10 Broadcaster Press February 16, 2016 www.broadcasteronline.com Dave Says Don’t Tithe with Credit Cards nothing wrong with a draft or an ACH kind of thing. A lot of people do that and like the ability to give online. But I don’t want a giving situation to your church turn into debt to you. And it does just that when it’s a credit card! BY DAVE RAMSEY Courtesy of EveryDollar.com Dear Dave, What is your opinion of churches encouraging members to do e-giving with credit cards and debit cards? Melissa a risk that you can’t afford to take. When it comes to things like cars or houses, I absolutely recommend that people have insurance. Most folks couldn’t just write a check for another car if the one they drive were totaled. It’s the same with a house. If your home is destroyed, the insurance takes care of things instead of putting you in the position of having to pull tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars out of your own pocket for a new home—also something most people can’t do. No, I don’t insure inexpensive things like smartphones. And if a smartphone is an expensive item to you, then you probably shouldn’t have that phone. I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having a cell phone if you can afford it. But if you tear up a phone or it breaks down and you can’t afford to replace it out of your own pocket, then you’ve got too much phone! Legislation Would Tighten Appeals Process for Fighting Against County CAFO Permits BY BOB MERCER State Capitol Bureau PIERRE – South Dakota legislators and agricultural groups are splitting into sides again over county permits for concentrated animal feeding operations known as CAFOs. The House Local Government Committee endorsed changes Dear Melissa, Thursday that supporters said would streamline permits I’m against debt, so I’m not particularly and appeals. The panel’s 11-2 vote sends the measure to the fond of churches asking people to use a Dave full House of Representatives for a vote possibly as early as —Dave debt vehicle to pay their tithes. I realize Tuesday. that few businesses and organizations disRep. G. Mark Mickelson, R-Sioux Falls, is prime sponsor tinguish between debit cards and credit Don’t Insure Cell for the legislation. He also sponsored legislation last year cards when accepting payment. However, Phones that changed laws regarding CAFOs. Mickelson said 10 perthis practice bothers me a lot when it comes to churches. The Bible mentions mits received approval last year and eight are in litigation. Dear Dave, debt several times in Scripture, and every I just bought a new smartphone, and the He said the threat of appeals discourages producers from time it does, it’s always in a negative light. company I’m with offers insurance for the applying. “It’s just too long to find out if you’re going to get —Dave It’s not a salvation issue or anything like device. Do you think it would be wise or it,” Mickelson said. that, but the Bible basically says debt is a foolish to do this? Opponent Matt Sibley for South Dakota Farmers Union EveryDollar is a simple, online budg- said the legislation this year and last year “can allow for bad foolish thing. Lisa Now, I think e-giving in itself is fine. But eting tool that helps users set a monthly actors here in the state.” Sibley described the effort as “tryif I were the pastor or on the leadership budget and seamlessly track expenses. ing to provide a shortcut for agricultural development.” board, and we had an e-giving process, I For more information, go to www.everyDear Lisa, Among the proposed changes: A $250 bond would be would strongly encourage people to use dollar.com. The purpose of insurance is to transfer required for each appeal filed; multiple appeals would be debit cards and not credit cards. There’s condensed to one proceeding; appeals would be handled on an expedited basis; and the county board of adjustment or county commission could make minor changes to a permit without restarting the permit process. by Gov. Dennis Daugaard my plan, which includes a half-cent need is to increase teacher salaries, and Current and past elected officials from Hamlin, Grant This week, the legislative session sales tax increase, if they have confithey want to demonstrate that they are and Kingsbury counties testified in favor of the legislation. reached its half-way point. Legislators dence that the money will get to teachdirecting new dollars to this need. So did representatives for the South Dakota Pork Producers are working hard as they consider bills ers. They do not want the new funding The plan I offered to the Legislature Council and the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association. Scott on a wide range of topics. to be spent on other things. includes three bills: Senate Bill 131, VanderWal of Volga, president for South Dakota Farm Bureau Education funding is a major topic I agree with that. The funding Senate Bill 133 and House Bill 1182. but representing himself, said the legislation “eliminates of discussion this year. At the beginning formula bill I proposed, Senate Bill 131, All three will be working their way costly and duplicative delays.” of session, I offered a plan to increase includes a section that requires at least through the legislative process in the Paul Kostbooth, director of ag development in Gov. teacher pay and to reform the school 90 percent of new funding to go directly coming weeks. The legislative process Dennis Daugaard’s administration, supported the measure funding formula. My plan is based on to salaries and benefits for teachers. can be confusing or frustrating, but it because it supports local decisions. “It’s about pro-active proposals made by the Blue Ribbon I understand that schools have other is designed to give legislators time to planning and what makes sense locally,” he said. Opponent Task Force, which met throughout the needs, but the goal of the Blue Ribbon consider and discuss these important Sabrina King of Dakota Rural Action disagreed that South past year. Task Force was to increase teacher pay. issues. Dakotans are having difficulty in obtaining conditional-use We all know that the key to a good That is the problem we are trying to We can be proud that our legislative permits. “CAFOs don’t save rural communities,” King said. education is a great teacher, and that’s solve. process is also very open – every bill Dean Lockner who ranches near Ree Heights said induswhy the public strongly supports Legislators are discussing additional receives a full public hearing, and any trial agriculture found a friend in South Dakota in Mickelson. increasing teacher salaries. I’ve been ideas to ensure that new funding goes South Dakotan can offer testimony or “This insanity is being promoted all over South Dakota,” pleased to receive supportive comto teacher pay, and I am open to those offer feedback. Whatever your view of Lockner said. “Overnight your South Dakota home can be ments from many South Dakotans. ideas. I am confident that we can direct my plan, or of the many other bills cur- transformed by a never-ending nightmare,” he said. MickelThey understand South Dakota teacher these dollars to the teachers, so that rently before the Legislature, I encourson in rebuttal said there isn’t any erosion of local control in pay must be competitive with other every legislator with this concern can age all South Dakotans to stay informed the legislation but the current process presents “innumerstates if we want to recruit a new genvote for the proposal. School leaders about and engaged in the important able number of opportunities” to appeal and delay. Rep. eration of great teachers. have also told me that they support work being done in Pierre. Kyle Schoenfish, R-Scotland, asked Mickelson what a minor Many legislators and other taxpaythese accountability measures – they change would be. “It would be something that would be ers have told me that they will support understand that education’s greatest considered insignificant to the matter at hand,” Mickelson replied. He said a grammatical error would be an example. “The intent of that language is ‘insigificant,’” Mickelson said. Rep. Paula Hawks, D-Hartford, asked Mickelson who defines BY BOB MERCER ranks. The fight has been buildlast legislative session, over the done, announced his resignation “minor amendment.” “I just want to make sure we have some ing since the mid-2000s, as more South Dakota High School Activi- on March 31. State Capitol Bureau kind of consistency throughout,” she said. Mickelson said he and more socially conservative ties Association’s policy allowing As their replacements, the PIERRE – The Legislature candidates, often with churches participation by transgender governor then chose Fiegen, who would trust the discretion of county commissions and their has 80 Republicans and 25 lawyers. “They’re not sneaking anything by anyone. It’s a backing them, have won legislastudents in athletic competition. is from the same community of Democrats. Who chooses to put public meeting,” Mickelson said. Hawks said she continues tive seats. We’ve seen the shift No students have yet applied, Dell Rapids as the governor and their names on the line by the to have “some concerns” about minor amendment definition manifested in the emphasis but the issue is back and more Linda Daugaard; and Shorma, candidate-filing deadline of 5 on defining marriage, allowing intense this session. It could also who is from the same communiand whether there is consistency from county to county. She p.m. on March 29 will determine concealed handguns, attackbe seen in the Republican leader- ty of Dakota Dunes as Lederman. said the $250 bond is a problem. “In other words, we have what happens in the Capitol ing public school standardized ship fight in the Senate after the However, there was a current during the next two years and to pay to play,” she said. She doesn’t like the proposed nartesting and pushing back against Rave and Lederman resignations Republican legislator from Leder- rower definition for who has legal standing to file appeals. beyond. at the end of the 2015 legislaman’s legislative district, Bolin, How those candidates fare in transgender people. The trend The changes would help people know exactly what the tive session. Ried Holien of who hoped to be the choice for the June 7 primary elections and is most apparent in the House of Representatives. The Senate Watertown and Brock Greenfield the Senate appointment. Bolin is rules are in a county, said Rep. Burt Tulson, R-Lake Norden. the Nov. 8 general elections, in already is close to tipping and its of Clark challenged the eventual serving the last of the maximum “It tightens up for frivolous appeals,” Tulson said. Mickelson turn, will largely determine how is planning to run for governor in 2018. Hawks is running for future direction depends on who winners Gary Cammack of Union four consecutive elected terms Republican Gov. Dennis DauU.S. House of Representatives this year. The committee split in the House. The Lederman gaard fares in the final two years chooses to try to move from the Center and Jim White of Huron House to the Senate in this year’s for the posts, respectively, of vacancy was a chance for Bolin along political party lines, with the 11 Republicans voting for of his second and final term. elections. Senate president pro tem and to continue. But Bolin had been An insurrection is under way Mickelson’s bill and the two Democrats voting against it. RAMSEY Working To Increase Teacher Pay The Future Is Now For The Legislature And Its Republicans in South Dakota’s Republican The Senate went through two emotionally bruising fights NOTICE CLAY CREEK DITCH & YANKTON CLAY DITCH JOINT MEETING Tuesday, February 23, 2016, 1:30 P.M. At Toby’s Lounge, Meckling, SD To discuss maintenance on the ditches for 2016/2017 and other matters to come before the Board. All interested persons are urged to attend. Board of County Commissioners Clay and Yankton Counties Carri R. Crum Clay County Auditor Vermillion Annual Township Meeting The Citizens of the Township of Vermillion in the county of Clay, South Dakotaand who qualified t o vote at Township elections, are hereby notified that the Annual Township Meeting will be held at Clay County 4-H Center, 515 High Street, on TUESDAY, March 1st, 2016, at 7:00 P.M. for the following purposes: Election of officers, opening bids and any other business proper to be done when convened. To let bids for snow removal, road maintenance and gravel for township roads for the upcoming year. Bids may be sent to: Vermillion Township Jackie Williams, Township Clerk 31536 Princeton Ave Vermillion, SD 57069 Bids must be received by Tuesday, March 1st, 2016 Jackie Williams, Township Clerk Republican assistant leader. Despite the outcome being settled privately in the Republican caucus, the split spilled into public view on the first day of this 2016 session, as four Republicans cast nays against Cammack in what traditionally was a ceremonial roll call vote for president pro tem. Those came from Bill Van Gerpen of Tyndall, Bob Ewing of Spearfish, Phil Jensen of Rapid City and David Omdahl of Sioux Falls. Part of the dissatisfaction was a belief that Daugaard tipped the caucus election against Holien and Greenfield. The perception, denied by Daugaard’s side, was he instructed the two senators he appointed last year, Scott Fiegen of Dell Rapids and Bill Shorma of Dakota Dunes, to back Cammack and White. Now if Shorma runs, he faces a primary challenge from Rep. Jim Bolin of Canton, who wanted the Senate appointment. There already was a split bubbling among Senate Republicans. In September of 2013, Russ Olson of Wentworth resigned as a senator and as Senate Republican leader. For the 2014 and 2015 sessions, Tim Rave of Baltic became Senate Republican leader and Dan Lederman of Dakota Dunes moved up to assistant leader. Last March, Rave prepared to resign to take an executive level job with Sanford Health but kept his plan secret until after the 2015 session would end. Lederman, in a surprise, announced his resignation on the session’s final day March 30. Rave, with the session one of the governor’s fiercest critics on the change to Common Core for South Dakota’s K-12 standardized testing. Daugaard took the heat, but the change was approved by the state Board of Education in late 2010 at the end of then-Gov. Mike Rounds’ administration. Bolin also was the most energetic opponent of the SDHSAA transgender athlete policy in the 2015 session. His attempts to overturn the policy won House approval but he fell just short in the Senate. Four districts will change senators because of term limits. Two likely will turn more conservative. Another Republican primary taking shape has termlimited Rep. Lance Russell of Hot Springs openly preparing to challenge Sen. Bruce Rampelberg of Rapid City. There are at least five other districts in Sioux Falls and Rapid City where Republican primaries now appear to be strongly possible. Adding to the combustibility, the governor’s sales-tax increase proposal has deeply split Republican ranks in the House and the Senate. It has divided the House leadership into two wings, with one group supporting the governor behind Rep. Dean Wink of Howes, the House speaker, and the opposition group behind House Republican leader, Brian Gosch of Rapid City. What happens on the tax vote and on transgender legislation, and the candidacy filings, during the next six weeks, strongly shape South Dakota’s political direction. Innovation over Regulation By Rep. Kristi Noem Just when many of us were starting to feel the relief of lower gas prices, President Obama put forward a plan to increase the price at the pump by about 25 cents per gallon. Obviously, he does not recognize that many people are just trying to keep their heads above water financially. Why hike costs when people are finally getting some room to breathe? Earlier this month, President Obama put forward his final budget proposal. Included in it was a $10.25 tax on every barrel of oil. GasBuddy.com’s Patrick DeHaan reacted saying, “This proposal would trickle down and be a $10 per barrel tax on motorists – or 20 to 25 cents per gallon on refined fuels…. It will likely be completely passed to consumers in the years ahead.” The White House confirmed DeHaan’s assessment, saying: “We recognize that oil companies would likely pass on some of the costs.” Why would the President offer up such a hardhitting tax? To support his environmental agenda. Time and again, this administration has put its anti-energy agenda above your financial security. He rejected the Keystone XL Pipeline, which would have offered much-needed revenue for cash-strapped South Dakota counties. He also announced a rule last month that would stop coal production on federal land as well as one that would make it more difficult for companies to produce oil and natural gas on federal land. Perhaps the most concerning was the administration’s greenhouse gas proposal, which the President admitted would “necessarily skyrocket” energy costs for families. By that he meant electricity costs could increase by as much as $17 billion nationwide and put a quarter-million people out of a job every year, by some estimates. In South Dakota, power providers have already said wholesale electricity rates could increase by 40 percent, if changes aren’t made to the President’s plan. Already, families in our state earning less than $50,000 per year spend one-fifth of their aftertax income on energy costs, which is double the national average. Many can’t afford to pay even more. Fortunately, the Supreme Court blocked the administration’s greenhouse gas proposal earlier this month – temporarily, at least. As the judicial system is doing its job, I’ve been working in Congress to stop the President’s proposal as well. More specifically, we’ve passed legislation to stop it, although the President chose to veto it. I also cosponsored Wanted: legislation, which has already • Old Cars passed the House, requiring • Farm Machinery bureaucrats to institute regu• Irrigation Systems lations based on sound data and at the lowest possible • Any Type of cost to taxpayers. It seems Scrap Iron Towing Service like commonsense – or some• Grain Bin Removal & Roll-Off Dumpsters Available thing that should be happenPaying Top Dollar ing already – but it isn’t, so I’d like to write that requirement Will Pick Up into law. Coleridge, NE We all want to preserve 3.5” x 2.5” | Maximum Font Size: 30 pt To find an Edward To findoffice near you, call 1-800-ED JONES. 1-800-ED our environment for future Jones an Edward Jones office near you, call JONES. generations, and in a place like South Dakota where we To findTo find an Edward office near you, call 1-800-ED JONES. an Edward Jones Jones office near you, call 1-800-ED JONES. largely make our living off the land, that is especially true. But that preservation should Curt Robinson Curt Robinson Curt Robinson Patrick M Higgins be done regulation. 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