Dear Constituents,

Thank you for choosing me to represent you in Pierre. Each week during session, I will give updates on issues in Pierre. This week I will cover the Northern Natural Gas pipeline easements, the state budget hearings and Initiated Measure 22.

Several of our local farm families are impacted by Northern Natural Gas and its agreement with Northwestern Energy to provide gas service to farms with easements that contain a service contract. Northwestern Energy’s contract with Northern Natural Gas is set to expire in 2017. Without a utility provider, gas supply to area farms will be cut off. The office of the Public Utilities Commission met with Northern Natural Gas and Northwestern Energy this week to facilitate negotiations. Unfortunately, an agreement could not be reached. On Tuesday, January 17^th, the PUC Commissioners will give a declaratory ruling. This ruling will resolve the following issues: 1) Does the Commission have jurisdiction over the utility providing gas to farm tap customers? 2) If so, which company is defined as the utility? 3) Are the farm taps in whole or in part subject to state jurisdiction? If you wish to join this meeting by conference call, please contact the PUC at (605) 773-3201. One may also listen to the meeting live at www.puc.sd.gov and click on the live link. I spoke with Commissioner Nelson on this issue. He recommends that anyone impacted should send a letter to the PUC explaining your situation. I would also encourage those impacted to seek legal counsel with a lawyer that specializes in contract law and easements. Updates on this issue can be found on the PUC website.

Appropriations began state agency hearings this week. The legislature will be taking a different approach to the state budget. In the past, we would work off of the Governor’s proposed budget. This year, the legislature will create its own state budget. This decision is an important step that will lead to greater scrutiny over how your tax dollars will be spent. This week, we have reviewed 12 agency budgets including the Legislature, Secretary of State and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development. One of the more interesting budget requests is funding for the Sanford Underground Research Facility at the old Homestake Mine in Lead. For more than 15 years, the state has been providing funding to rehabilitate and renovate the mine. Research at this facility brings scientists from all over the country as well as provides research opportunities for students at most of our state universities. This research project is the largest in the country. With our many needs and limited funds, one might ask, why are we literally throwing money down a hole? It’s a valid question. The research at Homestake involves cutting edge experiments that study neutrinos. These experiments have real world applications that will improve communications technology as well as technology that will help detect nuclear weapons in hostile nations. The Dark matter research at Homestake could ultimately lead to unlimited clean energy. There is also an economic impact for South Dakota. This project has created 163 jobs. The economic impact of the neutrino facility over the next 10 years could mean as much as $340 million in income for South Dakota households.

Finally, a brief update on Initiated Measure 22. This measure was passed by South Dakota voters to reform campaign finance, limit the influence of lobbying and create an ethics commission to monitor the activities of our elected officials. Since its passage, it has been attacked by many legislators and the governor. During the budget address, Governor Daugaard suggested the voters had been “hoodwinked” by out-of-state interests trying to influence South Dakota politics. Certainly, there has been out-of-state money that supported the initiated measure, but the people that brought this measure are citizens of South Dakota. The people that put the measure on the ballot were registered South Dakota voters and it was South Dakotans that passed this measure. I believe this measure is a reflection of how South Dakotans view government. As legislators, we should respect your voice. There will be an effort to repeal Initiated Law 22. I will do my part to ensure your vote matters and fight the effort to repeal IM-22. I have encouraged leadership to speak with the people who crafted this law. It is important to hear their intent specifically for sections of the law that are vague or have potential constitutional issues. That way, if we do make changes, we have input from those who initiated the reform.

It will be important to hear from you during session. I would appreciate your input on IM-22 as well as any other issue. You may email me at dan.ahlers@sdlegislature.gov.