(Continued from page 32)

about the plan. It was too costly, some said, and it gave too much power to the Board of Economic Development.
• We endorsed Referred Law 14, but suggested that if approved, state officials immediately begin work to fine-tune it. Our thought was that the proposal was a good start toward attracting big business to South Dakota.
• Recently, The Daily Republic outlined how some legislative leaders are working to find a new way to incentivize business development in the state.
• Republicans say it's imperative that South Dakota come up with a plan that can help our state compete with nearby states that offer various breaks on construction taxes or other incentive programs. Bernie Hunhoff, a Democratic leader in the Legislature, said he doesn't oppose such programs, but he stresses that it should not come at the expense of supporting schools.
• This is a good start.
• We urge members of the Legislature to pursue this idea and see if some sort of compromising solution can be found. Incentives will jump-start business development in South Dakota.
• Voters killed Gov. Dennis Daugaard's proposal in November. We preferred that it would have passed, but understand why it didn't.
• Now is the time to craft another development plan that's agreeable to both sides, yet one that still can be effective for the state.
• ___
• Rapid City Journal. Jan. 16, 2013
• Tell China about trade opportunities
• Gov. Dennis Daugaard is leading another trade mission to China in April, and this time the trade delegation will be more focused on its goal of increasing exports with South Dakota's third-largest trade partner.
• Daugaard recently told the editorial board that he will take 15 business leaders from the state along on the trade mission. He said the Governor's Office of Economic Development is still looking for state companies that are interested in participating in the trade trip and which are already exporting products or are export-ready.
• Daugaard said that because the Chinese are so government-oriented, having a state governor on the mission lends credibility to companies that are interested in opening trade with China. "It's not a tourism trip," he said, adding that last year's visit included only one side trip to Beijing's Forbidden City.
• Last year's trip was in conjunction with North Dakota's trade group, and the delegation followed their lead. This year, the South Dakota delegation is making the trip on its own and that because of contacts made in their first mission last year, they have a better idea of who to talk to on the return trip.

(Continued on page 34)