Jensen For Senate

Legislative Update  Week 7                                    Representative Kevin Jensen

It seems there are some bills that will not die even though they have been voted down over and over. These bills simply come back as an amendment to another bill or completely replace an existing bill’s language, hog housed. HB1198 was defeated in the house with a vote of 36 no and 24 yes if you only look at republican votes. Democrats should not be allowed to vote on an internal republican party issue. I hate to repeat a previous weekly update but this is critical. In the senate they hog housed SB13 with the language from 1198. I think it is very disturbing that our senate and house leadership are hellbent on destroying the tradition of the Republican party and willing to replace it with mob rule.  I hope this bill gets the final nail in the coffin this week, once and for all.

Yet another bill the leadership is relentless on passing is SB201, which strips the counties and townships of any control over  CO2 pipelines and electric transmission lines. It also nullifies any regulations currently in place over these projects. Ironically, this past week I received a letter from the US Department of Energy  stating they are ready to move forward with the Swan Lake Wind Project which will place 97 wind turbines on and west of Turkey Ridge. I even received a map of the proposed layout. Are they so bold as to assume SB201 will pass? Why is our leadership willing to override local control in so many ways? At the Turner County Cracker Barrel in Parker last Saturday, no one even knew the Swan Lake Project was being planned.

In another take-over move the state will be creating a new government office taking control of indigent funded defense attorneys, otherwise known as court appointed attorneys. This new department, or commission,  is designed to reduce the cost of this service for the  counties. I believe it would have been more efficient to use the  1.4 million dollars proposed for this new commission to reimburse the counties for the services already being provided locally. At the state level, that money will need to cover new office space, computers, equipment, additional staff and travel expense, among other related costs. Expanding  state government is not always the most efficient way to do things. 

And a fourth take-over? Yes. HB1048 requires that increases in state funding to schools goes only to teachers. Every Superintendent I contacted opposes this bill because it strips them of local control over that portion of their budget. Let me explain further by asking you the question the school boards will face. You are now on the school board. The state mandates that the entire 4% goes to only teachers, removing  control over that portion of your budget. Your district is already dealing with flat or declining enrollment which directly negatively affects your total state funding. This is the reality most schools in District 16 are already facing. Now you need to give pay increases to support staff, secretaries, maintenance staff, maybe bus drivers, para professionals, teacher aids, and possibly some administrators. You also have to fund increases in health insurance, retirement and other benefits. What are you going to cut to give the support staff pay raises and increase their benefits? Will you be forced into an opt-out decision which raises local taxes? Please understand I fully support the proposed 4% or 5% increase for schools, but those legislators who have never dealt with a school budget are now telling you how to do your job. 

Almost every day in debate we are encouraged to support local control. So then I have to ask, why are some of the most overreaching bills in session this year removing local control and why are they supported and pushed by our leadership? I think you, as voters, need to ask that question too. There are some things the state can do well and there are many things better left to local government. As former President Obama once said, “elections have consequences.” If your government is not working for you, who are they working for?

As you read this there will be only one week left in this session, and it is shaping up to be very contentious. The word of the day in Pierre seems to be “compromise.” There is no compromise when property rights and eminent domain are being used in ways the framers of the constitution never intended. I work for District 16 and you can trust me to not cave to special interests and pressure from leadership. Thank you for allowing me serve in Pierre on your behalf. If you have any comments or concerns please reach out to me at kevinj605@gmail.com.