Thune, Schumer Reintroduce Bill to Block IRS From Taxing Olympic Medals
Legislation Would Allow Olympic and Paralympic Athletes to Keep What They’ve Earned

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today reintroduced legislation that would exempt Team USA medalists from being taxed by the Internal Revenue Service on medals or other prizes awarded to them during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“We should extend a warm welcome and congratulations – not a tax bill – to our Olympic and Paralympic champions when they return to the United States,” said Thune. “These Olympians, who often become role models for younger athletes across the country, dedicate years of their life and own money representing the United States on the world stage. The least we can do in return for these athletes’ commitment and patriotism is to allow them to keep what they’ve earned during the Olympic Games.”

“Our Olympian and Paralympic medalists should be worried about breaking world records, not breaking the bank, when they earn a medal,” said Schumer. “After a successful and hard fought victory, it’s just not right for the United States to welcome these athletes home with a victory tax. I’m hopeful that this bill will earn strong bipartisan support and quickly become law.”

Beginning with the upcoming 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United States Appreciation for Olympians and Paralympians (USA Olympians and Paralympians) Act would exempt the value of medals won from the athlete’s taxable income, as well as prizes awarded through the United States Olympic Committee (USOC), which pays monetary awards to U.S. medal-winning athletes at the Olympic and Paralympic Games. If enacted, the bill would have a negligible effect on federal revenue and would not affect taxes on any potential endorsement or sponsorship income earned by Olympic athletes.

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, of which Thune serves as chairman, oversees the USOC and other sports organizations. Thune and Schumer are both members of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax and revenue measures.

The USA Olympians and Paralympians Act, which was first introduced in the 113^th Congress, is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-Colo.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.).

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Rounds Introduces Veterans Equal Cost for Care Act of 2016

WASHINGTON— U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today introduced the Veterans Equal Cost for Care Act of 2016 to improve care for veterans who receive health care under the Choice Act program. This legislation would amend the Choice Act by eliminating the “secondary payer clause” to make certain veterans do not pay more for private care under the Choice Act than they would if they were seen at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.

“Because we are a large, rural state, South Dakota veterans are disproportionately forced to use the Choice Act program to receive care at a non-VA facility,” said Rounds. “The intent of the Choice Act, which is to provide relief to those facing long appointment wait times and those who live far from VA facilities, is undermined because of higher out-of-pocket costs and reimbursement issues. In fact, problems with the Choice Act is the number one issue my constituent services representatives handle on a day-to-day basis.

“The Veterans Equal Cost for Care Act would make certain veterans do not pay more for private care under the Choice Act program than they would if they were seen at a VA facility. If the VA doesn’t have the capacity to serve the veterans it is intended to serve, it is only right that it picks up the bill for outsourcing its duties. It is a step in the right direction toward addressing the many problems within the VA to make certain our veterans receive the best care possible.”

In response to long wait times at VA facilities, the 113th Congress passed the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act (Choice Act) in 2014. The Choice Act authorizes veterans who live more than 40 miles from a VA facility or are forced to wait more than 30 days for an appointment the opportunity to receive care at non-VA facilities. However, the Choice Act also includes a “secondary payer clause” for veterans who have private health insurance that forces these veterans to pay more out-of-pocket than they would for the same care at a VA facility. Rounds’ legislation repeals the “secondary payer clause.”

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State Representative Scott Munsterman and family had to make an emergency trip to Sioux Falls as a result of a medical event which occurred yesterday with Scott’s wife, Mary Jeanne.

Please keep the family in your prayers, and feel free to offer your well wishes at the caring bridge site that their daughter Ashley has set up here:

http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/maryjeannemunsterman

How crazy left do you have to be to demand that the United States “Stop using fossil fuels. Period?”

#DemDebate Stop using fossil fuels. Period!

— Jay Williams (@Jay4Senate) March 7, 2016

Apparently, the South Dakota Democrat Party’s US Senate Candidate Jay Williams is where the bar is set on that issue.

For my Republican candidate friends, guess what you’re going to see in your mailbox soon?

Last night, I put the finishing touches on my 2016 campaign material catalog for one of my businesses, dakotacampaignstore.com, and placed my order in preparation to hawk my wares in the upcoming campaign season.

When it comes to campaign materials, I’ve always been trying to figure out ways to do things on the cheap.  I’d figured out a stencil system for 4×8 sheets of plywood, and I’ve made door hangers with cardstock, a Hewlett Packard 4p printer and an exacto knife. And trust me, after spending time trying to do it cheaply, I figured out that it’s not much more in terms of cost to do it professionally, and it might be cheaper when you factor in your time & materials.

So, Back in June of 2010, I started Dakotacampaignstore.com to deliver high quality campaign products for South Dakota Republican and non-partisan political candidates, and I haven’t looked back since.

In doing so, I’ve been pleasantly surprised that since I’m a small shop, I’m able to deliver campaign products that are competitive if not cheaper than anyone else out there when comparing apples to apples. On the rare occasion when they are cheaper on items such as postcards, they’re typically doing it by using a lesser quality paper stock, or not UV coating it, which keeps them looking nice through the rigors of bulk mail. (Yes, there is a difference between 8pt uncoated and 14pt UV coated stock, despite what one candidate tried to tell me, and the cards looked like it.)

When you use dakotacampaignstore.com, for your campaign, you’re getting an experienced turn-key solution for targeting your message with some of the highest quality campaign materials on the South Dakota market. You’re also getting the benefit of 28 years of political experience.

So, Republicans & non-partisan candidates, if you think you need campaign materials for 2016, feel free to give me a call at 605-690-6853, and let’s have a conversation. You won’t be disappointed.

With 3 weeks to go until the filing deadline, Ann Tornberg’s Democrats are up from 7 to having 11 candidate petitions filed for the 105 legislative seats she bragged she was going to have filled for the 2016 election cycle.

After fielding the worst slate of statewide candidates (Paula Hawks and Jay Williams) in a generation, Tornberg is not instilling a lot of confidence in her ability to produce what she promises.

(Here’s the official announcement on Brookings Mayor Tim Reed running for the District 7 House seat being vacated by Scott Munsterman. – p)

TIM REED TO SEEK DISTRICT 7 HOUSE SEAT

Tim Reed announced today his intention to run for the South Dakota House of Representatives in Legislative District 7.

Reed currently serves as Mayor of Brookings. With 13 years of experience in city government, Tim is ready to advocate for the citizens of District 7 and affect policy at a state wide level for all the citizens of South Dakota.

Reed said, “I’m looking forward to the campaign and discussing the opportunities and issues facing South Dakota, its cities, and citizens”

During Tim’s tenure as Mayor of Brookings, the City and County came together to build a new Joint Government Building providing better service and saving the tax payer money. That cooperative attitude continued when the City, County, State, and South Dakota State University collaborated to attract Bel Brands to Brookings and the City and State then worked closely together to get 3M to expand in Brookings.

Reed added; “I plan to bring that cooperative approach to the legislature.”

Reed has been active with legislative issues as Mayor of Brookings, a member of the Brookings Chamber of Commence Government Affairs Committee, and a member of the Board of Directors of the South Dakota Municipal League.

Reed, a Republican, has 13 years experience in City Government. Tim served two terms as a Member of the City Council and is in his third term as Mayor. He is a graduate of SDSU with a degree in Commercial Economics. He worked at 3M in the Materials Control and Information Technology Departments. He then worked for i2 Technologies as a Consultant and was self-employed as a Supply Chain Consultant. Tim also served as the Development Director for the College of Engineering for the SDSU Foundation. He oversaw the college’s development operation during an extraordinarily prolific time that included the construction of three new buildings and the establishment of a new endowed professorship. Tim also serves as a district chair on the South Dakota Municipal League Board of Directors.

I’d heard a rumor yesterday, which was quickly confirmed.Yet another legislator has decided not to run again.

District 19 State Senator Bill Van Gerpen confirmed to me yesterday that he has decided to take a pass on running for Senate this year, leaving a vacancy in the seat which has yet to be filled. 

No word on whether Kent Petersen or Kyle Schoenfish would move up to run for the office, or if someone not currently in office would enter the race. (Possibly someone who recently lost in a primary in a previous US Senate contest?)

This has no bearing on those of us with 7 kids. (I think he’s referring to someone else..)

Todd Kolden, Aberdeen School Board member, noted on the SDWC candidate list this morning under the comments that he will be a Republican candidate for a District 3 house seat.

Currently, one seat is occupied by State Representative Dan Kaiser, and the other is being vacated by Al Novstrup, who is running for the State Senate in that same district.

No further details at the moment, but I’m sure we’ll be hearing more quickly.