The South Dakota State Brand Board voted last month to increase the brand inspection fee from eighty cents per critter to the legal maximum of a buck a head. Governor Dennis Daugaard apparently has a beef with that increase:
Just weeks after the state Brand Board decided to raise the livestock inspection fee to one dollar per head, Gov. Dennis Daugaard prefers that the board reconsider its decision.
The board, whose members are appointed by the governor, is scheduled to meet Friday morning [today] by teleconference to consider withdrawing the increase and keeping the fee at 80 cents.
Daugaard's chief of staff, Dusty Johnson, said a strong argument can be made that additional 20 cents is necessary for the brand-inspection program's budget but, he said, it's important to the governor to build consensus [Bob Mercer, "Governor to Brand Board: Don't Hike Fee," Mitchell Daily Republic, 2012.04.26].
Hold your Holsteins, Dennis. A state board proposes a fee increase that would raise a piddly $288,000 in revenue to cover rising staff costs. The board hears opposition from various stakeholders but still passes the measure on a 3&ndash2 vote. You ride in and tell them, "Vote again, fellas, and vote the other way," because you think important decisions like this require consensus.
Three months ago, you proposed an education plan that would require at least $15 million more in state spending. You and the Legislature caught holy heck from stakeholders. The plan lost support as it moved through the Legislature and passed by one vote. But that was all the consensus your whoop-and-holler inner circle needed.
For Governor Daugaard, "consensus" is clearly a selective value.
As a rancher I am subject to so many unplanned expenses that can just fall in my lap on any given day that this pales by comparison. I sell around 200 head a year, in other words an extra $40/year in inspection fees. Have a tire blowout on the trailer going to the sale barn and I'm out $200+ blow the engine in the truck pulling the trailer and we're talking $10,000. Haul the cattle to the sale on a day with a strong headwind and I'll burn $40 worth of extra fuel.
I am confused as to why DD wants to micro manage state boards in this manner. It really says tons about his leadership style.
Nice point Nick, but I really like Cory's point about HB1234. I also understand that the way the governor reaches consensus is by threatening or supporting your political future within the SDGOP. Makes you wonder how Steve Hickey got the governor's endorsement.
Janklow was accused, and not without reason, of being a bully but at least everyone knew it. DD keeps the smiling face forward and holds the knife to your back out of camera sight lines. I wonder how long he can keep up the facade.
Double D was recently in China, promoting South Dakota ag products. The state will need more revenue for additional staff and promotional gear to make this happen.
Sibby, I forgive you for maligning my character by publicly insinuating that there is any way buy a favor with me. You should be more careful with your words, brother. And hello--- focus on yourself and what you have to offer the voters in your district.
Nick, and some are saying DD's office is probably behind the robo calls using a disconnected number in primaries including the District 20 race I am in. Don't know if it is true, but I understanded he promised help to those legislators who supported HB1234. Wonder if that fits the column Bob Mercer ran on Monday this week?
"focus on yourself and what you have to offer the voters in your district."
I guy who doesn't accept campaign contributions, and one not afraid to respect the separation of powers and stand up to the executive branch while performing the role of legislator. Also a guy who believes in legislative accountablility (South Dakota got an 'F' on that recently). God Bless those who track legislation and put out scorecards.
And Steve, where does a legislator receiving a governor's endorsement fall under the constitutional principle of separation of power?
Does God still bless if the scorecards paint a skewed picture because they are based on a few cherry picked bills as they relate to a very subjective interpretation of the party platform?
No, he's pretty clear on his distain for false representation. And of course there is that verse about pointing put the speck in your brothers eye when you have a log on your own.
Oh brother. Sibby's just whining because the only endorsement he ever sees is when he signs the back of his paycheck. ;^)
Hey Nick. 80¢ a head seems pretty cheap to inspect anything. What do they do for that money? (I am a total farming moron as you know.) Seriously, do they look at the animal and say, yup, that's a cow, not a pig or a deer? Or what? And how often do they do it?
According to Mercer, the board caved to Daugaard.
http://my605.com/pierrereview/?p=5966
I'm guessing Prince Dennis I will have a royal pronouncement soon.
Steve, you can twist things all you want, but people involved in the political process is a good thing. Closed caucus where you are only loyal if you are willing to keep SDGOP Establishment secrets is the anti-thesis to citizen pariticapation in their so-called representative government. You need to reflect on what is in the state constitution and on our state seal, "Under God the people rule". Stop condemning them to hell just because you don't want to be held accountable for your votes.
Consensus? BS!!! This is blatant politicking at best.
Remember the Republicans rejected out of hand the offer of a 10 to 1 cuts to increases to fight the deficit.
The historical contradictions of the Governor seeking consensus should have at least raised an eyebrow or two.
I'm guessing that the BB appointees who made the decision based on their own research, analysis and good judgement are feeling a little like...well...tools.
Heck, they probably were honored at first that the Governor entrusted them to make decisions on behalf of the state...to benefit the state. I can only imagine their disappointment at finding out that they were only a Potemkin village board to go through the motions and let the governor's staff tell them what to do.
Do you suppose that there is any chance that a reporter will take the consensus statement, consider the inconsistency and then ask a follow up question...or two?
So you honestly think that there is someone out there that will ask Tony, Dusty or the Gov about the inconsistency of consensus?
I'm going to interrupt here with something totally off topic.
Sign the petition against CISPA.
I do hate going so dramatically off-topic, but this is important. If they don't pass CISPA, at least the government has to stick to monitoring us all secretly, instead of being allowed to be open about it.
Carter, ever think about fighting the idea that the government should monitor us in any fashion?
Jana, nice that I can agree with you totally on a issue for once.
"Stop condemning them to hell just because you don’t want to be held accountable for your votes."
I've done nothing of the sort . And it's not about avoiding accountability for my votes. I merely express my resentment for being misrepresented and maligned. Perhaps I should just ignore you.
I sign privacy petitions quite frequently, Sibby. Unfortunately, only petitions are really all a poor college student in Madison can do to protest, not that I would have the time to go out an organize even if it was a bigger city with actual protests going on. Studying and work take out the vast majority of my time.
That aside, the real problem is that the NSA has already been recording internet activity and cell phone conversations for years, but before we can hope to take them on, we need to stop bills that legalize it.
The government shouldn't be monitoring us in any fashion. It's insane. I like my privacy, thankyouverymuch.
Bill, the brand inspectors are supposed to check each animal and record all brands they find along with species and sex. If you are selling an animal with brands other than your own you have to provide proof of ownership, ie a bill of sale. 80¢ is cheap.
But the bigger issue is why the micro-management? Who pissed him off or is there some sort of revolt brewing in cow country? Brand inspections and the Brand Board is a hill that Mike Rounds also chose to take a stand on and fight about. In fact Rounds took the brand inspection contract away from SD Stockgrowers a few years back and made inspectors state employees.
"Does God still bless if the scorecards paint a skewed picture because they are based on a few cherry picked bills as they relate to a very subjective interpretation of the party platform?
No, he’s pretty clear on his distain for false representation."
Not being blessed and receiving His distain has any other option besides condemnation?
Yeah, 80¢ sounds dirt cheap for that. Does this just happen once per animal at market, Nick? And only to cattle, I presume? (Why don't they brand hogs, BTW?)
Maybe they's some cattle rustlers out there, pardner. Or somebody tryin' ter steer bidness one way or t'other? (Practicing my cowboy thing.)
Once each time an animal is sold or leaves the brand inspection area. The state also recognizes and records brands for buffalo and horses. I don't know why they don't brand pigs and I'm told the wool on a sheep would quickly cover a brand and require a shearing to read it.
Maybe some cattle rustlers are donors to DD's campaign.
The best thing to do with a stray pig is to poke 'em with a sharpened stick and they will go wee wee wee all the way home.
Y'har, Billy. P'raps ye be on t' sometin'. I be thinkin' that rustlers be a problem. Argggh, someun should be doin' somethin', matey!
Oh, wait...
Yes, I knew that sharpened stick thing from your precious classes, Nick. I keep mine handy at all times. It's willow, I think.
Ha! ...Carter went all piratey on us. Must be from the Way Out West Indies.
LK, I thanks for the link to Mercer's brief account. The board suppressed discussion and did what DD told them to do. That bodes ill for how the Local Teacher Reward Plan committee under HB 1234 would operate. We are told that schools get lots of control, but with a majority of members appointed by DD, the LTRP board would seem liable just like the Brand Board to veto (or open ghe door for DD himself to veto) any local alternative that doesn't fit his political agenda.
Arr, Billy "Bones" Fleming, me young bucko, when t' tea party takes over they'll put t' black spot on you for aye.
Ahoy Grudz. That plank's fer walkin' on...not the kind of stuff yer mates ha' been dooin' to it.
Carter
I did a little rant about CISPA here. Tried to help the cause.
http://thedisplacedplainsman.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-is-tea-party-like-othello.html
Thanks, LK. It doesn't seem that enough people are taking this as seriously as they should be. Way to spread the message.
Brand inspections should be done by county sheriff officers. Farming brand inspection out to private group does not seem appropriate. Also, if we are going to have any brand inspection, the law should apply to all of SD rather than West River.
A brand inspector did catch a neighbor trying to sell one of my cows years ago. They missed the dozen or so unbranded yearlings that disappeared one Sunday afternoon. I could follow the tracks for two miles, but lost them then.