As state legislators review audits of the Governor’s Office of Economic Development released Thursday, Representative Bernie Hunhoff says legislative leaders are calling for their own review of the audits. Hunhoff says Democratic and Republican Leaders are proposing a resolution that calls on the Government Operations and Audit Committee to conduct hearings related to the GOED audits. He says the legislature has a responsibility to get to the bottom of the issue.
“It’s just really important that we restore public confidence in economic development. Economic development is critical to every South Dakotan, it’s maybe one of the most important things we do out here—it ties into education and health care and everything else we do. We absolutely have to restore the public’s confidence. There are a lot of questions out there—anybody who thinks there aren’t need to just go down to the coffee shop and listen to the talk. People are really wondering what’s going on and is often the case, whatever has happened is probably not near as bad as the gossip that you’re hearing,” Hunhoff says.
Hunhoff says he doesn’t expect any further audits or hearings will reveal additional criminal wrongdoing, but says they will give insight as to areas the economic development office can tighten its processes.