Billion/Rounds Debate in Spearfish. Moderated by Kris Kringle
Governor Mike Rounds debated challenger Jack Billion in Spearfish yesterday as reported in the Rapid City Journal (where this photo is from). The debate was moderated by Santa Claus:
The Republican governor answered challenges from his Democratic opponent, retired Sioux Falls surgeon Jack Billion, during a debate at the annual conference of the South Dakota Municipal League. When Billion questioned the effectiveness of the governor’s economic development policies, Rounds noted the state’s nation-leading 20.5-percent increase in per-capita personal income during his first three years as chief executive, as well as the addition of 18,000 jobs statewide.Read it all here at the Rapid City Journal.
“And those are good jobs. They’re not low-paying jobs,” Rounds said.
In addition, the gross state product has grown to a new high of more than $29 billion, Rounds said.
Billion questioned the governor’s numbers on job creation, saying Rounds had previously used different figures. Whatever the actual number, Billion said, they were created by private-sector development, not by the governor and his policies.
The Rounds administration has been successful in creating new jobs for state employees at taxpayer expense, however, Billion said.
and...
Rounds said he had nothing to apologize for in the addition of the equivalent of 1,000 full-time positions in state government. About 700 of those jobs were in the state higher-education system, often for professor and essential research-assistant positions necessary to move the state forward in education, research and technological developments, Rounds said.
Many of the other FTEs were state-government positions in areas such as fire protection and prison guards and drug dependency counselors, Rounds said.
“I make no bones about it; I will ask for more FTEs when I think they’re justified,” he said.
Ho, Ho, Ho. No toys for Jack Billion at Christmas. Or in November.
Comments
Good one 9:37.
Rounds is the best thing that has ever happened to Pierre Economic Development. More state jobs is good for Pierre. Problem is the rest of the state picks up the tab.
Now that's leadership and vision for Pierre at least.
I mean do the citizens of South Dakota even deserve a public debate about the issues? Hell no! All they need to know is know who is Anti-Choice and Pro-War. The Repubs should win on those two issues. Screw the rest. Imagine somone even questioning Rounds on Jobs, healthcare and education funding, just pitiful. Pro-Life, Pro-War and a Red state, a formula to win right.
Ask Whalen, that's his plan and he's gonna win right?
Egg on face, anon 3:57.
Rounds is thin; a true paper-tiger, as is -- I suspect -- his Happy-Happy-Day support.
And my, God, look at that 1980's Power Tie. Give me a break!
And I'm a registered Repub ... ?
Gotta think this through.
I am serious that there are literally thousands of teenagers (no Foley joke here) that would have been better candidates than Whalen. The guy is an absolute joke and no one is to blame (not even Bruce himself) except for Randy Frederick. Which, of course, gets back to the last anons concern about Rounds.
Lord, it harkens me back to when a party strategist said to me in early 2000 when Bush was pulling ahead of McCain (after the black daughter, drugged wife campaign in S.C.) that we should all admit we are about to elect and idiot to the presidency.
Well, I don't consider Rounds or Bush to be idiots, just the 10,378 most qualified person to hold each position...there are several people on the hill and springfield that have the edge over Whalen.
Sad
I wonder if the hiring of all those university prof's are the reason Black Hills State cant pay my daughter ?
She works in the food service and they said they hope to be able to pay her on Oct 15th for her August hours !! Thats a long time to wait to be paid when you aint makin much anyhow. I bet those new prof's are getting paid faster than that !!
Regents are outa control !! I had higher hopes for the new prez up there