Heidepriem defends Rounds against CREW

Well, Scott Heidepriem certainly is calling 'em as he sees em, I guess:

RCJ: Democratic candidate for governor defends Rounds' ethics

Democratic state Sen. Scott Heidepriem defend the ethics of Gov. Mike Rounds on Thursday, in response to a report by a liberal Washington, D.C., watchdog group listing the South Dakota governor as one of the nation's worst.

Heidepriem, a Democratic candidate for governor, said he didn't pay much attention to the report by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington once he realized the political leanings of the group.

Of course CREW is citing many of the very same concerns (resistance to open records, closed spending decisions, etc, etc.) that Heidepriem is talking about, but, okay. I agree with Heidepriem that rating systems (livable cities etc) leave much to be desired, especially if you don't read beyond the headline to what the rating is actually based on.

I absolutely disagree with Scott's characterization of CREW, since they have gone after plenty of folks on the left.... but the Rep's perception issues on how they run Pierre are real, and the Republican candidates are going to have to address them if they are going to make headway against Heidepriem, who has good cred from R's and Dems.

Scott Heidepriem has an answer for the annual Rounds doom and gloom

Learn how to spell it, friends: Heid-e-pri-em

Heidepriem: State Should Cut Spending to Balance Record Budget Deficit

Calls Governor’s Record Deficit “Irresponsible”; Caused by 5.5 Percent Annual Budget Increases, 7 of 8 Budgets Out of Balance, Lack of Fiscal Discipline – Not Economic Downturn

Sioux Falls – State Senator and gubernatorial candidate Scott Heidepriem today called Governor Mike Rounds’ record breaking budget deficits “irresponsible” because they have been caused by “a history of bloated budgets – 5.5 percent annual budget increases, wasteful spending, and a total lack of fiscal discipline” rather than by the current national economic downturn.

Heidepriem further took the Governor to task for attempting to address the record $107 million budget shortfall by raiding the state’s relief funds, increasing taxes and using federal stimulus money instead of taking responsibility and changing the spending culture in Pierre.

“Today the Governor announced a record state budget deficit. He blamed the national economic recession of the past year. Yet, this budget marks the seventh of eight budgets he has submitted that spent more than the state collects in revenues. In these eight years, state government has grown at a staggering pace, spending is out of control and governmental accountability is at an all time low,” Heidepriem said.

“Yet to solve this out of control problem, the Governor proposes to balance the budget by raiding relief funds, wasting stimulus dollars, raising taxes and balancing the budget on the backs of our children by making cuts in education. Where is the responsibility? Where is the accountability? This is wrong and South Dakotans should be outraged,” Heidepriem said.

“The Governor should do the responsible thing and slash his massive budgets of all fat, reign in all spending, cut unneeded state employees, cap spending, and open all of our state’s 1800 contracts to open bidding. To paper over these structural problems by first using relief funds or one time money is irresponsible and does nothing to solve the culture of bloat and waste in Pierre. South Dakota deserves better and South Dakotans should demand better,” Heidepriem said.