Phil Jensen

COMMENTARY
State Rep. Phil Jensen, R-Rapid City, on the House floor during the 2023 legislative session. (Joshua Haiar/SD Searchlight)

Judging by some bills, South Dakota must have no real problems left to solve

BY: - February 2, 2023

Everything is OK in South Dakota. We’ve taken care of all our problems, big and small. We’re on the right track and no one can stop us now. Cynics who read the above paragraph and don’t believe it should direct their attention to the Jan. 25 meeting of the House State Affairs Committee. During that […]

The 2023 House floor vote for speaker of the South Dakota House of Representatives. (Joshua Haiar/SD Searchlight)

Speaker vote makes history and reveals extent of Republican rift

BY: - January 12, 2023

When Jon Hansen was passed over for speaker of the state House of Representatives this week, he made history and revealed a rift of historic proportions in the Republican Party.  Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, was the speaker pro tempore last year. That should have made him a shoe-in for speaker of the House when representatives needed […]