Daugaard has said he will propose increasing state aid to schools under a formula that increases that funding by the rate of inflation up to a maximum of 3 percent.  He also will ask the legislature to give medical providers a small increase in Medicaid reimbursements to cover the effects of inflation.  Sen. Stan Adelstein says, "The governor keeps saying it's going to be a cautious increase. And the paper said last night said it would be only three percent. Well, that's totally inadequate."  Rep. David Lust says, "The fear in South Dakota is the impact of the drought. When will we start seeing that impacting our economy and spending and sales tax."  A column released on the governor's website this past week may be a clue to the approach Daugaard will use.  In it he called for "more taxpayers, not more taxes."

Al Van Zee