Rapid City Schools Wellness Policy

If you live in Rapid City, the schools are looking into a new comprehensive wellness policy that covers a lot of areas (from access to corn-syrup drinks to health ed, and physical activity access). This is important stuff, as corn-syrup drinks and lack of exercise are having lots of bad effects--from obesity to diabetes. Also people in bad health are cranky, putting them at risk of voting for extreme right-wng Republicans (just kidding, really).

Here's more info from the Rapid City Journal letter from Holly Lemay, who worked on this issue tirelessly while she was on the school board and is still advocating it. I've added links to her letter to the editor. If you're a local, please consider looking over the policy and talking to your school board member about it.

Review wellness policy

Recognizing two-thirds of Americans today are overweight and the resulting catastrophic health and economic consequences, Congress enacted legislation that requires all schools participating in Federal School Lunch programs to implement a comprehensive wellness policy by the beginning of the 2006-07 school year.

After over a year of research and development by the School Wellness Advisory Team, a policy is now before the Rapid City Board of Education for approval. In the next few weeks the board will be voting to determine what food and drinks and how much physical activity students will have access to during their school day.

Now is the time for all parents, students, educators, health professionals and community leaders who are concerned about children's health (and the direct correlation to student achievement) to review the proposed policy and contact Board members regarding this issue.

District procedures require three readings for approval. Attendance at board meetings to voice your opinion is crucial to the future of our school children's well-being for many years to come.

As a former board member, I urge you to contact the superintendent's office (394-4031) without delay for a copy of the policy and board meeting times and board member contact information.
[or just click the links above to get this information]

HOLLY LEMAY
(Letter to the editor, RCJ, 4/29)

Bear Butte Update

Unfortunately the Meade County Commission did not act on April 4 to protect the sanctity of Bear Butte, and instead voted (unanimously) to grant a malt liquor license, and all that goes with that to the developer, Jay Allen. Mr. Allen's goal is to set up a huge outdoor Sturgis Rally (and maybe other times) concert venue in the shadow of the mountain.

I found the Journal's own editorial on the subject, and several letters to the editor seem to miss what's at stake here. Many people don't seem to see how important this place is to the cultural heritage of our State and Nation, and to the soul of Indian Country.

The Journal's thesis, encouraging some government action to protect the Butte but suggesting that the fate of the Butte should be up to whoever can muster the cash to own development rights, falls in line with the typical Republican veneration of the concept of "free enterprise." If a outdoor biker bar wanted to set up shop next to Mount Rushmore, would their suggestion still be: "why don't the interested citizens simply buy up the development rights?" I think not! The Federal government has designated Bear Butte as a site of religious and historical significance. Those of us that know the Butte well should be outraged by the lack of action by the Meade County and the State to protect it.

What about values? The unguided invisible hand of an unfettered real-estate market is value-less. Government should support the values and dignity of all our citizens. Land use planning and zoning are part of a civilized society; they are the only way we can influence land use to protect our common values such as public safety (from things like floods or a Jackson Boulevard mudslide) and preservation of places important to local culture and religious belief (as in the case of Bear Butte).

The defenders of Bear Butte are not going to take this whole thing quietly, and progressives (even moderate ones like me) should consider ways in which they can be supported in their quest to save Bear Butte. It's all about values, isn't it?

Steve Jarding is still here!

You can meet Steve Jarding at two events coming up very soon east of the Missouri:

Monday, April 17, 4-7 pm Steve will be speaking at a Dem fund-raiser (similar to yesterday's event) in at Food and Fermentation, Sioux Falls. Contact SDDP if you can come.

Tuesday, April 18, 4 pm: Steve will give a talk at USD in Vermillion.

Follow the links for more details. I urge you to get out there and hear is good words and meet him... it's very exciting to see him here in South Dakota.

Steve Jarding in Rapid City

I met Steve Jarding in Rapid City today. The full report (with pictures) is to be found on the Pennington Democrats blog.

Those of you in East River can catch Steve giving a free talk next week in Vermillion: Tuesday, April 18th, 4:00pm, University of South Dakota, Law School Courtroom. I urge you to get there, he says many things that are worth hearing (and repeating)!

Former Republicans (for this season, anyway)

Democrats around here are not wild-eyed lefty revolutionaries; we live here, and have a respect for the conservative point of view. Out here Democrats and Republicans share a strong libertarian streak, which is one reason 1215 and other paternalistic lawmaking has energized both Dems and Republicans to rally to change the Lege this year. Personally I have a strong respect for Repubs. that truly honor liberty and self-determination and aren't bent on social engineering throught law! But as a Democrat, I know what I stand for--you will find me always standing up for the little guy, the environment, social and economic justice, and a free honest respectful sharing of ideas. Actually, good moderate Republicans are for all those things too.

How about that.

If you are one of the Republicans I have met while collecting signatures for 1215 that told me they've had it and are supporting Democratic candidates this year, send me an email telling me why. I want to collect some quotes to encourage others to see the light as well. We can't change things without some help from a few Republicans that want to change things too! I'll report back here.

I Met Jack Billion Last Night

Jack Billion met with a group of interested folks at the home of Rod Lefholz Friday night. It was a really great meeting, a lot of prominent Dems were there. Dr. Billion is a really good guy who I know has the capability to put a lot of good minds together to make Pierre work for everyone. I don't know about his primary opponent, Dennis Wiese, but from what hear he's a good guy too and no matter what happens they will both do their best to defeat Gov. Rounds this year.

One thing he said that I thought was very good was that we as Democrats need to get their own out and active this year, but also get out there talking to Republicans (and listening!!) so we can find common ground to do good things for our State. Oh, and of course pick up enough crossover votes so we get enough Democratic seats to move our common agenda (and our non-common agendas) forward. Jack seems to be a uniter and has lots of good experience and I think he will be a great asset to the Dems in South Dakota this year. No matter how it all plays out. Good luck Jack!



I thought the below picture was really awful, until I realized that it makes me look like Howard Dean's crazy nephew, saying, "Run, Jack, run! Show 'em all why it's time for Democrats to lead!"



I have some other pictures I will post on the Pennington Democrats blog tomorrow, so stay tuned!

I met a lot of active Dems, including our kind host, Rod Lefholz, and had a nice talk with the state chair, Judy Olson Duhamel. She's committed and ready to go. What really impressed me about this crew was their enthusiasm, tempered by realism that if we are going to change Pierre, we have a lot of work to do!

Warning: this may piss you off

My just wife got this sweet letter from Gov. Rounds in response to her email to him urging him to veto HB1215.

Uncharacteristically, the word that came to my mind was unprintable, but HER word was: condescending.

From: SDGovernor.MMichaelRounds@STATE.SD.US
Date: April 4, 2006 10:28:40 AM MDT
To: GOV@LISTSERV.STATE.SD.US
Subject: reply from Governor Rounds
Reply-To: SDGovernor.MMichaelRounds@STATE.SD.US

House Bill 1215

Thank you for contacting me about House Bill 1215. House Bill 1215 passed South Dakota's legislature with bipartisan sponsorship and strong bipartisan support in both houses, and I have signed it into law. Its purpose is to eliminate most abortions in South Dakota. It allows doctors to perform abortions in order to save the life of the mother. It does not prohibit the taking of contraceptive drugs before a pregnancy is determined, such as in the case of rape or incest. While this direct challenge to the Roe v. Wade interpretation of the Constitution is being argued in court, South Dakota's existing laws regulating abortions will remain in effect.

The reversal of a Supreme Court opinion is possible. For example, in 1896, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the Plessy v. Ferguson case that a state could require racial segregation in public facilities if the facilities offered to different races were equal. However, 58 years later, the Supreme Court reconsidered that opinion and reversed itself in Brown v. Board of Education. It proclaimed that separate could not produce equal. The 1954 Court realized that the earlier interpretation of our Constitution was wrong. HB 1215 will give the United States Supreme Court a similar opportunity to reconsider an earlier opinion.

Whatever the courts decide, South Dakotans will continue to care about both the unborn child and the mother. If we are pro-life, we must recognize the need to take care of women who are faced with a difficult pregnancy. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding the pregnancy, we cannot protect the innocent child unless we protect and care for the mother. We must help each mother to see the value of the gift that is a child, and nurture the mother for her own sake and for the sake of her child.

In the history of the world, the true test of a civilization is how well people treat the most vulnerable and most helpless in their society. The sponsors and supporters of this bill believe that abortion is wrong because unborn children are the most vulnerable and most helpless persons in our society. I agree with them.

Our state is committed to helping greater numbers of pregnant woman who will allow their babies to grow inside them and be born. In both the private and public sector in South Dakota, we have healthcare options, economic assistance before and after birth, adoption services, and, most importantly, people who want to help pregnant women, young mothers and their children.

There are also many people in South Dakota who will continue to help those women who have had abortions in the past. We want those women to know that we care about them, too. Thank you again for contacting me.

Sincerely,

M. Michael Rounds

Stand up for truth on Monday!

Let's tell the truth to everyone: this law is harsh and immoral.
Monday April 3, 9:45 am MT, 677 Cathedral Dr, Rapid City

From my friend Karen from DIA in Rapid City:

We will go for a solemn, subdued support of Dr. Buehner and his partners, rather than loud chanting and shouting, since the clinic will be open for business. Our signs will focus on thanking Dr. Bueher for his support for women. We don't want to disrupt the flow of patients or the concentration of the physicians inside! But it's important that LOTS of us be there. I hope you can join us, or, if you can't, that you can forward this to lots of people who will be happy to help this friend of women.

IT'S TIME TO STAND UP IN SUPPORT OF DR. BUEHNER

A group of extremist protesters will be in front of Dr. Buehner?s medical office at 677 Cathedral Dr. on Monday morning. We need to be there in force to demonstrate solidarity for Dr. Buehner and his colleagues. Out of respect for the doctors and their patients, we will maintain a strong, but respectful presence in our counter-protest.

Please join us at 9:30 a.m. MT on Cathedral Drive between 5th and Tower. Numbers will be very important to demonstrate our support of Dr. Buehner and the Campaign for Healthy Families cause.

Dr. Buehner has spent his career caring for South Dakota women and families. And he is a leader in protecting women's rights to medical care—he is a co-chair for the Campaign for Healthy Families and will appear Sunday evening in a debate against Leslee Unruh and Rep. Rhoden on Fox News at 9:30 p.m. He testified before the SD Abortion Task Force, he testified at committee hearings against HB1215, and wrote an excellent forum article for the Rapid City Journal. Now it's our turn to stand up for Dr. Buehner!

Dr. B, one of the brave founders of the SD Campaign for Healthy Families, has been going to bat against this law for a long time. I highly recommend his straight-talk op-ed from the RCJ, and here's a similarly straight-talk quote on KNBN from last week:

"It's a badly written, poor piece of legislation which compromises my ability to provide comprehensive health care for women. It would force unhealthy pregnant women to carry pregnancies to term against, their will, to risk their lives to do so."

What an guy. (Nothing like speaking the truth to really inspire—or annoy!) So I hope many people can come stand in his defense.

Sounds to me like Dr. B really took it to Leslee on Fox. Can't wait to see that.

Letter to the RCJ Editor: Choosing moral battles

In our fine State, a vocal minority is aiming to make some medical (abortion, birth control access, end-of-life) and educational decisions for everyone else. I believe that in the final analysis, this agenda is motivated by myopia and selfishness, not by the truly Christian values of humility and self-sacrifice. Promoting these laws give "Christian conservatives" a feeling like they are reforming society for the better. Most of these issues either don't involve them at all, or are easy choices (for them), so no additional personal sacrifice is involved in making them law. On the other extreme, some apparently are easing their personal guilt by forcing others to do what they wish they had done. (I'm referring here, of course, to Leslee Unruh's decision to end her pregnancy. I really wish she had made a different choice, too.)

If you find the new abortion law and others that restrict liberty and personal choices in the name of "morality" insulting and arrogant, and an awful diversion of our efforts from other critical issues, please register to vote and do so in June and November and urge your friends to join us.

It's time to stop this nonsense.