South DaCola

Editorial Cartoonist from South Dakota

State Legislature

Ethics IM 22 Republicans State Funding State Legislature

Should we really be surprised that our Legislature and Governor want to gut IM22?

l3wis 5Comments

Time and Time again we have watched our state legislature, which mostly is controlled by Republicans, defy the wishes of the voters. They are doing it again with the attempt to repeal IM22.

We have seen the mountains of corruption over the past 40 years this party has wreaked on South Dakotans, and I believe, this is why IM 22 passed. We have had enough.

But when are South Dakota voters going to really get it? Most if not all of the corruption is being sewn on us by the Republicans in the state legislature. I want to be careful how I say this, I know many Republicans in government in South Dakota that are good people, but it seems the Republicans in the State Legislature are the cream of the crop when it comes to corruption.

Going to Pierre to essentially benefit themselves and their businesses, and without ethics laws, running rough shot over the citizens. You might say that not all of the Republican legislators are bad, and I get the argument, but as Stace Nelson pointed out on Belfrage today, the good ones are no better then the bad ones if the good guys don’t stop the bad guys in their party. In other words, if you are not a part of the solution, you are part of the problem. Also, as Stace points out, the corruption runs deep, if it isn’t suspicious suicides and murders over EB-5 and Gear Up, it’s sex scandals. What will it take to reign in this problem?

First off, the opposition party is ‘part of the problem’ they need to not only grow a spine, but they need to grow in numbers and overtake the snake pit that has become the SD GOP. This means educating voters that Republicans in the State House ARE the problem and need to be voted out and kicked out of Pierre, they are destroying our state. It’s obvious from this repeal, that they are happy with the status quo, and don’t want things to change. It takes more then measures, initiatives and referendums to stop them, it takes giving these clowns their walking papers.

As I told a local government official tonight, there is not much we can do as citizens when the SD GOP has held us hostage for so long. I can only blog so much about the despicable behavior of these characters. It will take massive education to get South Dakotans to send some of these whack jobs packing in 2018.

So at the end of the day, don’t be surprised if this repeal passes, you voted in these crooks, and when you have the fox watching the hen house, you should know what the results will be.

Matthew Wollman State Legislature

Love can be blinding

l3wis 2Comments

I was a little surprised when I heard Wollmann’s GF speaking out, but I have often felt love blinds people sometime. While her post was the typical ‘the news got it wrong’ mantra when it comes to an elected official doing something wrong, she does get a few things wrong herself;

The way Mathew strongly and generously stood up and confessed his fault was the strongest thing I have ever seen someone do.

. . . but the main thing that will always scar me is the falsehood of KSFY, or in other words, you. 

First off, Mathew didn’t admit this in 2015, and he didn’t admit it in 2016. So when he finally did it admit it, he lied first, on camera, then took it back. So yes, he did confess, but not in the normal fashion. And while I will agree the local TV stations often get things wrong, the words of an individual in front of a running camera doesn’t lie. This wasn’t due to the marvelous skills of the reporter or even a reporter manipulating the video, it was the words of Mr. Wollman himself that sunk the ship. Truth hurts sometimes especially when it is about someone you love.

Ethics Matthew Wollman State Funding State Legislature

I wonder how the SD GOP Leadership’s boots felt up Wollmann’s ass over the weekend?

l3wis 4Comments

My butt feels a lot better then it did on Saturday and Sunday. Man! Mark and Dennis wear some big shoes!

Make no mistake, Mr. Wollmann cut and run just as soon as he could pull the boots out of his ass;

In a statement released Monday House leaders say, “The South Dakota State legislature, like any other organization, is comprised of human beings.  Consequently, we will experience human failure and imperfection.  Every legislator has an obligation to refrain from behavior unbecoming to the Legislature and inconsistent with maintaining the public’s trust.”

House leaders also say they will be meeting over the coming weeks with legislators, current interns and legislative staff to discuss any improvements they can make in the legislator and employee training.

Nice (BS) statement. Try to quickly sweep this under the rug before people start asking real questions, like how this has been going on since the 1960’s, or why a governor’s cabinet member was let go? The SD GOP is quick to bury their own when they are trying to cover up there scandalous institution. Besides, how can you justify repealing an ethics law the voters passed when you are being unethical yourself? Watch a bunch of scum.

Sex State Legislature Wollman

Sexy Lawmakers?

l3wis 5Comments

(Image: KSFY) Crap, Bridget busted me, what is that saying I learned from theatre class?

Oh the irony of dragging Nesiba through the mud for having an adult sexual relationship but the smoke and mirrors being put up with Wollman that he is such an angel because he admitted to it.

I believe Wollman that it was consensual, but it was not professional. Notice how HE lies at first to KSFY, then realizes he is busted since so many people blew the whistle on him, then decides to tell the truth (thinking) KSFY wouldn’t publish the first part of the interview. While all these people want to give Wollman credit for being honest, as you can see, he had no choice. If no one would have tipped off the press, Wollman probably would have never said anything.

Besides the lying, and unprofessionalism, I also thought it was improper for him to NOT inform the two young ladies he had sex with before spilling the beans to the press (on the fly). That’s all we need is another congressional hearing about touching wieners.

We will see if the Republicans realize he really screwed up and punish him or sweep it under the rug like IM22, EB-5, Gear-UP, Native Foster Kids, etc, etc, etc.

The irony is it shows what are lawmakers are really up to in Pierre. F’ing around.

Ethics Sioux Falls State Legislature

Do we have this in Sioux Falls? Conflict of interest laws

l3wis 1Comments

So the Rapid City council has decided they would try to follow state law;

A new conflict-of-interest policy for the Rapid City government that will be considered by the city council tonight includes provisions outlining the need to disclose all financial interests annually, but also contains a secrecy clause for officials seeking an opinion from the city attorney about possible conflicts.

The conflict-of-interest policy is a direct response to changes to state law adopted by the 2016 South Dakota Legislature, according to the city attorney’s agenda item summary. Those changes require recipients of state grants to adopt and enforce a conflict-of-interest policy. The city receives several million dollars per year in state funding or in federal funding funneled through the state, the summary said.

The policy states that a conflict of interest may exist when an official or an immediate family member has a personal or financial interest clearly separate from that of the general public on a matter facing the official.

It covers officials who are elected or appointed to city boards, committees, commissions and positions within city government and states, “Such conflicts of interest may be financial or personal, direct or indirect, and the existence of a conflict of interest is dependent upon the unique facts of a particular situation.”

But if you watch the RC council meeting (FF: 1:21) you will notice it gets sticky when it comes to the secrecy clause, but still passes anyway. One of the council members has an issue with the ‘secrecy clause’ saying it is out of line with open government. The clause states;

Secret opinions from city attorney

If an official has a question as to whether a conflict exists, he or she may  seek an opinion from city attorney Joel Landeen on the matter. The opinion will not be made public unless a majority of those on the city council or whatever board or committee the official serves on votes to make it public.

“If any official desires assistance to determine if that official, or another official, has a disqualifying conflict of interest, the official may request an advisory opinion from the City Attorney’s Office,” the policy states.

“Such opinion shall be made available to all members of the city council, or the board, committee, or commission about which the opinion is provided, but shall not be available for public inspection unless a majority of the members of the city council or the board, committee, or commission to which the opinion is provided votes to make such opinion public.”

Like I said, though there was an objection by councilman Peters, it still passes. It reminded me of when they went after council woman Stehly without informing the public they were questioning her ‘conflicts’. Ironically, they were hunting Stehly down for ‘speaking’ out of turn with citizens instead of actually having ‘financial’ conflicts.

Notice the spaghetti never stuck to the wall with Stehly. The reason is citizens are more concerned if government officials are getting their bread buttered then if they are helping people by merely speaking to them.

Rapid City moved in the right direction, we will see if our fine elected officials (mayor and council) will adopt such transparent laws, or if they will continue to hide their personal investments.

These laws address the financial aspects (PDF documents of the law);

Conflict-RCC AND Cnflict-State

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