WATERTOWN PUBLIC OPINION

Other View: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

There’s no pot of gold for South Dakota’s state budget Last week (Jan. 21), Democrats in the South Dakota Legislature responded to Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s budget plan by presenting one of their own. While they are willing to accept about $42 million of the $127 million in budget cuts Daugaard proposed, they strongly disagreed with his plan to cut $55 million from education and $30 million from health care services for the needy. They proposed spending the state’s $107 million in reserves over the next three years, taking unspecified amounts from state trust funds beyond the normal interest earnings, and possibly reaching into state government’s cash flow account.

January 29, 2011

Other Views: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Proposed cut to education funding is just too much Funding for K-12 public education shouldn’t be seen as untouchable, but it does deserve special consideration when compared with other state-funded services. So it’s disappointing to see the final budget proposal of Gov. Mike Rounds’ administration fail to acknowledge that distinction.

December 11, 2010

Other Views; Budget woes, earmark reform

Solutions getting tougher as state’s budget hole remains On Dec. 7, Gov. Mike Rounds will make his recommendations for the 2012 state budget to the Legislature. Those recommendations will provide a starting point for the 2011 session of the South Dakota Legislature, which is staring at a budget shortfall of at least $39 million. When that shortfall is dealt with — and it will be because state law requires a balanced budget — lawmakers already know there is another $37 million projected deficit for the next (2013) budget.

November 20, 2010

Other Views: Heed public's will on ban; continuing fight for open government in S.D.

Heed public’s will on ban Today’s a great day for South Dakota. Because the state’s smoking ban extends to almost all remaining indoor businesses, employees in bars, restaurants and casinos will be able to breathe fresh air.

November 13, 2010

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Rounds’ budget cuts are a good place to start South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds is completing his final months before leaving the governor’s chair to a new occupant. Rounds is near the end of his second term and, because of term limits, cannot seek a third consecutive term. ... The governor is tackling the projected state budget deficit for the next fiscal year and is looking for ways to help the new governor and the next Legislature deal with it.

September 18, 2010

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Are speeding tickets really an issue in race for U.S. House? Several days ago we talked about candidates using non-issues during a campaign as distractions to take the focus off the real issues at hand. The idea, apparently, is to get people focusing on something that has nothing to do with the issues of the day and the tough decisions that must be made.

September 11, 2010

Other Views: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Debates will define 2010 South Dakota elections The two highest-profile races in South Dakota this year will be defined by the joint appearances and debates by the candidates. The State Fair is often the symbolic beginning of the intense part of campaigns in South Dakota, but the races for governor and the U.S. House of Representatives are making headlines every day in August.

August 21, 2010

Opinion: South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Good use for distillers grain The push for a homegrown, sustainable, renewable form of energy has made the production of ethanol a hit in many rural states. Farmers like it because the production of ethanol provides a couple of uses for the corn they grow. The first is the production of ethanol itself while the second is a byproduct of ethanol production, dried distillers grain, which is often used as feed for livestock.

July 31, 2010

Other View: Memorial Day is time to reflect upon sacrifices

Monday is Memorial Day, which traditionally marks the start of the summer travel season. With gasoline prices decreasing in recent weeks, people may have more incentive to travel and see some of the attractions South Dakota has to offer. But while tourism is important — it’s the second-largest industry in South Dakota, trailing only agriculture as the leading money maker — it’s not the only reason we should take note of the day.

May 29, 2010

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

South Dakota Gov. Mike Rounds has a valid point. Rounds and the Legislature are already going around and around ... about how to handle the state’s budget shortfall for the next two years.

January 23, 2010

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Delaying the inevitable with South Dakota’s smoking vote We are only delaying the inevitable by referring the July 1 smoking ban to voters. There’s little doubt that the public supports the ban passed by this year’s Legislature, which was to become effective July 1.

December 19, 2009

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

Fossil fuels will remain vital in U.S. for years to come South Dakota has become an energy battleground in recent years and there’s no sign of it letting up any time soon. First, it was the fight over the proposed expansion by the Dakota, Minnesota &?Eastern Railroad. Then it was over the proposed Big Stone II Power Plant. Now the focus turns to Canadian crude oil and the pipelines that will carry it to refineries for processing.

December 12, 2009

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

The worst-case scenario for the state budget will be facing the Legislature in January —state expenses are going up; revenue is going down. Facing increasing mandatory costs for programs like Medicaid and unemployment insurance, the state’s already fragile bottom line will be shaken badly.

November 28, 2009

South Dakota Editorial Roundup

The government’s deficit stands at $1.42 trillion, the largest in history. But imagine how much worse the economy would be if the federal bailout and stimulus funds that helped fuel the deficit had not been made available.

October 31, 2009

Other views: Smoking issue, tax hikes

Will South Dakotans get to decide if the state should go smoke free? It’s disheartening to see repeated delays move this issue further from the hands of voters. Just days ago, the trial to determine if the proposed public smoking ban should be heard by the voters was delayed to Oct. 26. The judge in the case will hold a hearing Sept. 11 to address an issue that has arisen in the case.

September 05, 2009