♪♪ >> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL HOURLONG EDITION OF SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS.

I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THIS IS OUR BALLOT SPECIAL AHEAD OF THE ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 8th.

WE'LL HEAR FROM SOME OF THE CANDIDATES FOR STATEWIDE OFFICE LATER THIS HOUR BUT, FIRST, WE'LL EXAMINE THE TWO STATEWIDE BALLOT QUESTIONS VOTERS WILL DECIDE IN A FEW WEEKS.

SHOULD THE STATE EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY AND SHOULD IT LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

THE FIRST BALLOT QUESTION WE'LL COVER TONIGHT IS AN AMENDMENT TO THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION THAT COULD EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY.

MEDICAID IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE GOVERNORS THAT USES PUBLIC FUNDS TO COVER HEALTH CARE COSTS FOR PEOPLE WHO MEET CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS.

RIGHT NOW, SOUTH DAKOTA MEDICAID COVERS CHILDREN, PREGNANT PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PEOPLE 65 AND OLDER, AND PEOPLE WHO MAKE 46% OR LESS THAN THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE.

THAT'S AN ANNUAL INCOME OF LESS THAN $13,000 FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

BY EXPANDING MEDICAID, THE STATE COULD INCLUDE ANYONE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18 AND 65 WHO MAKES 138% OF LESS THAN THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE.

THAT'S A LITTLE MORE THAN $38,000 A YEAR FOR A FAMILY OF FOUR.

WE'LL HEAR FROM SUPPORTERS OF MEDICAID EXPANSION.

THEY SAY IT CAN CLOSE THE COVERAGE GAP FOR PEOPLE WHO MAKE TOO MUCH TO GET THE COVERAGE NOW BUT MAKE TO LITTLE TO AFFORDS THE COVERAGE.

>> SARAH HAD TO MAKE A DIFFICULT DECISION LAST YEAR.

IN DECEMBER, HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD SON WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE ON A SCHOOL PLAYGROUND FROM AN APPARENT SEIZURE.

IT TOOK MONTHS TO GET A DIAGNOSIS.

>> I WAS CALLED OUT OF WORK ALMOST DAILY OR TWO TORE THREE MONTHS GETTING HIM TO APPOINTMENTS, PICKING HIM UP FROM SCHOOL BECAUSE HE WAS HAVING TOO MANY EPISODES, MEDICINES CAUSING ISSUES SO WE HAD TO PICK HIM UP.

IT WAS JUST A LOT AND I COULDN'T IGINFORMATION IT ANY LONGER, IT WAS TOO MUCH TO BE WORKING FULL TIME.

>> HER PREVIOUS JOB OFFERED FAMILY LEAVE BUT SHE COULDN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK LONG TERM.

SHE LEFT HER FULL-TIME JOB FOR A PART-TIME JOB THAT LEFT HER FLEXIBILITIES TO CARE FOR HER KIDS AND START HER OWN BUSINESS.

BUT THAT MEANT LOSING HER HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> IT'S HARD.

I JUST DON'T GET CARE RIGHT NOW.

AND THANKFULLY NOTHING MAJOR HAS COME UP THAT'S MADE ME HAVE TO REALLY THINK BETWEEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> HER SON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH PSYCHOGENIC NONEPILEPTIC SEIZURES OR PSUEDO SEIZE YURKS.

BOTH OF HER SONS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR IMMEDIATE CASE BECAUSE THEY'RE UNDER 18, BUT SHE IS NOT.

SHE'S ONE OF THOUSANDS IN SOUTH DAKOTA WHO COULD BE COVERED IF VOTERS AGREE TO EXPAND MEDICAID.

ZAK MARCUS IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR SOUTH DAKOTAANCE DECIDE HEALTH CARYL, A GROUP THAT SUPPORTS AMENDMENT D TO EXPAND MEDICAID.

>> EVERY YEAR, $00 MILLION OF OUR TAXES THAT COULD BE STAYING HERE PROVIDING HEALTH AREA FOR HARD-WORKING SOUTH DAKOTAANCE IS LEAVING OUR STATE TO FUNDS HEALTH CARE FOR 38 OTHER STATES, LIKE CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK THAT HAVE ALREADY EXPANDED MEDICAID.

WHAT WE'RE SAYING IS WE WANT TO KEEP OUR TAX DOLLARS RIGHT HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND MAKE SHHH YOU ARE THAT HARDY WORKING PEOPLE WHO MAYBE DON'T GET HEALTH CARE PROVIDED THROUGH THEIR JOBS ARE ABLE TO ACCESS INSURANCE AND ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY CAN PLAN TO SEE A DOCTOR WHEN THEY NEED TO.

>> THE OPTION TO EXPAND MEDICAID WAS INTRODUCED IN THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S TENDED TO BE A PARTISAN ISSUE BUT IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY POPULAR AS HEALTH CARE COSTS RISE, INCLUDING IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> THIS IS A BROAD COALITION OF SUPPORTERS FOR THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

TELL US WHO'S ON BOARD WITH THIS.

>> YEAH, SO I THINK IT'S A GREAT EXAMPLE OF WHY THIS IS SUCH A GOOD THING FOR SOUTH DAKOTA THAT WE HAVE SO MANY DIFFERENT KIND OF GROUPS INVOLVED IN OUR COALITION, RIGHT?

I MEAN, YOU PROBABLY JUST SAW A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCIAL ANNOUNCED THEY ARE ENDORSING THIS EFFORT AS GOOD FOR BUSINESSES IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

ALL KIND OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTH CARE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS FROM HOSPITALS AND COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS TO THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, CANCER ACTION NETWORK, AARP, THE AMERICAN HEART SO, TO GROUPS -- THE FARMERS UNION WHO REPRESENTS FARMERS AN RANCHERS AROUND THE STATE.

DIFFERENT KIND OF ORGANIZATIONS WITH DIFFERENT KIND OF FOCUSES ALL SAYING THIS IS A GOOD THING FOR SOUTH DAKOTA.

>> THE SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE IS ANOTHER GROUP THAT SUPPORTS THE AMENDMENT.

IT'S AN ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE.

RAPID CITY MAYOR STEVE ALLEN DEER, A REPUBLICAN, SERVES AS ITS PRESIDENT.

>> YOU KNOW, SOUTH DAKOTA I SOMETIMES THINK HAS -- HAS I DESIRE TO BE 50TH IN EVERYTHING.

AND IT JUST DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THAT WAY SO NOW THERE'S MANY STATES AND MANY CONSERVATIVE STATES WHO HAVE ADOPTED MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> HE SAYS THIS WILL HELP IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY.

>> SOUTH DAKOTA IS A STATE THAT IS FOUNDED BY AND HELD TOGETHER BY TOURISM AND AGRICULTURE.

BOTH OF WHICH THE WORKERS ARE LOW-EARNING WORKERS.

I THINK IT'S A LITTLE OFFENSIVE THAT WE WOULD RELY ON AN INDUSTRY TO PUT US ON THE MAP, CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS, PUT FOOD ON TABLES AND THEN TELL 'EM, THAT'S TOUGH IF THEY DON'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY TO TAKE THEIR KID TO THE DOCTOR.

>> PROPONENTS ALSO SAY, EXPANDING MEDICAID WILL HELP STRUGGLING RURAL HOSPITALS.

WE KNOW THAT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS A LOW MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE.

BY BROADENING ELIGIBILITY SOME PEOPLE MIGHT THINK THAT MAKES THE PROBLEM WORSE FOR HOSPITALS AND OTHER CARE CENTERS THAT ARE TAKING MEDICAID PATIENTS, AND THEN OPERATING AT A DEFICIT WITH THAT LOW MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATE.

IS THAT A VALID POINT?

HOW DO WE SEE ELIGIBILITY EXPANSION COR-MINGLING WITH THAT?

>> GREAT QUESTION, AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS SICK, THEY'RE GOING TO GO SEE A DOCTOR, WHETHER THEY HAVE COVERAGE OR THE, RIGHT?

THE QUESTION IS, ARE WE GOING TO SEE ANY MONEY COME OUT OF THAT IN REIMBURSEMENT TO THE HOSPITAL OR IS IT FULLY GOING TO BE WILL UNCOMPENSATED CARE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, I NEVER REALIZED WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SO OFTEN ASK YOUR FRIENDS, OH, THIS IS GOING ON, WHAT DO YOU DO, WHAT SHOULD I DO AND IT'S LIKE, OH, GO SEE YOUR DOCTOR, ASK YOUR DOCTOR.

OH, THIS PRESCRIPTION HELPS AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK ABOUT GOING TO THE DOCTOR, IT'S LIKE, OKAY, SO IF I DO THAT, WHAT AM I NOT GOING TO DO THIS MONTH?

IS IT THAT I DON'T INVEST IN THE BUSINESS OR I DON'T TRY TO DO THIS OTHER THING WITH THE KIDS OR HOW MUCH CAN I CUT DOWN ON THE FOOD BUDGET TO MAKE IT WORK TO GO TO ONE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

>> AND SARAH IS MORE INFORMED THAN MOST.

SHE JUSTED TO WORK FOR THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SERVICES, HELPING PEOPLE DETERMINE IF THEY WERE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID.

>> I HAD CONVERSATIONS ALMOST DAILY IN MY LAST JOB WHO HAVE CHRONIC CONDITIONS AND CAN'T IGNORE THEIR HEALTH CARE COSTS, LIKE I'M ABLE TO, RIGHT NOW, AND THAT'S SUCH A HEART-BREAKING CONVERSATION TO SAY, I KNOW, YOU KNOW, THAT YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST AND YOU'RE DOING EVERYTHING YOU CAN IN THIS MOMENT AND THAT'S NOT BECAUSE YOU'RE LAZY AND YOU DON'T WANT TO GO GET A JOB, IT'S BECAUSE YOU CAN'T.

THERE ARE OTHER INCOME-BASED OPTIONS UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT FOR PEOPLE TO GET PRIVATE INSURANCE WITH SUBSIDIES BUT SHE MAKES TOO MUCH TO QUALIFY.

EVEN WITH A PART-TIME JOB AND A GROWING SMALL BUSINESS, SHE CAN'T AFFORD THE MONTHLY PREMIUM.

>> I COULD HAVE SIGNED UP FOR, I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO AFFORD IT AND I KNOW THIS WAS MY CHOICE, IT FELT OUT OF NECESSITY THAT I TOOK THIS CHOICE, THOUGH, AND TO DO THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO CHOOSE THAT OVER RENT.

THAT'S NOT AN OPTION.

>> SARAH FIRST SHARED HER STORY WITH A VIDEO FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION WHICH SUPPORTS EXPANSION.

SHE HAS A MESSAGE FOR OTHER PARENTS WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN A SIMILAR POSITION.

>> A LOT OF US DON'T QUALIFY TODAY AND IT'S EVEN JUST WORKING FULL TIME AT A MINIMUM WAGE JOB YOU DON'T QUALIFY AND THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE ENDS MEET AND THERE'S NO SHAME IN ADVOCATING FOR WHAT YOU NEED AND YOU'RE DOING YOUR BEST AND YOU DESERVE THE RIGHT TO HEALTH CARE.

>> DOZENS OF LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS EVER COME OUTS IN FAVOR OF EXPANDING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY THROUGH THIS CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

SUPPORTERS INCLUDE THE STATE'S TOP HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS, AS WELL AS THE STATE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

AN AS IT TURNS OUT, THE LOUDEST VOICES AGAINST THE MEASURE BELONG TO STATE LAWMAKERS.

BUT WHILE SOME OPPOSE EXPANSION FULL STOP, OTHERS FEAR THE RAMIFICATIONS OF CHANGING THE STATE CONSTITUTION.

THE REPUBLICAN-LED STATE HOUSE HAS RESISTED MEDICAID EXPANSION SINCE ITS INTRODUCTION UNDER THE FEDERAL AFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

THAT DATES BACK TO THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION.

LAWMAKERS SHOT DOWN A BILL TO EXPAND ELIGIBILITY AS RECENTLY AS THIS YEAR.

STATE SENATOR JOHN WIIK WAS AMONG THE REPUBLICANS TO OPPOSE THE BILL.

>> WE HAVE OPPORTUNITIES HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA BECAUSE OF WHAT WE'VE DONE AND WE WANT THE MARKETPLACE, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR HEALTH CARE.

PLEASE VOTE NO.

THANK YOU.

>> THE BILL DID FAIL IN THE SENATE BUT WITH THE MATTER NOW UP TO VOTERS, SENATOR WIIK IS MAKING A SIMILAR PLEA.

>> THE THREE REASONS I HAVE ON EXPANDING MEDICAID AND NOT DOING IT WOULD BE, NUMBER ONE, THERE ARE GOING TO BE OVER 6700 FAMILIES THAT HAVE PRIVATE HEALTH PLANS THROUGH OBAMA CARE ON THE SILVER PLANS, THEY WILL LOSE THEM IMMEDIATELY.

>> A QUICK EXPLANATION.

THE SILVER PLAN UNDER THE AFFORDABLE CARE ABILITY ALLOWS PEOPLE WHO MAKE UP TO 400% OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LINE TO GET PRIVATE INSURANCE PLANS WITH DISCOUNTS.

BY EXPANDING MEDICAID, PEOPLE WHO MAKE EVEN LESS CAN BE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID INSTEAD.

IF THOSE NEWLY ELIGIBLE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY ON THE SILVER PLAN, IF MEDICAID IS EXPANDED, THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO PAY FULL PRICE.

>> IF YOU'RE ON OBAMACARE AND YOU USE THIS EXCHANGE, THE SILVER PLANS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR PEOPLE AND I'M NOT SITTING HER BRAGGING UP OBAMACARE, BELIEVE ME, I'M STILL TAKE CARD-CARRYING REPUBLICAN, GOOD GUY, IF YOU'RE USING THAT PLAN YOU GETS A TASTE OF WHAT PRIVATE INSURANCE IS AND THERE ARE SOME LIMITATIONS DOWN THE ROAD THROUGH EVERYTHING BUT YOU GET A TASTE OF MORE FREEDOM, MORE POSSIBILITIES, AND WHEN YOU GO BACK ON MEDICAID, THAT'S IT.

YOU HIT 139% OF POVERTY, YOU'RE SITTING WHERE YOU ARE AT 99% NOW.

YOU DON'T DARE MAKE ANOTHER DOLLAR OR YOU LOSE YOUR HEALTH CARE.

>> NO-COST HEALTH CARE, THAT IS.

BUILT THAT'S NOT SENATOR WIIK'S ONLY CONCERN.

>> AS FAR AS MOST OF OUR SURROUNDING STATES, WE HAVE THE LOWEST WAIT TIMES OF ANY STATE IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, AND THE QUALITY OF CARE FOR THE PEOPLE WHO NEED MEDICAID MOST WILL SUFFER IF WE EXPAND IT.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST MATH, THERE ARE SO MANY DOCTORS AND SO MUCH TIME AND SO MANY PROVIDERS THAT ACCEPT MEDICAID.

AND THE THIRD ONE IS RURAL HOSPITALS SUFFER THE MOST.

IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE STATES THAT EXPANDED EARLY, YOU'RE FINDING RURAL HOSPITALS CLOSING MORE IN THOSE STATES THAN IN NON-EXPANSION STATES.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER REASONS I WANT TO STICK WITH THIS -- THE SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE IS NOT PERFECT BUT IT IS FAR BETTER THAN MORE MEDICAID, SETTING PRICES, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL HOSPITALS WHERE IF WE CAN GET PRIVATE INSURANCE TO NEGOTIATE THEIR FEES, THEY WORK WITH HOSPITALS AND TYPICALLY IT'S BETTER OFF THAN SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, WITH THE LITERAL, YOU KNOW, FINANCIAL GUN TO YOUR HEAD SAYING THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T CHARGE.

>> WE KNOW IT IS PROPONENTS OF EXPANDING MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY ARE POINTING TO RURAL HOSPITALS THAT ARE AT RISK OF CLOSING SAYING THIS HELPS THEM.

YOU'RE SAYING THEY'RE MORE AT RISK WITH EXPANSION.

CAN YOU HELP CONNECT THE DOTS FOR US A LITTLE BIT?

>> RIGHT NOW I'M WORKING WITH A COUPLE OF PEOPLE IN MONTANA AND NORTH DAKOTA.

MONTANA EXPANDED AND THEIR RURAL HOSPITALS ARE NOT SEEING A ROSIE FINANCIAL PICTURE.

IT DIDN'T SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD SOLVE.

>> SENATOR WIIK IS OPPOSED TO EXPANDING MEDICAID, PERIOD.

THAT'S TRUE FOR MOST REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE HOUSE BUT ANOTHER LAWMAKER, WAYNE STEINHAUER, WORRIES ABOUT MAKING IT PART OF THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION.

IN FACT, IT WAS HIS BILL TO EXPAND MEDICAID THAT THE STATE SENATE BLOCKED THIS YEAR.

SO YOU DECIDED TO BRING A BILL TO EXPAND MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE.

>> RIGHT.

>> TALK US THROUGH YOUR THOUGHT PROCESS ON THAT.

>> WELL, MY FEAR IS, IS THAT IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN THROUGH CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND THE CONSTITUTIONAL'S VERY INFLEXIBLE IN TERMS OF OUR ABILITY TO CHANGE IT SO ONCE IT'S IN THE CONSTITUTION, SHOULD WE WANT TO TWEAK IT OR CHANGE IT IN THE FUTURE, IT WILL BE DIFFICULT FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO DO AND THERE IS A PHRASE IN THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT ON THE SURFACE SOUNDS JUST FINE.

IT BASICALLY SAYS AND I'M PARAPHRASING NOW THAT YOU CAN'T TREAT ONE INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENTLY THAN ANOTHER OR A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS DIFFERENT THAN ANOTHER BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I THINK MORALLY, WE HAVE A MUCH HIGHER OBLIGATION TO TAKE CARE OF KIDS, ELDERLY, POOR, AND DISABLED INDIVIDUALS THAN WE DO THOSE IN-BETWEEN.

SO MEDICAID EXPANSION IS TAKING CARE OF THOSE BETWEEN 18 AND 65, SO THOSE IN FAVOR OF THE EXPANSION PROBABLY TELL YOU, THIS IS TO PREVENTS US FROM TAKING CERTAIN SERVICES AWAY.

MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOR EXAMPLE, FROM A CERTAIN GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS.

THAT WOULDN'T BE MY INTENTION IN THE BILL THAT I OFFERED THAT WAS NOT SUCCESSFUL BUT HERE'S THE OTHER THING IT DOES, AND I THINK THIS IS PROBABLY MORE AT THE CRUX OF THE MATTER IS IT PREVENTS THE STATE FROM HAVING WORK REQUIREMENTS OR CO-PAYS.

AND SO, AGAIN, IF THE STATE EVER FOUND ITSELF IN A TOUGH FINANCIAL BIND, YOU CAN CHANGE BEHAVIORS WITH CO-PAYS AND SO IF YOU -- IS IT FAIR TO SAY MAYBE A PERSON THAT SMOKES SHOULD HAVE A CONTRIBUTING COST OR HE SHOULD CORRECT TO THE COST OF HIS HEALTH CARE A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN A PERSON WHO DOESN'T.

OR IS IT FAIR TO SAY, GEE, IF YOU REALLY ARE THAT ABLE-BODIED INDIVIDUAL, AND, AGAIN, I'M A LITTLE CAUTIOUS IN SAYING THAT, IS IT FAIR TO SAY YOU SHOULD BE GOING TO SCHOOL OR -- YOU SHOULD BE WORKING AT LEAST THREE MONTHS OUT OF THE LAST 12 MONTHS.

THOSE ARE WORK REQUIREMENTS THAT OTHER STATES HAVE PUT IN PLACE BUT IF THIS GOES IN OUR CONSTITUTION, WE DON'T HAVE THAT FLEXIBILITY AND WHY WOULD WE NEED THAT, MAYBE TO CHANGE THE COST CURVE FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA IN THE FUTURE.

>> THE COST OF EXPANSION TO THE STATE IS PERHAPS THE MOST COMMON REASON LAWMAKERS OPPOSE EXPANDING MEDICAID.

BUT EXACTLY HOW MUCH IT WILL COST VARIES WIDELY, DEPENDING ON WHO YOU ASK.

THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COUNCIL IS A NONPARTISAN GROUP THAT ANALYZES POLICY AND HELPS STATE LAWMAKERS.

IT ESTIMATES MEDICAID EXPANSION WILL COST THE STATE ROUGHLY $750,000 A YEAR OVER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.

THAT INCLUDES SOME OF THE FINANCIAL INCENTIVES INCLUDED IN THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT FOR STATES THAT HAVEN'T YET EXPANDED MEDICAID.

AFTER THE FIRST FIVE YEARS, THE RESEARCH COUNCIL EXPECTS EXPANDED MEDICAID TO COST THE STATE ABOUT $22 MILLION A YEAR.

BUT DURING A DEBATE LAST MONTH, GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM USED A MUCH BIGGER NUMBER.

>> AND THE LOOKING THREE, FOUR YEARS DOWN THE ROAD, WE'RE ANTICIPATING THAT THE AGE COST FOR THAT MEDICAID EXPANSION BALLOT MEASURE WOULD BE $80 MILLION.

>> THESE COSTS ALSO DEPEND ON THE NUMBER OF NEW ENROLLEES UNDER EXPANDED MEDICAID.

THAT NUMBER COULD BE AS HIGH AS 67,000 PEOPLE OR AS LOW AS 22,000.

SENATOR STEIN #'S OPINION HAS EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS.

HE BELIEVES EXPANDING IMMEDIATE CALLED IS A MORAL IMPERATIVE.

HE SAYS THE STATE SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF CURRENT FEDERAL INCENTIVES WHILE MAINTAINING SOME LEGISLATIVE CONTROL.

THAT'S WHY HE'S WARY OF A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, BUT SENATOR WIIK THINKS THERE ARE OTHER SOLUTIONS TO HEALTH CARE ACCESS.

>> THE SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATURE AND THE ADMINISTRATION ARE WORKING WITH CREATIVE WAYS TO TRY AND GET HEALTH CARE TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT, AND YOU COMBINE THAT WITH FEDERAL RESOURCES THAT ARE ALREADY AVAILABLE, THERE ARE THREE REALLY GOOD, SOLID REASONS TO VOTE NO AND IF YOU SIT DOWN WITH ME ONE ON ONE FOR AN HOUR, I CAN GIVE YOU A MILLION REASONS TO VOTE NO.

>> THE SECOND STATEWIDE BALLOT ISSUE THIS YEAR CALLS FOR THE LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

AGAIN, INITIATED MEASURE 27 LEGALIZES POSSESSION OF UP TO ONE OUNCE OF MARIJUANA FOR ADULTS 21 AND OVER.

IF VOTERS PASS THE MEASURE, SOUTH DAKOTA WOULD JOIN 19 OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED THE DRUG.

BUT SOME SOUTH DAKOTANS POINT TO THOSE OTHER STATES AS PROOF THAT MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION CAN PRESENT DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

>> JIM KENYON IS CHAIR OF PROTECTING SOUTH DAKOTA KIDS, THE ORGANIZATION OPPOSING THE MEASURE TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

HIS DAY JOB IS DIRECTING CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES IN RAPID CITY.

HE'S THE FIRST TO SAY HE DOESN'T TYPICALLY GET INVOLVED IN POLITICS.

>> I WORK WITH LITTLE FOLKS, I WORK WITH FAMILIES UNDER BRIDGES, I WORK WITH KIDS AT THE RAPID CITY REGIONAL, I WORK WITH KIDS AT THE JDC.

I WORK GO WITH COUPLES STRUGGLING, INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO SEEK RECOVERY AND WELLNESS.

WE HAVE HOMELESS PEOPLE THAT COME IN AND OUT OF OUR DOOR HERE EVERYDAY.

>> KENYON REMEMBERS WORKING WITH A YOUNG TEENAGER WHO WAS VIOLENTLY ILL AFTER INGESTING A FULL PACK OF MARIJUANA GUMMIES FROM COLORADOISM.

>> HE WAS ON A COMPLETE OVERDOSE AND I REMEMBER NOT SLEEPING THE NEXT DAY.

>> KENYON SAYS SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS DIDN'T FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR WHEN THEY PASSED AN AMENDMENT TO LEGALIZE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN 2020.

HE POINTS TO DEFEATED LEGALIZATION MEASURES IN 2006 AND 2010.

>> AND THIS INDUSTRY SPENT $1.6 MILLION PUTTING A LOT OF LIPSTICK ON THIS PIG BUT MY CHALLENGE IS TO REACH THE 500,000 VOTERS ACROSS THIS STATE THAT GOT CONFUSED.

AND I NEED DONORS, AND I NEED MOMS AND DADS, AND I KNEE POLICE OFFICERS WILLING TO PUBLICALLY TESTIFY, AND I NEED MY MAYORS ACROSS OUR STATE TO MAKE VERY, VERY CLEAR THAT THIS WON'T BE GOOD FOR YOUR HOMETOWN.

>> PART OF KENYON'S WISH CAME TRUE DURING THE ANNUAL PUBLIC SAFETY UPDATE IN SIOUX FALLS.

MAYOR PAUL TENHAGEN BROOCHED THE SUBJECT IN HIS OPENING REMARKS.

>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE THING KIND OF AS AN ASIDES, IF WE THINK THAT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA IN THE FALL IS GOING TO LEAD TO A SAFER COMMUNITY, WE HAVE ANOTHER THINK COMING.

>> LONG-TIME MINNEHAHA SHERIFF MILLION STAYED AGREES.

>> THANK YOU, Mr. MAYOR, BEFORE I GO TO MY REMARKS, I MUST SAY FOR YOU TO TAKE A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP ON THE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA ISSUE IS BOLD AND I THINK IT WAS SOMETHING THAT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO HEAR.

>> SHERIFF MILLION STAYED HAS SPENT NEARLY 50 YEARS IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE SIOUX FALLS AREA.

HE ALSO CHAIRS THE NATIONAL SHERIFF'S DRUG ENFORCEMENTS COMMITTEE.

>> SO I INTERACT WITH A LOT OF SHERIFFS, THIS IS NOT UNCHARLESSED TERRITORIES, LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA BECAUSE IT'S OCCURRED IN SOME STATES.

I TALK TO THOSE AND FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE EXPERIENCING AND TALK TO THEIR MAYORS, FIND OUT WHAT THEY'RE DEALING WITH AND I DON'T HEAR ANY GOOD.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S BROKEN PROMISES.

>> MILLION STEAD SAYS ONE OF THOSE BROKEN PROJECTS IS A CLAIM THAT LEGALIZING MARIJUANA ELIMINATES THE BLACK MARKET.

>> THAT'S A FLAT LIE.

CALIFORNIA ESTIMATE, I TALKED TO A SHERIFF OUT IN CALIFORNIA, IN HIS COUNTIES, THEY ESTIMATED 80% OF THE MARIJUANA THAT THEY ENCOUNTER IS BLACK MARKET MARIJUANA.

IT'S NOT THE LEGAL MARIJUANA.

>> BECAUSE YOU GENERATE A TREMENDOUS NUMBER OF NEW USERS OF MARIJUANA THAT TODAY MAY NOT BE USING MARIJUANA BECAUSE THEY OBEY THE LAW.

ONCE IT BECOMES LEGAL, THE NUMBER OF USERS OF MARIJUANA SKYROCKETS AND SO THE DEMAND FOR MARIJUANA GOES UP.

THE BLACK MARKET FLOURISHES, THE DRUG CARTELS COME IN.

>> SOME STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA LOU COUNTIES AND MUNICIPALITIES TO SETS THEIR OWN LIMITS ON LICENSES AND STAYS.

THE MAYOR SEES THAT AS A SIGN THAT GO FULL LEGALIZATION ISN'T DESIRABLE ANYWHERE.

>> I WAS JUST IN BILLS, MONTANA, LAST MONTH AND THEY HAVE REPEALED RECREATIONAL WITHIN CITY LIMITS OF BILLINGS, WHILE IT'S LEGAL STATEWIDE, THEY HAVE REVERSED THAT DECISION IN THEIR MUNICIPALITY BECAUSE THEY'VE SEEN THE CONSEQUENCES OF IT.

COLORADO SPRINGS NEVER ALLOWED RECREATIONAL WITHIN CITY LIMITS BECAUSE THEY KNEW THE CHALLENGES THAT THIS WOULD BRING.

>> IN THOSE EXAMPLES, SALE OF ADULT USE MARIJUANA IS PROHIBITED WHILE POSSESSION REMAINS LEGAL.

BUT MAINTAINING LOCAL CONTROL IS IMPORTANT TO MAYOR TENHAGEN.

>> WELL, ONE OF MY CONCERNS AND WE USE THE EXAMPLE OF VIDEO LOTTERY A LOT IS THAT WE HAVE CANNABIS DISPENSARIES ALL OVER LIKE WE DO WITH VIDEO LOTTERY.

NOW, WHILE I'M NOT NECESSARILY OPPOSED TO THE VIDEO LOTTERY INDUSTRY, I WISH WE HAD REGULATED THAT MORE.

WE HAVE BECOME KNOWN AS A CASINO TOWN, TEAM COME TO SIOUX FALLS AND WHAT'S WITH ALL THE CASINOS, AND WE HAVE TO EXPLAIN VIDEO LOTTERY AND WE DON'T HAVE A LIMIT ON THESE.

THAT WOULD BE ONE OF MY CONCERNS WITH CANNABIS.

>> PLENTY OF OTHER CONCERNS COME TO MINDS FOR THE SHERIFF.

>> LOOK AWHAT THEY SAY ABOUT WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS THAT ARE PEOPLE FOR POSITIVE FOR MARIJUANA, ROUGHLY A 55% INCREASE IN WORKPLACE GENTS.

LOOK AT THE STATISTICS ON ABSENTEEISM IN THE WORKSHOP FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE USING REEK RACIAL MARIJUANA.

LIKE OVER 70% CHANGE IN ABSENTEEISM.

LOOK AT THE HIGHWAY FATALITIES THAT WE'RE SEEING IN STATES WHERE THEY'VE LEGALIZED MARIJUANA, WHERE A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF INDIVIDUALS NOW THAT WERE NEVER BEFORE HIGH ON MARIJUANA ARE INVOLVED IN FATAL MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENTS.

>> THERE CAN ALSO BE A FINANCIAL COST TO COMMUNITIES.

JIM KENYON OF PROTECTING SOUTH DAKOTA KIDS SAYS THAT COMES IN THE FORM OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND SOCIAL SERVICE COSTS.

>> WHO'S GOING TO HOLD THE TAB ULTIMATELY WHEN WE ARE BUILDING NEW JAILS AND WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO PAY FOR ME TO PROVIDE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE SERVICES?

OR WHEN OUR KIDS ALL ENDS UP IN FOSTER CARE?

BECAUSE THEIR FAMILIES ARE BROKEN BECAUSE OF ADDICTION.

I'LL TELL YOU WHO'S GOING TO PAY THAT BILL, IT'S GONNA BE THE TAXPAYER OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE INDUSTRY WILL GET OFF.

>> STUDIES VARY ON THE TRUE COST TO TAXPAYERS IN STATES WITH LEGAL MARIJUANA, BUT FOR NOW, SIOUX FALLS MAYOR PAUL TENHIGHWAY BEEN TRIES TO TAKE A PRAGMATIC APPROACH.

>> THEY MAY FEEL THIS IS RIGHT IN OREGON AND CALIFORNIA AND COLORADO BUT I DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT IN SOUTH DAKOTA RIGHT NOW.

MAYBE IN THE FUTURE BUT WHERE WE SIT TODAY, I SPEND A LOT OF MY DAY DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, CRIME CHALLENGES, HALF THE KIDS IN OUR SCHOOL ARE ON FREE AND REDUCED LUNCH DIALING WITH POVERTY ISSUES.

I DON'T SEE HOW RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IS DOING TO HELP THOSE SITUATIONS AND HELP THOSE CHALLENGES WE'RE DEALING WITH.

>> YOU COULD BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THAT SOUTH DAKOTANS ALREADY DECIDED TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA WHICH THEY DID.

IN 2020, VOTERS SUPPORTED A CONSTITUTION THAT LEGALIZED BOTH MEDICAL AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

A SECOND MEASURE ON MEDICINAL MARIJUANA PASSED.

BUT LAST YEAR THE STATE SUPREME COURT STRUG DOWN THE AMENDMENT THAT LEGALIZED RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA.

THEY SAID THAT GO VIOLATED THE WAY CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS MUST BE WRITTEN.

SO THE QUESTION IS BACK ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

SUPPORTERS SAY IT'S TIME TO UPHOLD THE ORIGINAL WILL OF THE VOTERS AND ESTABLISH A NEW ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR THE STATE.

WHEN CAN ITTRICK JEFFERYS MOM WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BREAST CANCER, HE DID SOME RESEARCH AND HE FOUND CANCER PATIENTS COULD USE MEDICINEALL MARIJUANA.

HE'S WORKED ON CANNABIS POLICY IN WASHINGTON AND OREGON, HE HOPES TO BRING THOSE LESSONS HOME TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE STATE'S 2020 BALLOT MEASURE ALLOWS PATIENTS TO USE MEDICINEALL MARIJUANA WITH A DOCTOR'S PRESCRIPTION.

HE'S OPENED A DISPENSARY IN RAPID CITY EARLIER THIS YEAR HE WANTS TO KEEP THE BUSINESS LOCAL.

>> DOESN'T DO STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA FOR OUT-OF-STATE CANNABIS BUSINESSES TO COME INTO THE STATE.

SURE THEY MAY CREATE JOBS AND GENERATE A LITTLE TAX REVENUE AND THAT'S WHAT STIMULATES THE LOCAL ECONOMY BUT HERE AT PUFFY'S, WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO IS MAKE SURE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF OUR INVESTORS IS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA AND LIVES HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND SO WE ALSO BUY LOCAL, WE BUY LOCAL PRODUCTS, WE BUY LOCAL GLASS AND ART WORK, JUST TO HELP STIMULATE THAT LOCAL ECONOMY.

>> IT'S TAKEN ABOUT TWO YEARS FOR THE STATE'S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM TO ROLL OUT.

JEFFRIES SAYS THAT INFRASTRUCTURE CAN HELP THE STATE PREPARE FOR FULL LEGALIZATION.

>> ALL 19 STATES BEFORE US THAT HAVE RECREATIONAL CANNABIS HAVE IMPLEMENTED THEIR MEDICAL PROGRAMS IN TRANSITION TO THEIR RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS.

THERE IS A LOT OF BENEFITS THAT COME FROM THAT, INCLUDING ALREADY VETTED PROCESS FOR THE LICENSED APPLICATION SYSTEMS AND SHOWING WHERE THOSE ESTABLISHMENTS SHOULD GO IN THEIR CORRECT ZONINGS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> JEFFRIES SAYS STARTING WITH MINNEAPOLIS CANNABIS HELPS DETERMINE ALL-IMPORTANT DETAILS LIKE PACKAGING REQUIREMENTS THAT KEEP CONSUMERS AND KIDS SAFE.

MATTHEW IS THE CAMPAIGN MANAGER FOR THE YES ON 27 CAMPAIGN.

HE SAYS THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPLEMENT THESE KIND OF SAFETY MEASURES IS ONE REASON TO LEGALIZE MARIJUANA.

>> I DO AGREE WITH MY OPPONENTS ON A FEW THINGS, WE DON'T WANTS EDIBLES THAT LOOK LIKE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CANDY.

WE DON'T WANTS PACKAGING OF CANNABIS PRODUCTS THAT APPEAL TO CHILDREN, WE WANT PACKAGING THAT IS SECURE AND KIDS CAN'T GETS INTO.

THESE ARE THE SAFEGUARDS WE CAN PUT IN PLACE BY LEGALIZING AND REGULAR ALATING CANNABIS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE RELYING ON THE ILLICIT MARKET, WHICH DOESN'T CHECK I.D.ES, DOESN'T ENSURE PACKAGING.

>> BUT HE HAS PLENTY OF OTHER REASONS TO SUPPORTS LEGALIZATION.

>> WE CAN STOP WASTING LAW ENFORCEMENT TIME ON CANNABIS ARRESTS, LET'S STOP WASTING POLICE OFFICERS TIME, THE COURT'S TIME, LET'S LETS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT FOCUS ON REAL CRIME.

SEND REASON, IT'S STILL TOO DIFFICULT TO ACCESS THE MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM.

A LOT OF PATIENTS ARE FINDING DIFFICULTY FINDING A DOCTOR WHO WILL ISSUE A RECOMMENDATION.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY MEDICAL CANNABIS PATIENT IN SOUTH DAKOTA OVER 21 DOES NOT HAVE TO FEAR ARREST FOR SMALL AMOUNTS OF CANNABIS AND WE KNOW THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA BELIEVE IN THAT IDEAS.

AND THE THIRD IS THIS IS ABOUT RESTORING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

VOTERS APPROVED AMENDMENT A BY 54%% IN 2020.

THAT LAW WAS OVERRULED IN A LEGAL RULING THAT I THINK WAS DEEPLY FLAWED AND THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE VOTERS TO RESTORE WHAT WAS TAKEN FROM THEM.

>> SOME OF THE CLAIMS I'VE HEARD FROM OPPONENTS WHEN IT COMES TO POSSIBLE DOWN SIDES OF LEGALIZING RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, WORKPLACE ACCIDENTS GOING UP, ACCIDENTS FOR PEOPLE DRIVING UNLSD THE INFLUENCE GOING UP FOR PLACES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED.

YOUTHS USE AND ADDICTION RIGHTS UP IN PLACES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED.

HOW DO YOU RESPONDS TO SOME OF THOSE CONCERNS?

>> WITH YOUTHS USE, I THINK THE DATE THE IS CLEAR, IT'S ON OUR SIDE.

COLORADO, WASHINGTON WERE THE FIRST TWO STATES TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS BACK IN 2012.

THEIR DENTS OF HEALTH ISSUE REPORTS EVERY COUPLE YEARS.

COLORADO ISSUED ITS MOST RECENT REPORTS THIS YEAR, STATE OF WASHINGTON ISSUED ITS MOST RECENT REPORT LAST YEAR, BOTHER STATES REPORTED THAT TEEN USE HAS DECREASED SINCE 2012.

WITH REGARD TO TRAFFIC FATALITIES, AGAIN, I BELIEVE THE DATA IS ON OUR SIDE.

WE'VE GOT STUDIES, REPORTS ON OUR WEBSITE THAT GO INTO DETAIL ON THIS BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE BEST REPORTS, THERE REALLY ISN'T ANY EVIDENCE THAT THERE IS A CORRELATION BETWEEN LEGALIZATION LAWS BEING PASSED AND TRAFFIC FATALITIES.

WITH REGARD TO WORKPLACE INCIDENCES, I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE THAT MEASURE 27 DOES NOT CHANGE ANYTHING WITH REGARD TO EMPLOYER TESTING PRACTICES.

SO WHEN I LOOK AT OTHER STATES, I'M REALLY NOT SAYING NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES, AND THAT'S WHY THE 19 OTHER STATES THAT HAVE LEGALIZED CANNABIS, NONE OF THEM HAVE REPEALED THIS POLICY.

>> LIKE SWAG, JEFF REETION BELIEVES THE THINGS SAID HAVE BEEN OVERTAKE ITED.

HE BELIEVES THE NEW INDUSTRY CAN BE AN IMPORTANT ECONOMIC PARTNER FOR DEVELOPMENT.

>> WE PLAN ON OPENING 11 MORE STORES INCLUDING A CULTIVATION FACILITY AND MANUFACTURING FACILITIES.

WE PLAN TO EMPLOY ABOUT 150 SOUTH DAKOTANS SO WE'RE REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

AS WELL AS OFFERING PHILANTHROPIC OPPORTUNITIES AND GOING TO DIFFERENT BENEFITS WITH NONPROFITS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> JEFFRIES ALSO HOPES ANY SALES TAX CAN BENEFIT COMMUNITIES THAT WELCOME THE INDUSTRY.

EVEN IF THIS YEAR'S MEASURE PASSES, THE DETAILS OF TAX STRUCTURE AND SALES REGULATION ARE STILL UP TO STATE LAWMAKERS.

ALONG WITH LAUNCHING HIS MEDICAL DISPENSE BRING, JEFF REES HAS SPENT THE LAST TWO YEARS LOBBYING FOR BETTER CANNABIS POLICY IN PIERRE.

>> I BELIEVE THAT A SUCCESSFUL CANNABIS INDUSTRY IN SOUTH DAKOTA LOOKS LIKE ADDING CANNABIS TO ONE OF OUR PORTFOLIOS OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.

I MEAN, WE ARE TOP FIVE IN A WIDE VARIETY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS AND RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT LOOMING OVER INEVITABLE FEDERAL LEGALIZATION.

HOW DOES SOUTH DAKOTA PREP ITSELF TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT OF BEING AN EXPORT STATE INSTEAD OF AN IMPORT STATE WHEN IT COMES TO THIS NEW PRODUCT.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WE HAVE TO WORK WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS ON AND TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE DON'T GET LEFT IN THE DUST, IF YOU WILL, BUT I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH THEM AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN BE AB EXPORTS STATE, NOT AN IMPORT STATE.

YOU CAN FIND ONGOING COVERING ON IMSEND AND SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

SEVERAL STATEWIDE POSITIONS ARE ALSO OPERATES GALT THIS FALL.

THE STATE CONSTITUTION CALLS FOR AN ATTORNEY GENERAL, SECRETARY OF STATE, STATE AUDITOR, STATE TREASURER AND A COMMISSIONER OF SCHOOL AND PUBLIC LANDS.

A SEAT ON THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION IS ALSO ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR.

THAT'S THE GROUP THAT REGULATES ELECTRIC, GAS AND OTHER UTILITIES.

WE'RE HIGHLIGHTING TWO OF THOSE RACES ON TONIGHT'S PROGRAM.

THE FIRST IS THE RACE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

THE CANDIDATES ARE REPUBLICAN, MOW ANY JOHNSON AND DEMOCRAT TOM KUHL.

WE'LL HEAR FIRST FROM TOM KUHL.

HIS PLATFORM IS MAINTAINING VOTING OPTIONS AND ACCESS TO POLLS.

WHY DON'T YOU OUTLINE SOME OF THE KEY ISSUES THAT YOU SEE.

>> WELL, AS YOU PROBABLY KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS OUSTED THEIR INCUMBENTS, A MODERATES REPUBLICAN, BY THE NAME OF STEVE BARNETT IN FAVOR OF WHAT SEVERAL HAVE DESCRIBED AS AN ELECTION DENIER AND ALSO POSSIBLY A TRUMPIST IS THE WORD I'VE HEARD USED.

SHE DOESN'T PUT MUCH ON HER WEBSITE, A LITTLE HARD TO NAIL THAT DOWN BUT ONE OF THE CONCERNS WE HAVE IS THAT THERE IS A NATIONAL GROUP OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR SECRETARY OF STATE THAT HAVE FORMED AND AMONG THEIR GOALS IS THE ELIMINATION OF ABSENTEE BALLOTS OR AT LEAST VOTING BY MAIL.

THEY ALSO WANT TO DO AWAY WITH VOTING MACHINES AND I HAVE PAPER BALLOTS AND ONE-DAY ELECTIONS, AS WELL AS A NUMBER OF OTHER ITEMS.

AND, AGAIN, WE HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO GET A RESPONSE FROM THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR THAT POSITION ON WHETHER SHE REJEACTS THESE IDEAS BUT I STRONGLY REJECT THESE IDEAS.

ANOTHER ISSUE THAT CAME UP JUST THIS MONTH WAS THERE WAS A FEDERAL COURT RULING THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE HAD BEEN IN VIOLATION OF THE NATIONAL VOTING APPLICATION ACT IN TERMS OF DEALING WITH PARTICULARLY WITH RESERVATION, IT WAS FILED BY ROSEBUD OH FLORIDA La.

BASE -- OGLALA.

THEY HAVE NOT BEEN TAKING AN ACTIVE ROLE IN REGISTERING VOTERS AT THE LICENSE BUREAUS, THE DRIVER'S LICENSE BUREAUS AND AT SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICES WHICH IS REQUIRED BY THE NATIONAL ACT.

SOONED THE STATE IS UNDER DIRECTION TO BASICALLY EDUCATE THESE TWO DEPARTMENTS AND TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLE AND IT IS NOT JUST NATIVE AMERICANS THAT'S OF A CONCERN.

BECAUSE UNDER THE NATIONAL RULING, OR THE NATIONAL ACT, THE WILL DEPARTMENTS ARE REQUIRED, FOR INSTANCE, DRIVER'S LICENSE BRANCHES.

IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE PRESUMED THAT YOU'RE APPLYING FOR A VOTER'S REGISTRATION UNLESS YOU OPT OR THE.

ALSO, IF YOU CHANGE YOUR ADDRESS WITH THE LICENSE BUREAU, IT'S PRESUMED THAT IT IS AUTOMATICALLY CHANGED.

AND SO THOSE WERE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT THE NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE WILL BE WORKING ON TO IMPLEMENT AND I PROMISE TO WORK VERY ACTIVELY TO IMPLEMENT THOSE GOALS.

>> SAY MORE ABOUT YOUR VIEWS ON ABSENTEE VOTING OR VOTING BY MAIL AND WHY YOU SUPPORT THESE THINGS.

>> WELL, I THINK THE MORE PEOPLE WE CAN GET TO VOTE, THE BETTER THE ELECTION IS GOING TO BE AND I THINK WE NEED TO, FIRST OF ALL, REGISTER EVERYONE THAT WANTS TO BE REGISTERED AND SENDING OUT ABSENTEE BALLOTS FOR THOSE THAT ARE HOME-BOUNDS OR ARE JUST GOING TO BE OUT OF TOWN OR WHATEVER IS A PERFECTLY GOOD WAY TO DO IT.

THERE'S BEEN NOTHING SHOWN IN SOUTH DAKOTA THAT MAIL BALLOTS ARE NOT SECURE AND I WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO GET THE ABSENTEE VOTING APPLICATIONS COMPLETED, POSSIBLY EVEN GOING OUT TO SOME OF THE PLACES AND SIGNING THEM UP.

SO WE JUST NEED TO WORK ON THAT AREA.

THE OTHER THING THAT HAS COME UP IS WHETHER THE DROP BOXES, ONCE YOU GET THOSE VOTES ARE SECURE AND I THINK THEY'RE PERFECTLY SECURE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL COUNTIES THAT HAVE LIMITED THE OPTION -- THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO THOSE.

I KNOW, FOR INSTANCE, I BROUGHT MINE DOWN LAST ELECTION TO THE MINNEHAHA COUNTY COURTHOUSE AND HAD TO GO UP THE SECOND STORY TO FIND OUT WHERE THE BOX WAS.

I THINK THOSE SHOULD BE OPEN.

I THINK WE SHOULD EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY THAT WE COULD PLACE THEM AT POST OFFICES OR SOME SUGGESTED PERHAPS LIBRARIES WHERE WE CAN BE SURE THEY'RE SECURE BUT I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING TO EXPLORE.

BUT MY GOAL IS EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO VOTE, EITHER PARTY, ANY AFILLATION SHOULD HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT AS THE EASIEST WAY POSSIBLE.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT ONLINE VOTING OR ONLINE VOTERS REGISTRATION?

>> I WOULD SUPPORT ONLINE REGISTRATION.

I THINK WE NEED TO STUDY WHETHER ONLINE VOTING CAN BE SECURE AND IF IT'S BEEN SHOWN TO BE SECURE IN OTHER STATES, I WOULD BE WILLING TO EXPLORE IT.

I'M NOT HOUR HOW THE LEGISLATURE WOULD REACT AND OF COURSE THEIR PERMISSION WOULD BE REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT ANY NEEDED CHANGES.

BUT, AGAIN, ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF OUR CANDIDATES AND TO GET THEM TO SELECT THE CANDIDATE OF THEIR CHOICE, WE SHOULD BE DOING.

>> KUHL'S OPPONENTS IS REPUBLICAN MOW ANY JOHNSON.

SHE WAS NOMINATED DURING THE SOUTH DAKOTA REPUBLICAN PARTY CONVENTION TAKING THE PLACE OF STEVE BARNETT.

HER PLATFORM FOCUSES ON ELECTION INTEGRITY AND SECURITY.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY ARE THE TOP KEY ISSUES FOR YOU IN YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR SECRETARY OF STATE?

>> ONE IS, I WANT TO BRING THE POST-ELECTION REVIEW.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT SOUTH DAKOTA, ALONG WITH FOUR OTHER STATES HAS NOT DONE AND I KNOW THIS WOULD BRING THE TRUST OF THE SOUTH DAKOTA VOTERS THAT THEY KNOW THAT WHO THEY VOTED FOR IS HOW IT'S TABULATED.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO WORK WITH THE LEGISLATURE AND TRY TO BRING, LIKE, A PERCENTAGE OF THE PRECINCTS, LIKE A RANDOM PERCENTAGE, MAYBE 3%, THAT WOULD BE DECIDED AT THE LEGISLATURE, AND THAT -- WHAT IT IS IS THEY CAN HAND COUNT AND USE THE TABULATOR AND THEN IF THEY MATCH UP, WE'RE GOOD TO GO.

IF NOT, THEN WE TAKE MORE OF THE PRECINCT AND THIS JUST BRINGS THE TRUST OF THE CITIZENS, YOU KNOW, FOR THEIR VOTING.

>> INTERESTING.

SO IS THAT SOMETHING THAT'S NOT HAPPENING EVEN AT A COUNTY LEVEL OR ON MORE LOCAL LEVELS CURRENTLY?

>> CORRECT, IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IT NEVER HAS.

>> INTERESTING.

>> UH-HUH.

>> SO ARE THERE OTHER WAYS THAT YOU HOPE TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF TRUST IN OUR ELECTION PROCESS?

>> YES.

I THINK VOTER EDUCATION.

LIKE I KNOW HERE IN SIOUX FALLS, DURING THE PRIMARY, THERE WERE SOME PEOPLE THAT SEVERED THE WRONG BALLOT OR THEY EVEN VOTED SO THEN ONCE YOU HAVE A VOTE, YOU'RE DONE.

SO IF YOU HAVE A PERSON WHO KNOWS CAN PRINT OUT THEIR SAMPLE BALLOT -- ACTUALLY, ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S WEBSITE, IT'S SDSOS.GROFF AND THE VOTER INFORMATION PORTAL AND THAT WAY YOU CAN SEE WHERE YOUR POLLING PLACE IS, BECAUSE THAT'S CHANGED WITH THE REDISTRICTING.

SO THAT GIVES THE VOTER MORE INFORMATION THAT YOU GO IN THERE READY TO CAST YOUR BALLOT.

AND THAT WAY YOU CAN ALSO SEE WHAT YOUR BALLOT IS AND THOSE, IF THEY WOULD HAVE DONE THAT AND THEY RECEIVED THAT BALLOT, THEY WOULD HAVE KNOWN IT WAS THE WRONG ONE, SO ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS JUST GO UP TO THE ELECTION WORKER, ASK FOR A DIFFERENT BALLOT AND THEN YOU WOULD KNOW YOU HAVE THE CORRECT ONE.

SO VOTER EDUCATION IS KEY, ALSO.

>> YEAH.

YOUR OPPONENT IN OUR CONVERSATION WITH HIM, HE CALLED YOU AN ELECTION DENIER AND I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO THAT.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS FREE AND FAIR ELECTION?

>> WELL, ONE THING IS PRESIDENT TRUMP DID WIN SOUTH DAKOTA BUT JOE BIDEN DID WIN THE KEY STATES SO HE IS OUR PRESIDENT.

FOR ME, I WASN'T IN THE OFFICE AT THE TIME SO I WANT TO MOVE FORWARD.

I WANT TO HAVE PEOPLE MOVING FORWARD TO THE PRIMARY AND TO THE GENERAL AND MAKING SURE THAT WHAT THEIR VOTES COUNT, WHO THEY VOTE FOR IS WHO -- WHAT'S TABULATED.

SO I'M JUST PUSHING FORWARD FOR THAT.

>> I'M ALSO CURIOUS ABOUT YOUR OPINION ABOUT ONLINE VOTER REGISTRATION AND SOME OPTIONS, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SAY ON THAT?

>> MY STANDS IS I'M AGAINST ONLINE VOTING AND AGAINST VOTER FRAUD.

I BELIEVE THAT PAPER BALLOTS WHICH IS WONDERFUL THAT SOUTH DAKOTA HAS PAPER BALLOTS AND WE ALSO HAVE VOTER I.D.

SO THAT PARTS IS GOOD AND SECURE.

>> I WATCHED A VIDEO ON YOUR Facebook PAGE A FEW WEEKS AGO, SOMETHING YOU SAID WAS YOU WANTED TO BE EASY TO VOTE AND HARD TO CHEAT.

>> YES, YES.

>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE FOR YOU?

>> WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IS I WANT TO MAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY AVAILABLE TO VOTERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND DOING COMPLETE AUDITOR TRAINING AND POLL WATCHERS SO WE CAN BRING THAT BACK INTO THE OFFICE.

THAT WAY THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS THE LEGAL WAY AND FOLLOWING THE STATE LAW, SO I KNOW WE NEED TO DO MORE TRAINING FOR THE AUDITORS BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD-WORKING PEOPLE.

THEY WORK FOR YOU AND THE COUNTY.

YOU'VE ELECTED THEM, THE COUNTY AND THEY'RE WORKING FOR YOU, SO I WANT TO GIVE THEM THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

>> CAN YOU SAY A BIT MORE ABOUT THE ROLE OF POLL WATCHERS AND HOW THAT INFORMED YOUR VISION?

>> YES, A LOT OF THEM, SOME ARE PAID AND SOME ARE VOLUNTEERS AND A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN HAVE A REPUBLICAN OR A DEMOCRAT BECAUSE THERE IS A BIPARTISAN ISSUE.

WE NEED TO HAVE THEM AT THE ELECTIONS AND THEN THEY CAN HELP THE VOTERS WHEN THEY COME IN, SO IF SOMEONE IS OUT THERE AND WANTS TO VOLUNTEER, JUST REACH OUT TO YOUR COUNTIES AUDITOR BECAUSE I WOULD RATHER HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT WANT TO VOLUNTEER THAN NOT ENOUGH.

YEAH, THIS IS YOUR ELECTION, IT'S WE THE PEOPLE.

>> I KNOW ACCESS TO VOTING FOR NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE FOR YOU.

SAY MORE ABOUT THAT, WHY IS THAT SO KEY TO YOU?

>> WELL, FOR THOSE THAT DON'T KNOW, I HAVE THREE ADOPTED NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN.

I HAVE TWO THAT ARE ENROLLED, CHEYENNE RIVER SIOUX TRIBE, THEY'RE 19 YEARS OLD AND THEY GOT TO REGISTER TO VOTE RIGHT AFTER THEIR 18th WILL BIRTHDAY.

THEY VOTED IN THE PRIMARY, THEY DIDN'T GET TO VOTE FOR ME BECAUSE IT WAS THE CONVENTION WHERE I WAS NOMINATED BUT THEY'RE EXCITED TO VOTES FOR THEIR MOM IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND I HAVE ANOTHER DAUGHTER WHO IS ENROLLED OGLALA DAKOTA, SO WHAT I WANT TO DO IS HELP THEM, I KNOW THERE'S ISSUES WHERE THE POLLING PLACE IS A LONG WAYS AWAY SO WE NEED TO WORK WITH THEM TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EASY FOR THEM TO VOTE.

>> WHAT ARE -- HAVE YOU HAD SOME CONVERSATIONS WITH, MAYBE, TRIBAL GOVERNMENTS OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN -- ON THOSE LANDS TO GET AT SOME OF THOSE ISSUES YET?

>> I HAVE NOT, ONLY BECAUSE I'M NOT THE ELECTED OFFICIAL YET SO I'M JUST A CONCERNED CITIZEN THAT HAS NATIVE AMERICAN CHILDREN BUT I'M READY AND WILLING TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> I WONDER IF YOU CAN SAY A BIT MORE ABOUT BRINGING LAWMAKERS ON BOARD TO CONDUCT THESE POST-ELECTION REVIEWS AND THESE POST-ELECTION AUDITS.

DO YOU HAVE A SENSE OF WIDESPREAD SUPPORT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT?

>> I ACTUALLY DO, ELECTION INTEGRITY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND I KNOW WITH THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMING UP, WE WANT TO WORK ON ONE RESIDENCY BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE MAIL FORWARDING BUSINESSES, YOU'RE ONLY HERE 24 HOURS AND THEN YOU CAN GET YOUR -- YOU CAN VOTE, YOU CAN GET YOUR TAGS AND YOU CAN EVEN GET A PISTOL PERMIT SO I KNOW THAT WE NEED TO WORK A LITTLE BIT WITH THAT ON RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS FOR 30 DAYS FOR PEOPLE TO GET THEIR PISTOL PERMIT REGULARLY, THINGS LIKE THAT, SO I THINK WE NEED TO HONE IN AND DO A LITTLE BIT MORE WITH RESIDENCY.

>> >> YOU CAN SEE MY FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH MONAE JOHNSON AND TOM KUHL ONLINE AT SDBP.ORG/ELECTION.

THE SECOND RACE WE'LL HIGHLIGHT IS A RACE FOR THE SEAT ON THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

THE CANDIDATES ARE DEMOCRAT JIM BARTH AND REPUBLICAN KRIS NELSON.

WE'LL START WITH CRIPPLE BART, FORMER MINNEHAHA COUNTY COMMISSIONER WHOSE PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE POTENTIAL USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN TO GAIN LAND FOR A PROPOSED CO2 PIPELINE.

>> WHEN YOU'RE TALKING TO MAYBE YOUNGER OR FIRST-TIME VOTERS ORS PLUGGED INTO THE CIVIL PROCESS, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE ROLE OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION TO THOSE FOLKS?

>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION TTHEY REGULATE UTILITIES AND PROTECT THE CONSUMER, OR THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO.

I THINK THEY COULD DO A BETTER JOB.

SO WHEN THERE COMES A PROJECT LIKE A WIND TURBINE OR A GAS LINE, IT GOES TO THEM TO BE APPROVED.

AND AT THE SAME TIME, IF YOU HAVE COMPLAINT WITH YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANIES, OR YOUR GAS COMPANY, THEY ARE THE ESCALATION POINT FOR YOUR COMPLAINT.

MEANWHILE, THEY REGULATE GRAIN ELEVATORS AND STUFF LIKE THAT, AS WELL, PROTECTING HOPEFULLY A GRAIN PRODUCERS, ET CETERA.

SO THERE -- AND THEY GET WELL-PAID, THEY'RE IN PEER, THERE ARE THREE OF -- IN PIERRE, THERE ARE THREE OF THEM.

ONE OF THEM IS UP EVERY TWO YEARS, THEY HAVE A SIX-YEAR TERM.

THEY'RE PRETTY WELL-COMPENSATED AND I'M HOPING TO BECOME ONE OF THEM.

>> SO FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO ARE PLUGGED INTO THE NEW CYCLE, THEY MAY BE WELL AWARE THAT A BIG PIECE OF THIS CAMPAIGN SO FAR HAS BEEN ISSUES RELATED TO EMINENT DOMAIN AND CO2 PIPELINE.

CAN YOU -- FOR THOSE OF US NOT ENGAGED IN THAT, BRING US UP TO SPEEDS.

>> AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, I REMEMBER WHEN DAN LEADERMAN CAME IN FIRST TO PITCH THE IDEA OF THE CO2 PIPELINES TO THE MINNEHAHA COUNTY COMMISSION.

THERE ARE ACTUALLY TWO PIPELINES PROPOSED ACROSS MINNEHAHA COUNTY.

AND I THOUGHT, OH, THIS IS INTERESTING.

AND AS I LOOKED INTO IT MORE AND MORE, I BECAME CONCERNED ABOUT THE DANGERS OF IT AND ALSO THE DAMAGE THAT IT WILL DO TO OUR LAND.

THE FACT THAT DAN LEDERMAN IS AN EMPLOYEE OF SUMMIT CARBON SOLUTIONS AND A REGISTERED AGENT OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA ALSO TOOK ME BACK A HALF STEP.

BUT I'VE SEEN VIDEOS OF THESE PIPELINES EXPLODING AND I AM AWARE OF AN ACCIDENT IN CAMEROON WHERE A LAKE FULL OF CO2 TURNED UPSIDE DOWN IN A MILLION AND A HALF TONS OF CO2 WAS RELEASED, KILLING 1748 PEOPLE AND A FEW THOUSAND ANIMALS.

IT'S A DANGEROUS GAS, IT'S NOT EXPLOSIVE BUT THEY USE IT TO KILL THE PIGS AT SMITHFIELD, THEY USE IT TO EUTHANIZE TURKEYS THAT ARE INFECTED WITH AVIAN FLU, AND SO THERE'S THAT CONCERN BECAUSE, POTENTIALLY, A BREAK IN THE LINE, A CLOUD OF HEAVIER THAN AIR GAS COULD MOVE SOME MILES AND SUFFOCATE PEOPLE.

YOUR AUTOMOBILE WON'T WORK IN IT BECAUSE THERE'S NO OXYGEN SO UP IN LEOLA, UP IN McPHERSON COUNTY, A RESIDENT THERE HAS A PLUME MODEL FOR A PUMPING STATION NORTHWEST OF THEM THAT THE CLOUD COULD GO OVER LEOLA FOR HOURS AND DURING THAT TIME, NO AMBULANCE, NO FIRE, NO POLICE, YOU'D BE POTENTIALLY A HUGE LOSS OF LIFE.

THAT CONCERNS THEM, CONCERNS ME.

>> YEAH.

AND EXPLAIN AGAIN HOW THAT EMINENT DOMAIN ALSO PLAYS INTO THIS.

>> OH, WOKE.

YOU KNOW, MY OPPONENTS CHRIS NELSON SAYS THAT HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH EMINENT DOMAIN THAT IT DOESN'T APPEAR IN THE STATUTE GOVERNING THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

BUT THAT PIPELINE, ONCE APPROVED BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION CAN TAKE YOU TO COURT AND SEIZE YOUR PROPERTY TO USE AS THEY WISH.

SO WITHOUT HIS PERMISSION, THEY DON'T HAVE IT.

WITH HIS PERMISSION, THEY CAN GO TO COURT AND TAKE YOUR LAND, AND SO I THINK HE'S NOT QUITE TELLING THE TRUTH WHEN HE SAYS HE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH IT.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER KEY ISSUES YOU SEE?

>> I TAKE A LOOK AT, LIKE I MENTIONED, GRAIN ELEVATORS.

AN THE BONDING ON THAT.

THE ELEVATOR MIGHT GO BEAK RUPT OWING THE FARMERS MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND THE BONDS IS, LIKE, $5,000.

THAT WON'T PAY ANYBODY BACK.

SO THAT NEEDS SOME REFORM.

AND I THINK THAT CHRIS HAS BEEN THERE 11 YEARS, HE'S HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUT IN SOME OF THESE REFORMS BUT HE'S NOT SHOWN ANY LEADERSHIP ON IT.

HE COULD REFORM THE EMINENT DOMAIN LAWS.

HE WAS ASKED THAT, WHY HAVEN'T YOU DONE ANYTHING, EMINENT DOMAIN NEVER AFFECTED HIS LAND.

WELL, YOSTLED THAT TO BE A VERY ASTUTE ANSWER BY SOMEONE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE A LEADER.

>> AND IS THAT SOMETHING THAT, AS PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSIONER, YOU WOULD BRING TO THE LEGISLATURE TO DO?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK THAT THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF THAT TYPE OF ACTIVITY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS.

YOU KNOW, I WORKED IN A REGULATED MONOPOLY, THE TELEPHONE COMPANY AND, YOU KNOW, MY COMPANY HAD WAYS THAT THEY WORKED AROUND THE PUC TO MAKE PROFIT PUT, YOU KNOW, THE PUC MIGHT MAKE A RULING THAT THE PHONE COMPANY HAD TO HOOK UP THAT REMOTE RANCH NO MATTER WHAT THE COST, AND THEY WOULD DO IT.

BUT IN THE MEANTIME, THEY PLAYED PLENTY OF MONEY DOING IT.

>> BART IS CHALLENGING REPUBLICAN CHRIS NELSON WHO'S THE CURRENT CHAIR OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES' COMMISSION.

HE FORMERLY SERVED AS SECRETARY OF STATE IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND HAS SPENT THE LAST 12 YEARS ON THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

HE'S PROUD OF THE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND OVER THAT TIME AND WANTS TO KEEP UTILITY PRICES AFFORDABLE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER KEY ISSUES THAT YOU SEE FOR THE PUC?

>> YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF THINGS.

OBVIOUSLY WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF THE PUC, THEY THINK OF ELECTRIC AND UTILITY RATES SO THAT'S ALWAYS A FOCUS OF OURS AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A REALLY GOOD JOB OF THAT, AS I LOOK BACK OVER THE LAST SIX YEARS ON THE PUC, FOR THOSE ELECTRICITY COMPANIES THAT WE REGULATE, WE'VE HELD THE RATE INCREASES TO LESS THAN HALF THE RATE OF INFLATION DURING THAT TIME, SO WE'VE DONE A GOOD JOB OF KEEPING A LID ON THOSE PRICES, BUT IN THIS INFLATIONARY TIME, THAT'S GOING TO GET MORE CHALLENGING AND I APPRECIATE THAT CHALLENGE AND I WANT TO USE THE EXPERIENCE I'VE GOT TO WORK ON BEHALF OF THE CONSUMERS IN THIS STATE TO KEEP A LID ON THOSE PRICES.

THE OTHER AREA THAT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY IMPORTANT IS SIMPLY THE RELIABILITY OF OUR ELECTRICITY SYSTEM.

YOU KNOW, WE THINK BACK TO WINTER STORM A YEAR AND A HALF AGO WHEN WE LOST COMPLETE POWER IN TEXAS AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, WE HAD ROLLING BLACKOUTS IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IN PARTS OF OUR STATE AND WE'VE HAD OTHER WARNINGS THAT THE ELECTRICITY GRID IS GOING THROUGH A REAL GROWING PHASE, A CHANGING PHASE AND WHERE WE GET OUR GENERATION, AND SO THAT'S HAVING SOME CHALLENGES WITH RELIABILITY AND I WANT TO FOCUS ON THAT BECAUSE I DON'T EVER WANT US TO HAVE ROLLING BLACKOUTS AGAIN IN THIS STATE.

I THINK PEOPLE DESERVE BETTER THAN THAT.

>> AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT FOR THE BY YOUR OPPONENT, JEFF BARTH, RELATES TO CO2 PIPELINE AND ISSUES RELATED TO EMINENT DOMAIN.

WHAT ARE YOU ABLE TO SHARE ABOUT THAT PROCESS?

>> SURE.

SO UNDER STATE LAW, THE PUC IS THE PERMITTING AUTHORITY FOR THE CERTAIN LARGE PROJECTS, THINK YOUR LARGE WIND FARMS, LARGE ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINES, OIL PIPELINES AND CARBON DIE OBJECTION ODD PIPELINES SO BEFORE A COMPANY CAN BUILD ANY OF THOSE TYPE OF PROJECTS, THEY NEEDS A PERMANENT FROM THE PUC.

AND STATE LAW LAYS OUT THE CRITERIA FOR WHETHER OR NOT A COMPANY CAN GET OR NOT GET A PERMIT.

THE JOB OF THE PUC IS TO EVALUATE THE FACTS, THE EVIDENCE, THE TESTIMONY THAT IS PRESENTED BY THE COMPANY AND IN MANY CASES BY OPPONENTS TO THOSE PROJECTS, EVALUATING THAT EVIDENCE AND DERMINGT WHETHER OR NOT UNDER THE CRITERIA IN STATE LAW, THAT PROJECT IS ENTITLED TO A PERMIT OR NOT.

THAT'S NOT AN EASY PROCESS, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GETS SOMETHING CONTENTIOUS LIKE A CORE BAN DIOXIDE PIPELINE WHERE YOU HAVE TWO VERY DIE VERGE INTERESTS VIEWS AND SO IN THE CASE OF A CARBON DIOXIDE PIPELINE, WE'RE TALKING A PROCESS THAT WILL BE A YEAR OR LONGER.

WE'LL GO THROUGH A LOT OF DISCOVERY, A LOT OF EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY WILL COME IN, WE'LL HAVE A FORMAL HEARING WHICH IS A VERY COURT-LIKE, TRIAL-LIKE PROCESS WHERE ALL THE SIDES WILL BE ABLE TO PRESENT THEIR CASES, CROSS-EXAMINE WITNESSES OF THE OTHER SIDES TO GETS TO THE TRUTH OF THE MATTER AND THEN THE COMMISSIONERS, THEN, WILL TAKE THAT EVIDENCE AND MAKE A DECISION BASED ON THE CRITERIA AND STATE LAW.

SO THAT'S REALLY A ROLE THAT WE PLAY AS AN UNBIASED JUDICIAL SYSTEM WHERE WE EVALUATE THE CASE FROM AN UNBIASED PERSPECTIVE AS REQUIRED BY LAW AND THEN MAKE OUR DECISION BASED ON THE LAW.

NOW, YOU ALSO MENTIONED EMINENT DOMAIN AND THAT'S OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING THAT'S BEING TALKED ABOUT FREQUENTLY AS IT RELATES TO THIS PROJECT AND OTHER SIMILAR PROJECTS, AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUC DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE, DOES NOT HAVE JURISDICTION UNDER STATE LAW AS RELATES TO EMINENT DOMAIN AND SO WHAT DO I MEAN BY THAT?

STATE LAW LAYS OUT THE PARAMETERS FOR EMINENT DOMAIN.

IT SAYS WHO CAN EXERCISE IT, UNDER WHAT CONDITIONS IT CAN BE EXERCISED AND THEN IF THERE ARE DISPUTES BETWEEN SOMEBODY THAT WANTS TO EXERCISE IT AND A LAND OWNER, THEN LAW SAYS THOSE DISPUTES ARE ARBITRATED IN THE CIRCUIT COURTS AND SUPREME COURT SYSTEM.

AND RIGHT NOW AS IT RELATES TO AT LEAST ONE OF THE CARBON PIPELINES, THERE'S OVER 20 LAWSUITS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN FILED RELATING TO EMINENT DOMAIN AND THOSE ARE BEING WORKED OUT IN THE COURT SYSTEM.

NOT IN FRONT OF THE PUC BECAUSE WE SIMPLY DON'T HAVE JURISDICTION.

I THINK ONE OF THE AREAS WHERE MAYBE PEOPLE GET A LITTLE CONFUSED ON THAT IS IF YOU GO TO THE STATE OF IOWA, OUR COUNTERPARTS AT THE IOWA UTILITIES BOARD, THEY DO HAVE SOME JURISDICTION TO DETERMINE WHO CAN AND CAN'T USE EMINENT DOMAIN AND SO IF FOLKS FOLLOW THE NEWS DOWN THERE, THEY MAY SEE COMMISSIONERS DOWN THERE ARE MAKING THOSE KIND OF DECISIONS.

THE REASON IS THEY'VE GOT A DIFFERENT SET OF STATE LAWS THAN WHAT WE DO HERE.

>> INTERESTING.

SO TO THAT END, I WANT TO GIVE YOU A CHANCE TO RESPONDS TO SOMETHING THAT Mr. BARTHSAID IN OUR CONVERSATION.

ALIGNING WITH WHAT YOU JUST OUTLINED.

HOWEVER, HE USED THE WORDS THAT HE WASN'T SURE THAT YOU WERE BEING COMPLETELY HONEST ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS IT RELATES TO EMINENT DOMAIN BECAUSE EVEN IF THAT'S NOT THE PUC'S DECISION DIRECTLY, IF THE PUC APPROVES SOMETHING, THEN THAT OPENS UP THAT CHANCE FOR THAT CONFLICTS BETWEEN A LANDS OWNER AND ANOTHER ENTITY.

HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO RESPOND TO THAT?

>> SURE, WELL, I GUESS I WOULD MAYBE EXPANDS UPON WHAT I'VE ALREADY SAID.

WE'VE NOT ISSUED ANY KIND OF PERMIT YET AND, YET, THERE ARE ALREADY 20 LAWSUITS DEALING WITH EMINENT DOMAIN BETWEEN THE COMPANIES AND LAND OWNERS AND SO, YOU KNOW, THAT CONFLICT IS ALREADY THERE AND ALREADY PLAYING OUT IN THE COURT SYSTEM AND BEING ARBITRATED THERE AND THE PUC HAS NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO MAKING A DECISION YES OR NO ON A PERMIT.

SO, AS I SAID, THAT WHOLE ISSUE OF EMINENT DOMAIN IS LAID OUT IN STATE LAW AS TO WHO CAN, CAN'T AND UNDER WHAT PARAMETERS.

>> AGAIN, YOU CAN SEE MY FULL CONVERSATIONS WITH CHRIS NELSON AND JEFF BARTHONLINE AT SBPB.ORG/ELECTION.

THAT'S ALSO WHERE YOU CAN FIND THE CONVERSATIONS WE DIDN'T HAVE TIME FOR TONIGHT WITH CANDIDATES FOR STATE AUDITOR AND STATE TREASURER AND THE REST OF SDPB'S ELECTION COMING.

JOINING US AGAIN ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, WHEN SDPB PARTNERS WITH DAKOTA NEWS NOW FOR THE SENATE DEBATE.

REPUBLICAN JOHN THUNE, DEMOCRAT BRIAN BREAKS AND INDEPENDENT LAURA FISHER JOIN US HERE.

IT'S AT 8:00 p.m. CENTRAL, 7:00 p.m. MOUNTAIN.

I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHIN