Meet Danci Dunkelberger, 2021 South Dakota 4-H Ambassador

The week was so very busy, so busy, that I was unable to comment on everything important in one post. I want to talk about at least one more thing.

SB 186 – Medicaid expansion. I have traditionally, prior to recent information and events, opposed medicaid expansion. The reasons I initially opposed were that I personally thought it would triage patients to the acute care settings and strain an already strained place in our healthcare system, all the while not getting the patients the PRIMARY care disease prevention and health promotion arm of healthcare.

Things are getting busy in Pierre -

Gus came to be my Senate helper this week. He was very pleased to meet the Governor again this year.

Home-grow was a big part of IM 26.

District 21 Legislators traveled the district yesterday to meet with the public and answer questions.

This week was a 5 day week in the legislature. Bill deadlines have been met. The SD legislature has 570 bills, which is the highest total bills seen in the legislature in 24 years.

When we passed a bill last year to allow home school kids to play sports, I had reached out to every superintendent in the district to discuss the bill and my vote.

This is by far, in my opinion, one of the most important uses of ARPA funds to help prepare our State for future pandemics and public health needs.

Maggie DeMers and Rowdy Moore recently traveled to Pierre and participated in District Officer Training as part of the District 4 team.

In committee this week, we heard and voted on 34 bills. Many of these bills were related to IM26 and refining laws on medical marijuana to make the program safe and available to patients who need it.