5 years strong. Don’t forget the donation button!
Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us!
We just passed the milestone that is our 5th birthday. Five years of political coverage, commentary and more with a South Dakota focus. And we couldn’t do it without you!
Your support is what helps keep the South Dakota War College going, and would be greatly appreciated. If you’re so inclined, click on the paypal donation button, show your support, and help keep us going.
Or, if you aren’t into using pay pal, you can send it to me personally at:
Pat Powers
1610 17th Ave S
Brookings, SD 57006
Any questions? Please feel free to (just e-mail me).
And don’t forget that we have space available for advertising. You can e-mail me for more information if you’re interested.
Thanks for your continuing support of the SDWC.
My note to the House State Affairs Committee on HB 1277 and HB 1278
I thought I’d share the note I passed on to the legislators who sit on the House State Affairs Committee, just for your information. Of course, now that I post it I see a grammatical error or two I should have corrected, but, “it is what it is.” Here you go.
Dear Representatives:
I’ve noticed that HB 1277 and HB 1278 which were introduced on Thursday have been assigned to the House State Affairs committee for your consideration at a coming date.
Please be advised that these measures, while well intentioned, do less than accomplish their stated goals. They will impose a new set of laws on everyday citizens, while leaving bad actors unscathed.
HB 1278 is by far the most onerous measure, which states in part that “Any person who allows internet posts shall keep a record of the internet-protocol logs adequate to provide identification and location of otherwise unknown, anonymous, or pseudonymous persons who leave or upload content.”
This requirement does not simply extend to those who write political websites as I do, but to an unbelievably broad base of South Dakotans. The legislature would demand that nearly everyone who operates a website with a minimal level of interactivity be subjected to a government mandate to collect the IP information of users.
For example, Representative Noem – your website at kristinoem.com, which allows people interested in your activities to offer thoughts, would be one of those websites subjected to the tracking mandate of HB 1278. And Representative Hunhoff – the interactive “editor’s notebook” website for your magazine at http://www.southdakotamagazine.com/editors_notebook.php would also be subject to the tracking requirement set forth. Both websites allow the users to use a nickname, comment as “anonymous” or otherwise use a pseudonym, which triggers the IP address tracking mandate of HB 1278.
I compliment you both as to your ability with a computer, and you both likely have the ability to track Internet Protocol addresses already installed, just as I do on my own website. But what about those less sophisticated using free software which does not come with such software? They would technically be in violation of the law.
An example I held out on my website was that for instance, my daughter who just turned 13 decided to create a blog designed to give herself an on-line journal to write stories about flying unicorns. She does it via the blogger platform, a popular and free forum for her to create “Unicorn Land.” It has nothing to do with politics – it’s “All Flying Unicorns – All the time.” Under the Hamiel/Turbak measure, because the software format allows people the ability to post comments anonymously, or via a pseudonym, her Flying Unicorn Blog would be subjected to the requirement imposed by government to install IP Address tracking software.
It has nothing to do with people who print falsehoods – which are already subject to potential civil action under existing law. It has everything to do with going after average, everyday South Dakotans who use the Internet.
THAT’S who this measure will be affecting the most. It’s written as such to require tracking on ALL websites that allow commenters. This includes funeral bereavement web sites, hospital care journals, newspaper web sites, on-line book discussion groups, personal photo upload websites such as flickr, community discussion websites, pheasant hunting blogs, and any internet based web site where a South Dakotan can potentially leave a comment.”
I think we should all consider that this is an improper exercise of government authority, and very chilling to the rights of free speech that we hold very dearly in our society.
I would strongly urge that this package of legislation be killed in your committee.
If I can answer any questions about these measures, or provide any information, please do not hesitate to ask.
Regards,
Pat Powers
dakotawarcollege@yahoo.com
Sibby for big government ordered website monitoring? The other side of the argument.
In the interest of fairness, I thought I’d run down those who are posting on-line in the SD Blogposphere who seem to be embracing the measures proposed in the Hamiel/Turbak-Berry Blog Control Act.
Steve Sibson (a.k.a. Sibby Online) seems to be taking issue with my concerns over a proposal that would force practically everyone with a website to install government mandated IP tracking software.
Now that the ACLU has taken sides agains HB 1277 and HB 1278, it is becoming much easier to pick the correct side, that is if you are supportive of teh First Amendmnt the Founding Fathers created, not teh faus one that has been created by recent Supreme Court rulings.
I’m not sure what he means by “teh faus one.” (Is that a German reference?)
As usual with Sibby, he leaves me scratching my head in a “where-did-that-come-from” quizzical way. Of all people, you’d expect Steve to be concerned about a government mandate to track who is visiting and commenting on your website. But, since I’m against this “big brother” tactic, that must mean Steve has to take the contrary, nanny-state position.
I’d be shocked, but this is Sibby we’re talking about.
Only one other person seems to be taking a stance critical of the blogosphere’s near complete opposition to the pair of measures, David Newquist of Northern Valley Beacon.
While David claims that he isn’t taking a position, holding true to his usual snobbery, he spends most of his time belittling blog authors because he believes his own pomposity to be above our savage pettiness.
What makes this really interesting is that I know for a fact that one of the legislators who has an interest in the bill is solely in support of it because of incorrect information (about this legislator) that Newquist posted on his website and on KELO. AND when this legislator made multiple attempts to contact him and ask for it to be corrected, Newquist utterly ignored him.
Otherwise, Todd Epp, who authored HB 1277 upon request of Noel Hamiel and Nancy Turbak Berry, is against their other measure, the onerous HB 1278 with it’s mandatory website monitoring requirement.
HB 1277 and HB 1278 are still yet to be set for committee hearing in the House State Affairs committee that it has been assigned to. Keep an eye out, and remember to contact your legislators to let them know what you think.
Blake Curd on Republican National Congressional Committee’s Radar
The Republican National Committee must see Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin as beatable. Listen to what they had to say about Blake Curd’s chances:
This week is set to be a busy one for the National Republican Congressional Committee’s “Young Guns” campaign program.
In a sign that the NRCC intends to continue to expand the Republican playing field in 2010, party officials are set to name 14 new challenger and open-seat candidates who have reached the first rung of the committee’s three-tiered fundraising and infrastructure system.
Also, NRCC Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) is set to announce the first group of candidates who have completed the necessary requirements to reach the program’s highest level and have earned the distinction of being called the GOP’s top House recruits of the 2010 cycle.
The Young Guns system ranks candidates in three levels: “On the Radar,” “Contender” and, finally, “Young Guns.” Candidates are named to the program by meeting individualized benchmarks set by the committee, which include developing grass-roots support, fundraising and creating a media plan. Those benchmarks become higher and more stringent with each level of the program.
Among the 14 GOP candidates who will be named to On the Radar status this week are South Dakota state Rep. Blake Curd, who is running against Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D).
You may get the chance to tell schools to quit spending taxpayer dollars to sue taxpayers for more taxpayer dollars.
How do you think Scott Heidepriem is going to vote on this one, since as a partner in the law firm representing the schools, we all know what side of the argument (and the checkbook) he falls on.
A Senate majority resolution to amend the constitution was introduced into the Senate on Wednesday to prohibit school districts from supporting or funding any legal proceedings challenging the state over the constitution. If passed by legislators, the amendment could be put on the November ballot.
SJR7 is a “direct attack” on school districts, said Scott Abdallah, attorney for the South Dakota Coalition of Schools, the group supporting the current education funding lawsuit against the state over adequate funding.
and…
Wilbur’s ruling did not prevent a trial in the constitutional challenge. The South Dakota Coalition of Schools withdrew as a party and the trial proceeded with only a handful of students and their parents as plaintiffs.
Wilbur ruled in April 2009, that the school funding system is constitutional. The South Dakota Coalition of Schools intends to appeal that ruling to the Supreme Court, as well.
What do you think?
Keep it on topic please… Remember the rules.
Lots of comments going on tonight.. A couple of things to remind you of.
1. Keep it on topic.
No Sibby, HB1278 has nothing to do with initiated measure 10, or the identity of the South Dakota Blog Watch Man, and anything to that effect will be deleted as clutter.
2. Watch the URL’s in posts.
The Spam Filter is on hyperdrive tonight, and URL’s seem to be disagreeing with it.
3. If you’re kicked into Spam or moderated, drop me a personal note.
It’s not intentional. Just drop me a note, and I’ll fix it. If you’re a horse’s arse about it, and exhibit bad manners…. Well, don’t be shocked if I don’t, and I put baby in the corner.
4. If you’re concerned about HB 1277 and HB 1278…
Crackerbarrels are tomorrow. Tell your reps they need to kill the Hamiel/Turbak-Berry Blog Control Act.
Press Release: ACLU of South Dakota Concerned By Two Bills in South Dakota House That Chill Free Speech
From my mailbox….
ACLU of South Dakota Concerned By Two Bills in South Dakota House That Chill Free Speech
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2010
SIOUX FALLS , SD- The American Civil Liberties Union of South Dakota is deeply concerned by two bills that have been introduced into the South Dakota Legislature this week. Both bills seek to add serious constraints to websites that allow users to post anonymous opinions. HB 1277 and HB 1278 mandate that websites in South Dakota that allow for unnamed posting of comments, opinions and other speech items must track those who are posting on their web pages and keep records of IP addresses and other potential identifying and private information.
“These bills seek to address issues of defamation on internet websites but do so in a way that is so excessively broad that it suppresses South Dakotans ’ rights to freedom of expression and infringes on their right to privacy,” states Robert Doody, Executive Director of the SD Chapter of the ACLU. “Placing burdensome requirements on bloggers, website owners and others who operate internet-based sites that accept anonymous comments chills freedom of expression to its very core,” said Doody.
The two companion bills seek to undermine and discourage freedom of expression while forcing individuals who operate web-based forums to track their users. If HB 1277 passes, individuals would have the right to sue bloggers, website owners and operators, and others to force them to turn over their business records which identify those who post anonymous comments that might be viewed as defamatory. HB 1278 mandates that “content providers,” those who manage and run websites, blogs, and other forms of internet-based media, track and keep records of all identifying information of their website users.
“Defamation is not protected speech, but anonymous speech and the right to exercise your First Amendment rights are at the very heart of our democracy,” exclaimed Pat Powers, author of South Dakota War College , a blog which allows anonymous comments and which discusses political issues in South Dakota . “Blogs, online newspapers, hospitals, your local funeral home, anyone who allows anonymous comments must install tracking software if this law passes,” according to Pat Powers.
“Defamation is not protected speech on the internet or in any other forum; however, the current bills seek to make anonymous speech a virtual liability for any website owner,” according to Robert Doody of the ACLU of South Dakota. “The ACLU is particularly concerned with how HB 1277 and HB 1278 will chill speech about politicians and other public figures. “Anonymity is a shield from the tyranny of the majority…It thus exemplifies the purpose behind the Bill of Rights, and of the First Amendment in particular: to protect unpopular individuals from retaliation…” as stated by the United States Supreme Court in Abrams v. United States, 250 U.S. 616 (1919).
Although HB 1277 and HB 1278 have the express purpose of helping combat defamation, both bills place undue burdens on websites to the point where the ability to make anonymous comments would be curtailed and in turn limit the ability to exercise the First Amendment. “There are other avenues to address online defamation through the legal process besides passing such chilling legislation,” said Doody.
Who else is subject to the Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act?
Lest there are those few out there who question why they should care one iota about the Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act, I’d like to point out how far sweeping this measure is, and why it is so chilling in terms of government control.
I’m NOT a fan of HB 1277, which has a multitude of problems, not the least of which is that it could cause internet content providers to shut off their services to access from South Dakotans. But HB 1278 is just plain out scary in terms that providers of Internet Content would have it mandated our state government that they install tracking software.
As “the scary part” notes: Any person who allows internet posts shall keep a record of the internet-protocol logs adequate to provide identification and location of otherwise unknown, anonymous, or pseudonymous persons who leave or upload content.
How far reaching will it be? Well, let me just show you who Noel Hamiel and Nancy Turbak will mandate tracking software for….
The Mitchell Daily Republic. Noel Hamiel’s old stomping grounds as publisher will be one of the first to feel the sting of the Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act. This newspaper blog allows one to use a pseudonym – and under the law, that would trigger the need for mandatory compliance.
The Mitchell Avera Queen of Peace Caring Bridge Patient Journal. It’s a very simple matter to use a pseudonymous name. Because it is an on-line content provider, under the Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act, hospital journals that allow comments would be required under the law to submit to the draconian tracking software requirement.
The Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act even goes after those grieving. Because it is “on-line content” the mandatory tracking measure would also apply to the well wishes of those grieving, since this form of commerical speech in the form of posts about mourning and grief could allow pseudonyms to be used, Nancy Turbak Berry’s act which is offensive to free speech would regulate, and mandate that the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown install IP Tracking software as part of their obituary comment roll.
The Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act is an equal opportunity government control act. Both the Pro-life website “Voices Carry” as well as the Pro-Choice “Planned Parenthood Blog” will be subjected to install monitoring software to satisfy the mandates of the Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control measure to potentially identify those who are leaving comments.
Congresswoman Herseth Sandlin, Kristi Noem, the Senate Democrats (dormant or not), and SD GOP, or anyone else’s campaign blog that allows comments? ( And you all do.) Guess what? The Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act will force you all to install government mandated tracking software.
And finally under the Hamiel/Turbak BCA, even the ACLU would be forced to install IP Tracking software, as if you look at their blog, they allow anonymous comments and pseudonyms.
How’s that for a chilling effect on Free Speech?
Stay tuned.
More on the Government’s attempt to control blogs, and the people who comment on them.
HOUSE BILL NO. 1278
Representatives Hamiel, Bolin, Brunner, Carson, Cutler, Deadrick, Fargen, Gibson, Gosch, Greenfield, Hoffman, Hunt, Iron Cloud III, Jensen, Juhnke, Kirkeby, Kopp, Krebs, Lederman, McLaughlin, Moser, Olson (Betty), Schlekeway, Sly, Sorenson, Turbiville, Vanneman, and Verchio and Senators Turbak Berry, Brown, Dempster, and Vehle
FOR AN ACT ENTITLED, An Act to provide for a process of obtaining certain information from online content providers in slander and libel actions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 20-11 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Any person who allows internet posts shall keep a record of the internet-protocol logs adequate to provide identification and location of otherwise unknown, anonymous, or pseudonymous persons who leave or upload content. However, no person may be compelled to produce such information except in response to a court order.
Section 2. That chapter 20-11 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows:
Any party seeking an order compelling production of internet-protocol logs, whether in an action brought under this chapter or under common law shall establish:
(1) That the request for information is made in good faith and not for any improper purpose;
(2) That the information sought relates to a material claim or defense;
(3) That the identifying information is directly and materially relevant to that claim or defense; and
(4) That the information sufficient to establish or to disprove that claim or defense is unavailable from any other source.
Section 3. For the purposes of this Act the term, internet, is the same as the term is defined in § 37-24-41.
You ever have one of those moments where you’re scratching your head over what legislators propose?
“Any person who allows internet posts shall keep a record of the internet-protocol logs adequate to provide identification and location of otherwise unknown, anonymous, or pseudonymous persons who leave or upload content.”
This literally sets the gold standard for Nanny-statism. Not just the annoying “we think it’s for your own good misguided over-altrusitic efforts.” This is more akin to out-and-out a police state type of control fascism.
Frankly, this is the type of thing that should offend South Dakotans to the inner core.
Why? For example….
Let’s (for instance) say my daughter who just turned 13 decides to create a blog designed to give herself an on-line journal to write stories about flying Unicorns. She does it via the blogger platform, a popular and free forum for her to create “Unicorn Land.” It has nothing to do with politics – it’s “All Flying Unicorns – All the time.”
Under the Hamiel/Turbak measure, because the software format allows the ability to post anonymously, or via a pseudonym…. Her flying Unicorn Blog would be subject to what we’ll call “the Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act,” and this little 13 year-old redheaded girl would have to install IP Address tracking software as mandated by state government.
Government mandated comment tracking.
This would be like telling newspapers they have to track and be able to identify any anonymous sources for news stories, except in this case, it goes far beyond news.
And the Hamiel/Turbak Blog Control Act should scare everyone witless.
All the way down to prospective unicorn story authors.
This weekend, take a moment to contact your legislator – and tell then they need to kill this ridiculous measure.
Wanted for Crimes against the First Amendment
This seems appropriate for this afternoon’s turn of events.
Noel Hamiel and Nancy Turbak-Berry team up to take out the first amendment
Who would have thunk. A former newspaper publisher, and a trial lawyer. Both of whom you’d think would be well versed with the first amendment. Noel Hamiel, former publisher of the Mitchell Daily Republic, and Nancy Turbak Berry, Watertown (and S. Carolina) Attorney That’s who is teaming up to take on anonymous website posters. And here’s your first taste – one of the proposed measures that they’re pushing around the Capitol….
For an act entitled, An act to provide for a process of obtaining certain information from online content providers in slander and libel actions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF SOUTH DAKOTA:
Section 1. That chapter 20-11 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows: Any person who allows internet posts shall keep a record of the internet-protocol logs adequate to provide identifciaton and location of otherwise unknown, anonymous, or pseudonymous persons who leave or upload content. However, no person may be compelled to produce such information except in response to a court order.
Section 2. That chapter 20-11 be amended by adding thereto a NEW SECTION to read as follows: Any party seeking an order compelling production of internet-protocol logs, whether in an action brought under this chapter or under common law shall establish:
(1.) That the request for infoamtion is made in good faith and not for any improper purpose;
(2 )That the information sought relates to a material claim or defense;
(3.) That the identifying information is directly and materially relevant to that claim or defense; and
(4.) That the information sufficient to establish or to disprove that claim or defense is unavailable from any other source.
Section 3. For the purposes of this ACT the term, internet, is the same as the term is defined in 37-24-41.
Much, much more to come.
Press Release: Chris Nelson Statement on Exploding the Federal Debt Ceiling
Chris Nelson Statement on Exploding the Federal Debt Ceiling
United States House of Representatives candidate Chris Nelson today highlighted the stark difference between the words and the actions of South Dakota’s incumbent Representative.
Following the President’s State of the Union speech, Representative Herseth Sandlin endorsed the President’s call for a spending freeze on some areas of discretionary spending beginning next year. This call for a spending cap is at least two years too late. Spending in these areas has increased nineteen percent in the last two years. The incumbent easily endorses a cap AFTER the spending has skyrocketed.
Representative Herseth Sandlin continued saying we “must do more” to get spending under control. Unfortunately the words don’t match the votes.
Today our Representative voted to increase the federal debt ceiling by $1.9 trillion dollars. This vote to increase the federal debt to $14.3 trillion dollars adds over six thousand dollars of debt to each man, woman, and child in the United States.
Unfortunately this vote continues a long trend of votes for more federal spending and higher debt by Representative Herseth Sandlin:
$820 Billion on first passage of stimulus spending bill on January 27, 2009.
$787 Billion on final passage of stimulus spending bill on February 13, 2009. Every penny of the $787 is borrowed money.
$410 Billion Omnibus Appropriations Act of 2009 on February 25, 2009. Increased spending eight percent over previous year.
$3.56 Trillion Congressional Budget for fiscal year 2010 on April 29, 2009. Increases the national debt by at least $1.2 trillion dollars.
$1.1 Trillion Appropriations Act on December 10, 2009. Average increase per department of ten percent over previous year.
$290 Billion increase in the federal debt limit on December 16, 2009. Sets the federal debt limit at $12,394,000,000,000. That debt is about $40,000 per person.
Nelson summarized the inconsistency this way, “The incumbent Representative has painted herself as a ‘fiscal conservative blue dog Democrat’. A review of today’s vote and the Congressional Record shows otherwise. Our Representative has contributed to the exploding federal debt. I am ready to go to Congress and vote to balance the federal budget by cutting spending and shrinking the roll of the federal government. It’s time to bring fiscal responsibility to Congress and limit the size of the federal government.”
Press Release: Blake Curd Disappointed in House Vote to Increase Debt Limit
Blake Curd Disappointed in House Vote to Increase Debt Limit
SIOUX FALLS – Blake Curd, Republican candidate for South Dakota’s lone congressional seat, voiced his disappointment today with the House vote to increase our nation’s debt limit by an additional $1.9 trillion dollars.
“With this vote today, Rep. Herseth Sandlin and the Democrats in Congress voted to add another $6,000 worth of debt for every man, woman and child on top of $40,016 per person we already have. Past Republican majorities spent too much of the taxpayer dollars, but Rep. Herseth Sandlin and her colleagues have taken reckless spending to a whole new level,” said Curd.
“Rep. Herseth Sandlin claims to be concerned with fiscal responsibility, but the reality is she has supported every major spending bill Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat majority have put forward including the $787 billion stimulus, major appropriations bills, and budget resolutions,” said Curd, who is a veteran and doctor in Sioux Falls.
“If elected to Congress, I will look for waste, fraud and abuse and question assumptions about spending just like I’ve done in the State Legislature in Pierre,” said Curd, who is a first term State Representative representing portions of Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties.
Rep. Herseth Sandlin has voted for every major budget and spending bill since Democrats have been in the majority:
H.Con.Res 99, Roll Call Vote #212, 3/29/07 (FY08 Budget Resolution)
H.R. 2764, Roll Call Vote #1171, 12/17/07 (FY08 Consolidated Appropriations Bill)
H.Con.Res. 312, Roll Call Vote #141, 3/13/08 (FY09 Budget Resolution)
H.R. 1, Roll Call Vote #70, 2/13/09 (Stimulus Bill)
H.R. 1105, Roll Call Vote #86, 2/25/09 (FY09 Consolidated Appropriations Bill)
H.Con.Res 85, Roll Call Vote #192, 4/2/09 (FY10 Budget Resolution)
H.R. 3288, Roll Call Vote #949, 12/10/09 (FY10 Consolidated Appropriations Bill)
###
NRCC: Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Says Bring on the Debt
Stephanie Herseth Sandlin Says Bring on the Debt: Rewards Pelosi with Credit Line Extension
South Dakota Democrat Votes for $2 Trillion in New Debt, Continues to Embrace Job-Killing Agenda That Spends Too Much, Taxes Too Much, and Borrows Too Much
Washington- Democrat Stephanie Herseth Sandlin turned her back on South Dakota families again today when she approved a measure to increase the country’s debt ceiling by nearly $2 trillion, allowing her party to continue passing off the tab for their runaway spending:
“Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives are counting on new budget deficit curbs to help smooth the way for a bill allowing the government to go $1.9 trillion deeper into debt over the next year — or about $6,000 more for every U.S. resident.
“The debt measure set for a House vote Thursday would raise the cap on federal borrowing to $14.3 trillion.” (“House Faces Tough Vote on $1.9T More Debt,” Associated Press, 2/4/10)
Unfortunately, there’s no end in sight for the taxpayers who are stuck with the bill for Herseth Sandlin’s spending bonanza, as Democrats continue to rack up the debt:
“A 1.9 trillion-mile trip is about the same as 8 million trips to the moon.
“Unfortunately, the $1.9 trillion in new borrowing authority Congress is giving President Barack Obama won’t take people quite that far. The additional $1.9 trillion raises the debt ceiling to $14.3 trillion, but that limit may have to be increased again after the November election.” (“How Big Is $1.9 Trillion? Very,” Associated Press, 2/4/10)
“With Democrats sinking the country deep into the red, Stephanie Herseth Sandlin’s vote to bring on more debt is simply reckless,” said NRCC Communications Director Ken Spain. “Herseth Sandlin and her party leaders have embraced a job-killing agenda that spends too much, taxes too much, and borrows too much. Instead of backing away from her party’s runaway spending spree, Herseth Sandlin just handed them a credit card with a $1.9 trillion line of credit.”
After giving her party the green light to pile another $1.9 trillion on the backs of South Dakota families, will she ever get the message that enough is enough?
###
Press Release: House Democrats Block Vote on Thune Measure to End TARP
Apparently House Democrats have something to fear….
House Democrats Block Vote on Thune Measure to End TARP
WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John Thune commended Republicans in the House of Representatives for offering a motion that would have given House Members an opportunity to end the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) and allow unspent funds that are paid back to lower the national debt. Democrats successfully blocked the measure to proceed to the bill by a vote of 233-195. Republicans were joined by 20 Democrats who voted to move to the measure.
“Democrats in the House today blocked an opportunity to take a step toward ending TARP as part of their efforts to increase the debt limit,” said Thune. “The original purpose of TARP no longer exists and it is time to shut down this program. This was an opportunity for the House to show they are listening to the American people and they are willing to stop the spending spree. Mounting debt threatens to crush our economy, but ending TARP would be a significant step toward addressing this growing problem.”
On January 28th, the Senate voted 60-39 to increase the debt ceiling by $1.9 trillion to $14.294 trillion – the largest such increase in our nation’s history. When the Senate considered the increase to the debt limit, a majority of Senators supported the bipartisan Thune TARP amendment, which needed 60 votes, but was defeated by a vote of 53 to 45.
Last summer, Senator Thune also introduced the Government Ownership Exit Plan Act (S. 1242). The Government Ownership Exit Plan would end TARP authority and require the federal government to sell all the ownership interests in private companies that it has acquired through TARP.
###
Sad news for the Jones family
I was just informed that Sydney Jones, the daughter of Troy and Mary Jones, who many around South Dakota had been pulling for since we’d received word of her illness, passed away this morning.
As noted on the journal page for Sydney,
Visitation will be held Sunday, February 7th from 5-7 p.m., with family present, at St. Lambert’s Catholic Church in Sioux Falls, SD (1000 S Bahnson). Christian Wake services will be held following the visitation.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Lamberts on Monday, February 8th, at 11:00 a .m.
The family is requesting that in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to the:
Sydney Anne Jones Memorial Fund
Catholic Foundation of Eastern South Dakota
523 N Duluth Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Please keep the Jones family in your thoughts and prayers.
A find at the homestead
I spent most of my time in Pierre painting at the family homestead, and I managed to come across something that I knew existed, but hadn’t seen in about 10 years.
It’s a bit of a historic document, so I’m sharing it here.
Yes, that’s FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover congratulating my dad on the occasion of my birth. Unless they had autopens back in 1966, in comparing it to known autograph examples, it looks like it was him, and not a secretary signing it.
That’s going on my office wall!
Things I learned in Pierre today….
I wandered the halls, commisurated with the legislators, and served as the blogosphere’s hall monitor for the State Legislature today.
So what did I learn?
1. Stepanie Rissler of SDPB has impeccable manners, even towards a schlub like me. I chatted with her early this afternoon, and she sent me a nice note this evening. Make sure you catch her on SDPB’s statehouse.
2. Ben Nesselhuf has a tendency towards dramatic flair when speaking on the floor…
3. State Representative Rich Engels is not going to run this next election, so he can spend more time with family during those pesky growing years which chase so many out of politics. Best of luck to Rich. Also not coming back… Dennis Schmidt & Jim Peterson.
4. I didn’t think I ever realized how hilarious Shantel Krebs is. At the REALTOR Chili-Oyster feed, she was entertainment at the table as among other topics, she explained her hubby’s (former Press Secretary Mitch Krebs) lament because she keeps the thermostat low as a cost saving measure.
5. Bruce Rampleberg is going to be running for State Senator Gordon Howie’s seat in the State Senate. Elizabeth Kraus is slated for that Schmidt seat…
6. Bad news, I heard that Curt Hohn, who ran against John Thune a few years ago, and former Senator J.P. Duniphan were both mentioned to be undergoing treatment for cancer. Good luck and a speedy recovery for both.
7. The best show in town today was an unrecorded, informal meeting. Senator Jim Bradford and Representative Iron Cloud apparently got into a very heated discussion in an informal state-tribal relations committee. Unfortunately, since it was informal, it wasn’t on tape. And we’ll never know what was really said…..
From everything I heard, it would have been worth a listen.
Stay tuned – I’m back on the road in the AM!
More information and a journal on Sydney Jones
We’ve had a ton of notes regarding Troy Jones’ daughter Sydney, a former legislative page who suffered a pulmonary embolism this week.
Sydney is hospitalized at Creighton University Medical Center, and I was informed tonight of a web journal set up with more information for people to review and to leave their best wishes for a speedy recovery.
You can find the Journal *Here*
Please click on the link, and sign the guestbook. You can set it for regular updates to be sent to you vie e-mail.
Again, all our best to Sydney for a speedy recovery, and our prayers remain with the entire Jones family during Sydney’s illness.
Came back to the house, tore my pants, but got a nice mention.
I’m sitting in the house gallery, and wouldn’t you know I tore the rear of my pants on a sharp piece of metal.
Right on my rear-end. Rats.
About at that moment, as I’m exploring the extent of the damage, my friend Brock Greenfield chooses that moment to right a wrong, and recognizes me from the house floor.
Taking my hand away from my posterior, I waved in reponse to the gracious courtesy of the House (after my light ribbing).
But it’s not all sunshine and roses.
A Sgt at arms admonished me from using my phone… And I still have a hole in the seat of my pants.
Such is the life of a political blogger.
