Press "Enter" to skip to content

Legislature Again Leaves EB-5 Off Agenda

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Susan Wismer notes that the GOP leadership of the South Dakota Legislature continues to run and hide from its duty to investigate the GOED/EB-5/Benda scandal. She tells the Rapid City Journal that the newly released agenda for the Government Audit and Operations Committee makes no mention of EB-5 program.

I check that document online, and, sure enough, the June 18 GOAC agenda ignores the topic. GOAC will discuss Game Fish and Parks' big horn sheep auction, the Department of Education's performance measures, and four other items, but, as it did in May, GOAC will spend no time conducting the EB-5 discussions that GOAC chairman Senator Corey Brown gave us his word would happen. The Legislature wrote Brown's word into House Concurrent Resolution 1010 to defuse pressure from other lawmakers for more substantive action on the scandal. But after dipping its toe into the issue in its March 7 meeting, GOAC has conducted no further inquiry.

I'm curious: is there any procedure by which a Legislative committee can be held in contempt of the Legislature's own resolutions? Or are the Legislature's resolutions indeed meaningless, even when those resolutions apply to the Legislature itself?

24 Comments

  1. Lynn 2014.06.09

    Tara who would be at the presser?

  2. mike from iowa 2014.06.09

    You already have nothing but contempt for wingnut pols. Now you and others have to vote them out of office. Maybe the Boz scandals weill start to convince wingnut voters to open their minds to the possibilities of more honest representation-you know-vote for liberals.

  3. Steve Sibson 2014.06.09

    The Neo-Fascist Republicans who are behind the system of legal corruption are liberals. If you want to reduce corruption, starve the beast. Vote for limited government conservatives. Chances are you won't find them in either party on November's ballot, so take a strong look at the Indies.

  4. Tara Volesky 2014.06.09

    Lynn, a presser is in the works. We would invite Susan Wismer and Dennis Daugaard. It's time to get the information out and have each candidate explain how they will proceed with the investigation. I know Myers will be very bold and upfront with his plan.

  5. Rorschach 2014.06.09

    Didn't Susan Wismer come unprepared without having read the report the last time the legislature took this up?

  6. Lynn 2014.06.09

    Tara I'm all against the corruption and failed policies due to the unhealthy one party rule but is the presser going to be FOCUSED and ON SUBJECT with a limited amount of time and opportunity with the press there or are we going to once again see side show distractions like pushups and especially SDAP representatives hijacking the presser with off subject, distracting and off the wall questions?

  7. Tara Volesky 2014.06.09

    Lynn, I sure hope he is done with the push-ups. lol. The focus of the Myers campaign will be, addressing the corruption in SD; Health Care, Cronyism, Manpower, EB-5 scandals, Richard Benda death, etc. Myers will get rid of closed government and make government transparent and open like it was meant to be. By the People, Of the People, For the People.

  8. Tara Volesky 2014.06.09

    The press needs to stop diverting attention away from the seriousness of the corruption that we are facing. Remember, it's our money, and I want Myers to follow the money and get it back for us. He will be on KSOO with Rick Knobe tomorrow on Viewpoint University.

  9. Lynn 2014.06.09

    Tara "The press needs to stop diverting attention away from the seriousness of the corruption that we are facing".

    I agree but it's important not to give the press or political opposition being those threatened from anti-corruption efforts to use distractions to take away from the original purpose and focus of the presser.

    Sure there may be plants asking stupid off topic questions in an attempt to sabotage the presser and try to catch a candidate making a mistake but those obvious off topic questions need to taken care of right away to keep the focus.

  10. JeniW 2014.06.09

    I believe Jackley already said that nothing illegal was done by anyone other than by Mr. Benda.

    The legislators are not going to pursue it, because most of them like Mike Rounds, and believe what Jackley has told them.

  11. Roger Cornelius 2014.06.09

    Does anyone seriously think Daugaard will participate is a press conference of GOED/EB-5?

    He'll run from it faster than Mike Rounds.

  12. Robin Page 2014.06.09

    HOLD SENATOR BROWN ACCOUNTABLE! Call him or email him and ask why the EB-5 issues is not on the agenda for the upcoming Government Audit and Operations Committee meeting. Remember, he is also the President Pro Tempore for the Senate. Tell him you want the committee to take responsibility for this matter and provide the citizens of South Dakota a full report on their investigation! His home phone number is: (605) 769-0540. His office number is (605) 765-9550 If you go on the states Legislative website, you can send him an email. Let's get some pressure going on this issue!

  13. tara volesky 2014.06.09

    Robin,Bernie Hunhoff trusts Senator Brown. Roger, DD won't show, but you need to include him because he is a candidate. When he doesn't show up for news conferences, debates or answer questions, people will figure it out.

  14. charlie5150 2014.06.09

    Since the media no longer seems interested, can Benda's death certificate and autopsy report now be released? How much time must pass before his immediate family no longer require Jackley's father protection? Can I now request for Jackley to hide circumstances regarding deaths in my family if I am afraid of the vicious South Dakota media? Can anyone tell me if there are ANY other death certificates in SD (or in the US) that are off-limits?

  15. Anne Beal 2014.06.09

    Give it up on Benda's death. He was a money guy, so he understood life insurance. We don't know what kind of policy he had or for how long, but most don't cover suicide within two years of enrollment. If he had an AD&D supplement, the payout to his beneficiaries would have been enormous if his death were ruled accidental. There could be as much as one million reasons why he would try to make his death look like an accident. So just stop. If his family wants the investigation made public, that's their call.

  16. Tara Volesky 2014.06.09

    Not when it involves millions of taxpayers dollars.

  17. grudznick 2014.06.09

    I tried calling this Mr. Senator Brown. It took a bit but I got connected and he seemed a most reasonable fellow. He said he had a lot of people calling him but he was going to look into things. I am pretty sure this is a smart young man, this Senator Brown. Probably smarter than most of us bloggers. I'm just sayin...

  18. Tara Volesky 2014.06.09

    Grudznick, give Bernie a call too. They put the Eb-5 committee deal together.

  19. grudznick 2014.06.09

    Can you post his phone number here, Ms. Volesky? Mr. Brown's number is already posted.

  20. Tara Volesky 2014.06.09

    I am sorry Grudz, but I don't have Bernie's number but I bet his legislative website has his number. You need to ask him why he would trust Cory Brown who he and his family are big contributors to the GOP. Thanks.

  21. grudznick 2014.06.09

    OK. I have heard that young Messrs. Bernie and Brown are both honorable men and pretty swell fellows. I think Mr. Bernie actually blogs here sometimes on Mr. H's internet site.

  22. charlie5150 2014.06.09

    Anne - I fail to see how his personal insurance policies are relevant to his death certificate receiving special treatment. The rest of your response is equally disconnected. So how about if you just stop.

  23. Bree S 2014.06.10

    I second that motion Charlie! Anne Beal should just stop. And add GRudnick and his swell fellows to that motion.

Comments are closed.