During a press conference Thursday, the Democratic party suggested Joel Dykstra is responsible for paying back loans owed to the state. Here's what an Action News Investigation found:

Joel Dykstra was the President and CEO of South Dakota Ag Producer Ventures from 2000-2004. The development group received more than $450,000 from the state to pay for feasibility studies for six different agricultural business ventures. Today, only one of those ventures remains in business in South Dakota, and that means a lot of that money has been forgiven. According to the Governor's Office of Economic Development, "If an applicant moves forward with opening a business after the feasibility study, the loan needs to be repaid. If the applicant doesn't move forward with an operating business, the loan is granted (forgiven) and the study becomes the property of the state."

That's exactly what happened to three proposed ventures: SDAPV Platte/Geddes/Kimball Dairy, SDAPV Oilseed Crushing, and SDAPV Beef Packing Plant/Products. The three received more than $50,000 from the state, but after failing to materialize, the Board of Economic Development considered the money a grant.

To date, the only money paid back, is from SDAPV Dairy Development, the group received $189,088 from the state. It paid back $100,000 as a loan, and the Board of Economic Development forgave the remaining $89,088 as a grant.

The two remaining companies, Great Plains Lamb and Veal and Dakota Premium Hay, received more than $260,000 from the state. The Board of Economic Development says it is negotiating with both groups but undecided about whether or not the money will have to be paid back.

That's a big reason why Bill Du Bois and South Dakota democrats called attention to the issue on Thursday.

"I would think, at the very least, somebody should be saying, 'Gee Joel, why don't you pay back some more,'" Du Bois said.

The Board of Economic Development does not indicate Joel Dykstra is responsible for paying back the money. Dykstra is no longer part of SD Ag Producer Ventures and, according to the board, the only payment negotiations going on are with Great Plains Lamb and Veal and Dakota Premium Hay.

Dykstra says he doesn't apologize for the state forgiving so much money in grants. He says the goal was to encourage ag business growth in South Dakota.

"All of those things were part of the program, part of the law that operates," Dykstra said. "If you don't think that's the right thing to do, then it's up to the legislature to change that."

Dykstra remained with ag producer ventures two years after being elected to the legislature. On Thursday, South Dakota Democratic Party Chairman Jack Billion said that relationship was a possible conflict of interest. KSFY asked South Dakota Attorney General Larry Long about that claim Friday. He says it was investigated four years ago.

"The activity in question took place before Mr. Dykstra was elected into the House of Representatives," Long said. "Consequently it was not a conflict."

After the investigation was complete, Attorney General Long said he warned Dykstra that he could not continue to secure money for South Dakota Ag Producer Ventures or receive compensation from the group. Long says, to his knowledge, Dykstra never did.