With Gov. Larry Rhoden’s appointment of a state lawmaker as the new lieutenant governor — that leaves a key vacancy on the committee that sets the state budget.
While it is Gov. Rhoden’s responsibility to appoint someone to fill the vacancy left by his nomination, it is up to the Speaker of the House to decide who takes Tony Venhuizen’s place on the appropriations committee.
House Speaker Jon Hansen, R-Dell Rapids, said he’s going to use the weekend to think about who he will appoint to the committee. He said he’s also waiting to see who the governor appoints.
“There is something to be said about waiting to see who that person might be. There’s some options out there that might have some business, accounting or even appropriations experience," Hansen said. "If that’s the case and the governor selects them, it might be just real easy to plug that person right into that vacancy.”
Prior to his resignation before becoming lieutenant governor, Sioux Falls Republican Tony Venhuizen served as vice-chair of House appropriations. During the Senate nomination hearing, the leader of the House budget committee called it ‘bittersweet.’
Venhuizen was viewed by many as a crucial asset on the appropriations committee. Prior to getting elected to the statehouse in 2022, he served as a chief of staff to both Gov. Dennis Daugaard and Gov. Kristi Noem.
Earlier this week, Rhoden indicated he would not propose a new budget from the one Noem delivered in December. Because ongoing revenues are down, the proposed budget includes cuts to SDPB, the state library, building maintenance and more.
Hansen said the appropriations committee is always important — but this year he has more to weigh for his appointment.
“And particularly in this year when you have a proposed budget that is balanced by a series of proposed cuts and fee increases. There’s a whole host of things that need to come together to make this budget our budget for the state," Hansen said. "So, we need good, smart people on there who can help usher that to the finish line. It’s a really important position and we’re going to take that appointment real seriously.”
The new appointment to that committee must catch up to speed quickly. Lawmakers are already a third of the way through this year’s nine-week annual session.
