• The 2013 Legislative Session is rapidly coming to a close. Tuesday, March 5th is the last day for bills or resolutions to pass both houses. March 6-8 are reserved for concurrence or conference committees to iron out differences on certain pieces of legislation which occurred between the two legislative bodies. 
• While there were around 600 bills and resolutions filed this Session, typically just a fraction of those will actually become law. One of the most important functions of the last week of Session is the approval of the General Appropriations Bill which shall "Embrace nothing but appropriations for ordinary expenses of the executive, legislative and judicial departments of the state, the current expenses of state institutions, interest on the public debt, and for common

schools." Any other appropriations are to be made by separate bills for special spending. All must pass by a two-third vote to become law.
• Providing adequate funding to our schools and community health care providers has remained a top priority throughout the Session.  As the General Appropriations Bill is fine-tuned at the very end of this Session it is our last opportunity to advocate for spending on these priorities.  Among the many spending projects still being considered are requests to develop the new "Blood Run" state park, build a visitor's center in Custer State Park, and expand the Mickelson Trail in the Black Hills.  Altogether, departments are asking to expand over 100 positions in state government.  There are still millions of dollars in requests to the General Fund for railroads, the demolition old buildings at the Human Services Center, expansion of a cyber-security program, ag experiment stations, or dollars to help counties with roads. This is merely a short list of the requests.  It's challenging to keep priorities in order when so many proposals for new spending seem worthy.
• Accurately figuring income is just as important. Last year's over-estimation of expenses led us to a $47 million budget surplus for the year which ended in June of 2012.  Those in the majority seem determined to leave that, along with the FY13 and FY14 surpluses, in reserves at this point.  That $47 million would have been of great assistance to schools and nursing homes. In addition to our General Fund expenses (our state's check book) we have about $1 billion in Trust Funds (our state's savings accounts).
• As a new legislator my goal has been to learn the process and make a difference

(Continued on page 4)