http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007704090310
The most important issue state government had to deal with was education funding. The Senate brought into conference an education funding bill in SB157 that was worked on by the Democratic and Republican leadership, the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce, teachers and administrators.
These odd bedfellows crafted legislation that would make the momentous change of increasing the annual state aid to education from a 3 percent to a 4.3 percent index. Democrats tried to keep our schools open by demanding a stop to forced school consolidation, saving and broadening the small school factor and keeping teachers in this state with a respectable wage.
Yet every one of these provisions died because Rep. Rhoden and Rep. Dykstra did not feel that we should touch the $80 million in unused, unspent interest accrued in trust funds. Sen. Dave Knudson caved to the House Republicans in conference, gaining only one concession from Rhoden and Dykstra - HB1171's $5 million toward education, or a one-time .8 percent increase in funding.
Update: Well, that serves me right. It's been so long that the Argus doesn't have that article up anymore. I remember that a legislator wrote that for one of the Argus' "My Voice" things. But which legislator? I'll have to dig through Argus issues from back in April to find out. Then I might try this again.
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