Editorial: Ethics and gaming for South Dakota tribe

Friday, February 27, 2009  

"State Rep. Kristi Noem this week has raised a question about the ethics of a member of the South Dakota Senate.

As Sen. Scott Heidepriem pushed a resolution that would let South Dakota voters allow unlimited gambling in South Dakota, Noem, R-Castlewood, wondered if the senator from Sioux Falls has a conflict of interest in the case.

Heidepriem, a Democrat, is a lawyer in a firm that is representing the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe in a gambling lawsuit. If unlimited gambling is ever passed in South Dakota, it’s possible that the Flandreau tribe would be first in line to open a casino in Sioux Falls.

Heidepriem has repeatedly said the resolution he was backing was a method to discourage construction of a large casino in Iowa, just across the border from Sioux Falls.

Wednesday, Noem publicly questioned Heidepriem about his connections with the tribe and said “I would believe there are other motivating factors here. There are ties that haven’t come to light yet.”"

Get the Story:
Our View: Yes, please do question ethics in Legislature (The Mitchell Daily Repubilc 2/27)

More Stories:
House rejects gambling proposal (The MItchell Daily Republic 2/26)
Panel kills casino proposal (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 2/26)