A Democratic legislator has called for an inquiry into South Dakota Republican Gov. Kristi Noem's recent trip to Texas for dental work and a promotional video she posted praising the dental practice. State Sen. Reynold Nesiba raised concerns about the video, questioning whether public funds were used for the trip and if the dental procedure was discounted due to the video.
Noem's office did not respond to inquiries about the video, in which she thanked Smile Texas, a cosmetic dental practice in Houston, for giving her a smile she can be proud of. The video also features Noem speaking at a Republican Party event with former President Donald Trump signs in the background.
South Dakota law prohibits gifts over $100 from lobbyists to public officials. Noem's video has raised questions about potential violations of this law. The video comes at a time when South Dakota has invested $5 million in a workforce recruitment campaign featuring Noem.
While some, like former state legislator Paul Miskimins, see no issue with seeking care out of state, others, including Nesiba, believe the video undermines the state's investment in Noem as a spokesperson. Noem has faced previous ethics questions, including an investigation in 2019 regarding her use of a state plane for political events.
The state ethics board dismissed a complaint over Noem's flights to political events in 2022, citing unclear definitions of 'state business.' However, the board suggested that Noem may have engaged in misconduct when intervening in her daughter's application for a real estate appraiser license.
Noem defended her actions, stating she followed the law in handling her daughter's licensure. Despite these controversies, voters re-elected Noem in 2022 with 62% of the vote. Political analysts like Michael Card find the promotional video unusual for an elected official in office.
