Last updated on 2014.04.13
Two days before the first big all-candidate debate of the Republican Senate primary, a debate that will be held in front of a roomful of newspaperpeople and webcast live by the Spearfish and Sioux Falls papers, the South Dakota press is reawakening voters to the GOED/EB-5/NBP scandal. Following excellent coverage from Joe O'Sullivan and Denise Ross, Bob Mercer rejoins the story with a lengthy summary of all the surprising facts and disturbing questions about everything that went wrong with the EB-5 visa investment program that the Governor's Office of Economic Development plunged into under then Governor, now Senate candidate, Mike Rounds.
Eleven years after its start, Gov. Dennis Daugaard decided the EB-5 program had to be shut down in South Dakota, because of what was unearthed about its operations and management.
One man is dead. Others have been hurt or wiped out financially. One project failed horribly. One business solidified itself. Two energy projects paid less for their financing. Another casino was built.
And former Gov. Mike Rounds finds himself answering questions about what happened on his watch from 2003 through 2010, as he now runs for the U.S. Senate [Bob Mercer, "Rise, Fall of EB-5 in South Dakota," Aberdeen American News, 2014.04.10].
Mercer reviews all the known machinations, the privatization of the program, Richard Benda's diversion of funds, and Mike Rounds's apparent cluelessness. Read Mercer's article to get back up to speed about this scandal, and you'll understand why GOED/EB-5/NBP will be the talk of this primary season.
Be there or be square:
2014 SDNA Convention, Saturday, April 12 • 10:15am - 11:45am
http://2014sdna.sched.org/event/6a46a7715cf1b7d46f3b41dddd3dd8e6#.U0a7neZdUs0
BENDA-GATE!
Well folks will the rubber meet the road, or will the story be buried on page 12 of the Life section in the daily papers? Will the TV news put out enough of a tickler to get the people interested or will they bury it at the end of the newscast after the sports news, or heaven forbid will they actually do a 60 minutes type program during prime time? For the good of our State and for that matter for the good of the Republican party, we can only hope that all the dirty laundry gets hung out for the entire State to see.
According to Pat Powers and Troy Jones, this is not corruption, nothing to report on about this matter.
Since when did Republicans believe in crony-capitalism over the free-market? This corruption scandal is a black mark on the SD GOP. Shame on all of those who support Rounds and this corruption.
Did the SDNA forget that there are also 2 other primaries. The Democrat and Republican Gubernatorial candidates were not invited, but Dennis Daugaard is the keynote speaker at the dinner. Lora Hubbel contacted them but was told, sorry we just can't fit you in. Typical mainstream media. They don't want 3 more candidates bringing up EB-5. You would think they would welcome the other 3 since they are for open government and would allow the media access to EB-5 information.
Tara,
The SDNA is not "typical mainstream media", they are typical right wing media.
Pat Powers: Jim & I forwarded those copies of the ads you wanted that have run so far. Always happy to help.
I wouldn't even go that far Roger. They are the corporate media. Bottom line....$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Their 2 candidates, Rounds and Daugaard are paying to play. I wish they would do what they are suppose to do and be the watch dog for the people instead of catering to the money _ _ _ _ _ s. I am not talking about the reporters, I am talking about the CEO's. Gannet news doesn't care about ethics.
Bree,
Why are you fighting with Pat? Can you provide a link here?
Tara,
Now I'm suspect of this "debate" and what will be asked about GOED. I'm not expecting much.
Pat asked for someone to forward him a copy of the Elephants On Patrol ad that has a run a few times. So I was letting him know that I forwarded him a copy of the ads that have run in the Argus Leader and Rapid City Journal, to all three email addresses that I have for him, so that he can post the ad as he has stated that he wishes to.
I am not fighting with Pat. Pat is fighting with the known world. Lol.
Pat is the 400 pound irrelevant in the room: let them eat fake.
You know Wyden is a rising star in your party Larry. One of my favorite Democrats.
Mr Powers is busy sharpening his moderate RINO horn so he can continue to shove it into conservatives' backs. Don't expect him to lower himself to communicating where he cannot delete posts that do not conform to his paid propaganda for Rounds.
I believe Mr. Powers is making enemies he cannot afford.
Anyone believing that Marty Jackley isn't spying on South Dakotans is delusional. Janklow lives: don't ever forget it.
Uh, Jammer, the ad is not "difficult to read." *roll eyes*
Tara, it's worse than that. Take a look at who all of the speakers are...not one Democrat...zip...nada. Come on SDNA!
I know SDNA head, David Bordewyk, has stopped by in the past, maybe he'll have an answer to why such a one sided event hosted by the people who have such an important role to play in democracy.
Darned liberal media in South Dakota.
I think the SDNA should be called out on not having Gubernatorial debates. The media has not even talked about the Governor's race. We need to start putting the pressure on KELO, KSFY and KDLT to have live debates with real questions about the EB-5 scandal, cronyism and corruption.
No, Anne Beal, Daschle was not expressing wishful thinking about Rounds cooperation. The article cited is here:
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_7fa901fe-3650-11e0-bdbb-001cc4c03286.html?mode=story
A friend of mine went to Fisher Rounds insurance the other day to buy health insurance and they said we sell Avera, Sanford or Dakota Care. Wouldn't it be a conflict of interest for Mike Rounds who owns an insurance company, should go to Washington and help make decisions on the ACA. Is he getting any kick-backs? Golden Parachute and wanting to be our US Senator at the same time. It will be very interesting to see if the SDNA has the guts to ask the tough question. Cory, Madville Times should sponsor a debate and let the people like you, Lanny, Roger, Bree, Jana and who ever else ask the tough questions.
Just in case you're wondering what Jackley is doing that he doesn't have time to do his job when it comes to the Rounds scandal and Bosworth's lottery scams, here it is from the RC Journal:
http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/jackley-others-support-veteran-s-memorial-cross/article_6a2f3ed6-5729-503d-ab58-a5e951a64dc2.html
He and 18 other state attorney's general are joined in a lawsuit to allow crosses to be used on veterans' memorials. I had no idea that the threat of cross denial was so crucial.
Maybe we're looking at this wrong. We need the attorneys general from 20 states to look into Bosworth's scam lotteries. It's too much to expect from one guy like Jackley.
Tara, I would love to host an online forum. Google Hangouts could handle that, couldn't it?
Indeed, Rick: a nice little suit defending veterans and the cross scores points with voters much more easily than action on the EB-5 visa investments.
Cory, I am not very good with computer technology, so I am unaware of Google Hangouts, but I think it would be great if you could do it. After all you are the number 1 investigative reporter in SD. The mainstream media gets many news stories from you.
Don't forget to add, Tara, that The Constant Commoner has followed up on many themes initiated here on MT.
Mr. Tristan,
I just read your review of SDNA debate, I tried to comment but I had problems doing so.
You said that the whole GOED scandal went relatively unchallenged, were there any challenges to it at all?
Nope, Roger, and I think the questioners were somewhat remiss. There was one question about the EB-5 program in general, referencing Senator Grassley's initiatives on it, but no specific question about the fiasco in SD. The answers were also of a more general nature. Nelson made a few remarks about it as a general charge against crony capitalism, but details weren't forthcoming. Can't figure out why you're having trouble commenting on my blog. I'll play with it and see if anything happens. For what it's worth, it seems to bounding throughout the twitterverse.
Roger the comment section on The Constant Commoner worked okay on my "field test," lol. Should be good to go.
John wrote, "Don't forget to add, Tara, that The Constant Commoner has followed up on many themes initiated here on MT."
And very well done, I might add, usually with a different slant. And you have covered some of the West river better than MT. No offense Cory.
Sorry, Mr. Tsitrian, I forgot to mention you. Yes the Constant Commoner is a very good blog. But the most unbiased blog would have to be SDWC. lol. just kidding.