Category: Uncategorized

Thune: Tax Reform Will Provide Relief to the Middle Class

“Our tax reform plan will ensure that these families are no longer left behind.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) discussed the tax reform framework that was released this week by the Senate Finance Committee, of which Thune is a member, the House Ways and Means Committee, and the Trump administration. The framework supports Republicans’ five principles that should guide pro-growth, comprehensive tax reform, which include: providing tax relief to the middle class; increasing wages, jobs, and economic growth; keeping good-paying jobs in the Unites States; increasing American competitiveness in the global economy; and simplifying the tax code.

To learn more about Thune’s work on tax reform, please visit the tax reform section on www.thune.senate.gov.

I have to admit, this one came out of left field yesterday when I heard it.

Jordan Mason, who lobbied for the National Association of Gun Rights, and has been closely tied to the South Dakota Gun Owners group this past session has been advertising that he’s in the petition signature collecting business, seeking people to collect signatures.

I honestly hadn’t given it an ounce of thought, when yesterday I had a person note to me that they had been told that Jordan’s company is doing the soliciting to find people to circulate petitions on behalf of State Representative Mark Mickelson’s proposed cigarette tax initiative.

Wait, What?

I did a double-take, and that might have been spit take worthy if I’d had a mouth full of liquid.  I had to stop them, and ask for clarification, querying  “Jordan, who has been involved with South Dakota Gun Owners, is out hiring circulators on a petition for a tax increase?”   And the reply was “Yes. And he’s having Mickelson out to speak to the Wingnut group in Rapid City.”

Now, Mark has made no bones about his support for the measure to raise money for tech schools. But the possibility of Jordan working on the campaign is what grabbed me.

Why is this so shocking?  Mainly because of Jordan’s involvement with South Dakota Gun Owners.  If you recall this past election, they had a lot to say about people who they thought proposed or raised any taxes, and did so by letting their checkbook do their talking:

The SDGO has dedicated thousands upon thousands of dollars towards attacking people on the issue of tax increases by dumping cash into the SD Taxpayer PAC.  And now someone who was their spokesman as recently as this past legislative session may be working on a ballot measure to increase cigarette taxes?

This is the same Taxpayer PAC who went hard on the attack this past election here, and here, in some cases flat out lying about legislators records, specifically about raising taxes, and almost solely backed by the SD Gun Owners’ checkbook.

Dang, I can’t say that I saw that one coming.  (Does that mean they’re going to have to do a fluorescent postcard against themselves?)

Interesting item of note.  KCPO Television, who has broadcasted old shows and public affairs programming, has apparently dropped their Facebook presence.

It caught my attention because the videos tied to the page where they had advertised upcoming programming featuring State Senator Stace Nelson and his planned rants have all been pulled down.

Does that mean Stace Nelson’s promise of a television show that has been lingering out there since June is going to happen?  Could be, and since it’s been 4 months since anyone has heard a peep about it,  I suspect it’s going to remain lingering.

It looks like the Pot promoters are joining Slick Rick Weiland’s group, and adding couch voting to their list of measures they’re circulating for, in addition to 2 measures to legalize pot, and one to legalize certain manners of killing your grandmother.

Thune-Supported Provisions to Address Chronic Illness Included in Senate-Passed Bill

“This bipartisan bill makes important advancements to manage care more efficiently, and importantly, it will create greater opportunities for Medicare patients in South Dakota and other rural areas to better utilize telehealth services.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the Creating High-Quality Results and Outcomes to Improve Chronic (CHRONIC) Care Act of 2017 (S. 870), bipartisan legislation that would strengthen health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries living with chronic conditions. The bill, of which Thune is a co-sponsor, includes several Thune-supported provisions to support telehealth services, including provisions from the CONNECT for Health Act and his Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine (FAST) Act (S. 431). The Senate Finance Committee, of which Thune is a member, unanimously approved S. 870 on May 18, 2017.

“Managing chronic conditions is critical to improving the health of patients across the country,” said Thune. “This bipartisan bill makes important advancements to manage care more efficiently, and importantly, it will create greater opportunities for Medicare patients in South Dakota and other rural areas to better utilize telehealth services. There is strong support for this initiative in the Senate, and work is ongoing in the House, so I’m hopeful we’ll be able to get a final bill on the president’s desk as soon as possible.”

Thune-Supported Provisions in the CHRONIC Care Act:

FAST Act:

• The CHRONIC Care Act contains a provision similar to Thune’s FAST Act, which eliminates originating site geographic restrictions for telehealth services to remotely diagnose and treat stroke patients beginning in 2021.

Medicare Advantage (MA) Value-Based Insurance Design (V-BID):

• Expands the MA V-BID demonstration program, initially proposed by Thune, to allow an MA plan in any state to participate in the program by 2020.

CONNECT for Health provisions:

• Allows additional telehealth benefits under MA.
• Provides Accountable Care Organizations the ability to expand the use of telehealth.
• Permits the use of telehealth for periodic consultations with health care practitioners for home dialysis users.

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In the past week or so, State Senator Brock Greenfield was having heart bypass surgery which came about as a result of some suggested routine medical tests.  He might not be walking the route yet, but he was doing well enough to be in a parade this past weekend.

I see today that former GOP House Majority Leader Bill Peterson was having a couple of stents put in to make sure his arteries are fully open and operating, something that popped up because he was advised to check out some early concerns. He reports he’s doing well.

A little farther back, South Dakota Newspaper Exec Dave Bordewyk had a mobile screening test while up at session, and they ended up sending him in for lifesaving procedures, as he had 90% blockages in some blood vessels.

Is it me, or does it seems as if lately we’re all hitting that age where we’re all falling apart!

This is all coinciding with my quarterly doctor appointments that I manage to make about three times a year because I’m going in ten different directions.  And as my family doctor pointed out,  as I approach 51 years old, I shouldn’t put off a certain test any longer.

So, I got it scheduled, and in the next few weeks I’m going on for a colonoscopy.  Ugh.

I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but it’s one of those tests my mother did religiously, because she had a history of colorectal cancer in her family, where at least one if not two of her aunts died from it. (My mom died from breast cancer, which is another story entirely.)  With the possibility that a risk for colorectal cancer could run in the family, it’s not something I should mess with.

Obviously, there are the downsides of the test. Like the sedation with accompanying day off from work. The nasty things you have to drink and eat (or not eat) leading up to the test. And the procedure itself which is what may have lent itself to the unconscious fears of being examined by aliens.

However, colorectal cancer can be easily resolved if they catch it early enough, so all the trouble and discomfort is certainly worth it, even though it hopefully the test itself will turn out to be clear as a bell.

Yeah, those tests can be a pain. Especially when they turn out to be nothing. It seems that way with a lot of medical tests.

A year or so back, I was having pains in areas of my upper torso, so just to be on the safe side, my doctor had me do a stress test.  Perfectly and completely normal. In fact, despite being stuck behind a desk most of the time, she said I did well.

Six months ago, I had a mole on my back that had grown, and changed shape in a short period of time. After years of scorching sunburns from being on swim team as a youth… well, you have those things looked at.  My doctor lopped it off, had it tested…. And it turned out to be an age spot and mole combination.

Seriously?  My wife scolded me to get to the doctor to get an age-spotted mole checked? (How do I have age spots at 50?)

Those instances turned out to be a lot of nothing. And that’s what we hope for. Despite the inconveniences, the expense, and what may be a temporary break in our routines…. Don’t we go in to make sure it IS ok?

Because on the off-chance it does turn out to be something, having it looked at early might mean the difference between a temporary inconvenience and a much too early grave.  As we ponder our ailments and mortality in light of our friends being knocked down for a matter of days or weeks… maybe having those things checked out is better than the alternative.

So, take care of yourself. We like having you around. Remember you’re not invincible.

And an ounce of prevention is actually ok. Even though it might be a pain … in certain places.

Noem Meets with Trump on Tax Reform

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today met with President Donald Trump and a group of bipartisan lawmakers at the White House to discuss a comprehensive tax reform package to create more jobs, bigger paychecks, and a fairer tax code. Noem serves as a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, the first South Dakotan in history to do so. In this role, Noem has helped draft the blueprint for a once-in-a-generation tax reform proposal, which was the basis for today’s White House discussions.

“Today’s meeting left me extremely optimistic for what we can accomplish,” said Noem. “This is a president who wants to tackle the hard issues and move this country forward. I’ve been fighting to do the same. Today was another important step toward a tax code that can help free South Dakotans to achieve their potential without the heavy burden of an outdated tax code standing in their way.”

Photo Credit: White House

During today’s White House meeting, Noem discussed a proposal to:

• Grow jobs and paychecks nationwide by lowering tax rates at every income level, separating wage income from small business income, and leveling the playing field for American businesses and workers to compete.
• Make the tax code fairer and simpler by increasing the standard deduction, and eliminating the maze of unfair special interest loopholes.
• Help middle-class families by consolidating tax brackets, preserving and simplifying family-focused provisions, and encouraging savings and investment.

Throughout the tax reform process, Noem has given South Dakota an unprecedented voice in the debate. As one of the only members of the committee with a background in agriculture, she has given voice to the needs of rural America. In July, Noem welcomed Scott VanderWal, a producer near Volga, to testify before the committee about tax reform’s impact on small businesses. Noem has also traveled throughout the state, meeting with families and local businesses to discuss their priorities.

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From the Argus Leader:

According to one measurement, South Dakota Sen. John Thune was one of the most effective members of the U.S. Senate during the 114th Congress, in 2015-2016, compared to his peers.

That’s the conclusion of a new organization called the Center for Effective Lawmaking, a joint initiative between the University of Virginia’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy and Vanderbilt University. The co-directors of the group are Craig Volden of the University of Virginia and Alan Wiseman of Vanderbilt.

and…

Thune was the second most effective Republican in during the last session of Congress, trailing Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin was the third most effective Republican.

Read it all here.

Not too shabby.  What are your thoughts?

Can you fight “the man” when you are “the man?”  Pennington County Commissioner George Ferebee found out that you can’t:

Ferebee, 77, was ordered to pay a $200 fine for maintaining on his rural Hill City property a septic system that lacked an operating permit. The zoning ordinance states that on-site wastewater treatment systems need to be pumped, inspected and issued permits regularly.