Government and Politics
Total 221 Posts
Sen. Rounds: Guest workers not part of illegal immigration problem
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota says guest worker programs that bring foreigners to America to fill seasonable employment positions are a critical part of the state economy. Yet Rounds says the intense debate over illegal immigration in America has wrongly influenced, and in some cases stymied, efforts
Immigration debate hampers guest worker programs critical to SD businesses and farms
KEYSTONE, S.D. – The intensely partisan and politicized national debate over immigration policies has cast a cloud of uncertainty over guest worker programs that for years have helped provide employees to seasonal South Dakota businesses that cannot find enough American workers.
The viability of some businesses in the tourism, agricultural
Public vaping ban passed in South Dakota amid some controversy
On July 1, the use of e-cigarettes or other vaping products will become illegal in almost all South Dakota workplaces and public buildings, including bars, restaurants and casinos.
After a somewhat hurried process, lawmakers in March voted to treat e-cigarettes the same as combustible tobacco products when used in public
New machines, games help video lottery revenues rebound in SD
Eight years after a smoking ban dealt South Dakota video lottery owners a heavy blow, the industry has quietly remade itself, last year recording nearly its highest revenue in 30 years.
The games brought in $221 million in fiscal 2018, substantially higher than the $176.6 million achieved at the
Thousands of South Dakota voters don’t live where they register
Thousands of people who don’t live in South Dakota have become official residents, gotten registered to vote and then cast ballots in state elections, which some lawmakers and election officials fear could unfairly alter election results or open the door to fraud.
State election officials say they are aware
Lawmakers spar over potential reduction in state sales tax rate
A debate is raging in Pierre this legislative session over how – and some say even if – taxpayers will see a reduction in the sales tax rate now that South Dakota has begun to collect new money from online retailers.
When it comes to legislative intrigue, the contentious wrangling over the
Governor proposes higher payment rate, grant program for nursing homes
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Wednesday announced a plan to aid South Dakota’s financially troubled nursing home industry by raising the rate of Medicaid payments and providing $5 million in grants to facilities that innovate.
Noem shared her ideas as part of her first budget address to both