Category: Uncategorized

There’s a Political Action Committee that has been running attack ads on Senators Larry Zikmund and Arch Beal that no one really knew much about. But now that they’ve made their campaign finance filing, things are getting clearer.

Starting about a week ago, the Government that Works PAC had ads that have been noticed on Dakota News Now, likely geo-fenced to Sioux Falls.

And nobody really knew anything about it. It’s being run by Dem Activist Zach Nistler, but that was it until today, when we find out that Zach has cash to burn for his attack ads:

Government That Works PAC by Pat Powers on Scribd

The Government that Works PAC has a single source of money. A massive $40,000 donation from the federal WayBackPAC.

Who is the “Way Back PAC?” According to records, it is a decidedly liberal PAC based in Sheridan Wyoming which has almost exclusively donated to Democrat Candidates since inception.

$40,000 from Democrat politicians to run attack ads against Republican candidates is nothing to scoff at. Especially in a year when infighting has crippled fundraising for the GOP to run things like slate mailers, and may things they’ve had to forego due to belt-tightening.

No word on whether anyone else has reported being hit. But keep your eyes peeled, and let me know if you see any more attack ads from the “Government that Works PAC.”

Uh oh.

Toby Doeden’s buddy Mark Robinson, the North Carolina Gubernatorial Candidate and allegedly self-described ‘black nazi’ whom Doeden featured at a dinner in Sioux Falls seems to carry an aura of amnesia around him, as people are forgetting many things about him:

Asked by POLITICO at a campaign stop on Monday whether he would urge voters here to still support Mark Robinson, Trump declined to say either way.

“I’m not familiar with the state of the race right now,” Trump told POLITICO as he prepared to step into the black SUV that would whisk him back to his private plane. “I haven’t seen it.”

Read the story at Politico.

Draft Explanations Released for Proposed 2026 Initiated Measure to Limit Property Tax Assessment Increases

PIERRE, S.D. – As required by state law, an explanation for a proposed initiated measure that would limit annual property tax assessment increases for non-agricultural property, which would be on the 2026 general election ballot if approved, has been submitted for public review by the South Dakota Attorney General’s Office.

Attorney General Marty Jackley takes no position on any such proposal for purposes of the ballot explanation. He has provided a fair and neutral explanation on the initiated measure to help assist the voters. The sponsor of the proposed initiated measure is Joe Hurley of Sioux Falls.

This proposed initiated measure would limit annual property tax assessment increases on all non-agricultural land to no more than 2.5 percent of a base amount. If the measure is approved by voters, the new limit would start with the 2027 assessment.

The ballot explanation can be found here.

State law requires the Attorney General draft a title and explanation for each initiated measure, initiated constitutional amendment, constitutional amendment proposed by the Legislature, or referred measure that may appear on an election ballot. The Attorney General’s explanation is meant to be an “objective, clear, and simple summary” intended to “educate the voters of the purpose and effect of the proposed” measure, as well as identify the “legal consequences” of each measure.

Once the Attorney General has filed and posted the draft explanation, the public has 10 days to provide written comment. The explanation was filed Oct. 21, 2024, and the deadline for comments on this explanation is Thursday, October 31, at the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota. The final explanation is due to the Secretary of State on Tuesday, November 12.

The initiated measure would require 17,509 valid petition signatures to qualify for the 2026 general election ballot.

To file written comments on a draft Attorney General’s explanation please use one of the following methods below. Copies of all received comments will be posted on this website.

Comments may be submitted via mail, or through hand delivery, to the Attorney General’s Office at:

Office of the Attorney General
Ballot Comment
1302 E. Hwy. 14, Suite 1
Pierre, SD 57501

Comments that are hand delivered must be received by the close of business in Pierre, South Dakota, by Thursday, October 31.

Comments can be emailed to: [email protected] by the end of the day on Thursday, October 31.  Comments should be clearly expressed in the body of the email.

The Attorney General’s Office will not open attachments in an effort to prevent malware or other digital threats. Please include your name and contact information when submitting your comment. The title of the comment must be included in the subject line of the email.

-30-

I get the feeling that someone can’t take a hint that voters didn’t care to see her elected:

18-point loser won’t drop claims

Lawrence County elected officials have also faced six legal actions from Kate Crowley-Johnson, who ran unsuccessfully for state Senate as a Republican in the June primary. Four have been dismissed, one against the Lawrence County auditor and board of commissioners is pending, and an appeal was filed in another case in September.

Crowley-Johnson lost by 18 percentage points to incumbent Sen. Randy Deibert, R-Spearfish. She’s filed actions against Deibert, Lawrence County commissioners and the auditor challenging the use of automatic tabulating machines to count ballots.

and..

“Many of the claims are not fully developed,” Judge Jeffrey Connolly wrote. “Many are illogical.”

Crowley-Johnson denied an interview request for this story but alleged in text messages to South Dakota Searchlight that “the court system broke its own laws.” She also used profanity in the text messages and accused South Dakota Searchlight of writing “propaganda.”

Read the entire story here.

So, Kate Crowley-Johnson lost by nearly 20 points, she keeps having election conspiracy lawsuits thrown out, claims the court system broke it’s own laws, and accuses media the media of propaganda?

Well, good luck with that.

This might be one of the more curious campaign finance filings we’ll see today.

Extreme-right Indy candidate Karen McNeal apparently received significant funds from District 31 Republican State Representative Scott Odenbach’s personal political action committee in her attempt to knock out one of South Dakota’s most solid Republican Senators, District 32’s Helene Duhamel:

McNeal Pre-General CampaignFinance by Pat Powers on Scribd

 

Liberty Tree PAC is Odenbach’s personal Political Action Committee, and his $2000 donation ties him with McNeal’s most significant donors this entire election cycle.

Odenbach isn’t the only Republican officeholder/candidate to step out of their lane, as D34 House Candidate Heather Baxter also crossed the aisle with a $200 check, and so did D35 Senate Candidate Greg Blanc.

Why is this worth noting? Odenbach has been mentioned as one of the Representatives interested in running for House Majority Leader in caucus elections which will come after November 5, as part of a leadership ticket including himself, Karla Lems, Jon Hanson, and Marty Overweg.

And you can’t help but consider that among legislators, it’s a slap in the face for those seeking unity in the party after the contentious primary elections (which I believe Scott’s PAC also had participated in).  It’s understandable that people are going to work to get their preferred Republican elected in the primary, but with it bleeding over to the general election, they might as well be donating to the Democrat party.

If people had any hope for everyone getting along after the general election.. Sorry. I don’t think that’s going to happen.

Celebrating South Dakota’s Unofficial State Holiday
By Sen. John Thune

As the crisp fall temperatures begin to break through, an unmistakable anticipation builds in the air for our state’s unofficial holiday. The days and nights get cooler, the leaves change colors, and South Dakotans start counting down the days to the third Saturday in October: the start of pheasant season.

Growing up in Murdo, my family and I always looked forward to getting out in the fields and bagging some roosters. My dad passed this tradition on to us, hunting with us into his nineties. We have proudly passed it down to our kids, and I look forward to sharing this heritage with my grandkids someday, too.

A morning in the field is made better with good bird dogs and good company, and coming together at the end of a long day offers a perfect opportunity to thank God for His many blessings and hopefully enjoy a plate full of pheasant. One of the things I cherish most are these moments with friends and family in our great outdoors.

In food plots, sloughs, and shelterbelts across our state, shouts of “rooster!” can be heard all season as locals and visitors alike take part in our famed pastime. For more than a century since that first hunting season commenced, generations of South Dakotans have taken up the mantle of providing suitable habitat for ringnecks and other wildlife, and it’s this spirit of conservation that has sustained our state’s proud tradition for so long and made South Dakota the “pheasant capital of the world.”

In Washington, I’m working to preserve and modernize the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), a historic program that has helped keep our pheasant population bountiful. I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen CRP, and I will continue fighting to support this and other land conservation efforts in the U.S. Senate.

This season, I hope you enjoy some quality time with family and friends, take in the rich beauty of our wonderful state, and, of course, bag a limit of birds. To hunters across South Dakota, here’s to a safe and successful hunt.

###

Life on the Hill
By Jack Jerde, Washington, D.C. Intern
October 18, 2024

When I applied to intern in Congressman Dusty Johnson’s office in the summer of 2024, I never anticipated receiving the offer to work in D.C. As a bison rancher from rural northwest South Dakota, I’m quite the D.C. outsider, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Initially, I anticipated that my responsibilities would primarily involve answering phones and logging messages; however, I was asked to complete a multitude of interesting projects. I’ve written memos, joined meetings, and led tours of the Capitol building, among many other things. It’s a very fast-paced and exhilarating environment. I can’t think of a day I haven’t enjoyed coming to work. I was also pleasantly surprised at how welcoming the staff is. Everyone here is friendly and eager to help with any questions you might have. Building strong relationships and staying engaged has made my time here even more rewarding.

Throughout my internship so far, I’ve refined my writing and speaking skills while gaining a thorough understanding of the many intricacies of federal government. From the outside, it can be easy to view the federal government as a faceless, monolithic structure that is often criticized for inefficiency and a lack of innovation. However, this experience has shown me the vitality of the people make these institutions run and inspired me to continue seeking to work in public service. In my experience, I found that our institutions are run by surprisingly small teams who work tirelessly and employ significant creativity to serve their constituents back home.

To the aspiring congressional interns out there, embrace the discomfort of not having much expertise at the beginning of the internship. I remember feeling nervous on my first few days. With time, you’ll ease into your duties. I’d also encourage you to pursue as many opportunities as possible to talk to the professionals you meet. As an intern, you will learn a lot about the federal government, and the connections you’ll make are priceless. Lastly, make the most of every week as if it’s your last. It seems like yesterday I was being shown around the office and introducing myself to staff members. The few months you spend as an intern can shape your future in ways you can’t imagine.

I would highly recommend this internship to any young person with ambitions to serve in politics. I’ve made many lifelong friends and have made some amazing memories along the way. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this incredible team. I’m excited to carry forward the lessons I’ve learned and face the world with renewed passion and purpose.

###

South Dakota: Prosperous and Free 
By: Gov. Kristi Noem  
October 18, 2024    

Over the past several years, South Dakota’s economy has consistently been the strongest of any state in the country. We recently received two updates that underscore just how strong our economy continues to be, even with the sluggish economy under the Biden-Harris Administration. 

South Dakota once again led the nation in income growth in 2023 according to the Federal Reserve. Additionally, their data shows that we have the second-best growth over the last five years for growth in real median household income. That means our incomes are rising faster than inflation, which isn’t the case for many states across the country.

We also received an accolade from the free market Cato Institute, which recognized us as tied for 4^th out of all states for fiscal policy. They gave us an A and said the following about South Dakota:

“Kristi Noem of South Dakota has defended her state’s low-tax policies since her election in 2018. As one of the freest states in the nation, South Dakota enjoys net domestic in-migration, while most of its neighbors suffer out-migration. Noem cut the general sales tax rate from 4.5 percent to 4.2 percent – a significant reduction, as the state has no income tax and relies heavily on sales taxes. Noem consistently proposes flat budgets. 

South Dakota is setting an example for wise fiscal management. We still have a AAA credit rating and one of the only fully-funded pension plans in the country, and we are looking forward to delivering a balanced budget once again in the upcoming legislative session.

Our unemployment rate remains the lowest in the nation at 2.0%, and last year we even broke the record for lowest unemployment rate for a state in American history. Our jobs market remains the strongest in America – Freedom truly Works Here! 

Behind all of these statistics are people – South Dakota families who are able to put food on the table, keep a roof over their heads, and grow towards their American Dream.

 The rest of the nation could certainly stand to follow South Dakota’s example. By getting government out of the way and allowing people to utilize their Freedom in pursuit of the American Dream, we can bring incomes up, costs down, and get the United States of America back to work!

###

Sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.

Anyone else get the e-mail blast today from No on 21 alliance member group Dakota Rural Action?

Dakota Rural Action has long been a member of the No on Referred Law 21 alliance of enemies of ethanol & energy production. And they had to file pre-election paperwork, which they did in the last day or so. You can read it here:

Dakota Rural Action Ballot Committee by Pat Powers on Scribd

Why do we care about this? It’s called “follow the money.” Because this is one of the most interesting paper-trails I’ve seen.

So this group takes in $35k from a group called South Dakota Rural Voters. What can we tell you about this group? Well, they filed a report too. And here’s where it gets interesting:

Sd Rural Voters by Pat Powers on Scribd

So, the anti-pipeline group takes $25k from the “New World Foundation” in Washington DC, and $10,000 from the “Jane Fonda Climate PAC,” who immediately turns it over to the ballot committee running No on 21 ads and text blasts.

What can we tell you about them?  The New World Foundation is a pro-labor union environmentalist group, led by a former director for the AFL-CIO, and includes among it’s board members people from the Obama Administration.

The Jane Fonda Climate Pac? As you might expect:

I’ve spent my life fighting for what I believe in. When I was 32, President Nixon had me arrested. 50 years later I was arrested five times for protesting the government’s inaction on climate change. It’s no secret that I have a history of ruffling feathers in Washington. Today, support for climate action is unprecedented. The public is voting with the climate in mind, but the people we elect are not.

and..

It is for that reason that I started Jane Fonda Climate PAC, which is laser-focused on one goal:Do what it takes to defeat fossil fuel supporters and elect climate champions at all levels of government. I believe this is the most important thing I will do in my lifetime.

Read the words of Jane Fonda here.

The group fighting the Summit Carbon Pipeline is actually having it’s advertising efforts funded in part by Jane Fonda.

So all these “allegedly conservative” legislators protesting against ethanol and the pipeline they need to keep ag processing competitive in South Dakota? They are doing so at the bidding of Jane Fonda.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!  That might be the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time.

And a good example that politics are a circle. And you might be so far right, that you’re actually left.

Interesting campaign finance filing with the Secretary of State today. The Pennington County GOP filed their campaign finance report, and it seems to be indicative of a Republican Party organization that has forgotten what purpose it serves.

Pennington 2024 Campaign Finance Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

The second largest GOP county party organization in the state reports having raised about $84,163.74 this last year. Unfortunately, between operating expenses and other things they spent money on, it only cost them $106,574 to do so (plus 9k in donated goods & services), eating into their bank account by $22k, leaving them $19,880 to fund their activities next year. Or less, since this is just the pre-primary report.

But here’s the line item that should chap the tails of the Pennington County candidates. (i.e., the reason the group is there in the first place). How much of that $106k did they spend in getting candidates elected?  NOTHING.

$1000 to Vote No on H ballot measure, which the party took an official position on. And the party has long had an anti abortion plank. But $1000 to two of those that it didn’t, including the Anti-ethanol group, and Protecting SD Kids?   What about Republican candidates? 

They can blow $4K on ballot measures, over 8k on a “Candidate forum,” but nothing on candidates?   It’s like they’re only there to perpetuate a fiefdom, and completely ignoring the fiefs.

The entire reason they exist in the first place is to elect Republicans.  Maybe they should start considering that.

Quit donating to ballot measures, and start supporting candidates.  Or you don’t deserve to exist.

(*BONUS*)

Pennington County Republican Women donated more to candidates than the Pennington County Republican Party.

And they’re ending the reporting for the cycle with about as much in the bank.

Good on them for having their priorities straight.