Some dissension on Pirner appointment

PIERRE — When the governor seeks to appoint someone as a department secretary, the Senate has a role of advise and consent. The Senate played that role on Jan. 22, but with some dissent.

At issue was the appointment of Steve Pirner as secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

Sen. Gary Cammack, R-Union Center, lauded Pirner’s 12 years of service as department secretary and included this statement: “He’s got a good track record of being fiscally conservative.”

Sen. Troy Heinert, D-Mission, said perhaps Pirner was too fiscally conservative. Heinert noted that during committee testimony prior to the floor action, Pirner said he was proud that he has not increased the department’s full-time employees in 12 years.

Heinert said the demands on the department have grown in the past 12 years.

“They’re barely able to keep up,” Heinert said, noting that the department had to deal with an oil spill, and that there are polluted wells in Pennington County and uncapped natural gas wells.

It’s the job of the Legislature, Heinert said, to plan for the future. “Where are we going to be in 10 years, 20 years?”

Pirner’s appointment was approved by the Senate on a vote of 27-7.