Latest news with #Gosch
Chicago Tribune
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Dozens protest treatment of immigrants at Waukegan intersection; ‘People are afraid to leave their homes'
As thousands of demonstrators gathered in Highland Park a week ago, and Gurnee two weeks before that, to protest the perceived actions of the administration of President Donald Trump against immigrants, the Constitution and the rule of law, there were numerous chants of protest. When dozens of protestors organized by the Sisters and Brothers of Immigrants in Waukegan held signs Saturday critical of the treatment immigrants are receiving from the Trump administration, the only sounds came from passing motorists honking their horns in support. Brother Michael Gosch of the Clerics of St. Viator said the group is holding vigils in the Chicago area with signs to communicate its message, calling for the proper treatment of immigrants. 'Chanting can turn some people off,' Gosch said. 'We want to be here peacefully in the moment. We are advocating for comprehensive immigration reform.' Gosch led a group of more than 50 people standing silently holding signs Saturday on all four corners of Belvidere and Green Bay roads in Waukegan, quietly communicating their message about immigrant rights. 'Where would America be without immigrants?' Gosch said. 'Unless you're a Native American, you're an immigrant or the descendant of them.' Gathering in the parking lot of Cristo Rey St. Martin College Prep a few blocks west of Green Bay, the group of Christian brothers, nuns, some students and other community members walked to Belvidere and Green Bay where they took positions on all four corners. They were there for an hour. As drivers drove through and stopped at the intersection, they saw signs reading, 'Immigrants, Refugees Welcome,' 'Do Not Break Up Families,' 'No Mass Deportations,' 'Welcoming Immigrants Is a Civic and Faith Responsibility,' and more. Since Trump took office for the second time on Jan. 20, Gosch said he has gone beyond what he did in his first term. In 2017, the group supported immigrant youths who came to the U.S. seeking asylum. 'I believe the Trump administration is demeaning immigrants and sowing fear,' Gosch said. 'People are afraid to leave their homes.' A number of the protest participants came to Waukegan from all over the Chicago area. Sister Mary Popit of Waukegan was glad to see the organization's third vigil in her hometown. The others were in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest side of Chicago, and Arlington Heights. Popit said Waukegan has a long history of immigrants. The 10th Street Corridor, now a home to many from Latin America, was once filled with enclaves of people from Slovenia, Lithuania and Poland. Before them, the immigrants in the city were from Ireland and Germany. 'I'm happy to have them come all this way to support the immigrants here,' Popit said. 'It's important we have these discussions.' Brother Javier Medina came to the vigil from Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood. He is studying to become a Catholic priest. He and Sister Kathy Salewski — she traveled from Joliet — held signs on the northeast corner of Belvidere and Green Bay. 'This is a justice issue,' Medina said. 'Being out here shows my support for people who are experiencing injustice. This is my mission to show solidarity to God and the country.' Sister Delores Zemont, a Franciscan nun from Romeoville, also stood on the northeast corner of Belvidere and Green Bay with Christian Brother Chuck Fitzsimmons holding a sign reading, 'Sisters and Brothers Support Immigrants.' Zemont said she is disappointed in the actions, attitudes and treatment related to immigrants coming out of Washington, D.C. Participating in the vigil, she said, is one way she can do something to raise awareness of the situation. 'I'm very bothered and disappointed by what the Trump administration is doing,' Zemont said. 'There are children in the area who are at risk. We want to make the people in Waukegan aware.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lawmakers might legalize concealed pistols in bars
UPDATE: The House on Wednesday afternoon voted 56-14 to accept the Senate version that calls for allowing concealed pistols in bars and other establishments. The bill's prime sponsor Republican Rep. Aaron Aylward said that the change wouldn't stop bars from individually choosing to ban concealed weapons from their premises. PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A proposal is moving through the South Dakota Legislature that would permit concealed pistols to be carried in any bar or other establishment that earns more than half of its total income from the sale of malt or alcoholic beverages. The change would repeal a state law prohibiting concealed pistols in those establishments that's been in effect since 2019 when state lawmakers legalized concealed carry. Concern, intense rhetoric accompany HB 1239 in Pierre Republican Sen. Mykala Voita added the repeal wording earlier this week when the Senate debated . The House version of the bill called for allowing concealed firearms and ammunition in most areas of county, municipal and township buildings and spaces. Senators on Monday added the Voita amendment allowing concealed pistols in bars and then voted 30-4 to pass the bill. HB 1218 then returned to the House of Representatives for a decision whether to accept the Voita change. The House voted 35-34 on Tuesday in favor of the motion from Republican Rep. Jeff Bathke to disagree with the Voita amendment and appointed a conference committee to negotiate differences between the two versions. The conference committee met on Wednesday morning. Five of the six members showed up. The sixth, Bathke, didn't attend. The group listened to nine minutes of testimony favoring the Voita amendment from Brian Gosch, a Rapid City lawyer and former House member, who now represents the National Rifle Association. Gosch argued several points. He said people can open-carry firearms in South Dakota bars now, and neighboring states of Minnesota and Montana allow concealed-carry in alcohol establishments. He referred to mass shootings at a variety of locations in other states where guns weren't allowed. 'Gun-free zones don't work,' Gosch said. One opponent testified against the Voita amendment: Nathan Sanderson, executive director of the South Dakota Retailers. He said the Senate decision on the Voita amendment was a surprise. He suggested the committee slow down, so that he could offer another amendment that might be acceptable. One of the conference panel's legislators, Republican Rep. Kevin Jensen, has served as a concealed-carry instructor for 11 years. He pointed out the vagueness of the ban. '50 percent when?' he said. 'It's really hard to know, even as an instructor.' He added, 'I think we have to be very specific.' Jensen also raised the example of someone who can legally carry a concealed pistol into an establishment that makes less than half of its income from alcohol sales but can't carry a concealed pistol in an establishment that makes more than half of its income from alcohol sales. 'Why is one restricted and the other not?' Jensen asked 'To me it's just common sense that we pass it as amended.' There were many county and municipal lobbyists in the audience. So was Ryan Brunner, a senior aide to Gov. Larry Rhoden. The conference committee voted 5-0 to recommend passage of the Senate version. The House voted 56-14 on Wednesday afternoon to accept the Senate version. Republican Rep. Aaron Aylward said that the change wouldn't stop bars from individually choosing to ban concealed weapons from their premises. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jackley's government-corruption package moves forward
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — Four measures intended to discourage corruption in state government and provide protection for state employees who blow the whistle are advancing in the South Dakota Legislature. Three will be up for final legislative approval on Thursday from the state House of Representatives. Senate panel approves expanding hunting safety zones But the fourth piece of the package — Senate Bill 61, which would modify the authority of the Board of Internal Controls — was amended on Wednesday by the House State Affairs Committee. Because SB 61 was amended, the earliest that the House could consider it is Monday. Depending on what the House does, it could need to return to the Senate — and then could wind up in a House-Senate conference committee — and in the end could possibly die. State Attorney General Marty Jackley brought the package. Jackley says he's responding to recent cases of state government employees enriching themselves at taxpayers' expense, as well as past EB-5 and GEAR UP scandals. Here is what each proposes to do: Senate Bill 60 would expand the access and investigatory authority of the state auditor. The Senate approved it 35-0, and on Wednesday the House committee endorsed it 13-0. Jackley, State Auditor Rich Sattgast and citizen Rick Weible of Elkton spoke in support Wednesday. There were no opponents. , which calls for modifying the seven-member Board of Internal Controls, had passed the Senate 31-2. On Wednesday, it received an amendment from Republican Rep. Spencer Gosch. Currently the commissioner for the state Bureau of Finance and Management chairs the board, the governor appoints three other members, the Supreme Court chief justice appoints a member, the Board of Regents has a member. The state auditor is the seventh member. Jackley wants to stiffen the board's requirements, such as proposing that each agency go through an annual review of its internal controls. He also wants eliminate the state courts' seat on the board, because the courts are a separate branch of government, and then have the governor make four appointments. Gosch's amendment would designate the state auditor as the chair and give the state treasurer the courts' current seat. The board, established in 2016, hasn't yet worked through all of the executive branch. 'Seven years and only 50 percent of our agencies have gone through the process of internal control — I think we can do better,' Gosch said. Auditor Sattgast and state Finance Commissioner Jim Terwilliger said they didn't support the Gosch amendment. The auditor and treasurer are elected offices, but the candidates are nominated every four years at state political-party conventions, rather than chosen in party primary elections. 'I would like to remove the politics out of the checks and balances of it,' Sattgast said. Terwilliger said that, looking back, the board should have had more staff. He said putting the auditor in charge would probably be a violation of auditing standards. The committee nonetheless voted 7-6 to make Gosch's changes, and then voted 12-1 to send it forward. Because of a procedural hiccup, the committee later reconsidered the matter and ultimately voted 11-2 to move it ahead. Senate Bill 62 would establish mandatory reporting requirements for supervisors related to improper governmental conduct and crime. The Senate passed it 33-2. Jackley wants failure by a supervisor to forward a report of suspicious activity to the attorney general and the state Department of Legislative Audit to be a Class 6 felony, punishable by up to two years in prison and a $4,000 fine. Katie Hruska, the governor's general counsel, disagreed. She said it should remain a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,000 fine. Terra Larson, representing the South Dakota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, agreed. 'This is a felony for remaining silent. That is concerning to us,' Larson told the committee. Jackley asked the committee to hold firm on the felony penalty. 'I really believe this nonsense will stop,' he said. But Republican Rep. Tim Reisch, who served a total of 17 years as cabinet secretary for the state Department of Corrections and the state Department of the Military, pointed out that many of the people convicted of Class 6 felonies serve little time, if any, behind bars. 'People don't know what the punishments are for crimes. They don't,' Reisch said. Hruska's proposed amendment was rejected. The committee then voted 13-0 to send SB 62 forward to the House. would establish protections for state employees who report improper governmental conduct and crime. The Senate had passed it 35-0. This time, Hruska fully agreed with Jackley. 'These are good additions,' she said. The House committee sent it out 13-0. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
A new task force on prisons clears a Senate committee
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — The governor's plan to build a new men's prison for South Dakota in Lincoln County appears to have been set aside by the state House of Representatives. So the state Senate will now consider a Lincoln County lawmaker's proposal to have an incarceration task force take a fresh look at what to do next. Gosch wants to limit Noem-Johnson finance loophole The Senate State Affairs Committee on Monday morning recommended passage of the task force plan from Republican Sen. Kevin Jensen. The vote sends Senate Bill 124 to the full Senate for consideration on Tuesday afternoon. The House meanwhile was still scheduled on Monday afternoon to reconsider an amended version of House Bill 1025, which had failed 34-35 on Friday. The amendment calls for stripping the authorization for the proposed 1,500-bed prison in Lincoln County and would now only transfer $148,109,837 from state government's general fund to the state incarceration construction fund. Sen. Jensen's counter-proposal calls for establishing a 10-member panel that would meet at least six times this year and report its recommendations no later than December 1, 2025. State Department of Corrections finance officer Brittni Skipper opposed it. The Senate committee on a 5-4 vote however killed a companion measure, Senate Bill 204, from Jensen that sought to 'prohibit the expenditure of certain funds appropriated for purposes related to the construction of a prison facility.' Ryan Brunner, a senior aide to the governor, opposed SB 204. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Gosch wants to limit Noem-Johnson finance loophole
PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) — A campaign finance change that could affect the 2026 contest for governor is moving ahead in the South Dakota Legislature. seeks to limit how much a federal candidate's fundraising committee can transfer. RJ's parents mourn loss after Jameson Annex suicide Currently there's no limit. That's how then-U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem took advantage of the opening to shift $1.6 million from her congressional campaign committee to her Kristi For Governor committee. She went on to win the 2018 election for governor. In 2018, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson won the seat that Noem held. Johnson is now considering a run for governor in 2026 and has been following the same path as she did. Johnson showed $5,245,125.00 in his federal campaign committee as of December 31, 2024. None of that money has been transferred. However, he also operates the Dusty Johnson For Victory federal committee. Johnson has been using the federal Victory committee to help fund his state-level political action committee that he started two years ago. His state political action committee, called Dusty PAC, has received contributions totaling $384,094 from the federal Victory Committee. He made contributions last year from his state PAC to legislative candidates and a ballot-measure committee. His state PAC's 2024 year-end report showed a balance of $277,651.47. HB 1242 would limit the federal candidate to transferring no more than $10,000. The House State Affairs Committee on Monday endorsed the $10,000 limit on a vote of 11-1. Republican Rep. Spencer Gosch is the lone sponsor. He denied it was 'anti-Kristi' or 'anti-Dusty.' 'I don't see this as an anti-anybody bill,' Gosch said. There is some history between Gosch and Noem. They tangled over what should happen to former state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg. Noem wanted Ravnsborg impeached, while Gosch as House speaker chaired the special investigation committee that recommended against impeachment. Ravnsborg eventually was impeached by the House and removed from office by the Senate. There was one opponent to HB 1242 on Monday: Rick Weible of Elkton, speaking for himself. Weible said the legislation was poorly written and claimed there's no penalty. 'What's the point? It's unenforceable,' Weible said. Weible pointed out federal candidates could get around it by making transfers of $10,000 to multiple political committees that could in turn send the transfers to a state committee. Republican Rep. Tim Reisch asked Gosch who would enforce it. There's a complaint process in state law, Gosch replied. 'I think it's a moot point. That's why I didn't rebuttal,' Gosch said. Reisch had originally sponsored HB 1242 but had it switched to Gosch. Reisch spoke against it and then voted against it on Monday, saying he now believes it targets someone who plans to 'come back' and run. The legislation now moves to the House of Representatives for a vote on Tuesday. The Senate meanwhile is considering Senate Bill 201 that would prohibit South Dakota political candidates from accepting contributions or loans from federal candidates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
