Interesting bills in the SD legislature

[SidelineObserver]

As if there weren't any important pressing issues in South Dakota this year, some of our fine (boneheaded) elected officals have found a new public enemy...Internet blogs and message boards.
Bill 1277: Click Here
Bill 1278: Click Here

Looks like Filbert could be held responsible for keeping logs for this forum for potential court cases? The goal seems to be to shut down blogs and forums through mandating onerous record keeping.

[el_presidente]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

This would also impact TV's live chats. He would be required to keep detailed tracking information of any poster or commenter. These are horribly written bills. The language is too broad and wide sweeping. Also, anyone who wanted to avoid the law could post something defamatory from the Briggs library on campus. There would be no way to track them. So lots of onerous record keeping by blogs and message boards for something that can easily be circumvented by someone wanting to break the law. This will cause everyone headaches and not solve any problems.

[1stRowFANatic]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

Would Filbert have to do it, or would vBulletin®/Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. be required to do it. I actually think that if it is the hosting company, they probably have this info on record already, but maybe not.

[MikeHenriksen]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

Both of those bills are moronic.

And, the chance for local governments to decide how to fund possible projects in their cities took a hit today when the bill that would have allowed local option sales taxes for specific projects failed to make it out of committee. I know a lot of folks saw it as a "Sioux Falls Event Center" issue, but 92 towns were supporting the bill. Thank God the people in Pierre know what is best for each community in the state! This could have big ramifications on towns like Brookings and Vermillion who are looking to partner with their local university to continue growth and improve facilities.

[goon]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

With working with the South Dakota Quitline I am worried about HB 1163. Planning to take 1million from the tobacco tax and use for general funds. The tax is used to help people quit smoking. South Dakota rates to quit are better then the national avg because of the program and tax. It would be a short term fix but hurt other areas by reallocating the tobacco tax fund.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

Maybe we should rename this thread and use it to discuss legislative actions in general.

I understand there is a large (now estimated at $40 million) structural deficit that has to be dealt with.

In the university system, we're ready to do our part to close that gap. But I'm hearing rumors of a HUGE cut in higher education funding, possibly $10 million from the system which would cut SDSU's state funding from $46 million to $42 million. The Regents have rightly said they won't cover that shortfall on the backs of students through tuition increases. So we're potentially looking at a dramatic setback in the momentum SDSU has created for itself in the past few years.

At the same time, we're looking at another significant enrollment increase next year, which could put us at 13,000 students or more. We'll manage, of course. We always have. And SDSU's central administration has prudent plans in place to minimize the damage next year (which will likely be worse) by building up a financial cushion this year.

I don't want anybody to think I'm suggesting that the sky is falling. Because it isn't. But it'll be hard for SDSU to maintain its momentum in this climate. And it's worth noting that this is as already a highly efficient university system. It's popular to imagine that state employees, like university faculty and staff, are lazy or are just lucky to have jobs when in fact we're highly trained professionals who take our responsibilities for educating South Dakota's young people very seriously. We work hard at it. And the results of our work enhance the prosperity of the state in a very direct and measurable way.

Whether you think highly of state employees or not, I'm sure everybody here considers higher education to be important and recognizes that diminishing higher education is a setback for the state's future.

[/end rant]

[Nidaros]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

As if there weren't any important pressing issues in South Dakota this year, some of our fine (boneheaded) elected officals have found a new public enemy...Internet blogs and message boards.
Bill 1277: Click Here
Bill 1278: Click Here

Looks like Filbert could be held responsible for keeping logs for this forum for potential court cases? The goal seems to be to shut down blogs and forums through mandating onerous record keeping.

What is interesting about these bills is the list of sponsors of which some of those are what I would consider responsible members of the legislature. Did they do so as a trade for some other legislation? I would think they would not be so easy in lending their names to legislation that even in my mind seems very unconstitutional. One of our legal members on this board told me privately that with libel and slander, the accuser has to prove economic deprivatation or economic loss. Calling Frank Kloscek a fool hardly stops him from having a good year with hogs being marketed nor does it stop the corn growing in his fields. When we enact laws that surprise freedom of expression and punish anyamous expressions, what sort of a government do we have? It works in Iran so why not South Dakota?

I like JJ suggestion of keeping this thread about SD legislation. It always interesting to know about the doings in Pierre and what happens higher education is alway been an interest to me.

[hareball]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

I, like many, get upset at people saying things on message boards that they would never say in person, but the legislature has more important things to worry about.

There has been little discussion as to how to solve the current budget shortfall and I am guessing that like most years most of the serious discussion will be delayed to the last week of the session.

The state in general views education as an expense rather than a investment. I don't like digging into reserve funds unless there is a good reason, but investing reserve dollars into education will yield a better return than the S&P 500 or T-bills. Both SDSU and USD are in the process of huge upgrades to all facets of their institutions which will yield great returns to the whole state. Hopefully our elected representatives in Pierre don't slow the progress. We all need to contact our local legislators and let them know the importance of education.

[propar80]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

I, like many, get upset at people saying things on message boards that they would never say in person, but the legislature has more important things to worry about.

There has been little discussion as to how to solve the current budget shortfall and I am guessing that like most years most of the serious discussion will be delayed to the last week of the session.

The state in general views education as an expense rather than a investment. I don't like digging into reserve funds unless there is a good reason, but investing reserve dollars into education will yield a better return than the S&P 500 or T-bills. Both SDSU and USD are in the process of huge upgrades to all facets of their institutions which will yield great returns to the whole state. Hopefully our elected representatives in Pierre don't slow the progress. We all need to contact our local legislators and let them know the importance of education.

They will all agree that, "education is of the up-most importance at our public universities". Problem is, most of them will never equate "Athletics" with "education" at our public universities.
If there is one thing that the D-1 move has proved, it is how much one can actually help the other.

Go Jacks!!

[MilwaukeeJacksAlum]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

As if there weren't any important pressing issues in South Dakota this year, some of our fine (boneheaded) elected officals have found a new public enemy...Internet blogs and message boards.
Bill 1277: Click Here
Bill 1278: Click Here

Looks like Filbert could be held responsible for keeping logs for this forum for potential court cases? The goal seems to be to shut down blogs and forums through mandating onerous record keeping.

It may be just me, but I'd see the rampant pornography (children especially) and pervert chat rooms as much bigger problems when it comes to the internet. Maybe they should worry about that first. Worrying about someone badmouthing someone else on the argus comment section of sdsufans cite is pretty low on the priority list. Tell me which of the 3 you would worry about if you saw your kid's internet history. 1) Porn cite, 2) Adult theme sex chat rooms 3) SDSUfans.com? Seems like a lot of dumb legislation. A decent idea that went too far and turned into a dumb proposal.

[Jacks#1Fan]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

The intent of the bill on identifying an anonymous source that has libeled you is certainly not a wacky idea. However, the bill in question isn't going to become law because this is a tough area and it doesn't have a lot of the necessary answers. I know the lead sponsor exceedingly well, and his heart is in the right place.

There are several court cases that have addressed this issue, at least periferally, and the upshoot is that they place a high standard on proving the libel FIRST, before being able to find out the identity of the libeling source. When you have been libeled, you obviously should have recourse...that's a time-honored and necessary standard. But, again, I can't go out and find which one of you anonymous posters I want to identify by just saying, "I've been libeled." Prove it in court, and you have a better argument.

[JimmyJack]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

Here's one to watch. Last week, the Appropriations Committee dealt with the bill authorizing construction of the second half of the electrical engineering building. All the money for the building is in hand and came from private sources.

Unfortunately, the Appropriations Committee added an amendment that would require SDSU to raise an additional 10 percent ($500,000) from private sources to create an endowment for maintenance on the building.

So basically, the Legislature is saying that the state is no longer going to be responsible for maintaining state-owned buildings. This is, to say the least, not a good precedent.

[jackmd]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

Here's one to watch. Last week, the Appropriations Committee dealt with the bill authorizing construction of the second half of the electrical engineering building. All the money for the building is in hand and came from private sources.

Unfortunately, the Appropriations Committee added an amendment that would require SDSU to raise an additional 10 percent ($500,000) from private sources to create an endowment for maintenance on the building.

So basically, the Legislature is saying that the state is no longer going to be responsible for maintaining state-owned buildings. This is, to say the least, not a good precedent.

HB 1026. Very unusual and potentially very damaging amendment added by committee just before it will hit the floor. I trust it will be removed or the entire bill voted down. If you have a spare moment contact your local house member and ask them not to vote for the bill as it is currently constructed. Remove/strip section 8 and reconsider or vote it down as is.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

it may be just me, but i'd see the rampant pornography (children especially) and pervert chat rooms as much bigger problems when it comes to the internet. Maybe they should worry about that first. Worrying about someone badmouthing someone else on the argus comment section of sdsufans cite is pretty low on the priority list. Tell me which of the 3 you would worry about if you saw your kid's internet history. 1) porn cite, 2) adult theme sex chat rooms 3) sdsufans.com? Seems like a lot of dumb legislation. A decent idea that went too far and turned into a dumb proposal.

2, 3, 1.

[jackmd]

Re: Interesting bills in the SD legislature

HB 1026. Very unusual and potentially very damaging amendment added by committee just before it will hit the floor. I trust it will be removed or the entire bill voted down. If you have a spare moment contact your local house member and ask them not to vote for the bill as it is currently constructed. Remove/strip section 8 and reconsider or vote it down as is.

Amendment 8 was stripped and the bill passed 66-2. I want to thank those who contacted their legislators in support of higher education. Special thanks to Mr. Matthew Fuks.