PIERRE,S.D. (KELO.com) — No earth-shattering new programs in Governor Kristi Noem’s State of the State Address to the 2020 State Legislature – just a call for steady progress on the state’s many issues.
She does hold out some hope for pay raises for teachers and state workers.
“Since my budget address, revenues have been slightly better than expected.” Noem did not include pay raises in her budget address but now says there is more flexibility so her “number-one priority” is finding money to help education, state workers, and medical providers.
Both Meth and Hemp come up in her speech.
Noem calls for more money to help people get off the drug, now that her ‘Meth. We’re On It’ campaign has captured everyone’s attention.
“I’m sure you’ve all heard about it. Yes, it was bold and it was provocative,” says Noem as lawmakers chuckle.
Noem says she will support the 2020 State Legislature legalizing hemp, but only if all her concerns are met and those concerns will cost money.
“If you add up one-time and ongoing costs, I believe this will cost a little bit around three million dollars. There has to be a plan to pay for this.”
Noem wants more money freed up to help with South Dakota’s housing challenges so workers will have places to live when companies think about expanding or moving to the state. She calls the problem a “Catch-22.”
The Governor continues to repeat her theme about South Dakota being open for business, so the state needs to encourage a business-friendly climate, and education programs, especially vocational.
She calls on all South Dakotans to do all they can to expand habitat for pheasants. Yes, she says, South Dakota is the Pheasant Capital of the World, but other states are trying to take away that title, even “stealing” pheasants hunters.
Noem announces a new annual award – the Governor’s Award For Heroes. The first winners are the officers who helped pull survivors out of the wreckage of the fatal private plane crash near Chamberlin in November. She introduces them to sustained applause.
