Democrats Plan New Push for Ethics Commission over GEAR Up

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers in South Dakota plan to renew their push for a state ethics commission as questions mount about the handling of public funds at an educational cooperative.

Platte-based Mid-Central Educational Cooperative has come under scrutiny after an apparent murder-suicide involving a key employee.

Representative Peggy Gibson is making another attempt to get discussions going about an ethics panel in the upcoming session. She says the events surrounding Mid-Central show why it's needed.

Republicans holding supermajorities in the Legislature and controlling the governor's office have largely opposed re-establishing such a body.

House Majority Leader Brian Gosch says an existing legislative oversight committee successfully exposed weaknesses in oversight of the educational grant program managed by Mid-Central.

Gibson unsuccessfully sponsored an ethics commission proposal last session after the state's investment-for-visa scandal.

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