S.D. Democratic Party Director: We deserve straight talk, not contradictions, about state budget from Gov. Rhoden
Gov. Larry Rhoden’s first budget address sounded simple: a conservative plan with clear goals. But look closer and it is full of contradictions South Dakotans cannot ignore.
There are claims that do not hold up, raising serious questions about honesty, transparency and whether we are really being told the truth about our state’s finances.
The governor talks about “limited government,” saying we should spend less and “do it well.” Yet his budget proposes tens of millions for new or expanded programs, from IT upgrades and prison expansions to tech college construction, a new law enforcement plane, and National Guard facilities. Whether these are good ideas or not, calling this “limited government” is hard to defend.
Rhoden also claims we do not spend one-time money on ongoing costs, but that is exactly what keeps happening. One-time funds are being used for building repairs and state employee pay raises. Short-term fixes might work for now, but they contradict the fiscal principles the governor claims to protect.
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