et’s face it, the Supreme Court’s decision in the Mc- Cutcheon v. FEC case in regards to campaign spending was mostly predictable, especially in light of 2010’s Citi- zens United decision, which essentially opened the spig- ots for money to pour into political campaigns. The McCutcheon decision, which struck down the overall lim- its on the number of campaign contributions, merely confirms that our politics has become a money game of the most excessive order. Our democracy may be free, and there is still the concept of one person and one vote, but in regards to influence, money will now scream louder than any peeps the great majority of us will be able to muster. The great winners in this decision are the very wealthy and the political parties, who will now enjoy an even more lucrative sym- biotic relationship. Rich donors may now shovel their money across a broad spectrum at the parties, who will then generally behave in accordance with the wishes of their money masters. That’s how modern democracy works. The losers, obviously, are the rest of us, who don’t have the clout of the super-rich and major corporations and, thus, have to hope that there’s someone somewhere who has bucks and who happens to care about the same issues you do. The McCutcheon case really wasn’t about whether political money is good or bad, but whether Congress or the states have the right to regulate such donations. This ruling effectively says they don’t, citing First Amendment grounds and declaring, said Chief Justice John Roberts, that Congress “cannot level the play- ing field” (or paying field) for this type of free speech. But the First Amendment right to free speech has boundaries, and when one person’s “free expression” eclipses another per- son’s right, it is a serious problem. Congress’s ability to referee and regulate has been essential to our republic, but that protec- tion has been crippled by this decision. Justice Stephen Breyer said in his dissent that campaign fi- nance laws recognize First Amendment rights by protecting the “marketplace of political ideas,” and that “a ‘chain of communica- tion between the people,’ and their representatives, cannot serve its purpose unless the public opinion it protects is able to influ- ence government opinion.” The end result of this decision, coupled with Citizens United, may technically be more free speech for rich donors to political parties, but it will also produce a greater disconnect between our political parties/our lawmakers and the American people, whose voices will be drowned out by the great money megaphones that will now become even louder and more influential. Our government is for sale, and the market is now open for business. That’s the message here, and that’s a pity for those of us left on the outside looking in from an increasingly greater dis- tance. kmh T HE P RESS D AKOTAN THE DAKOTAS’ OLDEST NEWSPAPER | FOUNDED 1861 Yankton Media, Inc., 319 Walnut St., Yankton, SD 57078 Tuesday, 4.8.14 ON THE WEB: www.yankton.net VIEWS PAGE: [email protected] PRESS DAKOTAN PAGE 4 views OPINION The Court Puts Up A ‘For Sale’ Sign I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy. Philippians 1:3 NKJV. Portals of Prayer, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis FROM THE BIBLE By The Associated Press Today is Tuesday, April 8, the 98th day of 2014. There are 267 days left in the year. Today’s Highlight in History: On April 8, 1864, the United States Sen- ate passed, 38-6, the 13th Amend- ment to the U.S. Constitution abolishing slavery. (The House of Representatives passed it in Jan. 1865; the amendment was ratified and adopted in Dec. 1865.) On this date: In 1614, painter, sculptor and architect El Greco died in Toledo, Spain. In 1820, the Venus de Milo statue was discovered by a farmer on the Greek island of Milos. In 1904, Longacre Square in Man- hattan was renamed Times Square after The New York Times. In 1911, an explosion at the Ban- ner Coal Mine in Littleton, Ala., claimed the lives of 128 men, most of them convicts loaned out from pris- ons. In 1913, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for popular election of United States senators (as opposed to appointment by state leg- islatures), was ratified. President Woodrow Wilson became the first chief executive since John Adams to address Congress in person as he asked lawmakers to enact tariff re- form. The Republic of China’s first par- liament convened. In 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Emergency Re- lief Appropriations Act, which provided money for programs such as the Works Progress Administration. In 1946, the League of Nations as- sembled in Geneva for its final ses- sion. In 1952, President Harry S. Tru- man seized the American steel indus- try to avert a nationwide strike. (The Supreme Court later ruled that Tru- man had overstepped his authority, opening the way for a seven-week strike by steelworkers.) In 1961, a suspected bomb ex- ploded aboard the passenger liner MV Dara in the Persian Gulf, causing it to sink; 238 of the 819 people aboard were killed. In 1974, Hank Aaron of the Atlanta Braves hit his 715th career home run in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, breaking Babe Ruth’s record. In 1988, TV evangelist Jimmy Swaggart resigned from the Assem- blies of God after he was defrocked for rejecting an order from the church’s national leaders to stop preaching for a year amid reports he’d consorted with a prostitute. In 1994, Kurt Cobain, singer and guitarist for the grunge band Nirvana, was found dead in Seattle from an ap- parently self-inflicted gunshot wound; he was 27. Ten years ago: National security adviser Condoleezza Rice told the September 11 commission “there was no silver bullet” that could have pre- vented the deadly terror attacks. Iraqi insurgents released a videotape of three Japanese captives, threatening to burn them alive if Japan did not withdraw its troops from Iraq. (The hostages were later released un- harmed.) Fred Olivi, who copiloted the plane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, died in Lemont, Ill., at age 82. Five years ago: Somali pirates hi- jacked the U.S.-flagged Maersk Ala- bama; although the crew was able to retake the cargo ship, the captain, Richard Phillips, was taken captive by the raiders and held aboard a lifeboat. (Phillips was rescued four days later by Navy SEAL snipers who shot three of the pirates dead.) A Russian space- craft carrying a crew of three, includ- ing U.S. billionaire space tourist Charles Simonyi, landed safely in Kazakhstan. David “Pop” Winans Sr., patriarch of the award-winning Winans gospel music family, died in Nashville, Tenn., at age 74. One year ago: President Barack Obama warned Congress not to use delaying tactics against tighter gun regulations and told families of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims during a visit to Hart- ford, Conn., that he was “determined as ever” to honor their children with tougher laws. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, 87, died in London after a stroke. Actress and former Disney “Mouseketeer” Annette Funicello, 70, died in Bakersfield, Calif. Rick Pitino, who’d coached Louisville in the NCAA championship game, was elected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with former NBA stars Bernard King and Gary Payton, former UNLV coach Jerry Tarkanian, North Carolina women’s coach Sylvia Hatchell, for- mer University of Houston coach Guy Lewis and former University of Virginia star Dawn Staley. Today’s Birthdays: Comedian Shecky Greene is 88. Actor-turned- diplomat John Gavin is 83. Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Sey- mour Hersh is 77. Former U.N. Secre- tary-General Kofi Annan is 76. Basketball Hall-of-Famer John Havlicek is 74. “Mouseketeer” Darlene Gillespie is 73. Rhythm-and-blues singer J.J. Jackson is 73. Singer Peggy Lennon (The Lennon Sisters) is 73. Songwriter-producer Leon Huff is 72. Actor Hywel Bennett is 70. Actor Stu- art Pankin is 68. Rock musician Steve Howe is 67. Former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay is 67. Movie direc- tor John Madden is 65. Rock musician Mel Schacher (Grand Funk Railroad) is 63. Actor John Schneider is 54. “Survivor” winner Richard Hatch is 53. Rock musician Izzy Stradlin is 52. Singer Julian Lennon is 51. Actor Dean Norris is 51. Rock singer-musi- cian Donita Sparks is 51. Rapper Biz Markie is 50. Actress Robin Wright is 48. Actress Patricia Arquette is 46. Rock singer Craig Honeycutt (Every- thing) is 44. Rock musician Darren Jessee is 43. Actress Emma Caulfield is 41. Actress Katee Sackhoff is 34. Actor Taylor Kitsch is 33. Rock singer- musician Ezra Koenig (Vampire Week- end) is 30. Actor Taran Noah Smith is 30. Actress Kirsten Storms is 30. Ac- tress Sadie Calvano is 17. Thought for Today: “The truth is always something that is told, not something that is known. If there were no speaking or writing, there would be no truth about anything.” — Susan Sontag, American author and critic (1933-2004). ON THIS DATE MANAGERS Gary L. Wood Publisher Michele Schievelbein Advertising Director Tonya Schild Business Manager Michael Hrycko Circulation Director Tera Schmidt Classified Manager Kelly Hertz Editor James D. Cimburek Sports Editor Beth Rye New Media Director Kathy Larson Composing Manager Israel Montalvo District Manager Published Daily Monday-Saturday Periodicals postage paid at Yankton, South Dakota, under the act of March 3, 1979. Weekly Dakotian established June 6, 1861. Yankton Daily Press and Dakotian established April 26, 1875. Postmaster: Send address changes to Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan, 319 Wal- nut, Yankton, SD 57078. *** *** *** *** MEMBERSHIPS The Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan is a member of the Associ- ated Press, the Inland Daily Press Associa- tion and the South Dakota Newspaper Association. The Asso- ciated Press is entitled exclusively to use of all the local news printed in this newspaper. 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Chris Ferdig . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41% Craig Sommer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22% Jake Hoffner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20% Nancy Wenande . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17% TOTAL VOTES CAST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265 The Press & Dakotan Internet poll is not a scientific survey and reflects the opinions only of those who choose to participate. The results should not be con- strued as an accurate representation or scientific meas- urement of public opinion. ——— CURRENT QUESTION: How do you think the Minnesota Twins will do this season? To vote in the Press & Dakotanʼs Internet poll, log on to our website at www.yankton.net. Online Opinion Successful Tournament Yankton Basketball, Inc. We would like to thank everyone involved in making this year’s Roger Haas Tournament a continued success. A special thank you to the individual volun- teers who worked as refs, T-shirt/gate sales, book and clock keepers, and all the facility jani- tors. Without your generous volunteerism our tournament would not be possible. Thank you to MMC and the basketball pro- grams, and the Yankton School District/SAC for facility use. Thank you to Boller Printing/Ob- server, P&D and KVHT for great tournament coverage. Thank you to all the businesses who donated food and beverages for the apprecia- tion supper and the Riverfront Events Center for the preparation. Lastly, thank you to all the great businesses who continue to sponsor our tournament every year. We are looking forward to our 25th tourney next year! Thanks again for all your support. BY AMY NELSON Yankton City Manager Local leaders visited Wash- ington, D.C., last week to meet with the South Dakota con- gressional delegation and staff of various federal agencies re- lating to community and eco- nomic development in Yankton and throughout the region. Represent- ing the Cham- ber of Commerce were Carmen Schramm, Yankton Cham- ber executive director, and Kevin Watt of First Dakota National Bank, chairman of the Yankton Chamber Governmental Af- fairs Committee. Also in attendance was Lisa Scheve, director of Yankton Convention and Visitor’s Bu- reau, and John Kramer, presi- dent of Yankton Area Progressive Growth (YAPG). The City of Yankton was repre- sented by Commissioner Brooke Blaalid, Commissioner David Knoff and myself. Our discussions focused largely around major infra- structure improvements and the economic development projects we are currently working on. Specifically, the group pro- vided an update on Yankton’s future collector well at Paddle Wheel Point and the planned membrane water treatment fa- cility. Reconstruction of the east side lift station, outfall pipe and rebuilding of High- way 50 with acquisition of the necessary utility corridor were also discussed. The dele- gation recognized that these upgrades and expansions to infrastructure provide Yankton an advantage in economic de- velopment and were pleased to know Yankton is proactively pursuing these types of im- provements. Yankton representatives re- iterated to the delegation Yankton’s commitment to a holistic approach to economic development, citing our vision for development of an archery-based industrial park, collaboration between YAPG and Yankton County on agri- cultural and rail projects like Napa Junction and the City of Yankton’s focus on retail de- velopment. Retention and ex- pansion of primary jobs, workforce development strate- gies, tourism and sales tax lev- els were also discussed as opportunities Yankton can build upon. Yankton leaders shared ex- amples of the partnership that has been built between the Yankton Federal Prison Camp and the community through the FPC’s Community Rela- tions Board and Mount Marty. The book “Four P.M. Count” was provided as an example of how a local educational facil- ity and the community have collaborated with the FPC. Yankton’s meeting with the U.S. Department of Agricul- ture’s Rural Development divi- sion explored rural housing issues and provided an overview of the major findings from Yankton’s recently com- pleted housing study. Rural Development was also able to provide us with some sugges- tions relating to their commu- nity facilities grant program that may suit specific projects in Yankton’s future. Relationships built during our visits with Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad and the Federal Railroad Ad- ministration are expected to benefit the Yankton commu- nity. During these meetings, specific assistance pertinent to local businesses and cur- rent projects was requested. Requests were met with gen- uine interest and offers of im- mediate and future assistance. Yankton’s leaders learned a great deal about the Depart- ment of Transportation’s TIGER funds. If TIGER funds are approved in Congress, this program could be a funding source for projects requiring rail in the future. In the mean- time, Yankton has a lot of plan- ning to do both locally and with the State of South Dakota before we would be ready for this program. “Part of why we go to Washington D.C. is to respond to concerns we hear from Yankton’s businesses and community members,” said Schramm. “If there is some way we can help, we make the ask. We are there to support and represent our local busi- nesses and the community as well.” Yankton City Commission- ers agree the trip to Washing- ton D.C. is valuable. “It is important for us to come to ‘their turf’ and be present at the table.” said Blaalid. “Yankton needs to be involved and know who the decisions makers are in each agency we work with. It is all about relationships.” “The partnerships that are built during this trip make exe- cuting programs and projects much easier,” added Knoff. “At times, this trip has been an es- sential step in attaining federal funding for Yankton.” Point Of View | Amy Nelson Yankton Officials Find Support In Washington Nelson SOUTH DAKOTA SEN. TIM JOHNSON: 136 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; Washington Phone: (202) 224-5842; Sioux Falls Phone: (605) 332- 8896; email: http://johnson.senate.gov/emailform.html SEN. JOHN THUNE: United States Senate SR- 493, Washington, D.C. 20510; Washington Phone: (866) 850-3855; Sioux Falls Phone: (605) 334-9596; Fax: (202) 228-3855; Web: thune.senate.gov. REP. KRISTI NOEM: 226 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; Washington Phone: (202) 225-2801; Sioux Falls Phone: (605) 367-8371; Fax: (202) 225-5823; email: visit https://noem.house.gov NEBRASKA SEN. DEB FISCHER: 825 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20510; Washington Phone: (202) 224-6551; email: N/A SEN. MIKE JOHANNS: 1 Russell Courtyard, Washington, D.C. 20510; Washington Phone: (202) 224-4224; email: log on at http://johanns.senate.gov/public/?p=EmailSenatorJo- hanns REP. JEFF FORTENBERRY: 1517 Longworth House, Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515; Washington Phone: (202) 225-4806; District Phone: (402) 438-1598; email: log on at www.house.gov/writerep/ REP. ADRIAN SMITH: 503 Cannon House Of- fice Building, Washington, D.C. 20515-2703; Wash- ington Phone: (202) 225-6435; Fax: (202) 225-0207; District Phone: (308) 633-6333; email: log on at www.house.gov/writerep/ YOUR D.C. LAWMAKERS COURTESY PHOTO Sen. Tim Johnson, center, discusses various Yankton issues with Kevin Watt of First Dakota National Bank, left, and John Kramer of Yankton Area Progressive Growth during a meeting held in Washington last week.