Behind a legislative ambush
My (much-delayed, due to other news) story in today’s paper looks at an amusing incident in the final week of the legislative session — when senators ganged up on an innocuous bill brought by Sen. David Omdahl and “pecked (it) to death.”
If you’re so curious, you can listen to the exchange here:
Below, after the jump, is a partial, edited transcript — taking out some of the filler:
Jensen: How in the world are you going to enforce this?
Omdahl: This can be enforced by the local governing body.
Monroe: I’d like to know why this bill is necessary and what harm’s been done to bring this bill before the Senate?
Omdahl: I don’t see this being any harm… at a request from the sponsors there
Holien: What’s was the dog’s name-o
Omdahl: I’m sorry, but you lost me there.
Rhoden: What’s the penalty for organizations that violate this law?
Omdahl: I couldn’t tell you, senator, but I’m feeling like I’m being pecked to death, like a duck.
Michels: Said like a true husband
Soholt: What would be the fiscal impact of HoB 1085?
Omdahl: I do not know the answer to that, but I’m sure it would have some impact.
Kirkeby: After extensive research on this bill, my question is simply, why is there that 30-day notice required when you’re going to conduct a bingo game?
Omdahl: I’m sorry, I can’t answer that.
Sutton: BINGO!
Michels: Was his name-o.
Vehle: I understand the importance of this. Some people have certain industries in their district, and it’s really important to them. I can understand why the senator is going this this way. I’m going to help him swim upstream. I’m going to support him on this bill here, because I understand how important bingo is to his district.
Lederman: I’m having a little problem, because I’ve looked throughout the code, and I cannot find a distinct definition of bingo. I’m wondering if the good senator from Minnehaha County had the definition of that.
Omdahl: Well, I have to say, I don’t play bingo, so I don’t know.
Lederman: After reviewing this bill and hearing the good comments and questions from the members of the Senate, I think there’s a lot of unanswered questions here. I think we all know, after walking through some of the bingo halls in South Dakota, the detriment it does to our society, all of the ills that come out of this game. I respectfully ask the Senate to oppose this bill and send it to where it should be, to kill this bill, and kill it right here and right now. I would appreciate your no vote on this bill.
Monroe: I’m convinced by Sen. Omdahl, he convinced me.
