Greetings as we begin the new year, and a new legislative session!
I want to start by thanking all those that directly or indirectly helped me get reelected to the State House for a third term. Most of you know campaigning is not a very glamorous task, and I sincerely appreciate the broad support I received throughout District 8; an affirmation to me that the voters believe, regardless of the issue, I will make informed decisions to the best of my ability.
This past week was filled with addresses to the Legislature by the Governor, Supreme Court Chief Justice, and a representative of the nine tribes in South Dakota, from the Yankton Sioux Tribe. Some legislators would prefer to jump right into the bill process, but I realize it is important to allow, and hear, from these three entities as we prepare for approximately  nine weeks of session.
The Governor reported that revenue to date is down a total of $31.9 million from expected in Fiscal Year [FY] 2017. He cited the farm economy, low inflation, cautious consumers, and an increase in online sales purchases as all contributing to the reason for softer sales revenue collections. As most of you know, our sales tax is roughly two thirds of all the revenue taken in to fund our state government, so with a dip in that number, there is legitimate concern for the budget.
On a positive note, the Governor announced that Amazon had agreed to start the sales tax collection process of their online sales to South Dakota residents starting Feb. 11. The state Revenue Department collects state wide sales tax through a single point system, including city sales tax, so it helped make Amazon’s reporting of the sales tax amounts a little more user friendly. We don’t know the estimated amount, but clearly it’s a big win for the state. Online sales purchasing has grown substantially, and, even though sales tax is due on those purchases, the respective company does not have an obligation to the state to collect and remit that tax, which is to be paid by the buyer via a separate submitted report. State officials hope this will help lead the way for other online companies to follow, and it will help support our local retailers as well.
I look forward to your input on any issue you feel is important to you. As we get into the calendar of bills, I’ll mention some of the more interesting ones in this column, as we can’t cover everything here. I am eager to work with your other elected District 8 legislators, Representative Wollman and Senator Youngberg! Our email address has changed this year. That is the best way to reach me. I was elected as a Majority Whip Leader this year, so I will have more responsibilities, but also have an intern to help me with constituent contacts. Email me at Leslie.Heinemann@sdlegislature.gov

Everyone should have a cane. Amazing how well people treat you if you walk with one (especially South Dakota citizens), opening doors, offering to help carry your packages!
People aware of lemmings know of their supposed propensity to commit suicide by throwing themselves off ledges into water.  Science has determined this is not suicide but a way to control their population if their area is too populated for the food sources available.  They can swim and are looking for new land to populate.
Many a leopard or jaguar have wished they could change their spots if caught in the open to make them better blend in with their terrain, (like many of our politicians now).
Like many others, I long for a shorter political season. Really — is not two months sufficient time for a campaign? With cable, the Internet, and all the visual, audio, and print media of today, this would be plenty of time to get your reasons out for why you should be elected or re-elected. If that is not enough time, then probably you have not done enough worthy in your life to be considered as a candidate.
The best answer that I know for these political messes of today is to have Saint Patrick reincarnated and let him use his wand or stick to drive all the snakes of our parties out. Then, he should invent political parties whose only purpose is to serve the best interests of the common people in all ways possible. The rich and the huge corporations appear to do well on their own.
Harry Everhart
Artesian

So here’s my take on the election: Choice #1 is a multimillionaire and lifetime businessman that nobody likes, who got money from his daddy to start his business. His business has had its ups and downs over the years, been bankrupt and has been criticized for using tax laws to its advantage.
Choice #2 is another multimillionaire and lifetime politician that nobody likes, who got her money from her husband — (you may remember him as “Slick Willy”), their Foundation and its dirty deals, along with foreign interests that are trying to kill us. At first glance, it’s not much of a choice…
So, how many of you have gotten your health insurance statement for 2017? My wife and kids are on Obamacare.  Their premium is going up 42 percent and their deductible doubled. Is that even legal? If my auto or home insurance deductible changes, it requires me to authorize it — new underwriting, etc. I guess with Obamacare they just do whatever they want. In my opinion, $11,517 per year for a high deductible plan covering a healthy 35-year-old woman and two healthy kids under the age of 5 is just plain ridiculous. I, on the other hand, have a pre-Obamacare Wellmark plan that is going up a whopping $11 per month.
So, to summarize, Obamacare premiums continue to increase anywhere from 40 to 100 percent a year depending on where you live, while the coverage continues to decrease by about the same amount. Non-Obamacare plans (which you can no longer get) go up about the same amount as inflation and the coverage stays the same.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m about done subsidizing the government’s foolish mistake.  It was doomed from the start.  There are many people that will no longer be able to afford it, having to take the penalty.  It has truly become “The UN-affordable Care Act”.
I’m going to give an analogy about voting.  I am a member of the SDCA (South Dakota Chiropractors Association).  Not all chiropractors in South Dakota choose to be a part of it, but most do.  It comes with an annual membership fee, but it’s the most powerful tool we chiropractors have when it comes to maintaining a voice in Pierre, along with regulating our own profession within the state. When we have continuing education conferences, any chiropractor that wants to attend is welcome. However, when it’s time to conduct the SDCA meeting, every chiropractor that’s not a part of the association has to leave the room. All SDCA business is conducted at that time — including voting for new officers and making decisions that will affect every chiropractor in the state — even those who were made to leave the room. My point is this: if you don’t choose to be an invested member in whatever you may be a part of, you shouldn’t be allowed to make decisions regarding that entity.
Reader discretion advised:
If you don’t understand anything about the way the world works — including foreign relations, economics, city/county/state/federal governments — you probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote; if you think that your government should provide you a living, you don’t pay taxes or are an otherwise uninvested member of the system — you probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote; if you spend more time on Facebook, Twitter or texting than you do working (unless you’re retired) — you probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote; if you think that you should always have food on your plate, a roof over your head and have no idea how it happens — you probably shouldn’t be allowed to vote. And finally, if you are being investigated AGAIN by the FBI for criminal charges that caused innocent Americans to die — you shouldn’t be allowed to run for President.
I hope that everyone that actually took the time to read this is doing well. I know that many of you are as frustrated as I am.
Anxious for the
Revolution-
Ryan Swenson
Rapid City