Preceded by Elizabeth Kraus Spouse(s) Janet Jensen Political party Republican | Nationality American Succeeded by Scott Craig Name Phil Jensen | |
Residence Rapid City, South Dakota | ||
Localite - Phil Jensen - Part 2
Phil Jensen (born July 24, 1952) is an American politician from Pennington County, South Dakota who is currently a Republican member of the South Dakota Senate representing District 33 since January 8, 2013. Jensen served consecutively in the South Dakota Legislature from January 2009 until January 8, 2013 in the South Dakota House of Representatives District 33 seat. He supplements his legislative income as a cookware dealer. He is widely regarded as a far-right politician and is considered by some to be South Dakota's most conservative lawmaker.
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Political controversies and disputes
Jensen attracted attention nationally for his assertion in an interview with the Rapid City Journal that the free market, not government, should be allowed to decide whether or not racial discrimination is acceptable, and that his SB 128 introduced in 2013, which would allow discrimination by business owners, would serve to protect "the constitutional right to free association, the right to free speech and private property rights." (The bill failed, having drawn such reactions as fellow Republican State Senator Mark Kirkeby terming it “a mean, nasty, hateful, vindictive bill.”) Jensen's stance was repudiated by Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard, who issued a press release stating, "I found his comments to be completely out of line with South Dakota values. I don’t agree with him and I haven’t talked to anyone who does. Jensen is uncertain about the assertion that he is South Dakota's most conservative politician, describing himself as simply a true Reagan conservative; but asserts that "too many" members of his own party are Republicans In Name Only.