Gov. Rhoden: Spending on state-issued credit cards 'won't be an issue’
Governor publicly addresses revelation that Noem administration amassed more than $600k in charges on state credit cards
Don’t expect the governor of South Dakota’s use of state-issued credit cards to mirror that of his predecessor.
“It won’t be an issue with me,” Gov. Larry Rhoden said this week, addressing revelations that more than $600,000 in charges were amassed on state-issued credit cards used by now U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her six-year tenure in the Governor’s Mansion.
Noem resigned as governor in January to join President Donald Trump’s Cabinet, a week before spending records associated with two credit card accounts available to Noem and her staff in the governor’s office were turned over to The Dakota Scout.
Made public following a settlement agreement between the newspaper and State Auditor Rich Sattgast, who previously denied an open records request for the records, more than 3,000 pages of receipts, invoices and credit card statements show tens of thousands of dollars in charges at high-end hotels, vehicle rentals and meals — with frequent stops at restaurants in the capital city and beyond.
In contrast, spending on state-issued credit cards during former Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s final year in office — the only year of invoices available from his two terms in office — indicate far fewer and less frequent charges on the state card.
A spokeswoman for Rhoden’s office had previously defended Noem’s usage of the taxpayer-funded credit cards, contending that others in her administration had access to the credit cards. However, Rhoden opted not to comment as to whether he thinks the level of spending on charge cards by Noem was appropriate when he personally addressed the credit card spending for the first time.
“There’s times when I’m out with a group and a lot of times I forget that I even have one. I don’t know how many times I’ve paid for stuff with my own card because I don’t even remember I have it,” Rhoden said during his weekly legislative press conference on Thursday at the Capitol.
“I’m not looking back and I don’t know what has happened in the past. I just know where I am at, and it’s not a problem,” he added.
Records associated with spending on state-issued credit cards under Rhoden have not been obtained by The Scout.
That $600,000 should have been much better spent to provide free school lunches for children.
What is wrong with Rhoeden—doesn’t he want to represent South Dakotans throughout the nation? I’m being facetious, but if it’s not a problem for him to adhere to SD law in this regard, whether he says it or not, the clear implication is that Noem’s use of state funds to promote herself was not appropriate. SDCL §3-9-4. "No state officer or employee shall incur any expense payable out of any appropriated funds or other agency funds for travel or other personal expense, including meals, lodging, transportation, or other miscellaneous expenses, except on official state business."