Week six was a short one. Only three days in Pierre, but somehow it felt like five. 

We all have weeks like that. It was odd, too, with 17 legislators out either with COVID themselves or staying home as a precaution. I took a COVID rapid test Monday morning and it was negative, so I headed back to Pierre. Having legislators connect remotely seems to work, but it does slow the process. Even votes on amendments, usually handled by a simple voice vote, required a roll call to ensure the vote of each legislator was clearly known. That adds time.

Besides COVID, the bitter cold weather was also on everyone’s mind. The threats of power loss and rolling black outs throughout the mid-section of the country, made me wonder why we have pivoted so sharply to renewable energy.

I heard someone comment at the Capitol, that for every coal fired power plant the U.S. shuts down, China and India build three. 

Doesn’t make sense. I remembered my tour a couple years ago of the Basin Electric coal fired power plant near Beulah, North Dakota. During the tour they talked of how they had been able in recent years to reduce emissions to only hot air and CO2. 

All of the other chemicals were now being captured – and in fact they were able to turn them into valuable substances for industry and sell them to make steel and other critical things. They also were still mining the coal they burn less than a mile from the power plant and said they had another 800 years worth of it right there. I can’t help but wonder what we might be able to do if we continued to refine the process of using coal. At least it would provide inexpensive power any day all day. All of us like that.

Two big items remain in the weeks ahead. The first is money. We have about $300 million in one-time money to spend, but nearly $900 million in ideas for how to spend it. No doubt a lot of time will be spent debating choices and making decisions. I plan to do my part to see that we use it for the most benefit for the longest time.

The second issue awaiting is medical marijuana. The House will consider HB1100, which would create a 16-member committee to work through all of the details to implement medical marijuana in South Dakota. It also would delay implementation until July 2022. I am hopeful that an amendment or two will find a way to take at least a step or two forward now, while still giving the time needed to do the rest right.

The remaining weeks will undoubtedly focus on money and medical marijuana. Seems like a strange pairing. I encourage you to pray for us.

In service to God and you,

John Mills, Representative, District 4, John.Mills@sdlegislature.gov