Gutless Wonders -- SD House on Minimum Wage

The good news: after a couple failed attempts, a bill increasing the minimum wage is making its way through the South Dakota Legislature. Even smiley Governor Rounds took time out from touting his buddy Governor Huckabee for President to testify before the House State Affairs Committee today in support of SB 207. Ah, it's good to see that our Republican-dominated legislature can show some real progressive leadership...

Oh, wait -- sorry, I must have been dreaming. The bad news: In a display of legislative spinelessness, the House State Affairs Committee unanimously passed an amendment to make the bill's enactment entirely contingent upon federal passage of comparable legislation. As South Dakota Retailers lobbyist Shawn Lyons said, "We'll go lock and [sic] step with what's happening on the federal level but we don't need to be out in front of the train."

Right. South Dakota sure wouldn't want to get out in front of an issue and show any leadership. We'd rather wait for the federal government to take action and, in the meantime, pass gutless legislation that Rounds et al will happily take credit for, even though it by itself does nothing but waste space in South Dakota Codified Law.