>> THIS IS A PRODUCTION OF SOUTH DAKOTA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

♪ >> HELLO, AND WELCOME TO "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS."

I'M JACKIE HENDRY, RECORDING IN THE LEO P. FLYNN GALLERY AT SDPB'S SIOUX FALLS STUDIO.

THE 2022 STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION HAS COME TO A CLOSE WITH VETO DAY ON MONDAY.

LAWMAKERS CONSIDERED AN UNUSUAL NUMBER OF BILLS AND WRESTLED WITH ALLOCATING A HISTORIC AMOUNT OF FEDERAL AID DOLLARS.

WE'LL SPEND THIS HOUR TALKING WITH LEGISLATIVE LEADERS ABOUT THE SESSION'S VICTORIES AND COMPROMISES AND LOOK AHEAD TO WHAT COMES NEXT.

WE'LL ALSO HEAR FROM SDPB'S TEAM OF REPORTERS TO WRAP UP THEIR SESSION COVERAGE AND CLOSE OUR LEGISLATIVE SERIES WITH THE STORY OF A FOUNTAIN WITH TIES TO AN EXPLOSIVE PIECE OF SOUTH DAKOTA HISTORY.

BUT FIRST, THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATION RELEASED ITS REPORT RELATED TO ATTORNEY GENERAL JASON RAVNSBORG'S CONDUCT FOLLOWING THE CAR COLLISION THAT KILLED JOE BOEVER.

IT RECOMMENDED NOT TO IMPEACH RAVNSBORG ON A 6 TO 2 VOTE.

SDPB'S LEE STRUBINGER AND I SPOKE EARLIER ABOUT THE COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

LEE, HOW DID THE IMPEACHMENT PANEL COME TO THIS DECISION?

>> YEAH, SO FIRST THE PANEL WAS INVESTIGATING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CONDUCT FOLLOWING A FATAL CRASH IN SEPTEMBER OF 2020.

RAVNSBURG WAS DRIVING BACK FROM A DINNER WHEN HE STRUCK AND KILLED HIGHMORE RESIDENT JOE BOEVER.

THEY LOOK AT DIFFERENT THINGS IN THE STATE CONSTITUTION THAT COULD RESULT IN IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE, DRUNKENNESS OF COURSE CRIMES, CORRUPT CONDUCT-MALFEASANCE OR MISDEMEANOR IN OFFICE.

WE KNOW THAT RAVNSBURG WAS NOT DRUNK WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED.

ALSO DON'T RISE TO THE LEVEL OF IMPEACHMENT.

THEY SAY THAT ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE WAS NOT TRAVELING IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS ATTORNEY GENERAL AT THAT TIME.

HE DID, HOWEVER, SEND A PRESS RELEASE ABOUT THE ACCIDENT A DAY AND A HALF AFTER THE CRASH ON OFFICIAL ATTORNEY GENERAL LETTERHEAD, AS WELL AS SPOKE WITH A CELL PHONE FORENSICS EXPERT UNDER HIS OFFICE ABOUT WHAT INVESTIGATORS COULD GLEAN FROM CELL PHONES.

HE HAD TO HAND THOSE OVER TO SOUTH DAKOTA INVESTIGATORS.

>> INTERESTING.

SO THEN WHAT DID THE COMMITTEE HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THOSE ACTIONS THEN?

>> YEAH.

SO THE MAJORITY REPORT SAYS THE PERFORMANCE OF THOSE ACTS WERE NOT DONE OR GIVEN BY VIRTUE OF HIS OFFICE OR IN HIS CAPACITY AS ATTORNEY JEN, AND THEREFORE DO NOT RISE TO THE LEVEL OF IMPEACHMENT.

BUT THOSE DISSENTING SAY THE EXACT OPPOSITE.

THIS SAY RAVNSBURG WAS NOT FORTHCOMING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS DURING THE INVESTIGATION.

AND THEY SAY HE MISREPRESENTED HIS CELL PHONE USAGE PRIOR TO THE ACCOUNT.

ACCIDENT.

AND THEY AGREE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO TESTIFIED BEFORE THE COMMITTEE THAT THEY BELIEVE RAVNSBURG WAS NOT BEING TRUTHFUL.

THE MINORITY REPORT FURTHER FINDS THAT HE ABUSED HIS OFFICE BY USING ATTORNEY GENERAL RESOURCES TO UNDERSTAND HOW INVESTIGATORS WOULD LEARN FACTS ABOUT THE CASE.

THEY SAY THAT WAS INAPPROPRIATE AND BEYOND THE GRASP OF WHAT OTHER INDIVIDUALS UNDER CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION COULD HAVE.

AND THEY ALSO SAY THAT RAVNSBURG WAS IN OFFICE AS EVIDENCED BY HIS OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD TO ISSUE A STATEMENT ON SEPTEMBER 14TH OF 2020.

>> HMM.

LEE, WE KNOW SHORTLY AFTER THE RELEASE OF THESE REPORTS, GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM SAID IN A THREAD ON TWITTER THAT THE COMMITTEE IS COVERING FOR RAVNSBURG, AND, QUOTE, ATTEMPTING TO DISTRACT FROM THEIR DECISION BY BLAMING ME FOR THEIR INACTION.

THOSE ARE SOME REALLY STRONG WORDS.

WHERE DO WE SEE THAT COMING FROM, LEE?

>> YEAH, SO THERE'S AN ADDENDUM IN THE OFFICIAL REPORT THAT WAS VOTED ON THAT SEVERAL PAGES LONG, AND IT KIND OF OUTLINES THE GOVERNOR AND EXECUTIVE BRANCH'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE INQUIRY SINCE THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON, EVEN DATING BACK TO 2021 WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ISSUED SOME OF THE INTERROGATION VIDEOS AND THE CRASH REPORT EVEN BEFORE THE CRIMINAL TRIAL BEGAN.

AND SO THAT HAS BEEN, LIKE, A LINE OF CRITICISM, GOVERNOR NOEM'S INVOLVEMENT, HAS BEEN A LINE OF CRITICISM BY THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, SPENCER GAUCHE, SINCE THIS PROCESS BEGAN.

>> ALSO PRESENT THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS OF COURSE HAS BEEN JOE BOEVER'S FAMILY.

WHAT KIND OF REACTION DID THEY HAVE TO THIS REPORT?

>> THE WIDOW OF JOE BOEVER, JENNY WAS THERE AND WAS NOTICEABLY UPSET.

I THINK IT'S NOT HARD TO IMAGINE THAT THE FAMILY IS DISAPPOINTED IN THIS RECOMMENDATION.

I WAS ABLE TO SPEAK WITH NICK NEMEK WHO'S A COUSIN TO JOE BOEVER, WHO'S BEEN KIND OF A FAMILY SPOKESPERSON THROUGHOUT THIS ENTIRE PROCESS, AND HE SAID THAT JOE BOEVER HAS NOT RECEIVED JUSTICE.

>> I THINK THE COMMITTEE WAS MORE CONCERNED ABOUT PROTECTING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

AND HIS REPUTATION SUCH AS IT IS.

VERCEL FINDING A -- FINDING JUSTICE FOR THE FAMILY AND THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE CITIZENS OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA HAVE BEEN POORLY SERVED BY THIS MAN.

SINCE THE DAY HE RAN OVER JOE BOEVER.

>> NOW, LEE, WHAT COMES NEXT?

>> THE FULL HOUSE IS SCHEDULED TO MEET ON APRIL 12TH TO TAKE UP AND VOTE ON THE RECOMMENDATION THAT WAS GIVEN BY THE IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY.

AND IN THIS CASE, THE MAJORITY OF THAT COMMITTEE IS SAYING, DO NOT IMPEACH.

BUT IT KIND OF REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN ON APRIL .

>> STILL A DEVELOPING STORY.

SDPB'S PUBLIC AND POLICY REPORTER, LEE STRUBINGER, THANKS FOR YOUR REPORTING.

>> YEAH, THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> THIS YEAR'S LEGISLATIVE SESSION WAS A BUSY ONE, AND THAT'S WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S IMPEACHMENT INVESTIGATION.

IN JUST 38 DAYS, STATE LAWMAKERS CONSIDERED HUNDREDS OF PROPOSALS.

HERE'S A REVIEW OF SOME OF THOSE KEY BILLS.

A FEW WEEKS INTO THE SESSION, REPUBLICAN SENATOR GARY CAMMACK OF UNION CENTER DID THE MATH.

IT CAME DURING A NEWS CONFERENCE JUST AFTER THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT BILLS.

>> THERE'S 339 IN THE HOUSE AND 212 IN THE SENATE FOR A TOTAL OF 551.

AND OVERALL, COMPARED TO OTHER YEARS, THIS IS QUITE A HEAVY BILL LOAD THAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH.

>> THE LAST TIME A TOTAL BILL COUNT BROKE 500 WAS FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND WITH AN UNPRECEDENTED AMOUNT OF FEDERAL AID, SOUTH DAKOTA LAWMAKERS HAD A PILE OF WORK.

IF YOU'RE NEW TO FOLLOWING THE LEGISLATURE, HERE'S A QUICK REVIEW OF THE PROCESS.

EACH BILL THAT'S INTRODUCED IS ENTITLED TO A COMMITTEE HEARING IN ITS ORIGINAL CHAMBER.

SO A HOUSE BILL STARTS IN A HOUSE COMMITTEE.

FROM THERE, IT MIGHT PASS TO THE FLOOR FOR THE ENTIRE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO CONSIDER.

ONCE A BILL PASSES THE FLOOR, IT MOVES ON TO THE NEXT CHAMBER AND REPEATS THE PROCESS.

THE FINAL STEP IS DELIVERY TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK FOR A SIGNATURE OR A VETO.

A BILL CAN DIE AT ANY POINT IN THAT PROCESS.

IN FACT, 5% TO 8% OF BILLS DIE EACH STEP OF THE WAY.

BUT THE FIRST COMMITTEE HEARING IS USUALLY THE BIGGEST HURDLE.

THIS YEAR 35% OF HOUSE BILLS AND 20% OF SENATE BILLS DIED IN THEIR FIRST COMMITTEE HEARING.

THAT MEANS MORE THAN HALF OF THE BILLS INTRODUCED THIS YEAR NEVER SAW THE GOVERNOR'S DESK.

BY THE END OF THE REGULAR SESSION, 46% OF THOSE 551 BILLS WERE PRESENTED TO THE GOVERNOR FOR HER CONSIDERATION.

SOME OF THOSE BILLS WERE PROPOSALS GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM PRESENTED IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

MANY MET LITTLE RESISTANCE ON THE JOURNEY TO BECOME LAW, LIKE AN END TO THE BINGO TAX AND ABOLISHING FEES FOR CONCEALED CARRY GUN PERMITS.

THE BILL TO BLOCK TRANSGENDER WOMEN AND GIRLS FROM COMPETING IN FEMALE SPORTS IS PART OF A NATIONWIDE MOVEMENT.

THE GOVERNOR'S VERSION OF THIS BILL MOVED THROUGH THE PROCESS EARLY IN THE SESSION.

THERE WERE CONCERNS FROM BOTH PARTIES ABOUT THE CIVIL RIGHTS IMPLICATIONS AND POSSIBILITY OF LITIGATION AGAINST THE STATE.

NOEM SIGNED WHAT SHE CALLS AN ACT TO PROTECT FAIRNESS IN WOMEN'S SPORTS IN EARLY FEBRUARY.

IT WAS THE FIRST SUCH BILL SIGNED INTO LAW IN THE NATION THIS YEAR.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE ALSO PROPOSED TWO BILLS RELATED TO ANOTHER NATIONAL CONVERSATION.

"CRITICAL RACE THEORY," OR C.R.T., HAS BECOME AN UMBRELLA TERM FOR A VARIETY OF SOCIAL ISSUES RELATED TO THE NATION'S RACIAL HISTORY AND ITS HANDLING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

THE NOEM ADMINISTRATION PROPOSED BILLS BANNING CRITICAL RACE THEORY AT THE K-12 AND COLLEGE LEVELS.

AS THEY MOVED THROUGH THE DEBATE PROCESS, THESE BILLS WERE AMENDED TO REMOVE DIRECT REFERENCES TO C.R.T., AND INSTEAD BANNED TEACHING "DIVISIVE CONCEPTS," THE SAME LANGUAGE OTHER STATES HAVE USED.

THE BILL THAT FOCUSED ON K-12 EDUCATION FAILED TO PASS IN THE SENATE.

THE HIGHER EDUCATION BILL ULTIMATELY CALLED TO BLOCK DIVISIVE CONCEPTS FROM TRAINING AND ORIENTATION ACTIVITIES NOT IN THE CLASSROOM.

THIS PASSED AND WAS SIGNED INTO LAW.

ANOTHER OF THE GOVERNOR'S EDUCATION PROPOSALS FAILED IN ITS VERY FIRST COMMITTEE HEARING IN THE HOUSE.

IT WAS A BILL TO REQUIRE A MOMENT OF SILENCE AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH SCHOOL DAY.

GOVERNOR NOEM INTRODUCED ANOTHER OF HER LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES IN HER STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR A SO-CALLED "HEARTBEAT BILL" TO BLOCK ABORTIONS AFTER THE DETECTION OF FETAL CARDIAC ACTIVITY.

THAT'S USUALLY AROUND SIX WEEKS, BEFORE MOST PEOPLE KNOW THEY'RE PREGNANT.

AT THE STATE OF THE STATE SPEECH, THE GOVERNOR'S ANNOUNCEMENT RECEIVED A STANDING OVATION FROM LAWMAKERS.

BUT WHEN IT WAS TIME TO INTRODUCE THE DRAFTED LEGISLATION, THE HOUSE STATE AFFAIRS COMMITTEE DID NOT ADOPT THE BILL.

HOWEVER, LAWMAKERS DID INTRODUCE ANOTHER PROPOSAL FROM THE GOVERNOR: A BILL TO BLOCK MEDICATION ABORTIONS PRESCRIBED FROM A REMOTE MEDICAL CONSULTATION.

THE BILL PASSED THROUGH EACH CHAMBER AND HAS BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW.

OTHER SUCCESSFUL PROPOSALS FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WERE BIG SPENDERS.

NOEM PROPOSED ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY'S CYBER PROGRAM EXPANSION.

LAWMAKERS AGREED TO INVEST $30 MILLION IN THAT PROJECT.

THE HOUSE AND SENATE ALSO AGREED TO SPEND $150 MILLION FOR LOANS AND GRANTS ON HOUSING INFRASTRUCTURE.

$100 MILLION OF THAT COMES FROM THE STATE'S GENERAL FUND, WITH $50 MILLION COMING FROM THE FEDERAL AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ACT.

THERE WAS SOME CONFLICT NEAR THE END OF SESSION, HOWEVER, WHEN LAWMAKERS ASSERTED OVERSIGHT ON THE FUNDS RATHER THAN GIVING IT TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THOUGH THE GOVERNOR EXPRESSED HER FRUSTRATION TO THE PRESS AND ON SOCIAL MEDIA, SHE ULTIMATELY SIGNED THE BILL.

THE LARGEST EXPENDITURE THIS SESSION -- AND PERHAPS IN STATE HISTORY -- IS A $600 MILLION INVESTMENT OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR WATER PROJECTS.

TACKLING INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS WAS A TOP PRIORITY FOR LEGISLATIVE LEADERS LIKE SENATOR CAMMACK, WHO DOESN'T MIND THE STIPULATION ON HOW THE STATE USES THOSE FEDERAL FUNDS IN THIS INSTANCE.

>> EVEN THOUGH THE STRINGS INDICATE THAT WE'VE GOT TO SPEND THE MONEY, A MAJORITY OF THE MONEY ON WATER PROJECTS AND SERVER PROJECTS, SEWER PROJECTS, ACTUALLY THAT'S A GOOD THING.

THERE'S NOT A CITY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA THAT DOESN'T HAVE SOME SEWER LINES THAT ARE 100 YEARS OLD.

THERE'S NOT A CITY IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA THAT ISN'T -- OR RURAL AREA -- THAT ISN'T CONCERNED ABOUT HAVING ENOUGH WATER TO SUPPLY THE NEEDS OF THE CITIZENS AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF LIVESTOCK AND INDUSTRY AND RIGHT ON DOWN THE ROAD.

>> GOVERNOR NOEM ISSUED FOUR VETOES THIS SESSION.

THE FIRST VETO AGAINST A BILL TO CHANGE THE MINIMUM AMOUNT OF A LOTTERY PRIZE SUBJECT TO A DEBT SETOFF CAME IN TIME TO BE CONSIDERED BEFORE VETO DAY.

LAWMAKERS DID NOT REACH THE TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY VOTE TO OVERRIDE THE GOVERNOR'S VETO.

THE OTHER THREE VETOES CAME A FEW HOURS BEFORE THE CUTOFF.

THOSE INCLUDED A BILL TO REMOVE CERTAIN MARIJUANA CHARGES FROM BACKGROUND CHECKS AFTER FIVE YEARS AND A BILL ALLOWING PREGNANT MINORS TO GIVE INFORMED CONSENT FOR CARE.

THE THIRD VETO BLOCKED A BILL GIVING THE LEGISLATURE OVERSIGHT OVER ANY NEW STATE PROGRAMS PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL MONEY.

NOEM'S VETO MESSAGE CALLED THIS BILL "UNWORKABLE."

AFTER SOME DEBATE, LAWMAKERS FAILED TO OVERRIDE THE VETOES, AND WITH A CALL TO ADJOURN ON MARCH 28TH, AN UNUSUALLY BUSY LEGISLATIVE SESSION CAME TO A CLOSE.

IN A LAST-MINUTE ADJUSTMENT ON VETO DAY, LAWMAKERS LEVERAGED FEDERAL FUNDS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HELP TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES.

THEY'D ORIGINALLY APPROVED $10 MILLION OF STATE FUNDS TARGETED AT SPECIFIC FACILITIES.

BUT AN ADDITIONAL $20 MILLION OF AVAILABLE FEDERAL MONEY MEANS EVERY NURSING HOME IN THE STATE WILL SEE SOME ASSISTANCE.

SENATOR BRYAN BREITLING IS A REPUBLICAN FROM MILLER AND SERVES ON THE JOINT APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.

HE EXPLAINS THE NEED.

>> A LOT OF THEM ARE USING -- ALMOST ALL NURSING HOMES ARE USING SOME DEGREE OF CONTRACT LABOR, AND SO ON AVERAGE, $300,000 PER FACILITY WILL GO A LONG WAY TO BRINGING THEM SOMEWHAT CLOSE TO LEVEL.

DO WHAT THEY CAN TO RECRUIT, DO WHAT THEY CAN TO STABILIZE THEIR STAFFING.

IN SOME FACILITIES, IF THEY WANT TO USE THIS TO PAY OFF A LOAN SO THEY'VE GOT BETTER CASH FLOW GOING FORWARD, WHATEVER THEIR SCENARIO IS.

>> THE ONE-TIME INVESTMENT WILL INCREASE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENT RATES TO LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES THROUGH THE END OF THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR.

LAWMAKERS ALSO APPROVED AN ONGOING 6% INCREASE IN FUNDING FOR THOSE PROVIDERS.

SOUTH DAKOTA IS ONE OF A FEW STATES WITH A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE.

AFTER CONVENING IN PIERRE, LAWMAKERS RETURN TO THEIR HOME DISTRICTS AND THEIR FULL-TIME JOBS.

MANY DIDN'T EXPECT TO RUN FOR A PUBLIC OFFICE, MUCH LESS ACHIEVE A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

WE VISITED REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT LEADERS TO REFLECT ON THE SESSION, STARTING WITH SENATORS GARY CAMMACK AND TROY HEINERT.

UNION CENTER IS IN RANCH COUNTRY, ABOUT AN HOUR NORTHEAST OF RAPID CITY.

IT'S THE HOME OF REPUBLICAN GARY CAMMACK.

THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER IS A RANCHER AND OPERATES THE CAMMACK RANCH SUPPLY SHOP.

HIS WORK WITH THE COUNTY INSPIRED HIM TO CAMPAIGN AT A HIGHER LEVEL.

>> WELL, I THINK I -- PRIOR TO SERVING IN THE LEGISLATURE, I SERVED AS A COUNTY COMMISSIONER, AND I SAW THE THINGS THAT THE LEGISLATURE DID HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS AND DIFFERENT THINGS, AND I JUST -- I JUST WANTED TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE AT LEAST A FINGERPRINT ON THAT, AND TRY IT MOVE IT IN A DIRECTION WHERE IT'S -- WHERE IT WORKS FOR ALL BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.

BUT ASIDE FROM THAT, WHERE IT WORKS FOR THE CITIZEN.

>> WHAT WERE THE SUCCESSES OF THIS YEAR?

>> I WOULD SAY THE SUCCESSES WERE OUR ABILITY TO MAKE INVESTMENTS IN THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

UNLIKE ANY OTHER YEAR EVER.

WE HAD -- WE PUT 600 AND -- $660 MILLION, I BELIEVE, INTO WATER PROJECTS, AND I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT WILL ENHANCE THE FUTURE OF SOUTH DAKOTA ANY MORE THAN INVESTING IN WATER PROJECTS, WHETHER IT BE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OR FOR RURAL AREAS OR FOR MUNICIPALITIES, BOTH LARGE AND SMALL, NOT JUST -- THAT'S AN AMAZING AMAZING AMOUNT OF MONEY, BUT IT -- WHAT IT DID IS IT ADVANCED OUR OPPORTUNITIES BY AT LEAST 25 YEARS JUST BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN US THAT LONG TO BE ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH WHAT WE WERE -- WHAT WE'VE GOT IN THE WORKS RIGHT NOW.

AND THE PROCESS THAT WE PUT IN PLACE TO ACCOMPLISH THAT, I HAVE GOT ALL THE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORLD THAT THIS IS REALLY GOING TO WORK.

THIS YEAR WE INVESTED IN UNIVERSITIES LIKE NO OTHER YEAR.

JUST ABSOLUTELY AMAZING.

AND IT'S ALL JUST REALLY EXCITING STUFF, I THINK.

THE MONEY WE'RE PUTTING IN TO MADISON DSU.

THOSE FOLKS ARE -- THEY'RE COMING OUT OF THERE WITH JOB OFFERS THAT RIVAL PEOPLE THAT COME OUT OF YALE AND HARVARD AND BEYOND.

IT'S JUST -- THERE'S SIX-FIGURE NUMBERS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE COMING RIGHT OUT OF COLLEGE.

BUT IT'S THERE -- THEY'RE IN THE RIGHT INDUSTRY, AND THEY KNOW THEIR STUFF, AND SO THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

>> CAMMACK LISTS OTHER SUCCESSES LIKE INVESTMENTS IN NURSING PROGRAMS AND THE COTTONWOOD FIELD STATION FOR AGRICULTURE RESEARCH IN JACKSON COUNTY.

>> WHAT WE WERE LOOKING FOR IS, WE DIDN'T WANT TO SPEND ONE-TIME MONEY FOR ONGOING COSTS, AND WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE INVESTMENTS THAT WE MADE WERE INVESTMENTS THAT WOULD PAY DIVIDENDS TO THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA AND TO THE NATION AND TO THE WORLD FOR DECADES.

AND I REALLY BELIEVE THAT ALL OF THAT -- WE ACCOMPLISHED ALL OF THAT.

>> A LOT OF SUCCESSES.

THIS SESSION.

DID ANYTHING GET LEFT BEHIND?

>> OH, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY'S GOT AN OX THAT GETS GORED DURING THESE SESSIONS, AND, YOU KNOW, THERE'S A HANDFUL OF THINGS THAT I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE, BUT OVERALL THERE'S NEVER BEEN A SESSION LIKE THIS, AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE -- I DOUBT IF I'LL EVER SEE A SESSION LIKE THIS IN MY LIFETIME AGAIN.

>> IT'S BEEN AN UNUSUAL SESSION IN OTHER RESPECTS TOO.

THOUGH REPUBLICANS HOLD A SUPERMAJORITY IN THE STATEHOUSE, IT'S BECOME CLEAR PARTY MEMBERS AREN'T ALWAYS LOCK-STEP IN THEIR PRIORITIES, ESPECIALLY BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE.

WE'VE HEARD ABOUT A DIFFERING VISION FOR THINGS BETWEEN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

AND I THINK AN EXAMPLE OF THAT WAS SENATE BILL 117.

IT WAS HOG-HOUSED A COUPLE DIFFERENT TIMES.

CAME BACK TO THE SENATE AS A BILL TO REPEAL THE FOOD TAX.

THAT AMENDMENT WAS BROUGHT FORTH BY A HOUSE REPUBLICAN.

>> [ CHUCKLES ] IT'S THE PROCESS.

IT'S ALL GOOD.

AND WHAT I ALWAYS SAY, THERE'S 105 LEGISLATORS IN THE SYSTEM, AND I TRULY BELIEVE THAT ALL 105 REALLY HAVE THE BEST INTERESTS OF SOUTH DAKOTA IN MIND.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IS -- THEY'RE ALL LOOKING TO MAKE SOUTH DAKOTA A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE.

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE PATH TO GET THERE.

AND SO YOU GOT -- THAT'S WHERE YOUR DIFFERENCES COME IN.

AND SO LIKE FOR THE REPEAL OF THE TAX ON FOOD.

FOR MYSELF, WHAT I LOOKED AT WAS THE LAST TIME THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA GOT A SIGNIFICANT INFLUX OF FEDERAL DOLLARS WITHIN TWO YEARS OF THAT.

THE GOVERNOR ASKED FOR 10% ACROSS THE BOARD CUT ON ALL PROGRAMS.

I MEAN, ALL THE STATE GOVERNMENT.

THAT'S HUGE.

THAT IS HUGE AND CAUSED SOME PAIN.

SO I LOOK AT THIS, AND I LOOK AT THAT.

I SEE SOME SIMILARITIES.

AND SO THESE KIND OF THINGS YOU DON'T WANT TO BASE YOUR DECISIONS ON THE CURRENT -- YOUR CURRENT SITUATION.

YOU WANT TO DO LIKE THE FAMOUS HOCKEY PLAYER.

YOU WANT TO -- YOU WANT TO SKATE TO WHERE THE PUCK IS GOING TO BE.

AND SO THAT'S WHAT YOU GOT TO THINK AHEAD ABOUT THOSE THINGS.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO -- WE DON'T WANT TO HURT PEOPLE, BUT WE DON'T WANT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A BIND EITHER.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN A DIVIDE FORM GROW IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN SOUTH DAKOTA SINCE YOU'VE BEEN IN THE LEGISLATURE?

>> ANYTIME THAT YOU HAVE A SUPERMAJORITY, I DON'T CARE IF IT'S IN SOUTH DAKOTA OR HAWAII, ANYTIME YOU HAVE A SUPER MAJORITY, WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO IS, YOU'RE GOING TO CREATE A SITUATION WHERE THE -- SEE, I TAKE -- I CALL IT COWBOY LOGIC, WHERE YOU CIRCLE THE WAGONS AND SHOOT IN.

AND SO IT'S -- SOMETIMES IT CREATES THAT OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT BECAUSE IN OTHER SITUATIONS WHERE IT'S CLOSER TO 50/50, YOU'VE GOT TO HANG TOGETHER TO GET ANYTHING DONE IN THIS SITUATION, WE'VE GOT A SUPERMAJORITY SO THAT NECESSITY ISN'T NECESSARILY THERE.

SO IT CREATES THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE -- CREATE SOME FACTIONS WITHIN THE PARTY.

>> WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGE IS THAT FOR A MAJORITY LEADER?

>> WELL, AS THE MAJORITY LEADER, MY PHILOSOPHY IS, I NEVER HAVE TOLD ANYONE HOW TO VOTE.

I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYONE IS HEARD IN THE CAUCUS, AND I TRY TO MAKE SURE THAT BOTH SIDES OF AN ISSUE ARE HEARD, AND IF IT'S SOMETHING I FEEL STRONGLY ABOUT, I MIGHT MAKE SOME COMMENTS, TRY TO GET THE CAUCUS TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION.

BUT IT'S -- IF YOU TRY TO PUSH THINGS, IT NEVER WORKS.

>> THAT EFFORT TOWARD FAIRNESS INCLUDES HIS COLLEAGUES ACROSS THE AISLE.

IN HIS CLOSING SPEECH, SENATE MINORITY LEADER TROY HEINERT, A DEMOCRAT, EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE.

>> WORKING WITH YOU, SENATOR CAMMACK, HAS BEEN A TRUE HONOR AND A PLEASURE.

YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN HONEST WITH ME.

YOU'VE ALWAYS KEPT ME IN THE LOOP.

AND EVEN THOUGH I KNOW I FRUSTRATED YOU AT TIMES, YOU WERE STILL THERE, AND YOU ALWAYS TOOK MY CALL.

AND I APPRECIATE THAT.

WE CAME IN AT THE SAME TIME, TOGETHER.

SO, YOU KNOW, FROM TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AREAS, BUT A LOT OF SIMILAR BACKGROUNDS, YOU KNOW.

RANCHING AND FARMING COMMUNITIES, A SMALL TOWN, EVERYBODY KIND OF KNOWS EVERYBODY.

ONCE WE STARTED VISITING, YOU KNOW, WE REALIZED WE HAD A LOT OF COMMON FRIENDS; WE HAD JUST NEVER CROSSED PATHS.

>> AT HIS HOME JUST WEST OF MISSION, ON THE ROSEBUD RESERVATION, HEINERT RANCHES AND TRAINS HORSES FOR RODEO.

HE DIDN'T EXPECT TO SPEND MORE THAN A DECADE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> I DIDN'T KNOW THAT 11 YEARS AGO, I WAS GONNA BE IN THE GROCERY STORE AND A COUPLE OF UNCIS, GRANDMAS, WALKED UP TO ME -- GENA WAS RIGHT THERE -- AND SAID, "WOULD YOU GO REPRESENT US IN PIERRE?"

WASN'T THE PATH I THOUGHT I WAS ON, BUT WHEN THOSE GRANDMAS ASK YOU THAT QUESTION, AT HOME THAT'S WHAT YOU DO.

YOU DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.

>> THINKING BACK OVER YOUR TIME IN THE STATEHOUSE, WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO PUBLIC SERVICE FOR THIS COMMUNITY?

>> I'VE JUST ALWAYS HAD A SENSE THAT IF YOU'RE -- IF YOU'RE NOT AT THE TABLE, THEN YOU'RE ON THE MENU.

AND THE PEOPLE THAT I REPRESENT, THE PEOPLE FROM MY COMMUNITY DOWN HERE ON ROSEBUD, AND THE PEOPLE IN LOWER BRULE AND CROW CREEK, YOU KNOW, ALL ACROSS OUR DISTRICT, THEY DESERVE SOMEBODY WHO CAN STAND UP AND SPEAK FOR THEM AND TRY TO BRING ISSUES TO LIGHT.

FAR TOO OFTEN, WE ARE FORGOTTEN OR IGNORED.

AND SO WHEN I GOT THERE, I WAS GONNA MAKE SURE THEY WEREN'T GONNA IGNORE ME.

THEY MIGHT NOT HAVE AGREED WITH ME, BUT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO IGNORE ME.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THIS LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHAT WERE THE BIGGEST SUCCESSES?

>> I THINK GETTING A G-BILL PASSED WAS A SUCCESS, BECAUSE WHEN WE FIRST CAME INTO SESSION, I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

I DIDN'T THINK WE WERE GOING TO GET IT DONE JUST BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THEN BOTH HOUSES SEEMED LIKE THE COMMUNICATION WASN'T THERE.

AND IT WAS TOWARDS ABOUT THE VERY LAST WEEK WHEN THEY STARTED INVOLVING EVERYBODY THAT WE CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO GO FORWARD.

>> IN 2018, HEINERT WAS NAMED THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN CAUCUS LEADER IN STATE LEGISLATIVE HISTORY, BUT HE FACES A VERY DIFFERENT LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE THAN MAJORITY LEADER CAMMACK.

DEMOCRATIC INFLUENCE CONTINUES TO DWINDLE IN PIERRE.

>> I THINK THE ISSUE HAS BEEN THE LAST FEW YEARS AS DEMOCRATIC NUMBERS DECLINE, I THINK SO HAS THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING.

IT WASN'T UNTIL THEY BROUGHT DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP IN ON THE G-BILL THAT WE REALLY STARTED TO SEE SOME MOVEMENT.

AND IT TAKES ANOTHER SET OF EYES, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE TO GET THINGS ACCOMPLISHED.

AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE BRING.

WE TRY TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, IN A RESPECTFUL MANNER.

OBVIOUSLY THERE'S THINGS WE WISH WE COULD STOP.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS TO STOP.

AND THERE'S THINGS WE WISH WE COULD PASS.

WE JUST DON'T HAVE NUMBERS TO GET IT PASSED.

BUT FOR THE MOST PART, IF WE HAD MORE BALANCE, I THINK WE'D GET A BETTER PRODUCT.

>> WHAT WERE SOME OF THE TOUGHEST LOSSES OR THE HARDEST COMPROMISES FROM THIS SESSION?

>> YOU KNOW, THE HARDEST LOSS FOR ME WAS OBVIOUSLY THE OCETI SAKOWIN COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOL.

>> THIS WAS THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW HEINERT SPONSORED A BILL CREATING SCHOOLS CENTERED ON LAKOTA CULTURE AND LANGUAGE.

SIMILAR SCHOOLS HAVE IMPROVED EDUCATION OUTCOMES FOR NATIVE STUDENTS IN OTHER STATES.

PUBLIC SCHOOL GROUPS HAVE CONSISTENTLY OPPOSED THE LEGISLATION, SAYING IT CREATES THE EQUIVALENT OF CHARTER SCHOOLS.

THIS YEAR, THE BILL DIED IN THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

>> I REALLY THOUGHT WE HAD A GOOD PRODUCT.

WE HAD SOME MOMENTUM COMING OUT OF THE SENATE.

I THOUGHT WE HAD MADE OUR CASE IN THE HOUSE.

OBVIOUSLY, WHO KNEW THAT CRITICAL RACE THEORY AND, YOU KNOW, THOSE KIND OF BUZZ WORDS WERE GOING TO OVERTAKE A BILL THAT HAD A CHANCE TO, YOU KNOW, TRANSFORM EDUCATION FOR NATIVE YOUTH IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

I WAS REALLY DISAPPOINTED.

THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE WHO VOTED AGAINST IT BECAUSE WE USED THE WORD "EQUITY."

AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW YOU COULD BE, YOU KNOW, IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND NOT REALIZE THAT THERE IS SO MUCH INEQUITY, ESPECIALLY AS IT COMES TO EDUCATION FOR NATIVE KIDS.

JUST BY USING THE WORD "EQUITY" WAS A TRIGGER.

AND SO THAT CAUSED THAT REPRESENTATIVE TO VOTE AGAINST IT.

THAT DIDN'T MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

>> BUT THAT WASN'T THE ONLY FRUSTRATION.

>> THE TRANSGENDER SPORTS BILL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S JUST SUCH A NON-ISSUE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WE JUST SAW A LOT OF THAT.

WE SAW A LOT OF THIS, YOU KNOW, NATIONAL KIND OF RHETORIC THAT WAS BROUGHT FORTH IN ALL KINDS OF BILLS, AND NOT A LOT OF THEM BEING BROUGHT BY THE LEGISLATURE.

YOU KNOW, COMING FROM THE ADMINISTRATION, AND THAT WASN'T WHAT WE WERE SENT THERE TO DO.

>> BOTH HEINERT AND CAMMACK ARE TERM-LIMITED IN THE SENATE THIS YEAR.

WHAT'S NEXT?

>> I STARTED OUT IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SERVED TWO YEARS THERE, SERVED EIGHT YEARS IN THE SENATE.

AND I'VE TAKEN OUT A PETITION TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE AGAIN.

SO WE'LL SEE.

THERE'S A LITTLE MATTER OF AN ELECTION, AND WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

IN POLITICS, FRIENDS AND ENEMIES ACCUMULATE.

SO THE LONGER YOU'RE AROUND, SEEMS LIKE YOU PICK UP SOME BAGGAGE AS YOU GO.

BUT HOPEFULLY I'LL BE ABLE TO SERVE ANOTHER TERM IN THE HOUSE.

>> AND SPEAKING OF ELECTIONS...

THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE WERE WONDERING, IS HE GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

I KNOW YOU'VE COME OUT PUBLICLY AND SAID THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

BUT WOULD YOU TELL US A BIT MORE ABOUT THAT DECISION.

>> WE HAD BEEN GOING BACK AND FORTH WHETHER I WAS GOING TO OR NOT.

OBVIOUSLY, I WAS INTERESTED.

I THOUGHT I COULD DO A GOOD JOB FOR SOUTH DAKOTA.

I THOUGHT I HAD DEVELOPED QUITE A FEW RELATIONSHIPS ACROSS THE STATE, HAD LOTS OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM ALL DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE, ALL DIFFERENT PARTIES, YOU KNOW.

THEY JUST WANTED SOMEBODY THAT WOULD BE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND IT WAS NOVEMBER.

I DIDN'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING DURING REDISTRICTING BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO TAINT THAT PROCESS.

THAT WAS HARD ENOUGH.

AND IT WAS RIGHT AFTER REDISTRICTING, I WAS APPROACHED BY THE INTERTRIBAL BUFFALO COUNCIL AND ENCOURAGED TO APPLY FOR THEIR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR POSITION.

>> THE ORGANIZATION INCLUDES 76 TRIBES WHO TOGETHER MANAGE MORE THAN 20,000 BISON.

ITS GOAL IS TO RETURN BISON TO INDIAN LANDS THROUGH POLICY WORK AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HEINERT ACCEPTED THE POSITION LATE LAST YEAR AND HOPES HE'S LEFT A POSITIVE LEGACY IN PIERRE.

>> I'M NOT DYING.

I'M NOT DONE FOREVER.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS -- I WORKED VERY HARD AT IT, AND I TRIED VERY HARD, AND I THINK WE'VE DONE SOME GOOD THINGS FOR PEOPLE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

I'M EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THE NEXT GENERATION CAN DO, AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S -- IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> YOU CAN FIND MY EXTENDED CONVERSATION WITH BOTH GARY CAMMACK AND TROY HEINERT ONLINE AT SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

THIS WAS ALSO THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION FOR PARTY LEADERS IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

MAJORITY LEADER KENT PETERSON IS TERM-LIMITED THIS YEAR, WHILE MINORITY LEADER JAMIE SMITH IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

WE WEREN'T ABLE TO CONNECT WITH REPRESENTATIVE SMITH IN TIME FOR THIS BROADCAST, BUT WE'LL TAKE SOME TIME NOW TO HEAR HIS FAREWELL MESSAGE ON THE HOUSE FLOOR.

HERE'S REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE SMITH IN HIS OWN WORDS.

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S SIX YEARS AGO THAT I STARTED HERE AND JUST SIX YEARS AGO, AND I CAN'T REMEMBER NOT BEING A PART OF YOU.

AND FRIENDS.

I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT LIFE WAS LIKE BEFORE THIS.

AND I'M GOING TO MISS IT.

I'M REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU.

TO THE PROCESS.

THANK YOU TO THE APPROPRIATORS.

FOR DOING SOMETHING THAT I COULDN'T DO.

I WOULD NOT MAKE IT THROUGH YOUR DAYS.

I'M SO GLAD THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT THINK LIKE YOU.

AND DO WHAT YOU DO.

AND CARE SO MUCH.

ABOUT WHAT YOU DO.

WITH A PASSION.

THAT YOU HAVE.

TO THE CHA CHAIRMEN AND WOMEN OF THE DIFFERENT COMMITTEES, THANK YOU.

THANK YOU FOR THE TIME THAT YOU PUT IN BEYOND WHAT EVERYBODY ELSE DOES.

TO THE WOMEN UP FRONT, THAT MAKE SURE OUR WORK GETS DONE.

AND THAT WE ALL LOOK GOOD.

WE SAY THANK YOU.

TO THE PRESS OVER IN THE CORNER.

THAT ARE HERE EVERY DAY.

TRYING TO GET IT RIGHT, TELL THE STORY OF WHAT WE DO, WE SAY THANK YOU.

TO THE FOLKS IN THE HALLWAY THAT ARE LISTENING AND ARE PEEKING THROUGH THE CRACKS.

THEY HELP US LEARN.

TO THEM, WE SAY THANK YOU.

TO MY CAUCUS.

WE'RE SMALL.

HOPEFULLY WE GROW.

BUT YOU'RE THE BEST.

WE TRULY ARE A FAMILY.

AND I KNOW THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD MY BACK.

SO I SAY THANK YOU.

AND AT THIS TIME I'D BE REMISS IF I DIDN'T SAY THANK YOU TO ONE PERSON IN THIS ROOM.

ACTUALLY, I'M GOING TO SKIP ONE, I'LL START WITH THE SPEAKER, BECAUSE HE MADE IT CLEAR HE'S NOT JUST THE SPEAKER FOR THE REPUBLICANS, HE'S THE SPEAKER FOR THE ENTIRE HOUSE AND HE'S TREATED US FAIRLY AND GIVEN US HEARINGS FOR OUR BILLS.

AND TO THAT, WE SAY THANK YOU.

AND THEN IF I DIDN'T TALK TO MY FRIEND ON THE OTHER CORNER.

I TRULY MEAN FRIEND WHEN I SAY FRIEND.

DIDN'T KNOW KENT PETERSON BEFORE WE GOT TO PIERRE.

AND HE'S DOING THE SAME THING I'M DOING.

HE'S NOT GOING TO BE BACK IN THE SAME ROLE HERE IN THIS CAPITOL EITHER.

AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT'S GOING THROUGH HIS MIND BECAUSE I HAVE EIGHT PEOPLE TO LEAD, AND I'M SORRY, BUT THE 62 OF YOU, THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT BALL GAME, ALL RIGHT?

[ Laughter ] THE AMOUNT OF RESPECT I HAVE FOR LEADER PETERSON IS IMMENSE.

WE HAVE A FRIENDSHIP THAT'S GOING TO LAST OUR LIFETIMES.

FROM THE WORK WE DID TOGETHER.

FOR THE PEOPLE OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

AND I THINK EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US IN THIS ROOM HAS TO REMEMBER THAT THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

IT WAS ALLUDED TO EARLIER.

BUT WHEN WE GET ALL WORRIED ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS AND WE DO, WE GET ALL WORKED UP, I WANT US ALL TO REMEMBER WHY WE'RE HERE.

IT'S FOR PEOPLE.

ON THAT, I SAY THANK YOU FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU, KENT PETERSON.

I'M NAMING YOUR NAME.

SORRY.

AND I DO LOVE YOU.

THANK YOU.

[ Applause ] >> MUCH LIKE HIS DEMOCRATIC COUNTERPART, REPUBLICAN HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER KENT PETERSON DIDN'T ANTICIPATE THE ROLE THE LEGISLATURE WOULD PLAY IN HIS LIFE.

A SELF-DESCRIBED SMALL-TOWN FARM KID FROM SALEM, JUST NORTHWEST OF SIOUX FALLS, HE SAYS HIS FAMILY INSPIRED HIM TO RUN FOR OFFICE.

HE JOINED US EARLIER TO REFLECT ON THE SESSION, A SHIFT IN THE STATE'S REPUBLICAN PARTY, AND THE NEED TO KEEP SOUTH DAKOTA'S FUTURE VIABLE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION.

>> AS YOU REFLECT ON THIS REALLY UNUSUAL SESSION, WHAT WERE THE SUCCESSES OF THIS YEAR?

>> I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF THEM.

WE START WITH $600 MILLION WATER PROJECT THAT WE NEVER WOULD HAVE HAD OPPORTUNITY TO DO BUT FOR YOUR, LIKE, THIS $150 MILLION PLUS OTHER $50 MILLION OF FEDERAL FUNDS FOR HOUSING, WHICH IS GOING TO BE A GAME-CHANGER ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA.

A $30 MILLION INVESTMENT WITH SOME OTHER FUNDS THEN FOR THE D.S.U.

PROJECT HERE IN SIOUX FALLS FOR CYBER LAB INNOVATION AND CREATING THAT NEXT INDUSTRY FOR SOUTH DAKOTA TO BE THE LEADER IN.

I HAD A PROJECT THAT I BROUGHT FOR $15 MILLION TO FUND THE DISCOVERY DISTRICT BIOMEDICAL INNOVATION CENTER HERE IN SIOUX FALLS, THE RESEARCH PARK.

I THINK THAT WILL BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR MANY YEARS TO COME TO CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE THAT WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXIST AT THIS POINT.

AND THEN HONESTLY, WE PROBABLY -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TALK ABOUT ALL THE TIME, BUT WE HAVE TO DO IT THROUGH OUR CONSTITUTIONS, WE BALANCE OUR BUDGET, AND WE DID THAT THIS YEAR, BUT DID A LOT OF GOOD ALONG THE WAY.

WE HAD 6% INCREASES ACROSS THE BOARD FOR OUR STATE EMPLOYEES.

FOR EDUCATION AND FOR MEDICAL PROVIDERS.

WE HELD TUITION HARMLESS FOR OUR REGENTIAL SYSTEM AND FOR OUR TECH SCHOOLS, WHICH IS A DEAL FOR SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WE CREATED A FUND ALSO TO -- WE HAVE AN IMPENDING CORRECTIONS PROBLEM SOUTH DAKOTA THAT WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH, AND WE CREATED A FUND AND PUT CLOSE TO $85 MILLION INTO THAT FUND FOR NEXT YEAR AS THEY'RE GOING TO STUDY IT OVER THE SUMMER.

SO ALL IN ALL, I THINK WE DID A LOT OF GOOD, AND WE'LL SEE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME FROM THAT WHEN IT'S ALL SAID AND DONE.

>> WHAT ABOUT YOUR COMMUNITY INSPIRED YOU TO PUBLIC SERVICE IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> YOU KNOW, I'M FROM A SMALL TOWN OF SALEM, FARM KID FROM SALEM.

I GREW UP NORTH OF TOWN ON THE FARM THAT'S STILL THERE TODAY.

AND I THINK THE PART OF THE SMALL TOWN THAT REALLY HELPED ME THE MOST WAS, YOU JUST HAD TO GET INVOLVED.

I HAD 46 KIDS IN MY GRADUATING CLASS.

SO THAT MEANT YOU WERE IN BAND.

YOU'RE IN CHOIR.

YOU'RE ON THE TRACK TEAM.

YOU'RE -- I WAS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM, ON THE BASKETBALL TEAM.

YOU DID IT ALL ON SHOW CHOIR, YOU KNOW, MAGICAL JAZZ BAND, BECAUSE IF YOU WANTED TO HAVE THOSE ACTIVITIES IN YOUR TOWN, YOU NEEDED TO BE INVOLVED, AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ONCE THAT KIND OF GETS IN YOU, THE GET-IT-DONE MENTALITY JUST TAKES CARE OF ITSELF THE REST OF TIME.

AND SO THAT INSPIRED ME, YOU KNOW, WENT ON TO U.S.D.

TO GET MY UNDERGRADUATE AND MASTERS DEGREES AND THEN SPENT A FEW YEARS IN SIOUX FALLS BEFORE GOING BACK TO SALEM.

AND IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL PLACE TO GROW UP AND RAISE MY KIDS THERE NOW.

AND SO I CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY THAT THE REASON I AM WHERE I AM IS BECAUSE OF WHERE I CAME FROM.

AND IT'S BEEN A HUGE PART OF, YOU KNOW, MY IDENTITY AS A FARM KID FROM SALEM.

I THINK PEOPLE HEARD ME SAY THAT ALL THE TIME BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT IT IS, AND, YOU KNOW, I WAS REALLY INVOLVED IN FFA AND LEARNED A LOT OF LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND THINGS THROUGH THAT AS WELL.

AND SO I CAN LOOK BACK TO A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS OVER MY TIME THERE THAT HAVE SAID, THAT'S HOW YOU HELP TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE TODAY.

>> HOW CRITICAL DO YOU SEE THE ROLE OF STATE GOVERNMENT IN ENSURING THAT THOSE SMALL COMMUNITIES SURVIVE AND THAT THOSE STUDENTS FIND WAYS TO STAY IN THOSE SMALL COMMUNITIES?

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

I THINK THERE'S A BALANCE IN THERE OF WHAT DOES A STATE NEED TO DO AND WHAT DOES THE PRIVATE SECTOR NEED TO DO?

AND I THINK WE'VE TRIED TO FIND THAT FINE LINE IN THE MIDDLE THESE LAST FEW YEARS AND SOME OF THE PROJECTS I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER OF YOU KNOW, FINDING WAYS TO CREATE OPPORTUNITY, PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS IS THE YOU KNOW, THE CATCH PHRASE THAT EVERYBODY LIKES TO TALK ABOUT BUT THEY WORK AND YOU KNOW GETTING INVESTMENT AND GETTING SKIN IN THE GAME FROM ALL SECTORS IS HOW SOME OF THESE THINGS REALLY HAPPEN AND THAT'S HOW SMALL COMMUNITIES LIKE SALEM AND PARKSTON AND FREEMAN AND ALL THE OTHER ONES YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T JUST YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW, THE THE SCHOOLS ARE THE BACKBONES OF ALL THESE SMALL COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE A GREAT EDUCATION SYSTEM HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA TO BACK THAT AND I THINK THAT'S YOU KNOW, WHERE A LOT OF THE STARTS IS WE HAVE A WONDERFUL PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM SOUTH DAKOTA, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF GREAT AND THEN THESE COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, WE HAVE A SMALL PRIVATE SCHOOL IN MY TOWN AND THEY WORK WELL TOGETHER WITH WITH OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO I THINK THESE SMALL TOWNS ARE A VITAL FACTOR.

AND THEN I THINK THE OTHER THING IS THAT YOU KNOW, WHEN WE GET TO PIERRE WE NEED TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM EVERYONE AND OUR--WE JUST REDISTRICT HERE THIS LAST NOVEMBER AND IT WAS A HARD FIGHT, BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER THE STATE TO TRY TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

>> WHILE LAWMAKERS WORK TO REPRESENT ISSUES FROM ACROSS THE STATE, THEY OFTEN ALSO ENGAGE WITH NATIONAL ISSUES.

HERE'S REPRESENTATIVE PETERSON AFTER GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS THIS YEAR, WHICH TOUCHED ON HER PROPOSAL TO BAN CRITICAL RACE THEORY FROM SOUTH DAKOTA SCHOOLS AND UNIVERSITIES.

I WANNA TALK TO THE TEACHERS.

I WANT TO SEE WHAT'S ACTUALLY GOING ON.

I HAVE A SEVEN-YEAR-OLD AND A NINE-YEAR-OLD THAT GO TO PUBLIC SCHOOL HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, AND SO, I WANT TO SEE WHAT THEY'RE DOING, WHAT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

WE'VE GOT GREAT SCHOOLS HERE IN SOUTH DAKOTA, WE'VE GOT GREAT TEACHERS, AND SO I THINK WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE DOING OUR HOMEWORK FIRST, BEFORE WE MAKE ANY OF OUR DECISIONS AND THEN WE'LL MOVE >> THE PHRASE CRITICAL RACE THEORY WAS LATER AMENDED OUT OF THE TWO BILLS.

HOW DID THAT PLAY OUT?

HOW DID YOU -- PARTICULARLY WITH THIS LEGISLATION -- SEE THAT INFORMING YOUR OWN VOTE.

>> YEAH, AND I SPENT A FAIR AMOUNT OF TIME TALKING WITH MY OWN SUPERINTENDENT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE A SUPERINTENDENT DAY AT THE CAPITOL EVERY YEAR AND AND I ACTUALLY TALKED TO SEVERAL OF OUR SUPERINTENDENTS FROM OUR FROM OUR AREA AND TALK THROUGH THE ISSUE AND TALK THROUGH YOU KNOW WHERE I WAS KIND OF COMING DOWN TO AND ULTIMATELY GOT THEIR FEEDBACK ON IT BEFORE I MADE MY VOTE, AND I COMFORTABLE WITH THAT AS WE AND SO I THINK ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, THAT ONE DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH, BUT THE ONE FOR THE REGENTAL SYSTEM DID AND WE'LL SEE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY TAKE A CRACK AT THAT NEXT YEAR OR NOT, OR MAYBE IT JUST ISN'T NECESSARY AND IT'LL BE UP TO THE NEXT YEAR'S LEGISLATURE TO FIGURE THAT OUT.

>> I'M CURIOUS WHERE YOU SEE KIND OF THE ROLE OF SOME OF THESE MORE NATIONAL CONVERSATIONS COMING INTO THE CLASSROOM ABOUT WHAT WE DO AND DON'T TALK ABOUT AND HOW WE HOW DO YOU SEE THAT IMPACTING THE WORK OF SUPPORTING EDUCATION?

>> IT'S HARD.

THE HARD PART IS WHEN SOME OF THESE PIECES OF LEGISLATION COME AT US AND WE'RE SEEING SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN ELSEWHERE, AND THERE'S A KIND OF A DECISION TO BE MADE.

DO YOU BE PROACTIVE TO SAY WE'RE NOT GOING TO EVER LET THIS COME, OR DO WE WAIT TILL IT HAPPENS AND SAY WE SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING THEN, AND SO THERE'S A FINE BALANCE BETWEEN WHAT TO DO AND WHEN TO AND THEN SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES ARE, YOU KNOW, IF THESE ARE COMING FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, IS IT AFFECTING WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS OVER THE YEARS HERE.

BUT ULTIMATELY, WE GOT TO TRY TO WEIGH THAT OUT AS WE MAKE DECISIONS, AND I THINK WE DO A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF THAT.

YOU KNOW, SOMETIMES THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT MAYBE GO THROUGH THAT -- IS IT REALLY A PROBLEM IN SOUTH DAKOTA?

IT'S DEBATABLE, BUT ULTIMATELY, WE GOTTA HIT THE BUTTON ONE WAY OR THE OTHER AND DECIDE IF IT'S SOMETHING THAT'S WORTHY OF BEING LAW AND I THINK FOR THE MOST PART WE'VE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF GETTING IT RIGHT.

>> AFTER EIGHT YEARS IN THE LEGISLATURE, KENT PETERSON SAYS HE'S READY TO STEP AWAY AND FOCUS MORE ENERGY ON HIS FAMILY.

AND AFTER SPENDING TWO OF THOSE YEARS AS LEADER OF A REPUBLICAN SUPERMAJORITY, I WONDERED IF HE'D SEEN A SHIFT IN THE STATE'S PREDOMINANT PARTY OVER HIS TIME IN STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> IT'S CERTAINLY -- IT'S CHANGED A BIT, NOT NECESSARILY AN IDEOLOGY I SUPPOSE, BUT MORE OF JUST THE KIND OF LEGISLATOR.

YOU KNOW, I THINK WE DEFINITELY HAD THE TRUMP EFFECT COME INTO SOUTH DAKOTA.

THE MORE -- A LITTLE MORE BRASHNESS, A LITTLE MORE, "IT'S MY WAY OR THE HIGHWAY," SO TO SPEAK AT TIMES.

BUT WHAT I TRIED TO DO AND REALLY, YOU KNOW, EMPHASIZE TO MY CAUCUS MEMBERS THE LAST TWO YEARS IS WE HAVE TO BE CIVIL.

WE GOT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A CONVERSATION, HAVE A HEAVY DEBATE ON THE FLOOR AND THEN, YOU KNOW, SLAP EACH OTHER ON THE BACK AND SAY, "OKAY, LET'S GO SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE NEXT ONE."

AND THAT'S WHY IT STILL DOES WORK IN SOUTH DAKOTA, IS BECAUSE THAT'S HOW WE DO WE DON'T SAY, I'M NEVER GOING TO TALK TO YOU AGAIN.

WE'RE NOT GONNA, YOU KNOW, YELL AT EACH OTHER.

THERE'S TIMES WE GET REALLY HEATED, THAT'S JUST PART OF WHAT WE DO, AS I'VE TOLD MY CAUCUS MANY TIMES, WE'RE A FAMILY, AND FAMILIES FIGHT SOMETIMES, BUT FAMILIES TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER IN THE END AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GOOD >> YOU CAN SEE MY FULL CONVERSATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE KENT PETERSON ONLINE AS WELL.

THAT'S SDPB.ORG/NEWS.

NOW FOR ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE, WE TURN TO SDPB'S TEAM OF LEE STRUBINGER, ARIELLE ZIONTS, AND RICHARD TWO BULLS JOINED ME IN THE SOUTH DAKOTA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION GALLERY IN SDPB'S BLACK HILLS STUDIO EARLIER THIS MONTH TO HIGHLIGHT WHAT STOOD OUT TO THEM THIS SESSION.

>> YOU'VE BEEN COVERING A WIDE VARIETY OF ISSUES REALLY FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.

BRINGS FOLK IN ON WHAT CAUGHT YOUR ATTENTION THIS SESSION.

>> WELL, I THINK WHEN THE SESSION FIRST STARTED, THE BALL HIT THE GROUND AND IT WENT QUICK BECAUSE THE STATE TRIBAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE MET AND ONE OF THE NEEDS THEY ADDRESSED RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WAS A BILL THAT GOT PASSED LAST YEAR, AND IT CREATED THE OFFICE OF THE LIAISON OF MISSING AND MURDERS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE.

THIS MOST RECENT SESSION THEY WERE FINALLY ABLE TO FUND THE DEFINITE FUNDING TO FUND THIS STAFFING POSITION INDEFINITELY.

>> ONE PIECE WE'VE BEEN FOLLOWING ON THIS PROGRAM IS LEGISLATION TO CREATE OCETI COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOLS.

SECRETARY UNDERSTANDINGS, FOCUS ON LANGUAGE, CULTURE, BROUGHT THREE YEARS IN A ROW BY TROY HEINERT, ONCE AGAIN THIS YEAR DID NOT PASS.

WHAT WERE SOME OF THE PIECES THAT STOOD OUT TO YOU IN THOSE CONVERSATIONS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S JUST KIND OF UNFORTUNATE THAT THERE'S AN AVENUE THAT IS KIND OF GIVEN POLITICALLY AND NOT NECESSARILY JUST THOUGHT BUT OFFERING AN ALTERNATIVE IN EDUCATION, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IN THIS MODERN TIME, I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THAT BACK IN MY DAY WHEN I WAS GOING THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS EITHER KIND OF FIGHT OR FLIGHT.

EITHER YOU LEARN, OR YOU UNDERSTAND, OR YOU GET UNFAIR TREATMENT BASED OFF OF YOUR HERITAGE OR YOUR LAST NAME OR THE COLOR OF YOUR SIGN.

SKIN.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE THAT THEY CAN'T ALTERNATIVE ASPECTS TO TEACH THESE STANDARDS THAT PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF PROUD TO BE NATIVE AMERICAN AND WHO I AM TODAY.

AND IT JUST GIVES, LIKE, OUR YOUTH ANOTHER SENSE OF THAT PRIDE TO PUT THEIR BEST FOOT FORWARD WHEN MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR EDUCATION.

>> I KNOW WE ALSO HAVE COVERED THIS, YOU KNOW, IN PREVIOUS SESSIONS.

WHAT ARE OTHER ASPECTS OF SOME OF THESE ISSUES THAT HAVE STOOD OUT TO SOME OF YOU.

>> WELL, I MEAN, LIKE YOU SAID, THIS HAS BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S COME UP THREE YEARS IN A ROW.

INITIALLY IT STARTED YOUS WITH JUST ASKING FOR FIVE COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOLS SPREAD OUT THE ACROSS THE STATE, WITH WHATEVER COMMUNITY WANTED TO BRING SOMETHING LIKE THIS FORWARD.

AND THIS YEAR IT GOT PARED DOWN TO JUST TWO.

AND SO THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT PASSED UNANIMOUSLY OUT OF THE SENATE.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, HIT A ROAD BLOCK WHEN IT GOT INTO THE HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

AGAIN.

>> MM-HMM.

AND, RICHARD, I'M CURIOUS, HOW, WHEN YOU LISTENED TO SOME OF THE OPPOSING TESTIMONY WHICH IS LARGELY FROM THESE PUBLIC SCHOOL GROUPS.

YOU'RE A FATHER.

YOU GOT A CHILD GOING THROUGH THE RAPID CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

HOW DID THOSE ARGUMENTS LAND TO YOU?

WHAT DO YOU SEE IN YOUR HOME DISTRICT AS FAR AS EFFORTS TO BRING LAKOTA STUDENTS KIND OF INTO THE FOLD?

>> I REALLY LIKE THEY'RE DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.

YOU KNOW, MY SON AS YOUNG AS HE IS HAS ALREADY FACED ADVERSITY BASED OFF SOME OF THE ISSUES HE'S BEEN THROUGH AND BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE OUR YOUTH, AND THERE'S A LOT OF GREAT, GREAT PEOPLE OUT HERE THAT ARE ADVOCATING FOR AND, YOU KNOW, THAT KIND OF PUT THE WIND IN THE SAILS FOR THIS TO EVEN BE BROUGHT TO THE TABLE AND I THINK IT'S VERY INTERESTING THAT WE'RE GETTING THESE YOUTH THAT WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN LAKOTA STARTING IN KINDERGARTEN AND BE FLUENT, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY FLUENT SPEAKERS BY FIFTH GRADE.

SO I THINK THE DISTRICT IS DOING A LOT AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S A MODEL FOR THE REST OF THE STATE TO FOLLOW.

>> I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO SOMETHING YOU SAID, LEE, BECAUSE SO MUCH OF OUR CONVERSATIONS FOR BUDGET HAVE CENTERED ON THAT DIFFERING VISION BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS AND WE'VE MENTIONED A LOT OF TIMES, ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS WAS A SENATE BILL, THE COMMUNITY-BASED SCHOOLS BILL, TWO OF THE THREE TIMES IT'S FAILED, IT ENDS IN THAT HOUSE EDUCATION COMMITTEE.

AND WE SEE THAT HAPPENING WITH A LOT OF DIFFERENT BILLS WHEN THEY JUMP CHAMBERS.

WHAT DO WE THINK IS KIND OF THE CRUX OF THAT SPLIT IN THOSE VISIONS BETWEEN THE TWO CHAMBERS?

>> YEAH, I THINK, YOU KNOW, OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, THE SUPERMAJORITY REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATION IN THE HOUSE HAS BEEN REALLY KIND OF SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE FACTIONS AND KIND OF FOR SIMPLICITY'S SAKE, YOU COULD CALL ONE GROUP THE MODERATES AND THE OTHER THE MORE THE HARD LINER CONSERVATIVE FACTION.

AND SO YOU REALLY KIND OF HAD THREE DIFFERENT PARTIES WITHIN THAT CHAMBER.

YOU SAW THERE WAS REALLY THE CHANCE FOR HOUSE DEMOCRATS TO KIND OF THROW AROUND SOME WEIGHT.

IF THEY VOTED IN A PARTICULAR BLOC, THEY COULD EITHER PASS OR, YOU KNOW, REJECT LEGISLATION THAT CAME UP.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS VERY INTERESTING, KIND OF A PLAY THAT HOUSE DEMOCRATS TOOK, WAS ON A VACCINE EXEMPTION BILL.

IT STARTED IN THE HOUSE.

MADE ITS WAY OVER TO THE SENATE.

THE SENATE AMENDED IT, AND THEN IT CAME BACK TO THE HOUSE.

AND IF YOU'LL NOTICE, THERE WAS A MOVE BY HOUSE REPUBLICANS TO CHANGE IT BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL LANGUAGE SO THEN THE TWO CHAMBERS WOULD HAVE TO COME TOGETHER IN A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

WELL, HOUSE DEMOCRATS VOTED IN FAVOR OF THAT AMENDMENT TO SEND IT BACK TO THE SENATE.

AND THE SENATE JUST REJECTED THE PROPOSAL ENTIRELY.

AND THEN THE ISSUE WAS DEAD THERE.

>> ARIELLE, WE'LL TURN TO YOU.

YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING TWO SOMEWHAT RELATED PROPOSALS, BOTH RELATED TO OUTDOOR RECREATION, BOTH BROUGHT FORTH BY GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM'S ADMINISTRATION.

BOTH REJECTED BY LAWMAKERS.

REMIND FOLKS WHAT THESE TWO PROPOSALS WERE.

>> SURE, SO THERE'S THESE TWO BILLS.

ONE IS -- WOULD HAVE ADDED CAMPGROUNDS, STATE-RUN CAMPGROUNDS IN CUSTER STATE PARK AND THE OTHER ONE WOULD HELP FUND A SHOOTING RANGE JUST NORTH OF RAPID CITY.

AND WHAT THESE HAVE IN COMMON IS THEY'RE OUTDOOR RECREATIONS, BUT THEY'RE AIMED AT THE THINGS THAT SOUTH DAKOTANS LOVE TO DO, BUT IT'S ALSO AIMED AT THE GROWING TOURISM POPULATION.

SO I'LL TALK ABOUT THE SHOOTING RANGE FIRST.

SO THIS WAS PITCHED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME, FISH, AND PARKS, AND IT WOULD BE A $12 MILLION, AND THEY WANTED 2.5 MILLION FROM THE LEGISLATURE.

THE REST WOULD BE FROM DONATIONS AND FEDERAL GRANTS.

THE PART AIMED AT US, THE RESIDENTS, IS YOUTH, EDUCATION, AND SAFETY AND ADULTS WHO LIKE TO SHOOT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING AND TRAINING FOR THE SERVICE MEMBERS AT ELLSWORTH.

BUT THEN THERE'S ALSO THE TOURISM SAID WHICH IS COMPETITIVE SHOOTING SPORTS IS GROWING.

AND I SPOKE WITH SOME SOUTH DAKOTANS WHO THEY THEMSELVES HAVE TRAVELED OUT OF STATE FOR THESE EVENTS.

THERE'S LOTS OF SPONSORSHIPS, SO IT WOULD BE A ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY AS WELL.

>> AND WHAT WAS THAT REACTION TO THAT SHOOTING RANGE PROPOSAL?

>> SO RESIDENTS AND LAWMAKERS WERE SPLIT.

THE PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT IT SAY THIS IS GREAT FOR ALL THOSE DIFFERENT GROUPS I LISTED.

AND IT WOULD -- THERE'S REALLY , LIKE, STATE OF THE ART FACILITY HERE THAT OFFERS THE DIVERSITY THIS WOULD, SO THIS IS GOING TO HAVE CLAY SHOOTING, LONG DISTANCE SHOOTING, AND THEN SHOOTING WHERE THERE'S MULTIPLE TARGETS, AND YOU GET TO, LIKE, MOVE AROUND THE BAY.

YOU'RE NOT JUST TAKING ONE SHOT.

AND THEN AGAIN THEY POINT TO THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

THE CONCERNS WERE FROM SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE AREA.

AND THEN SOME ENVIRONMENTALISTS.

SO THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT NOISE, SAFETY, POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE DIRT ROADS.

THERE'S A BIBLE CAMP NEARBY THAT WAS A BIT CONCERNED ABOUT THOSE ISSUES.

ALSO, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT, EITHER TO THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, ANIMALS OR HUMANS, WITH LEAD, THAT PEOPLE IN FAVOR SAID THIS ALL CAN BE, WE CAN TAKE STEPS TO CUT IT BACK.

AND THERE WERE FOUR ATTEMPTS TO GET THIS PASSED THROUGH BOTH CHAMBERS.

BUT IT DID NOT PASS.

BUT AGAIN, THIS WAS NOT SAYING PRO/CON TO BUILD IT.

IT WAS JUST THE FUNDING.

SO G.F.P.

APPEARS TO BE INTERESTED IN MOVING AHEAD BECAUSE THEY RECENTLY BOUGHT THE LAND.

AND SO I ASKED THE DEPARTMENT FOR ANY MORE DETAILS AND THIS IS THEIR QUOTE.

"THE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING THROUGH NEXT STEPS.

STAY TUNED FOR MORE.

".

>> SDPB'S TEAM OF REPORTERS, THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR GREAT WORK THIS SESSION.

>> THANKS, JACKIE.

>> FINALLY THIS HOUR, SOUTH DAKOTA'S FLAMING FOUNTAIN IS MISSING A KEY FEATURE, THE FLAME.

IT'S BEEN THAT WAY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

NOW SOME LAWMAKERS WANT TO CAP THE WELL THAT FORMERLY SUPPLIED THE FOUNTAIN WITH NATURAL GAS.

IF THAT HAPPENS, IT'LL CLOSE A CHAPTER IN STATE HISTORY WITH TIES TO A LEGENDARY POLITICIAN, AN EXPLOSION, AND GENERATIONS OF CAPITOL VISITORS.

SDPB'S SETH TUPPER EXPLAINS IN OUR LEGISLATIVE SERIES, "WHY IS THAT?"

>> JOHN MILLS MADE HIS FIRST VISIT TO THE STATE CAPITOL LONG BEFORE HE BECAME A LEGISLATOR.

>> I CAN REMEMBER AS A KID GOING ON A FAMILY VACATION.

LIVED IN BROOKINGS.

WE'RE HEADED TO THE BLACK HILLS.

WE STOPPED IN PIERRE.

I DIDN'T PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THIS BEAUTIFUL BUILDING THAT WE'RE IN TODAY.

IT DIDN'T MEAN IT DIDN'T MEAN MUCH TO ME AS A KID.

BUT THAT FLAMING FOUNTAIN, MY GOSH, THAT CAPTURED MY IMAGINATION.

I JUST COULDN'T GET OVER THAT.

I THINK I REMEMBERED THAT AND MOUNT RUSHMORE AND THAT'S ABOUT ALL I REMEMBER FROM THAT TRIP.

>> THAT WAS THEN.

NOWADAYS, THE FLAME HAS FLICKERED OUT.

TO UNDERSTAND WHY, YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE FLAMING FOUNTAIN'S ORIGIN STORY.

IT BEGAN IN THE WINTER OF 1909 TO 1910.

THE CAPITOL WAS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

STATE OFFICIALS WANTED A MAN-MADE LAKE ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS, AND THEY WANTED A WELL TO FEED IT.

A REDFIELD DRILLING COMPANY CALLED NORBECK AND NICHOLSON SUBMITTED THE WINNING BID.

IF THE NAME "NORBECK" SOUNDS FAMILIAR, IT SHOULD.

PETER NORBECK WAS A LEGENDARY GOVERNOR AND U.S.

SENATOR.

HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE CREATION OF CUSTER STATE PARK.

BUT BEFORE HE ACHIEVED POLITICAL FAME, HE WAS A WELL DRILLER.

HIS COMPANY'S BID TO DRILL THE CAPITOL LAKE WELL WAS ABOUT $6 A FOOT.

THE COMPANY DRILLED 13 AND FEET INTO THE EARTH AND STRUCK AN AQUIFER.

THE WELL WAS ARRESTS TO EVERYONE, MEANING IT WAS UNDER ENOUGH PRESSURE TO FLOW WITHOUT A PUMP.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE WEISGRAM SAYS THE WELL IS A MARVEL.

>> THIS WATER IS SOURCED FROM A REGIONAL AQUIFER THAT EXTENDS ACROSS THE STATE, AND IT'S REMARKABLE THAT AFTER 110 YEARS THERE'S STILL A CONTINUOUS FLOW.

>> BUT WATER ISN'T THE ONLY THING SPEWING FROM THE WELL.

SO IS NATURAL GAS.

FOR MANY YEARS, THE GAS WAS DIVERTED TO LIGHT AND HEAT THE CAPITOL.

THEN, IN 1958, GAS LEAKING FROM THAT ANTIQUATED SYSTEM EXPLODED IN A HEALTH LAB ON THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

THE BLAST "SEVERELY SINGED" TWO STATE WORKERS, ACCORDING TO A NEWSPAPER REPORT.

THE GAS LINES WERE CAPPED AFTER THAT, AND OTHER ENERGY SOURCES WERE FOUND FOR THE CAPITOL.

BUT THAT CREATED A NEW PROBLEM.

SINCE THE GAS WAS NO LONGER DIVERTED TO THE CAPITOL, MORE GAS WAS BELCHING OUT OF THE WATER WELL.

IN THE 1960S, KEN WILLIAMS WAS THE STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.

HE HAD AN IDEA TO HANDLE THE EXCESS GAS.

WILLIAMS LIT THE GAS ON FIRE TO BURN IT OFF SAFELY.

BUT THE FLAME WOULDN'T STAY CONSTANTLY LIT, SO HE AND HIS CREW INSTALLED A BAFFLE IN THE WELL TO REGULATE THE GAS FLOW.

THEIR SOLUTION CREATED A NEW ATTRACTION: THE FLAMING FOUNTAIN.

LATER, THE STATE ERECTED VARIOUS MEMORIALS AROUND IT.

FOR DECADES, VISITORS MARVELED AT THE FLAMING WATER.

INTEREST IN THE ATTRACTION SEEMED ETERNAL, BUT REPRESENTATIVE WEISGRAM SAYS THE GAS SUPPLY WAS FINITE.

>> UNFORTUNATELY, BY 2008, THE CONCENTRATION OF METHANE GAS BEING BROUGHT TO THE SURFACE WITH GROUNDWATER HAD BECOME QUITE VARIABLE, AND THE FOUNTAIN WOULD NO LONGER SUSTAIN A FLAME.

>> A STUDY BY A TEAM FROM SOUTH DAKOTA MINES INDICATES THE WELL IS IN POOR SHAPE.

THE CASING IS CORRODED AND COULD BECOME A SINKHOLE.

REPRESENTATIVE WILL MORTENSON SAYS THE STATE NEEDS TO ACT BEFORE THAT HAPPENS.

>> AN ADDITIONAL RISK WITH CORROSION OF THE CASING IS THE POTENTIAL TO QUOTE "LOSE THE HOLE."

IF CASING CORROSION GETS SO BAD THAT THE BOREHOLE COLLAPSES ON ITSELF, THIS WILL NOT NECESSARILY STEM THE FLOW OF WATER.

IF WE LOSE THE BOREHOLE, WE MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO STOP IT.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THOSE MONUMENTS LOOK LIKE IN THAT CASE, FOLKS.

>> THIS YEAR, THE STATE BUDGET IS FLUSH WITH EXTRA MONEY FROM SEVERAL ROUNDS OF FEDERAL PANDEMIC AID.

LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR KRISTI NOEM PASSED A BILL SETTING ASIDE $3.5 MILLION TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS WITH THE FOUNTAIN AND THE LAKE.

THE STATE BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION MANAGES THE CAPITOL GROUNDS.

THE BUREAU WANTS TO DEVELOP A MASTER PLAN FOR CAPITOL LAKE AND ITS VETERANS MEMORIALS.

THE BUREAU ALSO PLANS TO PLUG THE WELL, DREDGE THE LAKE, AND BUILD A MISSOURI RIVER PIPELINE FOR THE LAKE'S NEW WATER SOURCE.

THE RIVER IS ONLY ABOUT A HALF-MILE FROM THE CAPITOL.

THE BUREAU'S INITIAL PLANS DO NOT INCLUDE A FLAMING FOUNTAIN.

STILL, REPRESENTATIVE WEISGRAM AND SOME OTHER LAWMAKERS ARE NOT RULING IT OUT.

>> THE YET-TO-BE DETERMINED PLAN DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF A FLAMING FOUNTAIN.

IT'S POSSIBLE NATURAL GAS COULD BE PIPED TO THE NEW FOUNTAIN.

FOR A NATURAL FLAME.

>> THE BUREAU OF ADMINISTRATION SAYS PURCHASING A CONSTANT FLOW OF NATURAL GAS FOR A FLAMING FOUNTAIN WOULD COST UP TO $75,000 PER YEAR.

I'M SDPB'S SETH TUPPER.

>> YOU CAN FIND THIS AND OTHER INSTALLMENTS OF "WHY IS THAT?"

ON OUR SDPB YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND AT SDPB.ORG.

THAT'S ALL WE HAVE TIME FOR THIS HOUR.

IF THERE'S A STORY WE'RE MISSING, YOU CAN REACH US BY EMAIL OR FIND ME ON TWITTER: @JACKIEHENDRYSD.

JOIN US FOR THE NEXT "SOUTH DAKOTA FOCUS" ON APRIL 28TH, WHEN WE TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE STATE'S LARGEST INDUSTRY: AGRICULTURE.

WE'LL FOLLOW UP ON THE CONTINUING DROUGHT'S IMPACT ON PRODUCERS AROUND THE STATE, SEE HOW THE HEMP INDUSTRY IS EXPANDING IN ITS SECOND GROWING SEASON, AND LEARN HOW AGRICULTURE CONNECTS TO OUR STATE'S SECOND LARGEST INDUSTRY: TOURISM.

UNTIL NEXT TIME, I'M JACKIE HENDRY.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.