SD Governor gets push back on joining ag and enviornment agencies
SDFBSDFB President Doug Sombke
PIERRE, SD – Interim Agriculture Secretary Hunter Roberts and several team members outlined the proposed merger of the Ag Department and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee last week. State Senator Josh Klumb of Mount Vernon is the committee vice-chairman.
“Unless the merger is challenged, it will go through. They were simply advising us of how it would operate,” shared Klumb.
The South Dakota Farmer’s Union opposes the merger and in response to the plan by the Governor, is crafting legislation that would make the Secretary of Agriculture an elected office rather than a gubernatorial appointee.
District 20 s three Republicans watching legal challenge closely Written By: Marcus Traxler | ×
Will South Dakota’s recreational marijuana plans go up in smoke?
The constitutional amendment ballot measure that was passed in November is being challenged in court, but if the decision is upheld, area legislators expect it to be the most-discussed topic for this Legislative session, which opens Tuesday in Pierre. Gov. Kristi Noem will give her State of the State address at 1 p.m. Tuesday.
The district’s three Republicans Sen. Josh Klumb, Reps. Lance Koth and Paul Miskimins said they’ve been looking at other states and have tried to develop an understanding of the topic should the two Legislative bodies be asked to write up regulations.