GUEST COLUMN: Nesselhuf wrongly attacked

Last week the president of the USD College Republicans, Matt Hittle, attacked our local state senator, Ben Nesselhuf.

Hittle called him out on a number of issues, including Nesselhuf's support for an increase in the minimum wage and his support of pre-K education.

It is true that Nesselhuf supported both of these issues. I, for one, am thankful that he did. The minimum wage hadn't changed in 10 years and it was time that it did. The state gets $16 for every $1 it invests in pre-K programs so in addition to being good for children, it is also a good financial investment.

Hittle wrongly claimed that Nesselhuf was playing politics with the Hyperion oil refinery. This is an interesting argument, considering that Nesselhuf's bill would have merely held Hyperion to the promises they have made to the people of Clay County.

This sounds much more like a senator who is looking out for his constituents then someone who was playing politics.

Matt Hittle is a hard-core partisan that doesn't let the facts get in the way of a good attack piece.

The facts are that in addition to being the senior member of our legislative delegation to Pierre, Nesselhuf is the first senator from Clay County to hold a senate leadership position in 100 years.

During his eight years in the legislature, he has voted 21 times to create or expand scholarship programs. He has voted nine times for a reduction in tuition to various categories of students, including members of the National Guard.

Ben has helped secure $4.3 million in new construction money for the university, including $1.8 million for the new Lee Medical School building.

In just the past session he worked with the Board of Regents so that they could bond for almost $16 million dollars to upgrade the laboratories here at USD.

Nesselhuf understands the needs of USD because he is a graduate of USD. He grew up in Vermillion.

So why does Matt Hittle attack the record of our senator?

It is because Nesselhuf has proven to be an extremely popular senator. In the last election he won 76 percent of the vote in Vermillion. Hittle knows that the only way you can beat a very popular incumbent is to attack early and often. That might work in whatever state Matt is from, but that does not work in South Dakota.

Reach guest columnist Matt Blake at Matt.Blake@usd.edu

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