PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A House bill endorsed by both parties seeks to disclose the security costs for Gov. Kristi Noem’s travel on behalf of former President Donald Trump’s campaign last year.
Requests for the information by The Associated Press and other media outlets have been rejected with officials citing security concerns.
Republican Rep. Taffy Howard says the proposed legislation would not only require future costs to be disclosed, but would be applied retroactively to Noem’s security costs during her travel across the country on behalf of Trump and other Republicans.
Howard says the governor’s office has told her the Trump campaign covered Noem’s travel costs, but officials would not disclose the cost of security provided by the South Dakota Highway Patrol.
“This should be disclosed to every citizen,” Howard told the Argus Leader Tuesday. “We’ve asked several times and keep getting stonewalled. Taxpayers have a right to know. This governor wants to be the most transparent administration, and this bill is all about transparency.”
Noem’s deputy general counsel, Katie Hruska, has said she can’t provide the cost of Noem’s security detail, citing a law that says “public safety information that would create a substantial likelihood of endangering public safety or property, if disclosed” can’t be shared.
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