Here are some items of note from the Aberdeen Area Cracker Barrel. This includes Districts 2 and 3. That means Representatives Dennert, Elliot, Dave Novstrup, Al Novstrup and Senators Hundstad and Hoerth.
A couple folks mentioned that if you email them, make sure you write your name and where you are from. They respond to emails from the district first, so it's useful to put your location.
Paul Dennert, who sits on Appropriations, noted that only 1/3rd of the state's revenue comes from state taxes we pay. About $1.6 billion comes from the federal government. So much for that South Dakota rugged individualism.
Rep. Al Novstrup seems keen on a "Northern Route to the Black Hills." Folks want to build a road directly from Aberdeen to the Hills (making a hypotenuse rather than a right angle at I-90 to get to Rapid City, you might say). This will increase traffic and tourism in the Northeast part of the state.
There was concern expressed over a bill to gut the Governor's House program (did not get the bill number). Everyone seemed in favor of the program and thus against this bill. Al Novstrup noted that for every $34,000 of investment in this program, there is another $100,000 economic impact generated as people improve their homes. I would tell my fellow Republicans that this is a good lesson: sometimes government investment is necessary to spur private economic activity.
There seems to be a consensus that the state's minimum wage will be tied to the federal wage. In effect that means we can look forward to a $7.25 minimum wage before the year is out. Al Novstrup, again, mentioned that a local fast foot restaurant owner told him that a 16 year-old with no experience will start at $8.00 at this particular restaurant. When Al asked how many people in the room know someone who works for the minimum wage, one hand went up out of (roughly) 100 people. That's instructive.
Who knew that licensing massage therapists could be so controversial.
Education Funding: There is consensus that education will be funding over and above what it usually is, but there is no agreement as to how much that will be and where the money will come from.
Abortion: A predictable split. Rep. Elliot made some interesting comments. Last year he opposed the HB 1215 because it did not include rape and incest exceptions. This year the bill includes those exceptions. Yet he is still opposing the bill. It isn't clear why. I think I have some idea. Mr. Elliot also pointed out the inconsistency of those who oppose abortion but support capital punishment. He did not elaborate on his position that is for abortion but against capital punishment.
Other matters were talked about, but not in detail. We did find out that the Novstrups sometimes vote against each other and, in this author's opinion, Al Hoerth sounds remarkably like Jack Nicholson. Also, lobbyists, if you want Senator Hoerth to pay attention to you, pronounce his name right. Hoerth rhymes with "birth."
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