Tim Rave This week, former legislator Tim Rave of Baltic was elected to a one-year term as president of the South Dakota Board of Regents. Rave, who works as the CEO of the South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO), has served on the Regents for nearly two years, having been appointed to the Board by Gov. Kristi Noem in April 2021. It is the latest high-profile leadership role for Rave, a Baltic native. Rave served in the State Legislature from 2003-15. He was first elected to the State House in 2002 and served for four terms, including service as a majority whip in 2005-6 ..read more

A fortuitous Facebook post answered a question that had been lingering in this blogger’s mind for several years. First a little history. The first floor of the South Dakota State Capitol displays a collection of portraits of every former Governor of South Dakota. This collection was completed in the 1960s and, since that time, portraits have been added as governors near the end of their tenures in office. This blog has posted a gallery of governors portraits here. The current State Capitol portrait of Gov. Ralph Herseth, a hand-colored photograph attributed to Artz Camera Supply of Aberdeen. A ..read more

The March/April edition of South Dakota Magazine includes a short feature about William J. Bulow, South Dakota’s first Democratic governor. This blogger edited Bulow’s heretofore unpublished autobiography in 2020, excerpts of which were published in South Dakota History in its Spring 2021 edition. South Dakota Magazine also refers to the historical article that this blogger wrote about Bulow, based in large part on his memoirs, that was published last year in The Plains Political Tradition, Volume 4. Bulow was a colorful political figure who holds a unique position in the history of our state ..read more

Jack Billion Dr. Jack Billion, the 2006 Democratic nominee for governor, passed away on Saturday. An orthopedic surgeon and U.S. Air Force veteran, Billion served in the State House of Representatives from Sioux Falls from 1993-96. Ten years after leaving the legislature, Billion was motivated to run for governor in 2006 by Governor Mike Rounds’ signing of “abortion ban” legislation, which was intended to be a full frontal challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision affirming a right to an abortion in Roe v. Wade. Billion won the Democratic nomination against former Farmers Union President ..read more

Jim Abourezk Jim Abourezk, a brash and outspoken attorney who served South Dakota in the U.S. Senate, celebrates his 92nd birthday today. He was born on February 23, 1931 in Wood, South Dakota. Abourezk, a Democrat, served a single term in the U.S. House, representing the Second District, from 1971-73, and then a single term in the U.S. Senate from 1973-79. He did not seek a second term in 1978 and never again sought political office. The sad news broke earlier this week that Abourezk has entered hospice care. I would highly recommend a nice tribute to Abourezk by Tom Lawrence of the South Dak ..read more

Jim Abdnor was born on February 13, 1923 in Kennebec. Abdnor was a consummate politician and “people person” and one of the rare South Dakotans to have served more than 25 years in state and federal elected office. Abdnor served in the State Senate from 1957-69, where he chaired the appropriations committee and served as president pro tempore. He was lieutenant governor from 1969-71. After losing a bid for U.S. House in 1970, he was elected in 1972, serving in the House from 1973-81. Abdnor unseated U.S. George McGovern in a hard fought campaign in 1980. In 1986, he survived a primary challeng ..read more

Amidst its fine coverage of the South Dakota State Legislature, this week’s print edition of The Dakota Scout once again features content from this blog. The February 16-22, 2023 includes this blog’s recent post on the history of “hoghouse” amendments in the State Legislature. It is available, for free, on newsstands at fine establishments throughout the Sioux Falls area – and beyond! And the online version is well worth the monthly subscription ..read more

Joe Foss’s letter to Pete Rozelle, proposing what would become the Super Bowl Super Bowl LVII, played today at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, it a matchup between two of the league’s most historic franchises. The Kansas City Chiefs were a charter member of the American Football League, playing their first three seasons as the Dallas Texans, and were owned by AFL co-founder Lamar Hunt. The Philadelphia Eagles have played since 1933; only six franchises are older. Less known, though, are the numerous ties that South Dakota has to the Super Bowl. Joe Foss, the Medal of Honor recipient a ..read more

State Sen. Erin Tobin of Winner is the prime sponsor of Senate Joint Resolution 505, a proposed constitutional amendment that would update South Dakota’s Constitution to remove male pronouns referring to the Governor and other officials. Sen. Tobin’s testimony before the Senate Local Government Committee on February 3, 2023 included an overview of historical “firsts” by women in South Dakota politics. She agreed to allow me to share her testimony on this blog. Sen. Erin Tobin In 1918, South Dakota achieved women’s suffrage. 100 years later, our great State elected our first female Governor, Kr ..read more

As with any institution, the South Dakota State Legislature has its own traditions, procedures, and jargon. Many are common to other state legislative bodies. Unique to South Dakota, though, is the “hoghouse.” The SDSU Swine Education and Research Facility or “hog house,” relevant in no way to this article. Originally a colloquialism, the “hoghouse amendment” is referred to specifically in the South Dakota State Legislature’s rules, which define it as “a substitute bill” that “shall be treated as an amendment and shall be governed by the rules governing amendments.” In short, a hoghouse amendm ..read more