Flag bill annoys Newland

HB 1235 (read it here) proposes to ditch the current state flag design and replace it with one by Spearfish artist Dick Termes. (Rapid City Journal story here)

Based on Bob Mercer's blog, it appears that Bernie Hunhoff came into the capitol a few days ago and got co-sponsors to sign the flag bill. And he appears to have cut a wide swath through both chambers in acquiring them.

Introduced by: Representatives Hunhoff (Bernie), Abdallah, Blake, Brunner, Conzet, Cronin, Deelstra, Dennert, Dryden, Elliott, Fargen, Feickert, Feinstein, Gibson, Greenfield, Hansen (Jon), Hawley, Hickey, Hoffman, Iron Cloud III, Jones, Killer, Kirkeby, Kirschman, Kloucek, Kopp, Liss, Lucas, Lust, Magstadt, Miller, Moser, Munsterman, Novstrup (David), Olson (Betty), Perry, Rausch, Romkema, Rozum, Schaefer, Schrempp, Scott, Sigdestad, Sly, Solum, Street, Stricherz, Tornow, Tulson, Turbiville, Van Gerpen, Verchio, White, Wick, Willadsen, and Wismer and Senators Holien, Bradford, Brown, Buhl, Cutler, Frerichs, Fryslie, Gray, Hansen (Tom), Hundstad, Johnston, Juhnke, Kraus, Krebs, Lederman, Maher, Nelson (Tom), Novstrup (Al), Peters, Putnam, Rampelberg, Rave, Schlekeway, Sutton, and Tidemann

This is what annoys me. Hunhoff is known and knows people statewide. He knows there are many talented graphic artists in South Dakota. He is well-acquainted with the common custom of submitting a proposed change to a public icon to a call-for-artists, then submitting the entries to a committee chosen by, say, the governor, and letting the best design win.

I don't think Dick Termes would object to a competition. It could be that his design would win in the end. I think it's worthy, but I haven't seen any other suggestions (except mine, a few posts below).

I just don't get why Bernie would go about trying to change the state flag design the way he did.

House State Affairs will hear testimony on the bill in a couple of days. As of this moment, it has not yet been scheduled.