SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) -- State Attorney General Marty Jackley wants the 2018 State Legislature to approve stiffer penalties for Meth dealers.
Jackley is on a state-wide tour promoting his legislative wish list for the new session that opens in Pierre next week.
"We're trying to cut the head of the snake off," Jackley tells KELO.com News, "To say that if you are going to bring drugs into our state and our communities, you are going to face significant enhanced felonies and mandatory minimum jail sentences."
Jackley wants convicted Meth dealers to face tougher maximum prison terms and face at least some mandatory time behind bars.
Jackley believes that these stiffer penalties will actually reduce taxpayer costs because with less meth being sold in the state, fewer crimes related to drugs would likely be committed.
Jackley's five point wish list also includes proposed legislation to better protect South Dakotans from data breaches.
The South Dakota Democratic Party took issue with Jackley's stops in Sioux Falls and Rapid City today to announce his legislative agenda.
"Marty Jackley's self-promotion knows no bounds," the SDDP said in a release. "Today's press events were little more than campaign events, having less to do with his duties as Attorney General than promoting his campaign for Governor. We call on Marty Jackley to stop campaigning on the taxpayer's time and expense and for his campaign to reimburse any taxpayer funds spent on these events."