Rep Fred Deutsch supportive of calling special legislative session (Audio)

August 4, 2023
Mike Tanner

WATERTOWN, S.D.–Opponents of carbon sequestration pipelines in eastern South Dakota, and the process of eminent domain that could be used to build the pipelines, has raised the question of a special legislative session to take up the issue.

It follows a landowner rights bill failing to get approval during this year’s regular session.

Governor Noem has shown no interest in calling lawmakers back, which means two-thirds of the state’s 105 elected lawmakers would have to sign onto the idea for a special session to happen in Pierre.

One of those who says it’s time for a special session is Representative Fred Deutsch of Florence….

He’s in the minority however. Local lawmakers Lee Schoenbeck, Hugh Bartels and Byron Callies of Watertown and Stephanie Sauder of Bryant have not signed onto the idea of a special session.

For the past two weeks, the Public Utilities Commission has been holding hearings in Fort Pierre that will precede a decision on whether to grant a permit for the Navigator CO2 pipeline.