Lee Anton Schoenbeck (born May 14, 1958) is an American politician and attorney serving as a member of the South Dakota Senate from the 5th district. He is the President Pro Tempore of the South Dakota Senate. He is a member of the

Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa *Republican Party (Liberia) * Republican Part ...

Early life and education

Schoenbeck was born in

Webster, South Dakota Webster is a city in and the county seat of Day County, South Dakota, Day County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,728 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. History The town was platted in 1880, and was named in honor of ...

in 1958. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augustana University and a

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...

from the University of South Dakota School of Law.

Career

Schoenbeck is the owner of Schoenbeck Law, P.C., where he specializes in civil litigation.

Political career

Schoenbeck served as a member of the Senate from 1995 to 1997 and again from 2003 to 2007. From 2015 to 2017, he represented the 5th district in the South Dakota House of Representatives. In 2021, Schoenbeck opposed a proposal, pushed by Governor Kristi Noem and Senate Leader

Gary Cammack Gary L. Cammack (born June 9, 1953) is an American politician and a Republican member of the South Dakota House of Representatives representing District 29 since January 11, 2013. Elections South Dakota House of Representatives *2012 When incumb ...

(both fellow Republicans) to limit the activities of

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks The South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks (GFP) is the U.S. State of South Dakota's State Agency charged with the management of the state's public recreational and outdoor resources. The GFP manages the 13 State Parks and 43 State Recr ...

conservation officers. The same year, Schoenbeck also opposed a proposal to ban transgender girls from girls' sports; the bill was initially supported by Noem and opposed by Democrats, LGBT rights groups, and the

South Dakota High School Activities Association South Dakota High School Activities Association governs high school sports and other activities in the state of South Dakota. The SDHSAA was founded in 1905 and has been a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations The N ...

. Ultimately, Noem vetoed the bill.Stephen Groves
Senators dismiss ban on transgender girls from girls' sports
Associated Press (March 3, 2021). In 2021, Schoenbeck proposed an amendment to the

South Dakota Constitution The structure of the Government of South Dakota is based on that of the federal government, with three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. The structure of the state government is laid out in the Constitution of South Dako ...

which would increase the threshold required to pass voter referendums from a majority to 60%. Schoenbeck said that he proposed the increase to block Medicaid expansion. The increase would limit a traditional instrument of grassroots

direct democracy Direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of democracy in which the Election#Electorate, electorate decides on policy initiatives without legislator, elected representatives as proxies. This differs from the majority of currently establishe ...

in the state.

Controversy

In 2016, Schoenbeck was embroiled in an intra-party disagreement over a half-penny sales tax to boost the salaries of South Dakota public schoolteachers; Schoenbeck supported the sales tax,Charles Michael Ray
Schoenbeck Considers Resignation
South Dakota Public Radio (February 23, 2016). The teacher salary boost proposal was voted down,Kealey Bultena
SD House Defeats Sales Tax For Education
South Dakota Public Radio (February 18, 2016). but fellow Republicans opposed it and barred Schoenbeck from a Republican Party caucus meeting, prompting Schoenbeck to consider resigning.

Personal life

Schoenbeck and his wife, Donna, have four children. He lives in

Watertown, South Dakota Watertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. Watertown is home to the Redlin Art Center which houses many of the original art works produced by Terry Redlin, one of America's most popular wildlife ar ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schoenbeck, Lee 1958 births 21st-century American politicians Augustana University alumni Living people Republican Party members of the South Dakota House of Representatives People from Watertown, South Dakota People from Webster, South Dakota Republican Party South Dakota state senators University of South Dakota School of Law alumni