Eggs, Issues, Pierre. Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Holds Breakfast for State Legislators.
First came the eggs. Then came the issues at the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce’s “Good Morning Sioux Falls” legislative breakfast at the Best Western Plus Ramkota Wednesday.
The issues for the 2015 South Dakota Legislature, which starts Tuesday, appear to be hard-boiled down to two: funding for roads and bridges, and funding for education and increasing teacher salaries.
A third issue - funding for and the governance of the four vocational institutes - might be the side of toast for the upcoming session in Pierre.
Despite subzero early morning temperatures and a wind chill factor near 30 below, it didn’t keep area business people away or most metro area legislators. Legislators present from each of the 10 Sioux Falls-area districts were asked a question and they had a few minutes to respond.
Only one legislator even came close to mentioning social issues; everyone else stuck to the combination breakfast of roads, education, and vo-techs. Some legislator even said there might be a need to increase fees and taxes to fix roads and bridges - and even to fund education better.
One Democratic legislator did bring up Medicaid expansion, another money issue.
But this is the South Dakota Legislature, we’re talking about, so don’t believe there will be tax increases until they finally go home in March - and actually pass some tax hikes and Gov. Dennis Daugaard actually signs them into law.
In the meantime, enjoy your eggs.
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