Lawmaker fails to garner support for adding anti-collusion language to state law

Rep. Chris Karr sought provisions to protect state contracting following Freedom Works Here controversy

A bid to add language to state law that would forbid officials from colluding to steer government contracts failed Monday, with opponents arguing state law already prohibits rigging contracts.

The bill, brought by Sioux Falls Republican Chris Karr, was a response to evidence that the contract awarded to the firm behind Gov. Kristi Noem’s Freedom Works Here campaign was preordained. The Legislature’s Executive Board, of which Karr is a member, investigated the contract that was awarded to Go West Media and found that the creative work submitted by marketing firm Lawrence & Schiller during requests for proposals ended up in the hands of Go West.

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The Executive Board declined to take further action following a hearing last month in which Nate Welch, the former marketing director for the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, testified that Go West’s selection was “expected and preferred.” Meanwhile, there has been no explanation for how Lawrence & Schiller’s work ended up with Go West.

Karr’s bill defined collusion as an agreement between state officials and prospective contract bidders that sought to circumvent “full and free competition during the procurement process.”

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