While we were watching Minnesota House committee hearings and a blistering Republican attack on frontline worker bonuses on the floor of the House, our fellow South Dakotans were watching more testimony in the Ravnsborg impeachment hearings.
One highlight in Pierre? Witness describes interaction between Ravnsborg, sheriff morning after fatal crash from Christopher Vondracek at the Mitchell Republic.
But South Dakota's man-killing Attorney General wasn't the only one under review by state lawmakers
There was this in the South Dakota House, Joe Sneve reports in the Argus Leader, Lawmakers: Noem's closed-door meeting with daughter violated public trust:
South Dakota lawmakers are condemning Gov. Kristi Noem for holding a closed-door meeting with her daughter and various state employees overseeing the South Dakota Appraiser Certification Program in 2020.
A formal resolution was filed in the state House Thursday calling the actions of the governor related to her involvement in Kassidy Peters' appraisal certification "unacceptable," and that she "failed to meet the expectations that South Dakotans have of their leaders."
The prime sponsor, Rep. John Mills, R-Volga, told the Argus Leader he believes a conflict of interest occurred when Noem held the meeting with Peters, who was struggling to earn certification, as well as the long-time executive director of the program, Sherry Bren.
Bren retired in 2021 after settling a wrongful termination complaint against the state, her employer of 30 years, for $200,000.
"I don't think this can be ignored," Mills said.
The closed-door meeting at the Governor's Mansion first came to light in September last year in an Associated Press report, in which Noem is alleged to have pressured Bren into allowing Peters to become certified as a state appraiser.
Department of Labor Secretary Marcia Hultman in October testified to a legislative panel that Peters did not get preferential treatment but did not provide clarity on why Peters was involved in the meeting at the mansion.
Peters has since allowed her appraisal certification to lapse and is no longer involved in real estate appraisal. ...
Read the rest in the Argus Leader.
If anything, South Dakota's Republican-heavy government (governor's office plus both chambers of the legislature) demonstrates that one party rule doesn't guarantee peace in the valley (sorry MN House minority leader Daudt).
How bad is it? The South Dakota Standard reports Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Jamie Smith Said Republicans in Pierre Support Him—Now He Needs to Convince GOP Voters to Do the Same,
Photo: Governor Kristi Noem on a horse.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.
Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.
I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6
Comments