If any reader is acquainted with the movie Goundhog Day, it parallels what this final week was like. Just a short explanation: In the movie, the same things kept happening day after day. In the legislature, the same bill kept coming back inside other bills. First SB85, required school districts to have a vote of the people whenever an opt-out is requested.It was defeated.Next came SB223, requiring 50 voters to sign a petition within 40 days to allow the patrons to vote on a school tax opt-out. Last week, HB1241 was presented. This bill would have allowed twenty days to collect five percent of registered voters or 2,000 voters (whichever is less) to require a vote on a school opt out. Finally came HB1323, which required a vote on an opt out of five percent of the registered voters of the district or 2,500, whichever is fewer. The reader may likely see a pattern here. Each bill was corroded with an amendment on the same topic inserted in all by the same Senator. When the latter bill got to the House and concurrence was requested, Rep. Van Diepen provided a substitute motion. This was very courageous, but absolutely worthwhile. All of the bills LOST. Why? The legislature did not like the idea of singling out schools in Sioux Falls or Rapid City only. We knew that this was a personal issue that should be solved at a local level. Board meetings could have been attended with budgetary inquiries made. To pass a law to single out one group or sector,i in this case, a couple of schools, is not what the Legislature should be doing. I do think that schools get the message that we expect prudence in spending and may try to pull in spending reins if possible. It is not our duty, though, to be the school board or officials.
In both the House and Senate, we introduced Northwestern and Doland Schools this week. We are always very happy when classes come to visit the chambers and learn more about the legislative process. Along with this, I really want to encourage high school juniors or seniors to apply to be pages in either the House or Senate. The young people who attend a two-week term (one week in the final term) all have such a wonderful experience. So many say that they do not want their time to end. Upcoming applications for next session will be online around September or October, and I will try to remind students later on. Homeschoolers and private school students are also invited to apply as well. Speaking of pages, Hadley Gjerde is not in my district but was a Senate page. I had her come into the House so I could introduce her. When Hadley was 6, she got a bill passed into law so that she and her cousins would be able to legally shoot parachutes after the allotted time. It was important to her as her cousins always visited after the 4th when discharging fireworks had passed their legal date to do so. She was able to get the bill passed that shooting parachutes legal year round, much the same as party poppers, snaps, etc. I wanted people in our chamber to know she was no stranger to the legislative process and that people of all ages can be a part of lawmaking.
We have one more day left, veto day, March 30. At the time of this writing, we have no idea how many, if any, bills will be subject to a veto. The Governor and his policy people will have to look them over and decide if any bills are unworkable, redundant, or have style and form problems. What follows a veto is an explanation as to why the bill is questioned. Next, if it is a Senate bill, it goes to that chamber, and the Senate will either concur with the Governor or else override the veto, which takes 2/3 of the members. If the bill passes with 2/3, it then comes over to the House and the same requirements are followed. As it is hard to get an override, most usually are defeated. I can only remember a time or two in the 10 years that I have been a legislator where this has happened.
I want to thank all you for your messages and support throughout the session. I appreciate those who attended Cracker Barrels to ask questions. More constituents seemed to attend sessions this year than last, maybe because the weather was much better. Rep. Van Diepen, Sen. Wipf and I all consider ourselves to be citizen legislators. We try to make our state a place where we offer help to those who need it, see potential problems and work to solve them, and try to serve with the professionalism and integrity. All three of us have been present for the easy and for the hard votes. It is my opinion that we have to vote “yes” at times and “no” at other times, depending how it may affect our district and our state. i say this as some think they need to always say “no” on every vote. To me, this logic is faulty. A constant naysayer could then save taxpayers money by staying home and not collecting a salary or per diem. Being absent is the same as a “no” vote.
In closing, we need to remember we live in the best state and nation. We all need to do our share to keep it that way. God bless.
Rep. Lana Greenfield
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