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Webster native Schoenbeck, legislative ‘loose cannon,’ departs political arena
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State Politics

Webster native Schoenbeck, legislative ‘loose cannon,’ departs political arena

Influential South Dakota lawmaker calling it quits

Joshua Haiar, SD Searchlight's avatar
Joshua Haiar, SD Searchlight
Apr 11, 2024
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Webster native Schoenbeck, legislative ‘loose cannon,’ departs political arena
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Webster native and state Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, walks back to his Senate office in the state Capitol during the 2024 legislative session. South Dakota Searchlight photo by Joshua Haiar
Webster native and state Sen. Lee Schoenbeck, R-Watertown, walks back to his Senate office in the state Capitol during the 2024 legislative session. (South Dakota Searchlight photo by Joshua Haiar)

South Dakota lawmakers had a historic opportunity to boost the state’s lowest-in-the-nation teacher pay in 2016, but the votes weren’t there.

The legislation failed by one vote on a Thursday at the Capitol in Pierre.

Lee Schoenbeck was a member of the state House at the time and a supporter of the bill. During a floor debate, he described some opponents’ arguments as “garbage.” He went on social media after the House vote and called some fellow Republicans “chicken” for their opposition.

That weekend during a public forum, Schoenbeck accused his own Republican House majority leader, Brian Gosch, of trying to intimidate a legislator out of supporting the bill with a threat of an ethical investigation. Schoenbeck called Gosch “pond scum” (although Schoenbeck says he accidentally said “scum pond”).

NEWS: Multimillion dollar state loan to bring thousands more dairy cows to South Dakota

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A guest post by
Joshua Haiar, SD Searchlight
Joshua Haiar is a reporter based in Sioux Falls. Born and raised in Mitchell, he joined the Navy as a public affairs specialist after high school and then earned a degree from the University of South Dakota.
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