republican State legislative races, let’s look at the influence LOCALLY in his wife’s race for school board. While the money may be local, you have to question the BIG money influence in her race. This is from her last financial report (I think the next one is due on July 18);
SE Friends of Affordable Housing $500
SD RPAC $250 (Association of Realtors)
Two Minnehaha county commissioners $600
Dan, Steve & Joe Kirby $750
Dennis Breske (Developer) $100
Dr. Vance Thompson $250
Tom Walsh (Formerly Burger King, now Great Life) $100
Sweetman’s $350
Valerie Fox (Former Principal of Lincoln HS) $500
Dr. Alvine $100
Doug Hajek (Bond Attorney for largest bond provider in the state) $100
Chris Houwman (Developer, Washington Square) $250
Scott Abdallah (Attorney) $100
Erickson’s (City Council) $200
Dana Dykhouse (First Premier Bank) $250
Dave & De Knudson (Sanford Health) $250
Russ Janklow (Attorney) $250
Arch Beal (Beer Distributor) $200
Scott Lawrence (Ad agency) $100
Michael Crane (Developer) $100
Dave Owens (SD Chamber of Commerce) $200
And that is just a sampling. I know what you are thinking, none of the donations are HUGE but they speak volumes, especially when you consider she raised 10x more than her closest competitor.
Mark doesn’t sweat big money when it helps him, his wife or his fellow Republican legislators, but when it comes to ethics reform he wants to crack down on it. Go figure.
Speaker Mickelson is merely an agent of a political party that talks the talk, but doesn’t walk the actual walk.
Republicans in South Dakota often claim to champion liberty, opportunity, and individualism, but what would be more demonstrative of those principles than the promotion of direct democracy, I must ask?
However, when it comes to direct democracy in the form of initiatives and referendums, the Republican Party as the majority political party in this state demonstrates a hesitance towards such an advocacy – and my guess is primarily, because it is a challenge to their own political power and control of that power. And in so doing, the South Dakota Republican Party shows its true colors and dubious support for liberty, opportunity, and individualism.
This hypocrisy is also noticed in the Republican’s constant call for states’ rights, while they fight against tribal rights, women’s rights, LGTB rights, and minority rights. Apparently, their call for liberty, opportunity, and individualism has limits, and they are limits, which unmask their true intent which is to protect the elite at the expense of the many….
His wife has an important role on the school board. She’ll guarrantee rich kids a corner office in school palaces. It’s important money meant for slum schools gets diverted.
Gosh, but did those Kirby’s ever turn out their pockets for this one!
it’s only big money if it’s given to your opponent.