• Senate Democratic leader Jason Frerichs, Wilmot, called it "refreshing" that Gov. Dennis Daugaard's State of the State address was one that was "not so divisive."
• This year, Daugaard centered on criminal justice reform, which, Frerichs noted, was "something we can all agree on." Last year's proposal for education reform, HB1234, was divisive, he said, from the beginning.
• Daugaard on Jan. 8 in Pierre proposed following the recommendations of a criminal justice work group, outlining three of the 18 proposals. Later, legislation was filed in the Senate to accomplish that.
• The proposals deal with the use of alternative drug courts, random drug testing of program participants, and funding of parole programs to keep drug, alcohol and mental health offenders out of jail, which will "save millions of dollars in prison costs."
• Frerichs was in agreement, but notes that the Governor "still missed the boat when it came to the big issues" of education and Medicaid funding of nursing homes.
• However, said Frerichs, "there is a different mood this year in the Legislature." The first year it was cuts, he said, and the second it was reform, but this year, there appears to be more concern about providing funds for education and nursing homes.
• Frerichs said there also appears to be support for extending the school year, which would address additional funding.