Governor and Lt. Governor joke about cutting jobs and salaries of hard working people

Last night I had the pleasure (sic) of listening to Lt. Governor Matt Michels and Governor Dennis Daugaard speak at the South Dakota Governor's Economic Development Conference.

What I heard was so offensive I can't believe I actually heard them do it.

Lt. Gov. Michels started out trying to be funny (and failing) by reading a text he got from Gov. Daugaard that due to budget problems, he was going to have to trim his beard by 10%.

Then Gov. Daugaard decided to also joke about cutting the budget.

This entire display was not only tactless, but absolutely a slap in the face to every single person that is being affected by the cuts that this administration decided to implement.

During the 2010 campaign, Dennis Daugaard refused to acknowledge that there was a budget problem facing our state and then once he was in office decided that instead of trying to raise more money, he was just going to cut the budgets of education and health care.

I understand having to be within a budget and I at least understand the idea of not wanting to raise income and instead just want to cut money out of the budget.

What I don't get is the fact that you would joke about it. Ask the 22 teachers in Yankton who are going to lose their jobs if its funny. Ask the state employees who have had their salaries frozen for the past 3 years if they think its funny. Ask the students who are going to have their programs cut or shortened if its funny.

Joking about cutting people's budgets, salaries and jobs is disrespectful, insulting and completely unprofessional. Gov. Daugaard and Lt. Gov. Michels should know better and should apologize for it. I expect more out of our leaders.