John Tsitrian suggest on The Constant Commoner that the competing road tax-and-fix proposals before the South Dakota Legislature may provoke an urban-rural civil war, or at least a constructive statewide conversation. I'm all about South Dakotans with diverse perspectives coming together to identify common interests, balance competing interests, and build practical solutions.
I'm not all about Americans for Prosperity butting into our Legislature and interfering with a practical discussion of real local problems with their ideological hogwash. The Koch brothers' lobbying group, a combination pro-corporate fascist front and jobs program for Republican lackeys, announces that it "will be engaging on the Highway Funding Bill."
What whit do the Koch brothers care about South Dakota's roads as they flit about in their private jets? Americans for Plutocracy Prosperity has no interest in fixing South Dakota's roads or solving any other South Dakota problem. Their immediate goal in "engaging" on South Dakota's highway funding will be to make sure their corporate pals pay as little as possible for the roads that make their businesses possible. They are probably among the "organizations" Governor Dennis Daugaard mentioned in his Tuesday press conference who have pushed him to water down the robust road-funding proposal produced by the interim Highway Needs and Financing committee, which spent months talking with experts on the practical condition of South Dakota roads.
The prosperity these Americans are for is their own, not yours and mine, and not South Dakota's. Their overarching goal is not good policy but no policy, no government or community power that can check their rapacious greed and exploitation.
http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2015/01/15/377526088/conservative-koch-brothers-group-puts-congressional-gop-on-notice
Cory, I agree that we have to be careful and not follow what is a false agenda. But in the past, Rounds and his corporate plutocrats opposed the AFP agenda. Transparency was one issue. I remember Rhoden being very upset at them when they opposed his income approach to property tax reform for Ag. Just assuming they are an arm for the Kochs may not be accurate. I would appreciate seeing any hard research that does say they are.
Koch bros bought the dance and the dancers,they get to call the tunes. Free speech brought to you buy the activist,wingnut Scotus. pun intended
KOCH'S good ole' sd boys in sxfalls are:
1.) chad krier, sx falls, @cpkreir on twitter, 11.17.15 americans for prosperity (koch bros.' AFP) announced his hire joining "the best grass roots conservative leaders" from volunteer status as "SD chapter Field Director".
2.) Ben Lee, Elder Board Chm., Central Baptist Church, made the announcement as South Dakota State Director for Americans for Prosperity. Lee, a state staffer for Sen. Thune (constituent outreach rep.), TV reporter, North American Babtist [SIC] Seminary and Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary, 2003, gave a sermon 12.28.14 at Central.
the SD chapter of AFP was formed 8.27.14
benjamin g.lee was paid about $55,000 by thune for fy 2014 for 2013-14, according to legistorm.com
@AFPF_SD is twitter handle for Koch's afp FOUNDATION and website
When I was in high school in Minnesota the states population switched from over fifty percent rural to over fifty percent urban. This caused immediate changes in the priorities of the legislature and longterm after redistricting. So this urban rural argument does happen and good people should be more fair.
So now we have a road problem, or finally admitted it. We have larger farm equipment and larger wagons and trucks hauling commodities from our farms and the cities have minimal rail so industries need good roads as well. The rural areas should get on the ball to get their roads improved soon and show the advantage of doing so or this conservative state will not even do that. I do think that every road that previously had a bridge over a creek does not need a half million dollar bridge now since the farmers are hauling with trucks and larger loads so can drive an extra mile over a good bridge instead of a shorter distance to save money on not improving any bridges. This would save both money and make an improvement at the same time.
Very interested to find the connection Ben Lee with Central Baptist. Apparently, he feels that it's his duty as chair of a church is to set an example for his congregation how to get rich at the expense of everyone else's expense.
Ahah. These Prosperity fellows are crony corpratists. I have been trying to figure out who they are. They are now backing Mr. PP so you fellows better watch out. His link to their pages was not working but I can googles these Koch brothers in Sioux Falls.
The Kochs are the leaders of the American Oligarchy which has replaced our democracy/republic.
gee deb, ... and sibby says the constitution has been destroyed too, and i have observed we have a black president, an orange leader in congress, and a turtle in the senate. as they say in minnesota: "it ain't dark yet, but its gettin' there"
Those are all bad signs, Leslie, very bad signs.
$80 billion dollar KOCH tar sands pig brothers (MOVED INTO SD IN AUGUST BEFORE ELECTION) are wealthiest billionairs over 2nd place $70 something billion dollar bill gates. of top 80 pigs, rupert murdoch is 79th at $14 billion.
why are KOCHS here? easy pickings
AFP is to SDP as scissors is to paper.