Our AG recently said that state government needs to be more transparent in the wake of all the rats stealing from the citizen coffers. If you think this is just a handful of bad actors, I can guarantee there are probably hundreds of state employees stealing from us. Why? Because, first off, it is RICH coming from a guy who helped cover up a DCI sexual harassment case, EB-5 and Gear-up. This is the guy promoting open government? LMFAO!
With one-party rule basically controlling most of the offices in South Dakota who is going to investigate wrong doings or lack of open government? Good question.
I keep telling people that OPEN government saves taxpayers money because it roots out unethical, fraudulent and corrupt actors. Open government is also more efficient because you don’t have to play the hiding secrets game so things get done much more quickly.
I don’t have much confidence in our AG telling us he is working towards a more open government, coming from a guy who has a Cummins Diesel engine attached to his paper shredder.
Here’s the real kicker. When our state legislature’s Government Operations and Audit Committee (GOAC) was investigating EB5 and GEAR-UP, they claimed that they did not have subpoena power, but now, a few years later, another legislative committee claims they have subpoena power to ask for documents from the Department of Revenue. Isn’t it interesting that when the scandal appears to involve only bureaucrats, the legislative branch discovers their potential power, their inherent “Checks and Balances/Balance of Power” constitutional rights, but when it comes to a potential investigation that might involve a governor’s office concerning EB5 and GEARUP, which is a part of the same political party as a vast majority of that legislature’s members, then a committee of the legislature sits back and looks impotent?