Read the pledge South Dakota GOP leaders asked lawmakers and candidates to sign

[TexasTowelie]

GOP lawmakers and candidates in South Dakota were asked to sign an agreement to keep closed-door meetings a secret and to respect each other.

That agreement has faced backlash from lawmakers who call it a "bribe" and say that it's "unethical" to require people to sign a pledge if they want to participate in party caucus meetings.

Here's a full transcript of the memo sent to lawmakers:

Memorandum

Date: July 11, 2018

To: Current and Future Senate and House Republican Majority Caucus Members

Fr: Senate and House Republican Majority Leadership

• Senator R. Blake Curd, Senate Majority Leader
• Senator Ryan Maher, Senate Assistant Majority Leader
• Senator Brock Greenfield, Senate President Pro Tempore
• Senator Al Novstrup, Senator Kris Langer, Senator Bob Ewing
• Representative Lee Qualm, House Majority Leader
• Representative Kent Peterson, House Assistant Majority Leader
• Re: Senate and House Republican Majority Caucus Membership

As we just celebrated the birthday of our great country, we take time to pause and reflect how important it is for our great state of South Dakota to have strong and united Republican Caucuses. We have all agreed and wish to share the following points with current members and future members of our Republican Majority Caucuses:

• We desire for all elected and/or appointed legislators of the Republican Party to be members of the Senate or House Republican Majority Caucuses. The aspiration of the Majority Caucus is to be united and strong to accomplish conservative objectives for South Dakota.
• If elected as a Republican legislator and you choose to be an honored member of the Senate or House Republican Majority Caucus, respectively, our expectation is that you will caucus with us at scheduled meetings.
• All members will be expected to maintain the highest level of confidentiality within the caucus.
Caucus members will respect their fellow members, respect the process and respect the integrity of the caucus.
• Election ballots for Senate and House Republican Majority Caucus Leadership, respectively, will be reserved for members only.
• History dictates that members of the Senate and House Republican Majority Caucuses, respectively, have been considered and assigned for positions of chair and vice chair of committees. Members of minority caucuses are not considered for these positions.
• The Senate and House Republican Majority Caucuses will engage in campaign activities for current and future members. Both have a Political Action Committee established and will provide resources to members.
• We require a commitment to dedicated membership in our respected caucuses. We consider the Senate and House Republican Majority Caucuses to be a family of Republicans working together to ensure that conservative Republican principles are protected and preserved in South Dakota. Therefore it requires you be a sole member of the Senate or House Republican Majority Caucus, respectively.
• If you choose not to be a member of the Senate or House Republican Majority Caucus, respectively, your membership will not come under review by leadership until the next December budget address.
• If you agree to the honor of being a member of the Senate or House Republican Majority Caucus, respectively, and agree to the points set forth in this memorandum, please sign and return this form to the current leader of your chamber Representative Lee Qualm, House Majority Leader, or Senator Blake Curd, Senate Majority Leader, no later than August 8, 2018.
•Any member of the Senate or House Republican Majority Caucus, respectively, found to be in violation of this agreement will be expelled from the Republican Majority Caucuses.
• If you have any questions, feel free to call any of your Republican Party Caucus Leaders or Assistant Majority Leaders. Representative Qualm 207-0406; Representative K Peterson 530-6245; Senator Curd 321-0121; Senator Maher 850-3598.

I have read, understand and agree with the points of this Memorandum. I consider it an honor to be an exclusive member of the Republican Majority Caucus and have signed this __ day of __________ 201_.

Signature: __________

Printed name: __________

Return signed original form to the Majority Leader from your chamber:

Representative Lee Qualm
House Majority Leader
27507 John Qualm Rd.
Platte, SD 57369

Senator R. Blake Curd
Senate Majority Leader
39 S. Riverview Hts.
Sioux Falls, SD 57105

Read more: https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/politics/2018/08/17/south-dakota-gop-republican-party-caucus-pledge-full-transcript/1018101002/

[Bernardo de La Paz]

1. Life so ugly in RubleCon Party they have to be coerced to "respect" each other? That's bad ugly. .nt

[cos dem]

2. I love how the author is "Qualm"

This is what is known as "jokes writing themselves".

[NCjack]

3. Secret meetings and respect for each other -- ideal arrangement for

passing out Koch money.