PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) -- State legislators who are not assigned to a particular interim committee can now receive mileage and per diem at state rates to attend the meeting.
The Black Hills Pioneer reported last week that Rep. Elizabeth May asked Speaker of the House Mark Mickelson and President Pro Tem of the Senate Brock Greenfield--chairs of the legislature's executive board--to allow the practice.
There was no public notice of the request, nothing on the board's agenda, and no public vote. Just May's written request to Mickelson and Greenfield.
Rep. Mickelson tells KELO.com News that the process was proper.
"The presiding officer of each (chamber) has the discretion to do so under the legislative rules," Mickelson said. It was brought up just to solicit input. No formal action was taken or needed."
The "beneficiary" of the rule change, according to the Pioneer, was last week's Government Operations and Audit Committee hearing on the GEAR UP scandal. The paper said at least nine member of the legislature not on the GOAC committee attended the hearing.
(Hat tip to the Dakota Free Press.)