Democratic Leaders Column from Jamie Smith and Troy Heinert– Week 2
PIERRE, SD (January 23, 2021) – Greetings from Pierre, where the second week of session has ended, and where Democrats in our state legislature observed the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. We appreciated Biden’s message of unity and take that to heart as we work for the people of South Dakota.
“One big topic this year is cannabis,” says House Minority Leader Jamie Smith “We have a bipartisan group called the ‘Cannabis Caucus’ working together to implement safe and responsible cannabis laws that respect the will of South Dakota voters. We look forward to having those conversations and hope to find common ground on issues that arise.”
However, sometimes finding common ground on issues that should have bipartisan support isn’t easy. This past week Democrats have already been fighting for bills that would help all of our neighbors and have been disappointed in our conservative colleagues who continue to fight against them.
“Senate Bill 24 is one such bill that would benefit everyone in South Dakota by offering online voter registration,” says Senate Minority Leader Troy Heinert. “Two years in a row, the Republican Secretary of State has proposed this system, and we’ve heard proponent testimony from all walks of life in our state. There has been no opposing testimony, yet we have one Republican senator who guts the bill with his amendment. This disenfranchises the disabled, the elderly, young adults, our native population, and others who deserve to be a part of the democratic process in South Dakota. We will continue the fight to bring our state into the 21st century.”
The amendment, which allows address changes only, not actual registration, will pass to the Senate floor. Democrats will attempt to amend it back to its original form on Tuesday.
Another big issue this year will be Governor Noem’s $900,000 request to create and implement a new civics and history curriculum in our schools. It is hard for us to turn down increased funding for education. However, it is not the role of the Governor or the legislature to write curriculum.
Democrats recognize that civics education and engagement are important, which is why we enjoyed participating in the bi-partisan Partners in Policymaking mock bill hearings that were held at the Capitol Visitor’s Center on Friday. Partners in Policymaking is an innovative leadership and advocacy training opportunity designed to involve and empower people with developmental disabilities, parents of children with disabilities and other family members.
“We really look forward to this event and would encourage other legislators to get involved,” says Smith. “I see this as a valuable training and empowerment opportunity for disabled people and their families. It’s also valuable for us as legislators to engage with the community on important bills coming up and to hear their perspectives. We have a responsibility to lead by example and to do politics in a way that makes people want to actively participate.”
Other opportunities for lively debate this session include the budget. There is over $200 million in one-time funds available, which will make this session more contentious.
“Some of our most important on-going funding issues are supporting needs-based scholarships for college students, and increasing support for teachers, healthcare professionals, community service providers, and properly funding broadband,” says Heinert. “These issues have been Democratic priorities for years, so we’re glad to see them brought to the forefront this session.”
Democrats are here to work for the people, to work for you. We want to hear from you! Please contact us to share your questions or concerns about the current session. Our caucus meetings have always been open to the public each day right before floor session. We are observing COVID mitigation practices in place in the Capitol. If you are visiting, plan to allow extra time for screening at the entrance and wear a mask to keep you and others safe. Your voice matters to us, and we believe that together, we can create a South Dakota that works for all of us.
Representative Jamie Smith, Jamie.Smith@sdlegislature.gov
Senator Troy Heinert, Troy.Heinert@sdlegislature.gov
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