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Improving Care for Families: A Plan for a Strong and Healthy South Dakota
Everyone needs health care: Old, young, wealthy, poor, sick, and healthy. That’s why no matter what group of voters I meet with, from teachers to veterans to farmers, health care always comes up as a top concern. From birth to our golden years, our health care needs are constantly changing and demanding new experts, facilities, and technologies to keep us healthy.
We have work to do to make sure our aging population has access to care in their communities, to ensure access to care regardless of the size of your hometown, to end stigma surrounding mental health care, and to ensure accessible treatment options for our neighbors struggling with addiction. As Governor, I am ready to work toward common sense solutions to build a stronger health care system in South Dakota.
Improving healthcare access in our healthcare hubs and rural communities
South Dakota has strong healthcare networks with thriving regional healthcare hubs. While expanding care options in our larger cities, more can be done to ensure access to care in every corner of the state. Telehealth is a great option to ensure South Dakotans in small communities have access to the skilled doctors and specialists in our larger communities. Further technological research and innovation in healthcare can also help to make care accessible in all corners of the state.
As Governor, Sutton will use existing federal funds to invest in rural hospitals that will improve the state economy. He will fund programs that provide incentives to doctors and nurses who stay in state or move to South Dakota to help provide more healthcare options. Keeping healthcare professionals in South Dakota will help ensure access to care, and tuition reimbursement programs for healthcare providers that move to high need areas in rural South Dakota can have a tremendous economic impact in our small towns.
Support elderly and disabled South Dakotans in need of care
As Sutton has talked to aging South Dakotans, disabled South Dakotans, and families of kids with disabilities, he hears over and over that people just want the same opportunities we all desire -- to be contributing members of their families and local communities. These issues hit home for Sutton because he understands what it means to face a disability, and to have the freedom and independence that can result from access to good health care. These concerns are also important because South Dakota has a high and growing percentage of elderly residents. As of 2016, 16 percent of our population was over age 65, as compared to 14.9 percent nationally. In some of our rural counties, the over-65 populations exceeds 25 percent. In the years to come, the number of South Dakotans aged 65 and older is expected to grow at an unprecedented rate. As South Dakotans age, they will require higher levels of care. To ensure our elders receive quality care, we’ll need to think creatively about ways to offer services and find ways to prioritize care for our elders in our budget.
Unfortunately, politicians in Pierre have underfunded payments for health care providers for decades, creating a situation that is inching ever closer to crisis. In just the last two years, nursing homes in Rosholt, Bryant and Tripp have closed. Many other rural nursing centers barely make ends meet.
We need to expand our investment in services that can help South Dakotans stay in their homes longer, including better reimbursement for providers of home care services and community-based elder care options. We need to figure out how to make specialty services available to rural residents, through the use of provider networks and technology. We also need to ensure our existing elder care infrastructure is preserved through adequate reimbursement for nursing homes and assisted living providers, allowing them to modernize their buildings, train and pay their staffs, and give our loved ones the care they deserve in their golden years.
Make healthcare affordable for hard-working South Dakotans
There are more than 50,000 South Dakotans who could be eligible for health insurance if we just submit the paperwork. Unfortunately, discussions about making health insurance available to these hard working, yet low paid people have been bogged down in years of political bickering, and in the meantime, 50,000 of our neighbors are unable to get check-ups or see a doctor when they’re sick.
Instead of preventative treatment, or catching a potential health problem early, they end up waiting until they can’t put off an ER visit any longer. This inefficiency is forcing South Dakotans to seek health care at the wrong time, in the wrong place, at the wrong cost. The treatment they receive tends to be more costly, and in the end, health care providers, including struggling rural providers, end up paying the lion’s share. Ultimately, much of this cost ends up being put back on South Dakotans who pay higher premiums and out-of-pocket healthcare costs. If these folks could afford healthcare, they could see their doctor earlier and, in many cases, be treated before a condition becomes a full health crisis. The federal government picks up 90% of the tab for these enrollees, and currently South Dakota’s tax dollars are going to other states to pay for other folks’ healthcare.
People on all sides of the aisle have seen the value of this common-sense solution. Governor Daugaard has supported it for years, as have Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in our state. This reform will improve the lives of tens of thousands of our neighbors, is fiscally responsible, and is the right thing to do.
Improve access to mental and behavioral health services in our state
It is a sad fact that suicide is among the leading causes of death in the state of South Dakota. In 2017, the state saw a 36% increase in the rates of death by suicide with 192 deaths. In addition, the state leads the nation in child mortality with death by suicide as the 2nd leading cause of death for children ages 15-24. The most common reason for death by suicide is a treatable mental illness.
The mental health needs in South Dakota are vast and the resources to address these needs are sparse. In SD, we have 11 community mental health centers to serve over 66 counties. In addition, we have professional shortages for psychiatrists, school counselors, and social workers. There is a significant gap between those with significant mental health needs and the professionals that can serve them.
Our approach to this issue must be threefold: prevention, awareness, and access. In order to begin making progress, we must address professional shortages, creating systems of care between community mental health providers and other public entities (such as schools, clinics, and community centers,) recognize the importance of prevention and awareness around mental illness, and develop measures that reduce the stigma of mental health care in SD to address this significant public health crisis.
Provide more comprehensive addiction treatment for opioids, meth, and alcohol
Addiction affects more than just the person who is addicted. The impacts of addiction ripple out to families, communities, first responders, our judicial system, employers, and others. Improving our treatment options for people with addictions would have broad benefits for all South Dakotans.
As Governor, Sutton will convene a work group to formulate a comprehensive plan to improve prevention and access to treatment for addicted individuals, including studying prescription limits, improved first responder training and access to naloxone or other overdose treatment strategies, take-back efforts for prescription medications, prevention among young people, more widely accessible treatment options for rural South Dakotans, and offering support to children and families of those receiving treatment.
Planting Seeds for Growth
Year after year, farmers, ranchers, and rural South Dakotans have had to work harder and harder just to keep from going backwards. As a member of one of those rural communities and a rancher myself, I have seen the challenges firsthand. In my role as a financial professional at a rural bank, I’ve sat at the table with these folks as they’ve made hard financial decisions in the toughest of years.
Agriculture remains the economic backbone of our state. Yet, our ag producers and the rural communities dependent on ag continue to deal with the difficulty for young farmers and ranchers to get into the business, ever-increasing consolidation of farms and ranches, and recently by unnecessary barriers to selling agricultural goods to major markets around the world.
We can and should do more. When agriculture is strong, South Dakota is strong.
Building Markets
South Dakota producers need access to markets. In order to do that, we need to be continually pursuing new market opportunities, not cutting off market access for producers through unnecessary trade barriers like tariffs, which cause farmers and ranchers to bear the brunt of the inevitable retaliation. While we must always be open to negotiating better trade deals with our partners, the current trade war, caused by new tariffs, is doing substantial damage to rural South Dakota.
The imposition of retaliatory tariffs in foreign markets is dramatically driving down the prices of commodities like soybeans, corn, pork, and others. The Department of Ag estimates farm profits will be at a 12-year low this year. Adding insult to injury, for farmers that want to store crops in hopes that prices rebound in the future, steel tariffs are quickly pushing up the cost of building grain bins, along with other pieces of equipment made with steel. We need leaders who will stand up for South Dakota producers and rural communities.
Next Generation Farmers & Ranchers
Sutton is excited about the future of agriculture in South Dakota, and knows many men and women of his generation want to be part of that future. Those he knows are savvy, business-minded folks who want to preserve our natural resources for the next generation, be active in their rural communities and raise their families on the land. State government — with SDSU Extension, our tech schools and other universities—must work harder than ever to provide the skills and expertise needed to survive in agriculture today. That includes innovating within state programs designed to help get young farmers and ranchers onto the land, building apprenticeship programs, as well as doing more to connect young farmers and ranchers to federal resources. Farmers young and old also deserve a governor who sees the importance of rural economic development, so our small towns have opportunities for the whole family. I will work to create opportunities on and off the farm in all 66 counties.
Promoting South Dakota's Product
South Dakotans should have information to make informed decisions about the origin of their food. Country-of-Origin-Labeling (COOL) allows customers to support local farm and ranch families, and ensure they are purchasing wholesome, safe food raised in the United States. South Dakota’s rural economy is determined by the success of our farms and ranches and marketing our beef is key to that success. Labeling our products, whether through country of origin labeling or a South Dakota certified label are all exciting opportunities to support our local beef producers. We all know South Dakota beef is as healthy and tasty as anything in the world, and Sutton will work to find more ways to promote our home-grown product. Sutton believes Country of Origin Labeling is one option to help customers know where their beef comes from. Similarly, a South Dakota Certified label for marketing purposes has real potential to highlight our beef.
Value-Added Ag for a Stronger Economy
Whether involving specialty crops, biotechnology, food processing, or other innovations, expanding value-added ag will be an important part of growing South Dakota’s rural economy and helping producers diversify and remain viable. We must be intentional in pursuing new opportunities, much like recent efforts to grow small meat processing facilities and dairy production.There are endless opportunities to build new businesses, create quality jobs, and keep our rural communities thriving if we listen and support the great ideas from the entrepreneurs in our state. We can expand our recruitment and incentive efforts to attract even more value-added ag, and diversify our agricultural businesses.
Preserving Habitat for Future Generations
Our long tradition of hunting and fishing in South Dakota has been an important part of life for generations. It’s also a big draw for visitors to our state, helping support business in many rural areas. South Dakota is nationally famous for our hunting and fishing, but there’s more to our reputation than just the game and fish population. Ours is a state where sportsmen can still find access to wild game in wild places without paying a fortune. To keep our heritage alive, we must work to preserve habitat for waterfowl, pheasants, and other wild game. Billie was born, raised, and lives in the heart of South Dakota pheasant country. His family has had a hunting operation for generations, and he has represented folks operating dozens of hunting enterprises in his legislative district that spans much of the area that makes South Dakota the "Pheasant Capital of the World." Sutton has an open and ongoing dialogue with hunting operators, landowners, and sportsmen and women about how to improve the pheasant population and protect the strong tradition of hunting in South Dakota. As governor, Sutton will address the challenges presented by Mother Nature, proper habitat, and predator control, and he will continue to listen to the folks most knowledgeable about the issue in pursuing the best approach to ensure this South Dakota tradition remains strong for generations to come.
Fueling South Dakota
Ethanol is a good example of how a South Dakota governor and a farm-friendly legislature can impact economic development. As a state senator, Sutton has always supported efforts to encourage more ethanol use. In these difficult days on the farm, it’s more important than ever that we look for ways to add value to our farm commodities. Ethanol does that several times over. It has had a major impact on corn prices. Hundreds of South Dakotans work in our 15 plants and some analysts suggest ethanol accounts for $2 billion in our economy. As your governor, Sutton will fuel the state fleet with E30 and work to install blender pumps across South Dakota. He’ll work with federal agencies to advance the use of E-30 across the nation and continue to collaborate with our farm and ranch leaders to look for ways to improve commodity prices.
Property Tax Relief
Tax policy shouldn’t dictate farmers' and ranchers' plans for their land. The current system of taxation on ag land is driving landowners to break up native grasslands and part with their vision for their own property because it’s being taxed based on “highest and best use” and rather than the “actual use.” The Legislature has studied the issue for years and has failed to enact meaningful changes to give landowners relief from annual, steep increases. Sutton believes it’s time to act. It falls upon all of us to promote a fair and equitable tax system; taxation based on actual use would do a lot to achieve that goal and would help alleviate some of the costs of doing business for our state’s landowners.
Education for the Next Generation: A Plan for a Brighter South Dakota Future
It didn’t take long after my accident in 2007 for me to take a mental inventory of what I still had after I was paralyzed: I still had my strong support system of family and friends, I still had my faith, and I still had my education and ability to solve problems. In that moment, I realized just how important of an investment education really is. When my Plan A was taken from me, I still had a bright path forward. I believe every student in our great state deserves that positive outlook on their future. When I look into the eyes of my two-year-old son, Liam, I recognize exactly the kind of bright tomorrows we must build for the next generations. Starting in early childhood and throughout their adult lives, South Dakotans deserve world-class educational opportunities to ensure bright futures for our state and its families.
Early Childhood
Education, at every level, is an investment in our future. Yet, South Dakota is one of a handful of states that doesn’t provide any state support for preschool, creating a gap in our student success rate. The economic gain is nearly unmatchable, as every dollar invested in early childhood education realizes a $7-$13 gain. The return on public investment goes beyond just economic gains: creating better students; more efficient public schools; and reduced expenses associated with grade retention, special education, and incarceration. We have the opportunity to take the best practices from other states around us to build a program that propels us to a higher caliber of education in South Dakota, for all our future. One of Billie’s top priorities as governor will be to conduct a study of the needs for early childhood education in our state. Once we have a better understanding of the need in South Dakota, Billie will look for ways to re-prioritize state spending so that funding is available for programs like early childhood education that will pay off well into the future.
K-12
As parents, we aim to create a better life for our children, giving them every advantage possible. In our K-12 education system, those advantages start with good schools and good teachers. In 2016, Billie served on the Blue Ribbon Task Force to work to raise teacher pay in South Dakota. The Task Force resulted in the state raising South Dakota teachers’ salaries up from last in the nation, which is a small victory. Unfortunately, South Dakota still remains last in our region in teacher pay, and we have more work to do in order to be competitive with neighboring states in retaining and recruiting the best teachers for our youngest South Dakotans. We also have more work to do in improving the new funding formula to ensure that we use research and data to treat schools of all sizes fairly.
Competitive teacher pay is just one way Billie will look to address the teacher shortage in South Dakota; he’ll also work to create a tuition reimbursement program for teachers who work in underserved communities after earning their degree. Billie will also support educators by increasing flexibility for school districts so that teachers and administrators can best serve the needs of their students and communities.
As governor, Billie will also work with high schools, both urban and rural, to make sure our students are prepared for their next steps after graduation. Finding innovative and collaborative ways to give our schools the resources to offer opportunities to college-bound students as well as students more interested in technical and career training options, will be one of Billie’s top priorities. Billie will work with educators to develop tech experiences for our students and explore more ways students can earn high school and college dual credit while gaining work experience in the community.
Higher Education
An overwhelming majority of good-paying jobs in our state require some sort of post-secondary education, but that achievement is becoming increasingly difficult to afford, especially for working families struggling to make ends meet. In all of the US, only two states give less to their students in need than we do. We struggle to even begin to compete with our neighbors: South Dakota provides a dismal $11.85 per Pell grant eligible student. Iowa provides almost $700 to each undergraduate receiving a Pell Grant, Minnesota provides $1,600, and Wyoming provides over $2,200. At the same time, tuition costs continue to rise at our universities and tech schools alike. South Dakota is now home to the most expensive tech schools in the region and has the second highest price tag for 4-year universities among surrounding states.
Before we fall even further behind and lose our students to other states, we need to make efforts to ensure our students can afford an education in South Dakota. Billie will work to increase funding for needs-based scholarships and mitigate costs of education at state schools. An educated workforce benefits the entire state’s economy in addition to individual student’s earning potential, and Billie’s work to make higher education less expensive will ensure every student who wants to work toward a brighter future for South Dakota can afford the opportunity.
Lifelong Learners
As an integral piece of workforce development, education is important to more than just our young people. To continue toward a brighter future, South Dakota must be a place where anyone looking to sharpen their skills and knowledge can afford the opportunity to do so. It’s more and more common that a person will change careers several times throughout their lives, and our state wins as South Dakotans climb the ladder and brighten their families’ future with better education and a better job. As governor, Billie will work to make educational opportunities accessible and affordable for people in all life’s stages by forging public-private partnerships and increasing access to scholarships. He will encourage and foster creative education and training options like satellite classes, effective online degrees, and apprenticeship programs for non-traditional students looking to get a degree or change jobs.
Building a Stronger South Dakota: A Plan for a Stronger South Dakota Economy
In my day job as a finance professional, I’ve learned that the economy is pretty simple: it’s people. And in South Dakota, we’re lucky to have some of the most honest, common sense, and hard-working folks to build our economy. Our approach to building a stronger South Dakota should be centered around our best resource, our people. South Dakota’s needs include training people for the jobs we already have, creating jobs for the people we educate, and planning for robust economic development regardless of where people live in our state. I’m focused on creating opportunities for South Dakotans and working together to make sure nobody gets left behind as we develop, grow, and prosper. I’m a proud South Dakotan, and I’ll fight to make sure our economy rewards the hard-working families that make our state strong.
Strong Career Opportunities with Good Pay
Tech Careers
South Dakota is one of a few states with good-paying jobs that don’t require a bachelor's degree. We are facing a workforce shortage, especially in fields like construction and welding. Billie’s plan for a stronger South Dakota economy includes training people for the jobs we have and developing apprenticeship programs and public-private partnerships between industry and our tech schools to make sure students and trainees are job-ready.
Professional Careers
In South Dakota, we believe that hard work should be rewarded, but in many professional careers, our low wages prevent folks with years of schooling from realizing the benefits available elsewhere. The average wages for each educational level in South Dakota are quite telling:
Folks who spend the time and money to get bachelor’s and master’s degrees aren’t getting the same return on investment as those with associate degrees. South Dakota has some of the lowest wages in the nation for professionals like nurses and teachers. Billie recognizes that many of our young and highly educated students are leaving the state because they don’t see the jobs or wages they need to build a strong and responsible future for their families. Billie knows economic capital trails human capital as long as South Dakota prioritizes creating jobs that pay reasonable wages. His work to raise teacher pay, utilize federal dollars available to expand healthcare coverage, and increase provider reimbursement rates to free-up more money for nurses wages are examples of the big-picture approach Billie will use to close South Dakota’s wage gap. There’s room for all levels of education in our economy, and a stronger South Dakota is one where hard work actually pays off.
Education for a Strong Workforce
Early Exposure to Tech Ed
One of the most important elements of economic and workforce development is education. It is through carefully designed educational experiences that students find their fit in the workforce. Our high schools offer great opportunities to present career and technical exploration earlier, and the need is especially strong in rural South Dakota. In Billie’s hometown of Burke, the school district partnered with three others to buy four mobile units with a grant from the Future Fund, each offering a career & technical class like manufacturing, engineering, biomedical engineering, and welding. This is the kind of innovation we can bring to all our schools, urban and rural, so all our students get exposure and experience to job opportunities before making post-secondary decisions.
Billie’s plan for a stronger economy includes developing CTE grant programs to encourage schools to be collaborative and innovative in creating these opportunities for students and in connecting them with the post-secondary options that put them on the path to jobs. We must give schools the resources to build partnerships with tech schools and industries to give opportunities to students of all interests. Billie will work with educators to develop tech experiences for our students and explore more ways students can earn high school and college dual credit while gaining work experience in the community.
Access to Higher Education
Not only is it important to provide exposure early to different career opportunities, we also need to make sure that traditional and non-traditional students can afford to further their education at tech school and four-year colleges. The cost of higher education has been increasing rapidly, and tech schools are no exception. Some programs have a nearly $20,000 price tag per year. Billie will work to keep the costs of higher education down while also increasing needs-based scholarships so that every interested student has the chance to advance their skills and knowledge and join our workforce to make South Dakota stronger.
Build a Strong South Dakota for Everyone
Filling existing job openings is just one part of the solution. We also need to work to create new job opportunities. Billie will work with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to build more partnerships with local economic development organizations. Together, this team will create a plan for economic growth that encompasses every part of the state, including our reservation communities, and prioritizes good-paying jobs in both our cities and small towns. Resources like the REDI Fund are a good starting place for businesses to find help in expansion or training efforts, but we can do more to make this process easier and help small businesses grow. Future Fund dollars can be better targeted and used more efficiently to invest in people and create opportunities. Investments in local infrastructure, a strengthened healthcare system, and affordable housing are imperative to make South Dakota a place folks want to live and do business. Billie will fight to make South Dakota a welcoming place for businesses and families alike in order to strengthen our economy.
Innovate for a Strong Future
In order to make sure South Dakota’s economy continues to grow in the future, Billie recognizes the need to encourage and invest in innovation for all our major industries.
Farming and Ranching
Agriculture is an area where we’ve seen technological advances lead to more efficient use of our resources. Billie will continue to stand behind our producers as they continue to innovate in bio-tech, value-added and precision ag. A rancher himself, Billie understands the importance of promoting homegrown product in our state; we raise world class meat, and we should all eat it here. He is a proponent of making it easier to process meat on a small scale, at the local level, as well as placing labels on meat that designate it’s South Dakota raised.
Energy
While protecting the resources we have, we can also invest in forward-thinking energy production and focus on energy efficiency in our projects. Billie will work to fuel the state fleet with E-30 to support our ethanol producers. He will also work to establish a grant program to assist communities and nonprofits in their energy efficiency ventures.
Entrepreneurism
Entrepreneurs and small business owners are the heart of rural South Dakota communities. Billie will fight to renew the spirit of entrepreneurism in South Dakota by keeping it easy to do business here and ensuring a ready workforce by investing in people. Billie will work to make South Dakota the best state for entrepreneurs with a welcoming environment for new ventures and start-ups; he’ll build that atmosphere with investments in infrastructure, broadband connection, and an equipped labor pool. Talented residents—not government—are what drive growth and development.
Tourism
Billie also sees promise in our tourism industry and will work with interested parties all over the state to put together an innovative tourism plan that includes all 66 counties and our state’s reservations. He’ll work to extend the tourism season to include the winter months and keep people coming back with modern marketing technologies and classic South Dakota hospitality.
With smart investments in our best ideas and input from all industries, Billie knows we can achieve a stronger South Dakota economy for all South Dakotans.
Restoring Trust & Integrity Plan
In response to South Dakotans’ concerns about the recent onslaught of political scandals in our state, Billie has advocated for good government measures to help restore integrity and trust in state government. South Dakota needs a leader in the Governor’s office willing to fight for the type of open, honest, and accessible government South Dakotans deserve. Billie has a record of championing trust and transparency and will continue to fight to restore government integrity. Here are a few of the ways Billie will do that as your next Governor:
Trust & Accountability
Ending Corruption
Prohibiting Self-Dealing
South Dakota has made national headlines in recent years for corruption scandals like GEAR-UP and EB-5. In both cases, the lack of accountability and misuse of public money was rooted in self-dealing by people connected to government. People trusted to make decisions about how your tax dollars are spent have funneled money to fill their own pockets and advance their own interests. Current laws prohibiting self-dealing must be extended to more people involved in government, such as state board members. Rules that currently allow conflict of interests to persist if disclosed and approved should be strengthened to prohibit certain conflicts. Billie has supported legislation to do this in the past, and will fight to improve laws that ban self-dealing as Governor.
Ending the Good Ol Boys Club
South Dakota has very few laws on the books that prohibit the hiring or appointing of friends, family, or supporters in government positions. It’s time to make sure our positions are filled with the most qualified people and our tax dollars are going to the experts best suited to make an impact in our state, not those with friends in high places or the deepest pockets. Billie will fill appointments with the best equipped applicants, require the same throughout government, and pass laws to end nepotism, patronage, and specials favors to political insiders.
Limiting Gifts and Special Favors
South Dakota may be known for our generosity and hospitality, but government shouldn’t be the place for unchecked giving. It’s time to more strictly define a gift and limit how much lobbyists can give to elected officials and state employees. Currently the definition of a gift has many exceptions and lobbyists can spend without limit on any event or service that could be deemed helpful to “a public official in the performance of official duties.” These exceptions allow lobbyists to provide food, entertainment, or travel to government officials. Public officials shouldn’t get special treatment when tasked to work on behalf of the people. Billie will work to tighten loopholes and keep the people working for you honest.
Strengthening Whistleblower Reporting
We’ve seen too many recent instances of corruption in our state that could have been prevented if we made it easier for good people to speak up when something is wrong. Billie will create a clear internal reporting mechanism for the public and government workers to ensure their corruption concerns are investigated before it’s too late. Billie will work to ensure public servants are required to report suspicions of corruption or mismanagement and have a safe, reliable process to do so.
Ensuring Oversight
Strengthening Ethics Commission
South Dakotans deserves a state government as honest and trustworthy as they are. Without strong oversight, government officials are not held accountable. Our current ethics efforts consist of a series of boards and committees appointed by those in power that aren’t enough to guard against corruption. Billie will create an ethics commission with citizen involvement that covers all branches of government with independent investigative and audit authority. Billie will also ensure that this watchdog has the capacity to receive anonymous whistleblower tips and the ability to solicit independent legal counsel when an investigation requires.
Campaign Finance Reform
Limiting Money's Influence
In 2016, the voters approved stricter contribution limits with Initiated Measure 22. In 2017, the majority in the legislature repealed these limits and refused to pass replacement measures offered by Senator Sutton. A majority of states place limits on the money political parties and PACs can give to candidates, but South Dakota allows unlimited contributions. It’s time to make these changes and ensure money doesn’t decide our elections. Billie will work to restore the will of the people and re-enact voter approved campaign finance limitations, ending unlimited contributions in South Dakota.
Eliminating Pay to Play
In a small state like ours, there’s often overlap between those who contribute to campaigns and those who receive money from the state. The public deserves a transparent disclosure process to fully understand the connections between their government and businesses profiting from taxpayer dollars. Billie will fight to require candidates disclose their donors’ employer on campaign finance reports to shine light on potential conflicts of interest. Billie sponsored legislation to limit political contributions by government contractors receiving $25k or more in state funds to ensure high level donors aren’t being rewarded with state dollars in return for campaign contributions. Billie will also work with the Secretary of State to make sure that campaign finance data is publicly available and easily searchable so voters are able to do their research when choosing a candidate.
Transparency & Open Government
Opening Records
Public Records
Documents produced using taxpayer dollars should be available to the taxpayers. Under current law many government records are exempt from public disclosure, and according to the Rapid City Journal, “South Dakota is one of 14 states whose government emails are not considered public records.” In the name of transparency, Billie will work to open emails, correspondence, memoranda, calendars or logs of appointments, working papers, and records of telephone calls of state agency officials and employees for public review.
Open SD
Our government serves the people and there should be an expectation of accountability, openness, and transparency. It’s difficult for the people to hold the government accountable without easy access to records and data. Open.SD.Gov is meant to serve this purpose, but it’s currently little more than a series of links to other resources already available. Billie will work to make the Open SD website the user-friendly tool it should be with searchable databases and access to additional information like campaign finance donor data, elected officials voting records, fiscal documents, and other important government records.
Records Retention
In order to ensure adequate access to the information necessary for voters and watchdogs to hold government accountable, we must keep important public records long enough for mismanagement to be investigated and discovered. Billie worked in the last legislative session to require government agencies maintain fiscal records longer. Although improvement was made, we can do more. The new retention period would not have allowed us to properly investigate GEAR-UP from the inception of the program. In today’s age with many records in digital formats, we ought to be able to keep fiscal and other documents for 10 years or indefinitely.
Public and Press Access to Officials
The press and the public serve as watchdogs of government, acting as additional checks and balances to catch inefficiencies and instances of corruption. It’s imperative that the press and public have regular access to government officials. Billie will set up regular press conferences and public meetings as Governor and will ensure other top agency officials do as well.
Requiring Disclosures
Lobbying Disclosures
Very little information regarding lobbyist compensation and spending is reported to the State for public review. Expenses on a particular bill or policy are not identified and the compensation received by a lobbyist is currently exempt from disclosure. In addition, the disclosures currently required are not audited. As a result, it very difficult to find out how much an organization actually spends influencing legislation in South Dakota. This lack of transparency among lobbyists influencing government decisions results in a lack of public trust in government, and it’s time for a change. We need more detailed and frequent lobbying disclosures that are regularly audited and made accessible to the public.
End Conflicts of Interest
Currently elected officials complete asset disclosure forms when they take office. But these forms provide little information, are not easily searchable, and are not audited. Sources of income of the household are disclosed, but not dollar amounts. It’s difficult to identify and combat serious conflicts of interest if more about the interest isn’t made public. Serious conflicts should be prohibited in state law. We need a more in-depth and audited disclosure process to keep special interests from influencing our laws and officials. A procedure should also be put in place to track government officials and lawmakers after they leave office to ensure the revolving door isn’t paying off officials when they leave government, as was the case in the EB-5 scandal.
Transparency in State Contracts
Current law mandates a call for bids on professional projects costing more than $50,000 and on non-professional projects costing over $25,000. For any contract lower than those amounts, officials can choose vendors without going through the bidding process. Our country is one of free markets, but millions of taxpayer dollars are spent without a bidding process to ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent efficiently and not steered to political insiders for personal gain as a political favor. When we’re not using the marketplace to find the most efficient price, taxpayers are being short-changed. As governor Billie will work to reform the bidding process to return accountability and transparency to government spending and will require disclosure of multiple contracts to the same entity that cumulatively exceed $50k but were not bid.
Kiwanjila - United As One: A Plan for Stronger Tribal-State Partnerships
Advocating for Native American communities should be a fundamental component of our roadmap to make South Dakota a state based on the shared values we have always held dear: honesty, integrity, hard work, the love of family, protecting our natural resources, celebrating community, and providing for our children. As governor of our great state, I will do all I can to ensure South Dakota Native Americans have access to quality education, economic opportunities, jobs, health care services, quality housing, and state government partnerships they need and deserve.
In my eight years in the legislature, I advocated for the Native communities I represented. My family and I have ties that go back generations with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the community of Eagle Butte, where my mother grew up and my grandmother taught kindergarten for nearly 50 years. My experiences have taught me that it is essential that people in positions of power in South Dakota listen to Native American communities and take the necessary actions to respond to their needs and challenges. That’s why I made sure to visit each and every tribe in South Dakota and meet with leaders in the community to listen to their concerns and ideas for a stronger South Dakota.
Tribal Sovereignty
Billie recognizes and appreciates the sovereign status of the nine Tribes of South Dakota. Tribal sovereignty will be front and center in any conversation around Native American issues. Understanding the history of the relationship between tribes and the federal government, especially around treaties and treaty obligations, is the necessary starting point.
A Strengthened Secretary of Tribal Relations
In Sutton’s administration, Indian Country will have a seat at the table. As governor, Billie will increase the resources and capacity of the cabinet-level position that focuses on Indian Affairs. This department must be a vibrant, effective vehicle for change in South Dakota’s executive branch. The Secretary of Tribal Relations has the potential to play a critical role in building a strong, lasting relationship between the State and its nine Tribal Nations. South Dakota must do better in raising state employees’ awareness of Native culture; communication protocol with tribal governments; tribal sovereignty; and jurisdiction. Governor Sutton’s office will facilitate an annual tribal relations training to educate the state government workforce on the guiding principles for working with tribes.
A Focus on Indigenous American Health Disparities
The United States has a trust responsibility to provide services to Native Americans, but Governor Sutton understands that coordination across all different levels of government is essential to ensuring the public’s health. Governor Sutton will assure that Native populations are not excluded from participation in any federal program, despite their relationship and reliance on Indian Health Services. To that end, Governor Sutton will pursue a public health infrastructure that includes Native representation and perspective.
Provide More Comprehensive Addiction Treatment for Meth, Opioids, and Alcohol
The impacts of addiction ripple out to families, communities, first responders, and employers, so improving our treatment options for people with addictions will have broad benefits for all South Dakotans. While law enforcement must be a part of the solution, simply filling our jails with people who really need treatment is not an effective solution. We must take this epidemic very seriously and work with people, communities, and organizations all over the state to find solutions that work for Indian Country. As Governor, Sutton will convene a work group to formulate a comprehensive plan to improve prevention and access to treatment for addicted individuals, including: improved first responder training; prevention among young people; more widely accessible treatment options for rural South Dakotans; and offering support to children and families of those receiving treatment. Sutton will take on the other issues impacting our meth problem too, including addiction, poverty, homelessness, suicide, school dropout, incarceration, and recidivism.
South Dakota Native Youth Suicide Reduction Strategic Plan
Native communities have significantly higher rates of suicide than non-Native communities. Governor Sutton will develop evidence-based and culturally responsive programs aimed at reducing Native youth suicide across South Dakota. Within one year of office, Governor Sutton pledges to call upon partners to create a strategic plan on Native youth suicide reduction.
Economic Development in Indian County
Governor Sutton recognizes that South Dakota’s Indian Country is a vibrant and important part of South Dakota’s economy, and Native people are an important part of today and tomorrow’s workforce. Governor Sutton also acknowledges that much has already been done to identify and grow economic opportunities in Indian Country. Governor Sutton will invite business leaders to embark on a private-public partnership to build and implement an updated business plan that is inclusive to Indian Country.
Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
Native women have been disappearing for generations. Shining a light on this issue is critical to enhancing and ensuring the safety of our women and girls. Governor Sutton will work to create a culture of respect and dignity around women in South Dakota. He will also coordinate with governmental, non-governmental, and international organizations with a goal of receiving effective recommendations. This commission will focus on the importance of inter-agency information sharing.
Working Together on Closing Jurisdictional Loopholes
Sutton will work alongside tribes and law enforcement to address the issue of jurisdiction, a concern on many tribal lands. Due to allotment policies dating back in the late 1800s, many of the tribes' land bases are checkerboarded. You can drive five miles on reservation land, then drive another five miles and you're on state land. There is an opportunity for collaboration with the tribes on helping close jurisdictional loopholes, perhaps by cross-deputizing tribal officers or state officers. However, we can only seriously discuss taking these steps after we build trust between state and tribal governments. As always, we must work closely alongside the tribes, finding mutually beneficial solutions.
Renewed Focus on the Issues that Matter
South Dakota must do everything it can to reduce poverty, increase the quality of education, expand housing options, improve access to physical and mental health care, and boost public safety and security in tribal communities. We cannot turn a blind eye to the things that matter to our Native citizens.
Open Channels of Communication
As Governor, Sutton will ensure that our federal delegation is appropriately informed on tribal issues so that they can work more effectively on our issues in Washington. He will also have an open-door policy, so that the Secretary of Tribal Relations and tribal governments can easily inform him of any issues or questions that may arise.
Celebrating Culture and Traditions
In South Dakota, we know that what makes us unique also makes us strong. We must move past tolerating our differences and begin to celebrate how our diversity can inform our strengthened and united path forward. Our histories and traditions are tied together to make South Dakota a place where Wacipi and rodeos happen in tandem and folks stand for both the "Lakota Honor Song" and "Star Spangled Banner” at major ceremonies. As governor, Billie Sutton will work to celebrate all of South Dakota’s cultures and traditions including those of the Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota peoples, uniting us around both what we have in common and what we have to share.
Record of Cooperation and Partnership
Just as important as Sutton’s plans for the future is his record of showing up for Indian Country in the past. Over his eight years in the legislature, Sutton always represented Native communities and fought for solutions to Native issues. He supported legislation that increased Native representation and equality in state government five times. He supported bills to increase access and quality of education for Native students nine times. He supported increased access to and quality of care for Natives four times. He sponsored and cosponsored legislation to examine economic opportunity and development in Indian Country and to ensure due process for Native children and families. He’s voted to celebrate and protect Native culture and traditions several times over. He has traveled to and met with leaders of all nine tribes in South Dakota and received the endorsement of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association. Senator Sutton has time and again proven his commitment to Indian Country, and will continue that commitment as governor.
We can do better than the status quo and politics as usual. Our best days are ahead of us – if we make sure everyone shares in South Dakota’s success.
Consistent Common Sense: From the Senate to South Dakota's Highest Office
In my eight years in the state Senate, I worked to make South Dakota and our families stronger. From fighting for grassroots economic development, to strengthening our schools, and holding our government accountable, I’ve worked as a bipartisan consensus builder to make sure the people’s voice is heard. I fought for common sense South Dakota priorities in the Senate, and I will continue to lead on these priorities to get more done for our state as governor:
Senator Sutton's Track Record
Government Integrity
Accountability:
- Retaining state agency financial records for a longer time period
- Requiring printed names of those signing state contracts
- Serving on the legislative oversight committee that investigates other arms of government
- Decreased lobbyist gift limits and limited ability of government officials to serve as lobbyists
- Limited conflicts of interest in state government programs and grants
Limit Money's Influence in Politics:
- Fighting to tighten-up campaign finance limits so that money alone can't win power
- Changed the law to limit personal use of campaign money so officials can’t get rich off being a politician
Open Government:
- Opening more government records to public view so voters know how their tax dollars are spent
- Supported legislation to increase transparency on government websites
Listening to the People:
- Fighting the repeal of campaign finance limits and ethics commission approved by the people in IM 22
- Implementing a state ethics commission
- Ensuring all hardworking South Dakotans receive minimum wage in accordance with the people’s vote
Economic & Workforce Development
Building South Dakota:
- Created a bipartisan economic plan focused on infrastructure, better jobs, affordable housing, and education
- Securing ongoing funding for this initiative without raising taxes
Expand Training and Opportunity:
- Bolstering career and tech education in high schools
- Supporting Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) by expanding job-training opportunities to urban and rural schools
- Professional recruitment assistance for rural communities
- Childcare support and workplace accommodations for working class families
Education
Support Teachers and Student Success:
- Raised teacher pay in 2016 to increase recruitment/retention of teachers & moved SD from last place in the nation
- Lowered the student to teacher ratio to help small schools
- Recruit rural teachers with tuition reimbursement program
- Ensure all students can access post-secondary education
- Reduce student debt by lowering education costs and increased support to needs-based scholarships
- Invest in our future by addressing the need for early childhood education
Healthcare
Improve Coverage:
- Ensured insurance coverage for health services for kids with hearing difficulties
Rural Access to Healthcare:
- Served on the Governor’s Primary Care Taskforce to keep rural hospitals in operation
- Support the Rural Healthcare Recruitment Assistance Program to attract providers to smaller hospitals
- Support increased provider reimbursements for Community Support Providers and Nursing Homes
- Allowed nurse practitioners’ independence to make healthcare more accessible in rural areas
Recognize Opportunity and Provide Treatment:
- Expanding healthcare coverage to working South Dakotans to create jobs, save millions, and improve coverage for tribal members
- Collaborating for solutions to the meth and opioid epidemic
- Supporting increased access to extensive addiction treatment and mental health services[9]
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Billie Sutton Incumbent (unopposed)
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