State-Tribal Relations group scolds Noem administration for not attending meeting

[TexasTowelie]

By Arielle Zionts


Legislators on the State-Tribal Relations Committee criticized Gov. Kristi Noem's administration for not sending anyone to attend the group's meeting Wednesday in Rapid City.

I'm "greatly disappointed and embarrassed that there’s no one here from the governors’s office. I think that it’s greatly disrespectful" to the committee and tribal chairmen in attendance, said Sen. Lance Russell, who represents parts of Pennington, Custer and Fall River counties. "As a Republican, I am embarrassed that the leader of my party would not give us any indication as to this bill draft" to create an emergency fund for pipeline spills.

The absence of the executive branch from the meeting at the Best Western Ramkota Hotel came up when committee members began discussing whether or not to recommend the pipeline spill bill, which would be funded by pipeline companies and maintained by the state. It would allow individuals, municipalities and tribal nations to immediately access funds if they are impacted by a spill rather than recover their losses through a lawsuit.

Speaking over the phone, Sen. Jordan Youngberg, a Republican who represents District 8 on the eastern side of the state, called for a motion saying that the committee will stay neutral on the proposed bill until it has the chance to speak with Noem's administration, the attorney general and the Department of Natural Resources. But that was voted down based on arguments from Russell and others who said state officials had their chance to comment about this bill at this meeting and one on Nov. 12. The committee instead voted 8-1 to recommend the bill.

Read more: https://rapidcityjournal.com/news/local/state-tribal-relations-group-scolds-noem-administration-for-not-attending/article_a60e61ff-1100-5b38-bcfb-e917c4d6a941.html

[Wellstone ruled]

1. Honest truth is,

Noem and her social and neighboring acquaintances could care less about the Natives in Sodak. Nuf said.