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Groton Daily Independent
Friday, July 28, 2017 ~ Vol. 25 - No. 028 ~ 10 of 54
News from the
Report: Nebraska worst performing economy in country
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The economies of Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota logged the worst perfor- mance in the U.S. in the beginning of 2017, with economic output declining in all three states, according to a report from a federal commerce bureau.
Data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis shows that from January through March, Nebraska’s economic output declined by 4 percent from the nal quarter of the previous year, making it the worst of any state. South Dakota ranked second-worst with a 3.8 percent decline, followed by Iowa with a 3.2 percent decline.
The bureau is a federal agency from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the Omaha World-Herald reported . It measures a state’s “real” gross domestic product, which is the market value of goods and services produced in-state.
Creighton University economist Ernie Goss conducted a survey of rural bankers earlier this month that shows a dimming outlook for the broader region as the year continues.
The bureau’s report said that economies most closely tied to agriculture are suffering the worst. It said that 43 states and Washington, D.C., saw growth in the rst three months of the year when compared with the last three months of 2016.
National GDP data for the second quarter will be released Friday. Economists who were surveyed by Dow Jones expect 2.7 percent growth from the previous quarter.
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This story has been corrected to show the name of the Creighton University economist is Ernie Goss, not Gross.
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Information from: Omaha World-Herald, http://www.omaha.com.
Supporters hope to try again with redistricting amendment
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Supporters of a constitutional amendment that would take control of redistricting from South Dakota legislators and give it to an independent commission hope to put the amendment before voters in 2018, a key supporter said Thursday.
Attorney General Marty Jackley this week led an explanation of the amendment with the secretary of state’s of ce, a step required before petition gatherers can spread out across the state. Supporter Rick Weiland, a former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, said the plan — a reprise from 2016 — would make elections fairer in South Dakota.
“Why would we allow elected politicians, why would we afford them the opportunity to draw their legislative district?” Weiland said. “It just doesn’t make any sense. When you have complete one-party domination, you’re going to get one-party dominated redistricting efforts.”
Redistricting is the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries every 10 years to account for popu- lation changes. When the process is carried out by elected of cials, it often sparks lawsuits and claims of gerrymandering — attempting to draw the districts for political advantage.
Republicans control every statewide of ce and hold supermajorities in the state Legislature.
The amendment calls for switching control of the legislative redistricting process from legislators to an independent commission of nine people, with no more than three from any one political party. It mirrors a constitutional amendment that South Dakota voters rejected last year.
Political considerations get no mention in redistricting guidance provided by the state constitution. It just says each legislative district must consist of “compact, contiguous territory and shall have population as nearly equal as is practicable.” The amendment speci es that party registration and voting history must be excluded from redistricting and that the home of any incumbent or candidate can’t be identi ed or considered.