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event is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the Didier Educational Center in the Classroom Building on the campus of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology.
• This session will feature Sen. Craig Tieszen and Reps. Brian Gosch, David Lust and Jacqueline Sly. Future crackerbarrel sessions on Jan. 19, Feb. 2 and Feb. 23 will include other Rapid City area lawmakers as featured speakers.
• The informal event usually has the lawmakers making a brief statement about specific legislation they are involved with, followed by a question-and-answer session with the audience.
• The ensuing give-and-take can become quite lively, and lawmakers often are put on the spot to explain their votes or defend proposed bills. Last year's crackerbarrels were dominated by questions about Gov. Dennis Daugaard's education reform proposals, although many other topics also were discussed.
• The term, crackerbarrel, comes from the pre-cellphone era in the 19th century when townspeople would meet around the "cracker barrel" at the country store and talk about local and state issues. That form of face-to-face discussions hasn't gone out of style.
• Where else can you ask a direct question of your elected representative?
• If you're interested in the political process or concerned about a particular public issue, the Chamber's crackerbarrels on selected Saturday's during the legislative session are highly recommended.
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• The Daily Republic, Mitchell. Jan. 7, 2013
• Political operative is wrong person for state post
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard has done a lot right during his two years as governor, but he got it wrong recently when he appointed Rob Skjonsberg to the state Board of Economic Development.
• The board is in charge of awarding state economic development loans. It's a plum position, and one that carries power, since it can directly make or break potential development projects in the state.
• Skjonsberg, a Pierre resident, has previously worked in the banking industry. He also worked for a time for the ethanol producer Poet, and has a background in real estate and insurance. He is a Republican.
• Judging by his list of professional achievement, Skjonsberg does have a résumé that seems to justify his spot on the Board of Economic Development. We don't doubt that.
• The problem is that Skjonsberg is a close associate of Mike Rounds, former governor of South Dakota and declared Republican candidate for the United States Senate. Skjonsberg was Rounds' chief of staff when Rounds was governor and is

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