♪ >> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS YEAR'S FIRST STATEHOUSE EDITION OF "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'M LORI WALSH, IN TONIGHT FOR JACKIE HENDRY.

THIS WEEK MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE 2022 SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

OVER THE 40-DAY SESSION, LAWMAKERS GATHER IN PIERRE TO DEBATE FUTURE LAWS THAT IMPACT OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WITH BILLIONS OF SURPLUS DOLLARS IN PLAY THIS YEAR, THERE'S PLENTY AT STAKE.

IN THIS WEEK'S INSTALLMENT OF "WHY IS THAT," SDPB'S SETH TUPPER FOLLOWS THE MONEY.

TONIGHT, YOU'LL ALSO SEE A HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THE SPEECH OUTLINED GOVERNOR NOEM'S LONG LIST OF PRIORITIES FROM BANNING ABORTIONS ONCE A HEARTBEAT IS DETECTED TO ELIMINATING A BINGO TAX.

BUT NONE OF THAT HAPPENS WITHOUT THE LEGISLATURE.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GARY CAMMACK AND HOUSE MINORITY LEADER JAMIE SMITH WILL JOIN US LIVE FROM THE CAPITOL TO DISCUSS THEIR PRIORITIES.

AND LATER, LEGAL DIRECTOR FOR THE ACLU OF SOUTH DAKOTA EXPLAINS WHAT'S CAUGHT HER EYE AS LAWMAKERS FILE THEIR BILLS.

BUT FIRST, WE'LL HEAR FROM SDPB'S POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY REPORTER LEE STRUBINGER.

WE SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT HIS KEY TAKE-AWAYS FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

LEE STRUBINGER, WE HAVE HEARD NOW FROM THE GOVERNOR, FOR THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

WE HAVE HEARD FROM THE SOUTH DAKOTA CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT.

FROM THE JUDICIAL BRANCH.

WE'VE HEARD FROM OUR TRIBAL LEADERS WITH THE STATE OF THE TRIBES.

AND NOW IT IS TIME FOR THE LEGISLATORS TO REALLY SHINE.

BUT THEY ALSO HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAYS THEIR MARCHING ORDERS SHOULD BE.

SO GIVE US AN IDEA OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SORT OF LAID OUT FOR LAWMAKERS TO TACKLE.

AND THEN HOW LAWMAKERS ARE RESPONDING TO IT.

>> YEAH, SO WE HEARD A LOT OF THOSE IDEAS THAT THE GOVERNOR HINTED AT DURING HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE IDEAS HAD KIND OF BEEN HINTED AT OVER THE LAST YEAR.

YOU KNOW, RECALL, IF YOU WILL, THE VETO THAT SHE ISSUED IN MARCH ON THE BILL THAT WOULD PREVENT TRANSGENDER GIRL ATHLETES FROM PLAYING ON GIRLS' SPORTS TEAMS.

YOU KNOW, ONCE THAT VETO WAS KIND OF UPHELD FOLLOWING VETO DAY LAST YEAR, SHE, YOU KNOW, SAID THAT SHE WAS GOING TO CHAMPION THAT ISSUE.

HER BILL HAS ACTUALLY DROPPED, AND IT'S ACTUALLY SCHEDULED TO BE HEARD ON FRIDAY IN A SENATE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.

IT DID DIE IN THE SENATE LAST YEAR.

SO IT'LL BE KIND OF INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS THIS YEAR.

YOU KNOW, OTHER BILLS THAT THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT SHE WANTED TO SEE HAVE HAPPENED THAT SHE'S GOING TO BE PROPOSING THIS YEAR, ONE WOULD BE A BILL TO MAKE PERMANENT AN EXECUTIVE ORDER THAT SHE ISSUED NOT TOO LONG AGO, WHICH WOULD PREVENT MEDICAL ABORTIONS OUTSIDE OF ABORTION FACILITIES.

IN THE STATE, THERE'S ONLY ONE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

IT'S IN SIOUX FALLS.

ANOTHER ABORTION-RELATED BILL THAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS IS ONE THAT WOULD -- THAT WOULD BAN ABORTION AFTER SIX WEEKS.

SHE'S CALLING IT A HEARTBEAT BILL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, VARIOUS OTHER PROPOSALS THAT SHE HAS ASKED LEGISLATORS TO TAKE UP ARE SOCIAL CONSERVATIVE BILLS, SOME THAT WOULD BLOCK CERTAIN -- TEACHING CERTAIN CONCEPTS IN STATE EDUCATION, TWO OF THOSE BEING CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND ACTION CIVICS.

SO WE'LL BE HEARING A LOT MORE ABOUT WHAT THAT IS AND WHAT LEGISLATORS WILL VOTE ON THAT.

THOSE HAVE PRETTY STRONG SUPPORT.

THOSE CONCEPTS AT LEAST HAVE PRETTY STRONG SUPPORT IN THE REPUBLICAN-CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE.

SO THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE, YOU KNOW, THERE WILL BE DEBATE ON THOSE BILLS FOR SURE.

AND WE'LL JUST, I GUESS, SEE WHAT HAPPENS WITH THOSE AS THEY GO THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.

>> SO ABORTION HAS BEEN AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN TACKLED BY THE STATE'S LEGISLATURE BEFORE, AND IT'S ACTUALLY BEEN REFERRED TO VOTERS.

NOW GOVERNOR NOEM IS SAYING SHE WANTS TO BAN ABORTIONS DURING THIS EMBRYO STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT.

ARE YOU HEARING ANY, YOU KNOW, CHATTER AMONG LAWMAKERS TO SAY THEY WANT TO BE ON THE SIDE OF SOMETHING, BUT THEY ALSO KNOW THAT THERE'S A HIGH CHANCE THAT THAT WOULD GET REFERRED TO VOTERS AND END UP ON THE BALLOT?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THAT ALL DEPENDS ON WHERE, YOU KNOW, CERTAIN ABORTION LOBBYISTS IN THE STATE COME DOWN ON A CERTAIN ISSUE.

AND THE KEY GROUP TO WATCH IS SOUTH DAKOTA RIGHT TO LIFE.

IF THIS IS A BILL THAT THEY SUPPORT, THEN LEGISLATORS BY AND LARGE ARE GOING TO GO ALONG WITH THIS.

A LOT OF LAWMAKERS HERE IN THIS BUILDING ARE PROUD OF THEIR VOTING RECORD ALONGSIDE RIGHT TO LIFE.

AND GENERALLY GO ALONG WITH WHATEVER THAT GROUP, WHICHEVER WAY THAT GROUP COMES DOWN ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

>> AND I THINK THAT BRINGS UP ANOTHER REALLY GOOD QUESTION.

FOR PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE NATION, BECAUSE GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM, AFTER THE STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS HAS ALREADY BEEN ON NATIONAL NEWS OUTLETS, AND PEOPLE ARE SAYING FROM THE CONSERVATIVE SIDE OF THINGS THAT SHE'S ON THE FRONT OF THE SO-CALLED CULTURE WARS, SO SHE IS REALLY TAKING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO THE NATION.

DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT LEGISLATORS ARE ALSO PAYING ATTENTION TO HOW THEY MIGHT SHOW UP IN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE UNION?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU DEFINITELY GOT A SENSE OF THAT, YOU KNOW, JUST HOW STRONGLY WORDED HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS WAS.

A LOT OF DEMOCRATS WERE FAIRLY CRITICAL OF THAT, AND FELT THAT THE SPEECH WAS VERY POLITICAL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, RECALL, IF YOU WILL, THE APPLAUSE THAT WAS GIVEN FOR THE GOVERNOR IN HER ADDRESS AND WHAT IT IS THAT SHE BROUGHT UP DURING THAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK A LOT OF CONSERVATIVES ARE VERY EXCITED ABOUT WHAT IT IS THAT SHE'S PUSHING FOR.

AND THOSE ISSUES ARE REALLY NEAR AND DEAR TO A LOT OF LAWMAKERS IN THIS BUILDING.

SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE TONE THAT SHE STRUCK IN THIS SPEECH IS SOMETHING THAT LAWMAKERS HAD HOPED TO HEAR, AND WHAT THEY GOT.

>> THAT IS SDPB'S POLITICS AND PUBLIC POLICY REPORTER, LEE STRUBINGER.

LATER IN THIS HOUR, WE'LL HAVE MORE FROM STRUBINGER ABOUT THE LONG JOURNEY TO LEGALIZE CANNABIS IN THE STATE.

>> GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM'S PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023 IS OVERFLOWING, THANKS IN PART TO PANDEMIC FEDERAL AID.

IN THIS INSTALLMENT OF "WHY IS THAT, SDPB'S SETH TUPPER EXPLAINS HOW -- AND WHY -- THE STATE RECEIVED BILLIONS IN FEDERAL ASSISTANCE AND WHERE SOME OF THAT MONEY IS GOING.

>> SOUTH DAKOTA'S BUDGET IS BRIMMING WITH FEDERAL MONEY.

GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM ACKNOWLEDGED THAT DURING HER BUDGET ADDRESS TO LAWMAKERS LAST MONTH.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER KIND OF REVENUE THAT'S COME INTO SOUTH DAKOTA THIS YEAR.

AND THAT IS REVENUE THAT'S NOT BROUGHT HERE IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE.

IT'S A GIANT HANDOUT FROM WASHINGTON, D.C. >> "GIANT" MIGHT BE AN UNDERSTATEMENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COUNCIL HAS ADDED IT ALL UP.

IT SAYS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SENT MORE THAN $11 BILLION OF TOTAL PANDEMIC AID TO SOUTH DAKOTA PEOPLE, BUSINESSES, AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES SINCE MARCH OF 2020.

HOW MUCH MONEY IS THAT?

WELL, IN PRE-PANDEMIC TIMES, IT WOULD'VE BEEN ENOUGH TO FUND ALL OF STATE GOVERNMENT FOR ALMOST THREE YEARS.

DURING HER BUDGET ADDRESS, GOVERNOR NOEM DEFENDED HER ACCEPTANCE OF THE MONEY.

>> I HAVE HAD PEOPLE ASK ME FROM TIME TO TIME, "KRISTI, WHY DON'T YOU JUST GIVE THE FEDERAL MONEY BACK?

AFTER ALL, IT'S TAXPAYERS' MONEY."

THAT WAS MY FIRST THOUGHT, TOO, TO REFUSE THE MONEY.

BUT HERE'S THE PROBLEM.

GIVING THAT MONEY BACK MEANS THAT MONEY GOES TO ANOTHER STATE.

>> SO HOW DID THE MONEY PILE UP SO HIGH?

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPROVED IT ALL IN JUST 12 MONTHS, FROM MARCH 2020 TO MARCH 2021.

CONGRESS PASSED AN ALPHABET-SOUP OF SIX BILLS DURING THAT TIME TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH AND ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC.

THE FIRST FIVE BILLS ALL PASSED THROUGH CONGRESS IN 2020 AND WERE SIGNED BY THEN-PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP.

THE CORONAVIRUS PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, THE CPRSAA, GOT THINGS ROLLING WITH ALMOST $6 MILLION FOR SOUTH DAKOTA.

THEN CAME THE FAMILIES FIRST CORONAVIRUS RESPONSE ACT, THE FFCRA.

THAT BROUGHT ABOUT $65 MILLION TO THE STATE.

THE BIGGEST OF ALL THE BILLS WAS THE CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT, KNOWN AS THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT.

IT SENT ALMOST $7 BILLION TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

THEN CONGRESS PASSED THE PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM AND HEALTH CARE ENHANCEMENT ACT, THE PPP/HCEA.

THAT WAS WORTH $63 MILLION TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

FINALLY, IN DECEMBER 2020, A CONSOLIDATED APPROPRIATIONS ACT ALLOCATED ALMOST $650 MILLION TO THE STATE.

THAT WAS THE LAST OF THE FIVE PANDEMIC RELIEF BILLS PASSED DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

THERE WERE NO VOTES AGAINST ANY OF THOSE FIVE BILLS FROM SOUTH DAKOTA'S THREE MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, WHO ARE ALL REPUBLICANS.

IN MARCH 2020, SENATOR JOHN THUNE PRAISED THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT, WHICH HAD A TOTAL NATIONWIDE PRICE TAG OF ABOUT $2 TRILLION.

>> CHALLENGING TIMES REQUIRE SWIFT AND BOLD ACTION FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD THE SENATE WAS ABLE TO RISE ABOVE POLITICS AND ACT IN A BIPARTISAN WAY TO PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED RELIEF TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT WILL PUT EMERGENCY CASH INTO THE HANDS OF AMERICAN FAMILIES AND WORKERS WHO NEED IT THE MOST, AND IT WILL DELIVER RELIEF TO SMALL BUSINESSES TO HELP THEM AND THEIR WORKERS WEATHER THIS STORM.

>> ONE YEAR LATER, DEMOCRAT JOE BIDEN WAS PRESIDENT.

AND ALL THREE OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED AGAINST THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT, OR ARPA.

THUNE AND HIS SOUTH DAKOTA COLLEAGUES CRITICIZED THE BILL, WHICH, LIKE THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT, HAD A ROUGHLY $2 TRILLION PRICE TAG.

>> THE BILL APPROPRIATES A STAGGERING $350 BILLION FOR STATES, DESPITE THE FACT THAT A MAJORITY OF STATES ALREADY HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO WEATHER THE REST OF THE PANDEMIC.

>> BUT THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN PASSED ANYWAY AND RECEIVED PRESIDENT BIDEN'S SIGNATURE.

AND IT'S BRINGING ABOUT $3.5 BILLION TO SOUTH DAKOTA.

THAT'S HOW FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID TO THE STATE ADDED UP TO $11 BILLION, ACCORDING TO THE TALLY PREPARED BY THE SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COUNCIL.

WHERE HAS ALL THAT MONEY GONE?

TOO MANY PLACES TO MENTION HERE.

BUT THERE WERE SOME CATEGORIES OF RECIPIENTS THAT GOT ESPECIALLY BIG CHUNKS: EMPLOYERS, FARMERS AND RANCHERS, AND EVERYDAY PEOPLE.

EMPLOYERS IN SOUTH DAKOTA GOT ABOUT $1.7 BILLION FROM THE FEDERAL PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM.

THOSE ARE FORGIVABLE LOANS INTENDED TO HELP EMPLOYERS KEEP WORKERS ON THE PAYROLL DURING THE PANDEMIC.

SOUTH DAKOTA FARMERS AND RANCHERS GOT JUST OVER $1 BILLION FROM THE CORONAVIRUS FOOD ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

THAT MONEY WAS MEANT TO MAKE UP FOR CROP AND LIVESTOCK PRICE DECLINES AND OTHER PANDEMIC EFFECTS ON AGRICULTURE.

AND EVERYDAY SOUTH DAKOTANS RECEIVED ALMOST $2 BILLION IN DIRECT PAYMENTS FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO HELP GET THEM THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.

THE PAYMENTS CAME IN SEVERAL INSTALLMENTS, AND WERE AS HIGH AS $1,400 PER PERSON, DEPENDING ON A PERSON'S INCOME AND THE MAKEUP OF THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

NOT ALL OF THE MONEY IS SPENT YET.

THIS WINTER, LAWMAKERS COULD DEBATE ALMOST A BILLION DOLLARS' WORTH OF PROPOSALS TO SPEND THE STATE'S REMAINING RELIEF MONEY.

THE GOVERNOR AND SOME LAWMAKERS ARE PROPOSING BIG, ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION PROJECTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE GOVERNOR SUPPORTS SPENDING $660 MILLION ON WATER PROJECTS.

DEMOCRATIC SENATOR REYNOLD NESIBA OF SIOUX FALLS SAYS THAT'S ONLY POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE LAST ROUND OF FUNDING FROM WASHINGTON.

NESIBA SAYS THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ADDRESS SHOULD HAVE EXPRESSED APPRECIATION, RATHER THAN CRITICISM, OF THE FEDERAL HELP.

>> I'M REALLY GLAD FOR THE -- REALLY, FOR THE FEDERAL MONEY.

IN SOME WAYS, WE CAN SAY THIS SPEECH, YOU COULD SAY, WAS SPONSORED REALLY BY PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS.

IT'S GOING TO ALLOW US TO MAKE THESE ONCE-IN-A-GENERATION INVESTMENTS IN INFRASTRUCTURE, WORKFORCE HOUSING, AND DEAL WITH SOME OF OUR OTHER DEFICITS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> LEGISLATORS WILL CONSIDER THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS AND ADOPT A BUDGET FOR THE 2023 FISCAL YEAR BY THE TIME THE CURRENT LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS IN MARCH.

I'M SDPB'S SETH TUPPER.

>> GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM SAYS AMERICAN VALUES AND LIBERTIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.

OTHERS SAY IT'S NOEM'S ADMINISTRATION THAT IS DOING THE ATTACKING.

WE'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

BUT FIRST, THE GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA SHE SAYS WILL PRESERVE THE RIGHTS GUARANTEED IN AMERICA'S FOUNDING DOCUMENTS.

SHE OUTLINED THAT AGENDA IN HER ANNUAL STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH TUESDAY AT THE CAPITOL IN PIERRE.

>> THOMAS JEFFERSON FAMOUSLY OUTLINED OUR FOUNDING IDEAL OF THE DECLARATION OF INTENSE, THAT ALL MEN ARE CREATED EQUAL, THAT THEY ARE ENDOWED BY THEIR CREATOR WITH CERTAIN UNALIENABLE RIGHTS AND AMONG THESE ARE LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

JEFFERSON CONTINUES BY REMINDING US WHY GOVERNMENT IS HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

TO SECURE THOSE RIGHTS, NOT TO GRANT THEM.

OUR RIGHTS COME FROM GOD.

NOT FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

AND GOVERNMENT MUST REMAIN LIMITED TO SERVE ITS PROPER ROLE IN SECURING THOSE RIGHTS.

[ Applause ] >> NOEM SAYS PART OF PROTECTING LIFE IS ENDING ABORTIONS.

SHE'S PROPOSING LEGISLATION BANNING THE MEDICAL PROCEDURE AFTER SIX WEEKS.

AND SHE'S CALLING FOR LEGISLATION BANNING TELEMEDICINE ABORTIONS THAT UTILIZE PILLS TO END A PREGNANCY.

>> OVER THE LAST DECADE, IS A BOURGSES HAVE DROPPED SHARPLY -- THE TOTAL NUMBER OF ABORTIONS WAS DOWN APPROXIMATELY 80% FROM A DECADE BEFORE.

[ Applause ] NOW, THAT'S SOMETHING TO CELEBRATE.

AND IT'S THANKS IN PART TO THE POLICIES THAT SOME OF THE LEGISLATORS IN THIS ROOM HAVE PASSED.

YOU HAVE PROVEN THAT ABORTION DOES NOT NEED TO BE A DIVISIVE ISSUE.

LAST YEAR, EVERY SINGLE LEGISLATOR SUPPORTED MY BILL TO GUARANTEE PROTECTIONS FOR UNBORN CHILDREN WITH DOWN'S SYNDROME.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY WHEN ALL UNBORN LIVES ARE PROTECTED.

>> UNDER THE HEADING OF LIBERTY, NOEM WANTS TO SHIELD PEOPLE FROM COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES.

>> COVID VACCINATIONS SHOULD BE A CHOICE.

AND WE SHOULD REJECT THE EFFORTS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY TO DIVIDE US INTO TWO CLASSES.

[ Applause ] WE NEED TO REJECT WHAT THEY'RE TRYING TO DO BY DIVIDING US INTO THE VACCINATED AND THE UNVACCINATED.

UNVACCINEATEED AMERICANS ARE STILL AMERICANS.

[ Applause ] WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY.

[ Applause ] WE LIVE IN A FREE COUNTRY, AND WE ARE FREE TO MAKE OUR OWN DECISIONS.

THE GOVERNMENT DOES NOT GET TO MAKE THEM FOR US.

I'M BRINGING LEGISLATION THIS SESSION TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO A MEDICAL AND A RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FROM COVID VACCINES.

JUST AS MY EXECUTIVE ORDER DID FOR THE STATE EMPLOYEES.

AND WE ARE ALSO GOING TO RECOGNIZE NATURAL IMMUNITY.

AND I HOPE THAT YOU WILL SUPPORT THAT BILL.

[ Applause ] >> GOVERNOR NOEM SAYS ANOTHER ASPECT OF PROTECTING LIBERTY IS PUTTING PRAYER BACK INTO SCHOOLS.

>> I AM INTRODUCING LEGISLATION THAT WILL ALLOW FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY.

NOW, STUDENTS CAN CHOOSE TO REFLECT ON THE UPCOMING DAY.

THEY CAN HAVE A QUIET MOMENT.

BUT THEY ALSO CAN EXERCISE THEIR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PRAY.

>> NOW, THIS IS ALSO THE EIGHTH YEAR LAWMAKERS WILL CONSIDER LEGISLATION AFFECTING TRANSGENDER STUDENT ATHLETES.

GOVERNOR NOEM IS PROPOSING A LAW EXCLUDING TRANSGENDER GIRLS FROM PARTICIPATING IN GIRLS' SPORTS.

>> IN SOUTH DAKOTA, ONLY GIRLS CAN PLAY IN GIRLS' SPORTS TODAY, ACCORDING TO THE EXECUTIVE ORDERS THAT I SIGNED ALMOST A YEAR AGO.

BUT I AM INTRODUCING, AND I HOPE YOU WILL SUPPORT, A BILL THAT WILL BE THE STRONGEST LAW IN THE NATION.

CONGRESS PASSED TITLE IX YEARS AGO TO GUARANTEE THAT GIRLS HAVE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD ON WHICH THEY CAN SUCCEED, TO ENSURE THEIR L LIBERTY TO ACHIEVE.

THEY CAN WIN HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONSHIPS, MAKE EARN SCHOLARSHIPS ISSUE MAYBE EVEN GO ON TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.

WE NEED TO PROTECT THE FREEDOM OF OUR YOUNG GIRLS TO GO OUT THERE AND TO DO IT.

>> THE GOVERNOR ALSO WANTS TO PREVENT THE TEACHING OF CERTAIN IDEAS IN SCHOOLS.

SHE'S PROPOSING LEGISLATION SHE SAYS WOULD BLOCK THE TEACHING OF AN ACADEMIC CONCEPT CALLED CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

ALTHOUGH THAT PHRASE DOES NOT APPEAR IN HER BILL.

>> NOW, SUCCESS IN AMERICA IS BY NO MEANS A GIVEN.

BUT IF YOU WORK HARD, AND YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO IT, YOU CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING.

THAT'S THE AMERICAN DREAM.

AND THAT'S THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS AND WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.

BUT THERE IS A NEW IDEOLOGY TAKING HOLD OF OUR COUNTRY, AND IT REDEFINES OUR CULTURE.

IT REJECTS THE AMERICAN DREAM.

IT TELLS CHILDREN THAT OUR COUNTRY IS RACIST.

IT DIVIDES US BASED ON THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN.

IT TEACHES A DISTORTED VIEW OF YOUR HISTORY.

AND IT UNDERMINES THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE MUST ACT NOW TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN DREAM.

TO PRESERVE THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.

>> WE'RE GOING TO INVITE TWO STATE LEGISLATIVE LEADERS TO JOIN US NOW WITH THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

GARY CAMMACK IS MAJORITY LEADER FOR THE SENATE.

HE'S A REPUBLICAN FROM DISTRICT 29.

HE'S ALSO A RANCHER AND OWNS A FAMILY BUSINESS.

JAMIE SMITH IS MINORITY LEADER FOR THE SOUTH DAKOTA "STATEHOUSE."

HE'S A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING DISTRICT 15.

HE'S ALSO A REALTOR.

LEADERS CAMMACK AND SMITH ARE JOINING US NOW LIVE FROM PIERRE.

GARY CAMMACK, WELCOME, THANKS FOR BEING WITH US HERE TODAY.

>> THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> JAMIE SMITH, THANKS FOR BEING HERE AS WELL.

>> GLAD TO BE HERE, THANK YOU.

>> WE ARE GOING TO START WITH SENATOR CAMMACK AND THIS IDEA OF LEADERSHIP, BECAUSE WE'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOW HOW MANY S AVAILABLE.

AND THEN SOME REALLY IMPORTANT SOCIAL ISSUES THAT ALSO NEED TO BE DISCUSSED.

HOW DO YOU SET SOME OF THOSE PRIORITIES, AND SPECIFICALLY, WHEN WE HAVE MILLIONS IN FEDERAL MONEY, MILLIONS MORE IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN DOLLARS, HOW DO YOU PLAN ON LEVERAGING THAT TO HELP SOUTH DAKOTANS?

WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?

>> WELL, WHERE YOU BEGIN IS, YOU -- IN MY OPINION, IT'S GOOD THAT WE'RE INVESTING IN PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING TO BENEFIT THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA FOR DECADES AND DECADES TO COME.

AND THE -- THE FUTURE OF SOUTH DAKOTA CAN ONLY BE BRIGHTER IF WE IMPROVE THE WATER AND SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THAT IS A GREAT INVESTMENT, I BELIEVE.

TO BRING THE STATE FORWARD AND TO HELP US STAY STRONG, BOTH SOCIALLY AND ECONOMICALLY, AND IT JUST PROVIDES SO MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR FOLKS.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A PRIORITY, PARTLY -- AND PARTLY BECAUSE, WITH THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, WE -- WE DIDN'T HAVE ANY -- ANY BACKUP.

WE DIDN'T BACKUP IN OUR ECONOMY.

SO THE RULES ARE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SOME OF THE OTHER STATES.

SO THE RULES OF THE GAME RIGHT NOW ARE THAT WE'VE GOT TO SPEND A MAJORITY OF THAT -- OF THAT MONEY ON WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.

AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY A BAD THING.

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MANY NEEDS OUT THERE, MOST OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE OUT THERE, WHETHER IT BE WATER OR SERVER, ESPECIALLY IN THE SMALLER TOWNS AND SOME OF THE LARGER TOWNS, A LOT OF THAT INFRASTRUCTURE IS 70 OR 80 YEARS OLD.

>> JAMIE SMITH, THE -- I LOOKED AT THE MAP TODAY FOR COVID CASES ACROSS THE STATE.

IT IS ALL ONE COLOR, BECAUSE THERE IS HIGH SPREAD THROUGHOUT EVERY SINGLE COUNTY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

WE'VE REACHED MORE THAN 24,000 CASES, I THINK, ACTIVE RIGHT NOW.

SO WE'RE ALSO VERY MUCH STILL SMACK-DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.

ARE THERE WAYS THAT YOU THINK THAT THIS MONEY COULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT ENDING THAT PANDEMIC OR HELPING SOUTH DAKOTA'S -- SOUTH DAKOTANS IN ADDITION TO SOME OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THINGS THAT GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM IS LAYING OUT?

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT, IF YOU WOULD.

>> YOU KNOW, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THAT UP.

WE ARE STILL IN THE THROES OF A PANDEMIC.

I JUST SAW TODAY THAT WE HAVE SOME SCHOOLS OUT WEST THAT ARE, YOU KNOW, REQUIRING MASKING.

IN THOSE SCHOOLS.

AND THEY'RE ALSO STRUGGLING TO FIND THE TEACHERS TO FILL THOSE SCHOOLS RIGHT NOW.

AND THAT'S NOT JUST IN THE WEST.

I THINK IT WAS ALSO ONE IN THE SIOUX FALLS AREA AS WELL THAT JUST MADE SOME CHANGES THERE.

I THINK WE CAN MAKE SOME GOOD CHOICES TO TRY TO PROTECT OUR KIDS.

THAT BEING SAID, I KNOW THE STATE RIGHT NOW IS WORKING TO PROCURE TESTING SUPPLIES.

AND WE CAN SPEND ON MONEY ON THAT.

BUT ONE AREA I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK TO IS SUPPORTING OUR NURSES, AND OUR NURSING CARE AND THOSE TYPES OF THING HE'S THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

I KNOW WE'VE DONE THAT.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE DONE DOING THAT YET, THOUGH.

I'VE TALKED TO MULTIPLE GROUPS WITHIN THE HEALTH SYSTEMS, AND THEIR PEOPLE ARE JUST WEARY.

REALLY, REALLY WEARY.

WORN DOWN.

AND IT JUST HASN'T STOPPED FOR THEM.

AND SO ANYTHING WE CAN DO.

YOU KNOW, AND IT'S -- THERE'S NO SHORT-TERM SOLUTION FOR THIS EITHER.

WE JUST NEED TO PULL TOGETHER AS A PEOPLE, TAKE THIS SERIOUSLY AND WE WILL SOMEDAY COME OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IF MORE WE CAN ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THEIR VACCINATIONS, TO GET THEIR BOOSTER SHOTS, TO WEAR MASKS WHEN APPLICABLE, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, I BELIEVE THE FASTER WE WILL GET BACK TO A LIFE, WHATEVER OUR NEW NORMAL IS GOING TO BE.

>> YEAH.

SENATOR CAMMACK, THOSE HEALTH CARE WORKERS ARE EXHAUSTS.

I THINK EVERYBODY HAS HEARD THAT.

GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM IN HER STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH SAID, HELP IS ON THE WAY.

WE ARE RECRUITING NEW PEOPLE TO COME TO THE STATE.

PEOPLE WANT TO COME HERE.

THEY WANT TO LIVE HERE.

ARE THERE OTHER WAYS THAT YOU CAN THINK OF OR THAT OTHER LAWMAKERS HAVE FLOATED TO HELP RELIEVE THE EXHAUSTION FROM OUR MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK THAT PART OF IT IS MAKE SURE THAT THEY'RE ADEQUATELY COMPENSATED.

AND FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, WE'VE BEEN TRYING TO PUT SOME ADDITIONAL MONEY INTO THOSE COMMUNITY CARE PROVIDERS.

AND TRYING TO PUSH THAT FORWARD A LITTLE BIT.

SO THAT WE CAN GET THAT -- SO THOSE FOLKS ARE COMPENSATED IN A FAIR MANNER.

BUT THE OTHER THING IS, THERE'S SEVERAL DIFFERENT PROPOSALS OUT THERE, AND THERE'S SOME OF THEM THAT ARE MOVING FORWARD THAT ARE GOING TO PROVIDE FOR THE TRAINING OF MORE OF THOSE MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS SO THAT THEY CAN START TO BUILD THOSE NUMBERS, BUT ALSO FILL IN FOR THE FOLKS THAT HAVE JUST -- ARE JUST TIRED.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT INFRASTRUCTURE NOW, ESPECIALLY WATER AND SEWER PROJECTS.

SO SOME OF THE THINGS THAT -- FOR PEOPLE WHO NEED A REMINDER, $660 MILLION IN AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN MONEY FOR STATEWIDE WATER PROJECTS, GOVERNOR IS PROPOSING, $6.5 MILLION IN DAM REPAIRS, $5.6 MILLION FOR FLOOD REPAIRS.

SENATOR CAMMACK, WE'LL START WITH YOU, AND THEN ASK REPRESENTATIVE SMITH THE SAME QUESTION.

THIS IS NOT OUR LAST FLOOD.

SO AS WE MAKE THESE INVESTMENTS, WE ALSO HAVE TO BE THINKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FUTURE.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE RIGHT NOW?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND IN FACT, IN THE AG AND NATURAL RESOURCE COMMITTEE TODAY, WE HAD A BRIEFING, AND THEY HAD BROUGHT A BILL TO REPAIR SEVERAL OF THESE -- THESE SPILLWAY STRUCTURES AND DAM STRUCTURES.

AND ONE OF THEM IN PARTICULAR HAS A REAL -- IT HAS A POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SOME REAL ISSUES.

AND I'M TRYING TO THINK OF THE NAME OF THE RESERVOIR.

BUT ANYWAY, IF IT WAS TO GO OUT, IT WOULD AFFECT A LOT OF FOLKS IN TRAILER HOMES, AND IT WOULD AFFECT THE BEEF PLANT IN THAT TOWN.

AND A LOT OF OTHER THINGS.

SO NOW'S THE TIME.

WE DO HAVE SOME FUNDS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE NEEDS BEFORE WE HAVE A REAL DISASTER.

BUT WE'RE ALSO, ALONG WITH THAT, WE'RE ALSO REPAIRING SOME STRUCTURES THAT THE -- THEY'RE NOT AN OBVIOUS HOLE IN THE -- IN THE RESERVOIR.

AND THAT'S WHEN YOU NEED TO REPAIR THOSE STRUCTURES IS WHEN THERE ISN'T A HOLE, WHEN YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S GOING TO BE AN ISSUE ON DOWN THE ROAD, FOR SO MANY REASONS, YOU DON'T WANT TO RISK ONE OF THOSE STRUCTURES FAILING.

BUT YOU ALSO IN MANY CASES, IT'S A LOT CHEAPER TO GO IN AND REPAIR THOSE STRUCTURES PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT THEY ACTUALLY FAIL.

>> LEADER SMITH, I'M GUESSING YOU HAVE SOME THOUGHTS ON THAT AS WELL, ESPECIALLY ABOUT ENVIRONMENT RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE CONSTRUCTION AT THIS POINT.

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK THIS IS A PLACE THAT SENATOR CAMMACK AND I CAN AGREE ON THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, INFRASTRUCTURE -- WE ARE BEHIND ON IT IN OUR STATE.

AND YOU JUST NEVER HAVE ENOUGH RESOURCES TO KEEP UP WITH SOME OF THIS.

SO THIS DOES PROVIDE A GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO DO THAT.

AS FAR AS GETTING AHEAD OF IT AND SOME NEWER TECHNOLOGIES, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT DOING IN THE SIOUX FALLS AREA, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THEY'RE REQUESTING FUNDING FOR, IS A REGIONALIZED WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT, THAT RATHER THAN EVERY CITY HAVING A WASTEWATER FACILITY, YOU'D GO TO A REGIONAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY.

SO THE SIOUX FALLS WASTEWATER WOULD NOT JUST BE FOR SIOUX FALLS.

IT WITH BE FOR ALL THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES TO TREAT THEIR WASTEWATER AND THAT'S REALLY FORWARD-THINKING BECAUSE WHEN THERE ARE NEW REGULATIONS THAT COME, AND THEY DO, FROM, YOU KNOW, AS WE LEARN MORE, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE TO UPDATE, LET'S SAY, TEN DIFFERENT WASES WATER SYSTEMS.

YOU COULD UPDATE ONE.

YOU KNOW, AND SO THERE'S THAT.

AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, OTHER THINGS, THOUGH, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT $600 MILLION FOR THIS, ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WASES WASTEWATER AND WATER HAS GOTTEN THE ATTENTION THAT IT'S GOTTEN IS BECAUSE THERE'S AN EXISTING TEMPERATURE FOR US TO DOLE THIS MONEY OUT.

WE HAVE FIVE YEARS ONLY TO DOLE THIS MONEY OUT.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS.

SO THAT'S A PROBLEM.

WHERE WE PROBABLY DIFFER A LITTLE BIT, THOUGH, IS TO IS 600 MILLION TO THAT, AND I THINK THERE'S -- I THINK THERE WAS OVER A BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF REQUESTS ALREADY OUT THERE TO COULD BE USED.

IS THAT THE NUMBER, KIND OF -- >> ACTUALLY, IT'S WAY HIGHER THAN THAT.

>> YEAH, IT'S A HUGE NUMBER.

A HUGE NUMBER OF -- AND I'M NOT SAYING THAT ANY OF THOSE REQUESTS AREN'T REAL NEEDS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO REMEMBER THIS MONEY IS FOR THE PANDEMIC.

YOU KNOW, AND THAT -- SO THERE ARE THOSE NEEDS, I WANT TO PRIORITIZE THOSE AS WELL.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, GET BACK TO THE PEOPLE THAT ARE HELPING US GET THROUGH THIS AND THEIR LIVES AND FAMILIES AND BUSINESSES THAT WERE AFFECTED BY THIS.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE CAN TO SUPPORT THOSE THINGS BEFORE WE GO TO THIS INFRASTRUCTURE WITH THE MONEY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT A COUPLE OTHER THINGS THAT I SUSPECT YOU HAVE SOME COMMONALITIES ON.

AND WE'RE SEEING HINTS THAT THERE ARE OTHER PLACES WHERE PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO AGREE AND FIND SOME MIDDLE GROUND.

ONE OF THESE IS THE URGENCY WITH -- THAT RURAL HOSPITALS NEED HELP URGENTLY.

ALSO, THERE'S A BALLOT QUESTION FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION ON THE BALLOT IN NOVEMBER.

SO THE SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPAL LEAGUE IS SUPPORTING THAT MEDICAID EXPANSION, AND ONE OF THE REASONS, THEY SAY, PRESIDENT STEVE ALLENDER SAID IS BECAUSE THERE ARE 14 HOSPITALS AT IMMEDIATE OR HIGH RISK FOR CLOSING AND THE SOUTH DAKOTA MUNICIPAL BELIEVES, MEDICAID EXPANSION WOULD BE A WAY TO HELP KEEP THOSE HOSPITALS UP AND RUNNING AND THE WAY TO HELP PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AT SOME SERVICE INDUSTRY JOBS, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT DON'T PROVIDE BENEFITS TO PROVIDE THEM WITH HEALTH CARE.

GARY CAMMACK, ARE YOU STARTING TO SEE SOME PLACES FOR AGREEMENT, FIRST.

AND THEN MY SECOND PART OF THAT QUESTION IS, IS THIS UP TO THE VOTERS?

OR DO YOU PREDICT WE'LL SEE SOME LEGISLATIVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION TO MEDICAID EXPANSION THIS SESSION?

>> I THINK THERE MIGHT BE SOME DISCUSSIONS, BUT IF I WAS TO PREDICT, I WOULD SAY THAT PROBABLY IT'S GOING -- THAT ISSUE'S GOING TO BE DECIDED BY THE PEOPLE.

AND AS FAR AS THE -- BEING IN AGREEMENT, I TRULY BELIEVE THAT ALL 105 LEGISLATORS IN THE END, THEY WANT ALL -- ALL OF THEM WANT WHAT'S BEST FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE -- WHERE WE DISAGREE IS THE PATH TO GET US THERE.

AND SO IT'S -- IT'S A SITUATION, AND I THINK BY FAR, A MAJORITY OF THE LEGISLATORS THAT SERVE UNDERSTAND THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE DEBATING AND ARGUING AND DEBATING ISSUES AND WE'RE NOT ARGUING AND DEBATING PERSONALITIES.

AND SO WE -- I HAVE ALWAYS HAD A GOOD RELATIONSHIP WITH MOST ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS THAT ARE -- THAT SERVE IN THE LEGISLATURE.

WHEN WE COME DOWN TO -- TO AN ISSUE THAT WE DISAGREE ON, I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN, AND BRING EVERY POINT I CAN, TO TRY TO BRING -- BRING THAT ISSUE -- ARRIVE AT THE SOLUTION AND THE PATH THAT I THINK IS BEST.

AND JUST BECAUSE ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HAS A DIFFERENT PATH TO GET THERE TO MAKE SOUTH DAKOTA A BETTER PLACE DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE'RE -- WE'RE NOT -- DON'T HAVE THE SAME GOAL IN MIND.

>> JAMIE SMITH, YOUR THOUGHTS ON MEDICAID EXPANSION AND WHETHER THAT BELONGS WITH THE VOTERS OR WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE A LEGISLATIVE SOLUTION?

>> YOU KNOW, I JUST WANT MEDICAID EXPANSION.

THERE ARE THOSE THAT THINK THAT IT SHOULDN'T BE IN THE CONSTITUTION, THAT IT SHOULD BE MAYBE BROUGHT INTO LAW.

AND THAT'S WHAT I THINK THAT SOME OF THESE FOLKS MAY BE TALKING ABOUT.

BUT THE LANGUAGE OF THE BILL HAS TO BE RIGHT.

IT HAS TO BE TRUE EXPANSION TO HELP 43,000 SOUTH DAKOTANS THAT FALL IN THIS KIND OF MIDDLE GROUND THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO THE HEALTH CARE LIKE THE REST OF US DO.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE -- WE HAVE FALLEN BEHIND ON THIS ISSUE.

WE'RE WAY BEHIND WHERE WE COULD HAVE BEEN.

WE'VE LOST A LOT OF MONEY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA BY NOT MOVING FORWARD ON THIS.

AND I THINK THAT IF WE DON'T GET IT DONE HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, IT'S GOING TO HAVE TO GO TO THE PEOPLE, BUT I DO SUPPORT MEDICAID EXPANSION.

>> THE CONCERN THAT I'VE ALWAYS HAD IS, THE STATES THAT HAVE ADOPTED THE MED CARED EXPANSION, THE PROJECTIONS THAT THEY RUN INITIALLY ARE THE ACTUAL COSTS ARE MANY TIMES HIGHER THAN WHAT THE PROJECTION WAS.

AND SO I'VE GOT SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT -- ABOUT MEDICAID EXPANSION, AND HOW IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THE STATE AND THE ECONOMY AND THE BUDGETS.

WE JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS DOESN'T PUT US BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL WHEN IT COMES TO THE -- TO THE ECONOMIC SIDE OF THE -- OF THE BALANCE SHEET.

>> SO, SENATOR, THIS MIGHT BE AN IN THE WEEDS QUESTION, BUT YOU'VE PROBABLY SEEN THE FISCAL NOTE FROM THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

DO YOU HAVE CONCERNS WITH THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH COUNCIL PREDICTIONS THAT WOULD MIRROR WHAT YOU'VE SEEN IN SOME OTHER STATES?

OR IS THAT MORE OF A GENERAL STATEMENT, THAT YOU JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE NUMBERS ARE RIGHT?

>> YEAH, I CERTAINLY HAVE SOME CONCERNS ABOUT THE NUMBERS THAT I'VE SEEN.

AND ALSO, I -- IT'S BEEN TIME AND TIME AGAIN WHERE THIS STATE WILL GO INTO THESE -- THIS EXPANSION, AND IN THE END, IT'LL COST FIVE AND TEN AND 15 TIMES AS MUCH FOR THE STATE THAN WHAT HAD BEEN PROJECTED.

SO IT'S NOTHING TO TAKE LIGHTLY.

IT'S -- THE -- THAT PART OF THE BUDGET FOR THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA IS, I BELIEVE, THE BIGGEST BUDGET ITEM WE ALREADY HAVE.

SO IT'S -- IT'S CERTAINLY -- IT'S THE 900-POUND BUDGET ISSUE.

900-POUND GORILLA WHEN IT COMES TO THE BUDGET ISSUE.

AND SO IT'S NOT ANYTHING THAT WE SHOULD GO INTO LIGHTLY.

WE NEED TO TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE NUMBERS.

>> YEAH.

>> AND E >> AND IF I COULD JUST REAL QUICK COME IN THERE.

I WOULD AGREE IT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO LOOK AT, BUT I DO TRUST IN THE NUMBERS I SEE.

THEY'RE OFTEN VERY CONSERVATIVE ON THEIR FINDINGS WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR FINDINGS FOR IT.

SOME OTHER STATES AROUND US HAVE ALL DONE THIS AND ADOPTED THIS.

WE PAY TAXES JUST LIKE MINNESOTANS, NORTH DAKOTANS, IOWA YANS.

THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THIS.

WE DON'T.

>> LET'S MOVE ON TO ANOTHER AREA.

WE'RE STARTING TO SEE SOME INTERESTING AGREEMENT WITH PEOPLE.

AND THAT IS CHILD CARE AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

SO WE HAD GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM AT HER STATE OF THE BUDGET TALKING ABOUT GRANT PROGRAMS FOR CHILD CARE GRANTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE.

THE SOUTH DAKOTA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, I HAD TALKED TO DAVID OWEN NOT TOO LONG AGO, AND HE WAS OPEN TO THE IDEA THAT PRESCHOOL FUNDED BY THE STATE COULD BE AN INTERESTING THING TO THINK ABOUT.

REGARDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT JUST INTHFT COMMONALITIES IN GETTING PEOPLE TO WORK BY PROVIDING AND HELPING PARENTS FIND CHILD CARE AND QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EDUCATION FOR THEIR YOUNG KIDS.

AND THIS TIME, I THINK WE'LL START WITH LEADER SMITH.

GO AHEAD, JAMIE.

>> WELL, THANK YOU.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE -- THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT THEY BOTH SOLVE A PROBLEM, BUT I THINK THIS YEAR, WE'RE PROBABLY ONLY ADDRESSING ONE OF THOSE IN DEPTH.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE THE -- AS FAR AS THAT GOES, IT WOULD BE SOME SORT OF CHILD CARE INITIATIVE COMING OUT.

I KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S ALREADY PROPOSED $100 MILLION TO WORK ON THIS.

AND I THINK THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS TO HELP EXPAND CHILD CARE ACROSS OUR STATE AND PROVIDE SAFE, QUALITY CHILD CARE, SO WORKERS CAN WORK.

BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT THAT'S WHAT'S HOLDING THEM BACK FROM THE WORKFORCE.

AND YOU NEED, YOU KNOW, AS A PARENT MYSELF, AND I KNOW GARY IS, THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT -- YOUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS TO MAKE SURE YOUR KIDS ARE SAFE AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF.

AND SO IF WE CAN DO SOMETHING TO HELP THAT, WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THAT FOR A LONG TIME.

IT IS A WORKFORCE ISSUE AND WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD ON THAT.

EARLY LEARNING IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT I AND MY COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR, FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

FIRST BABY STEP WOULD JUST TO BE TO HAVE A U AN EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL HERE IN THE STATE AND WE'VE BEEN SHUT DOWN ON THAT YEAR AFTER YEAR.

WE DO BELIEVE THAT GETTING KIDS READY FOR SCHOOL IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING TO DO, AND OUR STATE SHOULD BEAR SOME OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY TO HELP FAMILIES DO THAT.

>> SENATOR, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> MY THOUGHTS ON THAT, AS FAR AS THE EARLY LEARNING GOES, I HAVE SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE EARLY LEARNING SIDE OF THINGS, WHERE IT WOULD BE CONTROLLED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OR THE GOVERNMENT.

I THINK AT THAT AGE OF CHILDREN, IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE HANDLED WITH -- WITH THE PARENTS THEMSELVES, OR -- OR AN ORGANIZATION THAT THEY -- THEY BELIEVE IN, OR A BUSINESS THAT THEY BELIEVE IN THAT WILL EDUCATE THEIR CHILDREN IN THE WAY THAT THEY'D LIKE.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL IS FOR T INFRASTRUCTURE SO THAT THE CHILD CARE BUSINESS CAN GET GOING AND TAKE CARE OF THE NEEDS SO THAT -- SO THOSE PARENTS HAVE SOMEWHERE TO GO WITH THOSE CHILDREN WHEN -- IF THEY HAVE THE NEED TO WORK.

>> ARE THERE SPECIFIC CONCERNS YOU HAVE, GARY?

IS IT CURRICULUM?

IS IT THE MONEY?

BECAUSE CERTAINLY WHEN KIDS GO TO KINDERGARTEN, WE HAVE A MUCH WIDER ACCEPTANCE OF STATE EDUCATION.

SO WHAT IS IT THAT PARTICULARLY SAYS, YOU KNOW, I NEED PARENTS TO REALLY BE THE ONES WHO ARE DOING THIS FOR YOU?

>> WELL, I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE PARENTS OR SOMEONE THAT THE PARENTS AGREE WITH AS FAR AS THE EARLY YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU -- WHEN IT COMES TO DEVELOPING THE VALUES THAT THEY HAVE AND THAT SORT OF THING.

SO I -- I'VE ALWAYS HAD SOME REAL CONCERNS ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BEING INVOLVED AT THAT YOUNG OF AN AGE.

I UNDERSTAND THE FACTS THAT IN MANY CASES, IT TAKES TWO BREAD WINNERS TO GET THE JOB DONE, SO I THINK THAT BY INVESTING IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THESE DAYCARES, I BELIEVE THAT THERE'S A REAL POSSIBILITY WE CAN HELP TO LESSEN THAT GAP.

>> ALL RIGHT.

WE'LL DO A LIGHTNING ROUND.

HOW ABOUT THAT?

I HAVE ONE MORE QUESTION IN OUR REMAINING MINUTE HERE, AND THAT IS, YOU KNOW, GOVERNOR NOEM MENTIONED JESSICA CASTLEBERRY AT THE STATE OF THE STATE AND THE MAGIC WAND THAT SHE HAD.

SO IF YOU EACH HAD A MAGIC WAND FOR THIS SESSION, WAVE YOUR WAND, AND SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO IT THIS YEAR.

>> OH, MY.

[ Laughter ] THE THE -- I GUESS THAT OF ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE OUT THERE, I WOULD SAY THAT WE NEED TO JUST INVEST ALL OF THE MONEY THAT WE HAVE TO INVEST WISELY.

THAT WE DON'T -- THE THING THAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE IS I DON'T WANT TO SEE US SPEND MONEY THAT CREATES -- ONE-TIME MONEY THAT CREATES ONGOING EXPENSE.

THAT WOULD BE MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

>> JAMIE SMITH, WAVE A WAND, WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO JUST NOT GET THROUGH THIS YEAR?

>> I WOULD JUST LIKE TO WAVE A WAND TO GET RID OF ALL THE DIVISIVE SOCIAL ISSUES THAT ARE PUSHING US FARTHER AND FARTHER APART AND TALK ABOUT THE REAL SOUTH DAKOTA PROBLEMS HERE THAT I BELIEVE THE VOTERS SENT US HERE TO SOLVE.

TAKE THOSE NATIONAL ISSUES THAT PROVE JUST HOW CONSERVATIVE OR LIBERAL SOME STATES ARE, LET'S GET THOSE ASIDE.

AND EDUCATING OUR KIDS AND THOSE TYPES OF THINGS.

>> AND EVERYBODY GET ALONG.

THERE'S A BIG MAGIC WAND.

AND JAMIE SMITH AND GARY CAMMACK, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> THANK YOU, APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> WE RETURN NOW TO GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM'S ASSERTION THAT AMERICAN VALUES AND LIBERTIES ARE UNDER ATTACK.

THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION SEEKS TO PROTECT AND ADVANCE CIVIL LIBERTIES AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

I SPOKE WITH STEPHANIE AMIOTTE, LEGAL DIRECTOR FOR ACLU OF SOUTH DAKOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, AND WYOMING.

I BEGAN BY ASKING HER ABOUT THE HISTORY AND MISSION OF ACLU.

SO THE ACLU, STEPHANIE, HAS BEEN DOING THEIR WORK FOR MORE THAN 100 YEARS.

WHAT MADE YOU END UP ON THIS PATH?

>> WELL, I'M AN INDIGENOUS SOUTH DAKOTAN, AND I'M AN ENROLLED MEMBER OF THE OGLALA DAKOTA TRIBE, SO WHILE MY LEAGUE CAREER HAS BEEN DEERS, IT HAS FOR 21 YEARS, ALWAYS INCLUDED SOME ASPECT OF DEFENDING CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.

I'M REALLY DEVOTED TO THE LEGAL WORK FOR THE ACLU, BECAUSE ITS MISSION REALITY IS THE BACKBONE OF DEMOCRACY.

AND IT'S REALLY, I THINK, A PRIVILEGE FOR ME TO BE ABLE TO WORK FOR THE ACLU AND FURTHER THEIR MISSION.

>> TELL US A LITTLE BIT, FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE NEW TO THE CONVERSATION, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LANDMARK CASES ACLU IS KNOWN FOR THROUGHOUT HISTORY?

>> THE ACLU HAS WON A NUMBER OF LANDMARK CASES THAT ADVANCE EQUAL RIGHTS.

I THINK SOME OF THE MORE WELL KNOWN CASES INCLUDE BROWN VERCEL BOARD OF EDUCATION.

THAT WAS DECIDED IN 1984.

THE ACLU SHARED A MAJOR VICTORY WITH THE NAACP WHEN THE SUPREME COURT DECLARED THAT RACIALLY SEGREGATED SCHOOLS VIOLATED THE 14TH AMENDMENT.

ANOTHER CASE THAT IS PRETTY WELL KNOWN AND WE CONSIDER IT A LANDMARK CASE AT THE ACLU INCLUDES ROE VERSUS WADE AND DOE VERCEL BOLTON.

AFTER DECADES OF STRUGGLE, THE SUPREME COURT HELD THAT THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO PRIVACY ENCOMPASSES A PERSON'S RIGHT TO DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO CONTINUE A PREGNANCY.

OF COURSE THAT BATTLE STILL CONTINUES AND THE ACLU IS STILL FIGHTING TO PROTECT PEOPLE'S REPRODUCTIVE CHOICES, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT GOVERNOR NOEM HAS SIGNALED WE'LL BE SEEING DURING THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE SOUTH DAKOTA LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

WHAT ARE SOME OF ACLU OF SOUTH DAKOTA, ACLU SOUTH DAKOTA'S PRIORITIES FOR THIS SESSION?

>> THE ACLU OF SOUTH DAKOTA WILL BE MONITORING A WIDE VARIETY OF BILLS.

WORKING TO DEFEND AND PROTECT THE CIVIL LIBERTIES OF ALL SOUTH DAKOTANS.

PRIMARILY THIS YEAR WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON THREE AREAS.

THE FIRST AREA IS ABORTION ACCESS AND REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM.

DEFENDING FREE SPEECH AND OPPOSING CLASSROOM CENSORSHIP WHICH INTERSECTS WITH RACIAL JUSTICE AND INDIGENOUS JUSTICE IS OUR SECOND AREA OF FOCUS.

AND OUR THIRD AREA OF FOCUS IS LGBTQ AND TWO SPIRIT EQUALITY.

>> LET'S START WITH LGBTQ AND TWO SPIRIT EQUALITY.

GOVERNOR NOEM IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT SHE FEELS THAT THE RIGHTS OF WOMEN, ESPECIALLY WOMEN ATHLETES, ARE BEING INFRINGED BY TRANSGENDER ATHLETES COMING TO PLAY ON SPORTS TEAM.

SO WHEN SHE SET IT UP FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA, SHE SAID I'M GOING TO STOP THIS VIOLATION OF WOMEN'S CIVIL RIGHTS BECAUSE WE'VE WORKED VERY HARD TO GET AS FAR AS WE'VE GOTTEN.

WHAT WOULD YOUR RESPONSE BE TO THE GOVERNOR ON THAT?

>> THE RESPONSE IS -- TO THE GOVERNOR'S STATEMENTS ARE BASICALLY THAT THE VIEWPOINT THAT GOVERNOR NOEM HAS GIVEN IS FAIRLY SHORT-SIGHTED.

AND THE REASON I SAY THAT IS BECAUSE THERE IS SORT OF THIS BROAD ASSUMPTION THAT TRANS EXISTENCE IS SOMETHING THAT'S NEW OR THAT TRANS PEOPLE ARE SO MARGINAL THAT IT WOULD BE JUST UNWORTHY TO ADVOCATE ON THEIR BEHALF.

BUT, REALLY, THAT SORT OF DISCRIMINATION AGAINST SUCH A NEW AND INSIGNIFICANT COMMUNITY SHOULD NOT CONSUME OUR ATTENTION OR RESOURCES.

AND EVEN THOUGH THERE'S SORT OF THIS SPIN BEING PUT ON IT, THAT -- THAT THIS IS SOMEHOW GOING TO AFFECT WOMEN'S RIGHTS, IS JUST SIMPLY NOT ACCURATE.

REALLY, THE EROSION OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IS DANGEROUS FOR ALL OF US.

INCLUDING WOMEN.

WHEN THE GOVERNMENT HAS THE POWER TO DENY LEGAL RIGHTS AND DUE PROCESS TO ONE GROUP, ALL AMERICANS' RIGHTS ARE SEVERELY THREATENED.

I DON'T THINK IT'S REALLY AN ACCURATE DEPICTION, THOUGH, TO SAY THAT WOMEN ARE GOING TO HAVE THEIR RIGHTS AFFECTED IN ANY WAY BY ALLOWING, YOU KNOW, TRANSGENDER WOMEN TO PLAY IN SPORTS IN SCHOOLS.

>> IS THAT FAIRLY COMMON WHEN PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROTECTING SOMEBODY, AND FOR SOMEBODY ELSE TO SAY, BUT YOU'RE INFRINGING UPON SOMEBODY.

IS THAT KIND OF A FAMILIAR TACTIC OVER THE YEARS, DO YOU THINK?

>> DEFINITELY.

IT'S A SCARE TACTIC.

THERE HAVE BEEN NO WOMEN THAT WE HAVE BEEN MADE AWARE OF AT THE ACLU WHO HAVE VOICED A SIGNIFICANT CONCERN REGARDING TRTRANS ENDER WOMEN OR TRANSGENDER GIRLS PLAYING IN WOMEN'S SPORTS.

IT'S JUST AN ISSUE THAT DOESN'T EXIST IN THE MIND OF SOUTH DAKOTANS, AND IT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WOMEN HAVE VOICED A CONCERN OVER.

>> SIMILARLY, IT SEEMS LIKE WE HAVE A LONG HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BEING CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT STUDENTS MIGHT HEAR OR LEARN IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHY THIS IS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE WHEN THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT NOBODY IS TEACHING CRITICAL RACE THEORY.

WE'RE GOING TO MAKE SURE THAT KIDS LEARN THE REAL HISTORYING OF AMERICA AND ARE NOT MADE TO FEEL BAD OR TO FEEL SEPARATE FROM ONE ANOTHER.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, AND WHAT ARE WE REALLY TALKING ABOUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION?

>> WELL, THE FIRST AMENDMENT INCLUDES THE RIGHT OF ALL STUDENTS TO RECEIVE INFORMATION WITHIN THE CLASSROOM SETTING.

SO EVEN THOUGH THERE APPEARS TO BE THIS SORT OF IDEA THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS ESPOUSED THAT CHILDREN WILL SOMEHOW BE HARMED OR THAT CHILDREN DON'T NEED TO LEARN SOME OF THIS INFORMATION, THAT'S REALLY A NONEXISTENT ISSUE IN THE MINDS OF STUDENTS, BUT WHAT IS MORE CONCERNING TO SOUTH DAKOTANS IS THE IDEA THAT THEIR RIGHT TO RECEIVE EDUCATION AND THEIR CHILDREN'S RIGHT TO RECEIVE EDUCATION WITHIN A CLASSROOM IS GOING TO BE CENSORED, AND IT IS GOING TO BE OPPRESSED, AND IT'S SOMETHING THAT IS DEFINITELY GOING TO BE AN ISSUE UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

IT RAISES A CONSTITUTIONAL CONCERN FOR THE ACLU.

BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS, CRITICAL RACE THEORY OR SOME OF THESE IDEAS THAT GOVERNOR NOEM HAS BEEN FLOATING AROUND IN THE PRESS REALLY ARE MORE POLITICALLY BASED.

RATHER THAN A SINCERE PEDAGOGICAL CONCERN.

AND IT ALSO SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT WE'VE SEEN ON THE NATIONAL PLATFORM FOR SOME PROBABLY MORE RIGHT-WING POLITICAL IDEALS.

SO IN SOUTH DAKOTA, THOUGH, EVERY STUDENT HAS A RIGHT TO RECEIVE EDUCATION.

THEY HAVE A RIGHT TO RECEIVE KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION.

AND THAT'S A RIGHT THAT'S GUARANTEED UNDER THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

>> LET'S WRAP UP WITH THIS.

HOW DO CITIZENS OF SOUTH DAKOTA PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT'S IMPORTANT AND REMAIN ENGAGED?

BECAUSE FOR SOME PEOPLE, I THINK THERE'S A SENSE OF EXHAUSTION OR FATIGUE FROM HAVING, YOU KNOW, EIGHT YEARS OF TRANSGENDER CONVERSATIONS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WHY KEEP ENGAGED AS A CITIZENRY?

>> WELL, WHEN ONE GROUP, SUCH AS TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, ARE BEING ATTACKED BY LEGISLATION OR BEING ATTACK AED BY THE GOVERNOR, IT'S A SIGNAL TO EVERY SOUTH DAKOTAN THAT WHATEVER GROUP THEY IDENTIFY WITH IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME ATTACK.

IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE ALL AT RISK OF LOSING RIGHTS THAT ARE GUARANTEED TO US UNDER THE CONSTITUTION IF WE ALLOW OTHER INDIVIDUALS OR THEIR PARTICULAR GROUPS TO BE OPPRESSED OR DISCRIMINATED AGAINST THROUGH LEGISLATION, POLICIES, OR EVEN JUST THE POSITION THAT UNFORTUNATELY OUR GOVERNOR HAS TAKEN.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT FOR EVERY CITIZEN TO REMEMBER THAT THE CONSTITUTION DOES PROTECT EVERYBODY.

IT PROTECTS EVERY GROUP.

IT PROTECTS EVERY CITIZEN.

IT PROTECTS EVERY INDIVIDUAL WHO IS WITHIN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND TO ENSURE THAT THEIR OWN RIGHTS CONTINUE TO BE PROTECTED UNDER THE CONSTITUTION, THEY SHOULD TAKE ACTION WHEN THEY SEE OTHER GROUPS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS BEING ATTACKED THROUGH DISCRIMINATORY LEGISLATION.

>> STEPHANIE AMIOTTE.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME.

>> UP NEXT, SDPB'S LEE STRUBINGER SAT DOWN WITH KITTRICK JEFFRIES OF DAKOTA CANNABIS CONSULTING, FOR THIS INSTALLMENT OF "PIERRE TO PEER."

>> COULD YOU GIVE US A LITTLE BIT OF A RECAP OF THE ENDS OF LAST SESSION.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, THE TWILIGHT HOURS, IF YOU WILL.

AND THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA, AS VOTED ON BY THE VOTERS, SORT OF WAS KIND OF UNCHANGED, BUT LAWMAKERS DECIDED THAT THEY WOULD MEET FOR -- OVER THE SUMMER TO DISCUSS MORN.

I GUESS -- DISCUSS MARIJUANA.

I GUESS, WHERE WERE WE, AND WHERE ARE WE NOW?

>> WE STARTED OFF AND THE LAWMAKERS MET FOR THE MARIJUANA SUMMER STUDY.

THEY SPLIT UP INTO TWO FACTIONS WITH RECREATIONAL AND MEDICAL AND REALLY HONED IN ON EACH OF THEIR SPECIFIC FOCUSES.

I BELIEVE IT WAS 12 LEGISLATORS FOR EACH COMMITTEE, SUBCOMMITTEE OUT OF THE GROUP.

AND IN THAT TIME, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS WERE WORKING ON ENACTING THEIR LOCAL ORDINANCES WITH THE MUNICIPALITIES AND COUNTIES.

SO EVERYONE WAS TRYING TO WORK TOGETHER AND FIGURE IT OUT.

WE HAD A LOT OF GOOD CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE MARIJUANA SUMMER STUDY AND A LOT OF REALLY GOOD CONVERSATIONS AT THE LOCAL LEVEL AS WELL.

AND SO WITH THAT SUMMER STUDY PUT FORWARD BY THE LEGISLATURE, THEY HAD BROUGHT OUT SEVERAL BILLS THIS YEAR.

IT'S JUST SHY OF 30, AND WE'RE DAY ONE OF SESSION.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW MANY MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BILLS COME FORWARD.

AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO IT.

>> SO IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'VE BEEN PRETTY BUSY SINCE LAST MARCH.

COULD YOU TELL ME WHAT YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION HAVE BEEN UP TO SINCE LAST SESSION?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY, SO BEING A REGISTERED LOBBYIST, I FOCUSES MY TIME ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

I'M FROM RAPID CITY, BORN AND RAISED.

AND SO I REALLY STUCK AROUND THE BLACK HILLS.

I DID MAKE IT OUT TO SIOUX SIOUX FALLS A COUPLE TIMES.

WE STARTED WITH DAKOTA CANNABIS CONSULTING, OUR GOAL WAS TO CONSULT SOUTH DAKOTANS AND GET THEM LICENSING, WHETHER IT WAS DISPENSARY, TESTING, MANUFACTURING, OR CULTIVATION.

AND AS WE STARTED GOING DOWN THROUGH THESE PROCESSES, LOCAL GOVERNMENT HAD THE RIGHT TO CAP THE AMOUNT OF LICENSES AVAILABLE WIN THEIR JURISDICTION.

AND WE HAD QUITE A FEW CLIENTS AT DAKOTA CANNABIDIOLS CONSULTING AND WHAT WE DIDN'T WANT TO HAVE HAPPEN WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT SOUTH DAKOTANS WERE THE ONES THAT GOT THOSE LICENSES.

SO AS THEY STARTED CAPPING THAT, THAT MAKES IT MORE APPETIZING FOR A LARGE MULTI-STATE OPERATOR TO COME IN BECAUSE THOSE LICENSES HOLD THE FINITE VALUE WITH THE FINITE NUMBER OF LICENSERS BEING AVAILABLE.

SO WE ACTUALLY TOOK ALL OF OUR CLIENTS AND ACTUALLY BANDED TOGETHER AND FORMED A GROUP THAT WENT AFTER DISPENSARY, CULTIVATION, AND MANUFACTURING LICENSES, MAINLY AROUND THE BLACK HILLS.

AND SO THAT GROUP IS CALLED PUFFIES.

SO IF YOU SEE ANYTHING IN THE NEWS ABOUT PUFFIES DISPENSARIES, THAT IS A GROUP OF 30 SOUTH DAKOTANS WHO JOINED TOGETHER TO FIGHT OFF BIG INDUSTRY?

AND I GUESS, HOW DID THAT GO?

YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY THE INDUSTRIES ARE FAIRLY ESTABLISHED IN PLACES LIKE COLORADO AND CALIFORNIA.

HOW DID SOUTH DAKOTANS FARE, I GUESS?

>> WELL, RIGHT NOW, FROM WHAT I'VE GATHERED IS THAT THERE ARE SOME OUT OF STATE COMPANIES WHO HAVE WON LOCAL LOTTERIES.

SIOUX FALLS, SPEARFISH, AND OUR GOAL WAS TO TRY AND KEEP IT AS LOCAL AS POSSIBLE.

WE DID WIN THE STURGIS LOTTERY.

MEAD COUNTY AND THEN KEYSTONE AS WELL.

SO WE'RE TRUE TO OUR BLACK HILLS ROOTS.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE 23 OUT OF 43 APPLICATIONS IN RAPID CITY.

SO WE HAVE A PRETTY PROMISING SHOT IN RAPID CITY AS WELL.

AND ALWAYS LOOKING TO EXPAND INTO THE BLACK HILLS.

BUT AGAIN, WE GOT TO LOOK AT IT LIKE IT'S NOT ONE GROUP AND KIND OF A MONOPOLY, IF YOU WILL.

IT IS 35 SOUTH DAKOTANS WHO CAME IN TOGETHER, WHO ARE BANNING TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THE OUT OF STATE COMPANIES.

>> A LOT HAS HAPPENED.

WHERE DOES THE CANNABIDIOLS INDUSTRY KURNDLY STAND?

>> WE DON'T WANT SUBSTANTIVE CHANGES TO MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

AND I THINK THAT WOULD PROBABLY EXTEND TO THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

THE PEOPLE KNEW AND VOTED ON MEDICAL AND AMENDMENT WORKS A,"L THESE 30-SOME-ODD CHANGES TO THE MEDICAL PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, THAT'S A LITTLE BIT NERVE-WRACKING.

WE WOULD BE FINE WITH SMALL TWEAKS TO CLEAN UP THINGS, BUT ANYTHING THAT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO INDUSTRY OR ACCESS WOULD NOT BE FAVORABLE FOR US.

>> SOME LAWMAKERS SEEM PRETTY CONCERNED ABOUT HOME GROWN.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, AND WHAT WOULD YOU TELL LAWMAKERS?

>> RIGHT NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THREE PLANTS.

IF THEY WANT TO GO GET AN EXTENDED PLANT COUNT, THEY HAVE TO GO SEE THEIR PHYSICIAN AND THEIR PHYSICIAN HAS TO SIGN OFF.

AND CITE RESEARCH AS TO WHY THAT PATIENT WOULD NEED MORE THAN THREE PLANTS.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A MINISCULE AMOUNT OF CANNABIDIOLS BEING ABLE TO BE GROWN AT HOME, MAINLY IN RURAL AREAS WHERE PATIENTS DON'T HAVE ACCESS.

I THINK IT'S A MOOT ARGUMENT.

THERE HASN'T BEEN ANY CRAZY PROBLEMS THAT HAVE RISEN IN LEGAL STATES THAT DO ALLOW IT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT IT WOULD BE BEST TO JUST LEAVE IT ALONE AND ALLOW MEDICAL PATIENTS AND HAD WAS, STA, SOUTH DAKOTA, WHO DON'T HAVE VERY MUCH INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO GROW AT HOME.

>> THERE ARE DOZENS OF CANNABIDIOLS BILLS THIS YEAR.

WHICH ONES ARE YOU KEEPINGEN EYE ON?

>> I WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE HOME GROW, OBVIOUSLY, AND THEN I ALSO WOULD BE LOOKING AT THE REVISION OR THE REPEAL OF A TEMPORARY MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD AND THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE GOVERNMENT HAS TYPICALLY SLOW WALKS OUT CANNABIDIOLS POLICY, AND WHAT I DON'T WANT TO SEE HAVE HAPPEN IS PATIENTS BE DELAYED ACCESS.

SO THAT TEMPORARY CARD WAS PUT INTO I.M.-26 THAT ONCE THEY GET THEIR DOCTOR'S CERTIFICATION, THEY WEREN'T WAITING ON GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE THEIR CARD AND THAT DOCTOR CERTIFICATION WAS THEIR TEMPORARY CARD UNTIL THE DEPARTMENT ISSUES THEM AN ACTUAL PHYSICAL REGISTRY IDENTIFICATION CARD.

BY ELIMINATING THAT OPPORTUNITY, I DON'T WANT PATIENTS TO BE WAITING WEEKS OR MONTHS BEFORE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO CANNABIDIOLS, AND SO I'D BE ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THAT TYPE OF LEGISLATION.

I WOULD ALSO BE OPPOSED TO ANY TYPE OF LEGISLATION THAT ELIMINATES CONCENTRATES IN EDIBLES WHICH WE ARE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW, I WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THOSE.

>> THERE'S A LOT ON THE BOARD -- OR A LOT ON THE DOCKET THIS YEAR IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

KITTRICK JEFFRIES, THANKS FOR JOINING ME ON "PIERRE TO PEER."

>> APPRECIATE IT, LEE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> YOU CAN FOLLOWING OUR ONGOING COVERAGE OF THE "STATEHOUSE" SDPB.ORG/STATEHOUSE.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR TONIGHT.

JOIN US AGAIN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 27TH, FOR A CLOSER LOOK AT GOVERNOR NOEM'S DESIRE TO BRING PRAYER TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

AND THE NEXT "WHY IS THAT" EXAMINES THE FORMER EMPIRE THAT WAS BINGO IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

UNTIL THEN, I'M LORI WALSH, IN FOR JACKIE HENDRY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

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