Thinking about running as a Republican in 2020? Before you write a check to someone, I’m happy to have a conversation.

As I add another name or two to the 2020 candidate list and we inch closer towards the 2020 season, it’s worthwhile noting that as parties are out there recruiting, we tend to forget that there are those who don’t run in political circles who take a look at all running for office and think “you know, I could do that.”

For those people thinking about running for partisan office, particularly those who might have an interest in running as a Republican for the first time, I’d offer that I’m always happy to chat with you about it. What you can expect things might cost, what resources you can access, what good practices you should use.

I’m happy to have these conversations in confidence (no blogging zone engaged), and equally as important, I’m not going to charge you anything.

Every once in a while, I run across those who had been talking with people who claim to know about politics in a similar nature, and then found themselves tied to “a consultant” who is then sending them a bill for hundreds of dollars. Had that happen with someone who hadn’t signed anything, and then boom! A bill for $500, with the expectation that they were now going to pay them an additional $3000.

$3500 on top of all other expenses for database access that’s available at no cost, to access information that’s readily available if you know where to look, and to arrange professional services that are middling at best? That’s enough to put a person off of politics. Before a person interested in running as a Republican decides to, or inadvertently finds themselves committed to paying someone thousands of dollars for the sake of being “represented,” maybe the best advice I can offer is to reach out for a chat.

Yes, I do sell campaign materials too as well as my experience with them. But, there’s a difference between sourcing print material and basic campaign advice. Over a number of years, I’ve had the benefit of some outstanding mentors in the field of politics who were always glad to provide advice. It’s important to me to pay that forward so a person can start on their best foot running for office.

It’s pretty easy to be what I term “a good candidate.” It’s also easy to fall into a lot of old hackneyed tropes in running. The difference is what makes a candidate an elected official. That doesn’t mean a person has the most money, but it means they run a competent race.

So if you’re a new candidate thinking about running for county or legislative office and just want to bounce some things off of a person to understand what it takes to do a good job, the door is always open, and I’m only an e-mail or phone call away.

New Approach SD appears to have reported nearly $14K in “donation jar contributions” in January 2018. Despite a law against anonymous donations.

I was doing a little snooping in the campaign finance reports for the New Approach South Dakota Group, and unexpectedly stumbled across an item which potentially could be a campaign finance violation.

And if true, one that could cost them plenty. Nearly $14,000 of plenty.

NEWAPPROACHSD_DONATIONJAR by Pat Powers on Scribd

Under the group’s separate committees, New Approach South Dakota Rec (for recreational pot) and New Approach South Dakota – Medical Cannabis, on both reports filed in January of 2018, the group reported donations under “other income” of “Donation Jar.”

Under New Approach South Dakota Rec, Melissa Mentele (who filed both reports), indicated the group collected $4889.00 via donation jar. Under New Approach South Dakota – Medical Cannabis, Mentele reported the group collected $8,957.89 via “Event Donation Jar.”

Why is it a problem that Mentele reported donations of $13,846.89 via a donation jar? Because of SDCL 12-27-11. SDCL 12-27-11 provides the following:

12-27-11. Required information about contributors–Contributions from unknown source to be donated to charitable entity–Violation as misdemeanor. No person, entity, candidate, or political committee may give or accept a contribution unless the name, mailing address, city and state of the contributor is made known to the person, entity, candidate, or political committee receiving the contribution. In addition to any other information to be made known under this section, the name of the custodial parent or parents of an unemancipated minor who makes a contribution shall be made known. Any contribution, money, or other thing of value received by a candidate or political committee from an unknown source shall be donated to a nonprofit charitable entity. A violation of this section is a Class 2 misdemeanor. A subsequent offense within a calendar year is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

As it was in effect in 2018 when this report was filed, the only difference was that the notation of children’s donations had not been added to the law. But the law was in full effect when it came to the anonymous donation. Such as you’d see in a donation jar.

Did Secretary of State Shantel Krebs fail to raise the question of whether this was a violation at the time? I’m not seeing any amendments to the reports in the Secretary of State’s campaign finance system, so I can’t confirm or deny that.  But at least on the surface, when they’re reporting “donation jar” donations themselves, you might be in good company if you think there might be an issue.

And I’m not aware that any statute of limitation has eclipsed the violation 18 months later, especially for the “New Approach South Dakota – Medical Cannabis” group which remains an active organization.

This could pose a problem. Especially if there’s an issue and the group needs to cough up nearly $14,000.

SDDP trying to put happy face on Treasurer abandoning ship, and being deep in the red

From the Argus Leader’s report on what you already read here a few days ago, South Dakota Democrats are trying to put a happy face on the fact they closed their doors, their State Party Treasurer just abandoned ship, they’re spending in the red, and they’re deep in debt.

Did I forget anything?

The South Dakota Democratic Party’s treasurer is out, and its finances are in the red.

The SDDP ended August with negative $9,860 in cash on hand and $46,864 in debt, according to the party’s monthly report filed on Friday evening with the Federal Elections Commission. The party received $17,539 in donations during August and disbursed $30,580 for items such as salaries and operational expenses.

and…

When asked about a timeline for turning around the party’s finances, Burnette said they’ve seen both first-time and longtime supporters step up who are excited about the new leadership and their plans to focus on grassroots organizing while being fiscally responsible.

“They’re excited that we’re going to be investing more in local and legislative candidates to build that bench for the future of the party,” Burnette said.

Read it all here.

Don’t you have to have money to invest money?

(I notice she skipped over the part where Dems owe the City of Sioux Falls on a bill that’s been hanging out there for months.)

President Trump Approves Second South Dakota Disaster Request

President Trump Approves Second South Dakota Disaster Request

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem today announced that President Trump has approved the State’s request for a second Presidential Disaster Declaration, allowing federal money to be used to help local governmental entities recover from property damage sustained during severe storms and flooding that occurred statewide in late May and early June.

“South Dakota continues to be battered by heavy rainfall and persistent flooding, and this additional funding will continue to move impacted communities towards recovery,” said Noem. “I appreciate that FEMA and the President recognize the compounding effects of these storms and heavy rain.”

A preliminary damage assessment conducted in June documented about $8 million in damage to public infrastructure in 25 counties and on two reservations. Public property damage assistance has been approved for the counties of: Aurora, Bennett, Brule, Butte, Campbell, Custer, Deuel, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Hamlin, Hanson, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Meade, Mellette, Pennington, Sanborn, Todd, Tripp, Turner, Union, Walworth, and Ziebach, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and the Rosebud Reservation.

In her letter to President Trump requesting a disaster declaration, Noem said the continued heavy rainfall fell on already-saturated soils, forcing rivers and lakes back into flood stage or exacerbating ongoing flooding. Rushing water washed out roads and had severe effects on infrastructure, commerce, and agriculture.

“The impact of this event will be felt in these communities well into the future,” Noem wrote. “However, with the availability of federal assistance, combined with the state, local, and voluntary assistance provided, it will help individuals, businesses, and government inch closer to recovering from this disaster.

South Dakota last received a federal disaster declaration in June for severe winter storms and flooding that affected 58 counties. That flooding left local roads, culverts and bridges damaged. Ongoing rain and flooding in May and June hampered recovery efforts and caused additional damage. The state has two more federal disaster declaration requests pending for storm damage that occurred later this summer.

FEMA officials are now in South Dakota working on the first federal disaster declaration and will continue to work on the second. More details on the process for the second disaster declaration will be announced at a later date.

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Delegation Applauds Administration’s Decision to Approve South Dakota Disaster Declaration Following Severe Storms and Flooding

Delegation Applauds Administration’s Decision to Approve South Dakota Disaster Declaration Following Severe Storms and Flooding

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) today applauded the administration for approving a major disaster declaration for several South Dakota counties, including Aurora, Bennett, Brule, Butte, Campbell, Custer, Deuel, Fall River, Gregory, Haakon, Hamlin, Hanson, Jackson, Jones, Lyman, Meade, Mellette, Pennington, Sanborn, Todd, Tripp, Turner, Union, Walworth, and Ziebach, as well as the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and the Rosebud Reservation following severe storms and flooding from May 26 to June 7, 2019.

“South Dakota has been hit with storm after storm this spring and summer, so I’m glad this disaster declaration was approved and will provide our state with some much-needed relief,” said Thune. “I’m thankful that the administration understood the urgency of this request and that folks affected by the storms and flooding will hopefully be able to get back on their feet more quickly.”

“Thanks to President Trump for recognizing the need to provide disaster relief to South Dakota communities impacted by recent severe weather and flooding,” said Rounds. “This will help local units of government and certain non-profit organizations to rebuild critical infrastructure and facilities that have been severely damaged.”

“South Dakota has had a tough year,” said Johnson. “This disaster declaration will allow South Dakota’s communities to heal and repair more quickly, and I am grateful for the steadfast support the administration has shown our state during a year of unpredictable weather.”

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SDDP’s financial management just went from bad to worse. If that’s possible.

After the same Treasurer who has been presiding over Democrat’s financial mismanagement filed a campaign finance report under cover of darkness on Friday that showed that Democrats have a -10K cash on hand, and are $47k in debt, it highlighted that State Democrats are faced with a long road and some hard choices to fix their financial mess.

So, organizationally, what are they doing to prevent problems like this in the future?

According to a the Federal Elections Commission filing late last night, they decided to go from bad to worse:

SDDP Sept 2019 Treasurer Amendment by Pat Powers on Scribd

It appears from the form (above) that was just filed Bill Nibbelink, who has been State Democrat party treasurer for a number of years, throughout all the period under scrutiny at the FEC (and into Paula Hawks’ administration) at the South Dakota Democrat party may be out. Or at least his name isn’t on this new paperwork.

What have they done? Well, it appears that Chairwoman Paula Hawks is the new SDDP “Assistant Treasurer.”

So, in the face of outstanding bills and deficit spending, instead of tightening financial controls.. South Dakota Democrats have removed financial controls? Hawks is noted as “Asst Treasurer,” and is the designated custodian of records according to the filing.

It’s just good financial practice to have a system of checks and balances to ensure no one person has control over all parts of a financial transaction. And one of the first things you do is to ensure that the same person isn’t authorized to write and sign checks, and to separate purchasing from payable functions.

But of course, those are good practices. And we’re taking about South Dakota Democrats.

US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: The Time is Now to Pass USMCA


The Time is Now to Pass USMCA
By Sen. John Thune

It’s been a rough year in farm country. Severe weather. Flooding. A delayed (and in some cases non-existent) planting season. Sluggish agriculture economy. Barriers to market access. Ongoing trade disputes. There are plenty of things South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers could complain about – things for which most Americans would be sympathetic – but these folks don’t have a complaining bone in their body, because a complaint is time wasted, and it doesn’t do anything to help an operation succeed.

Farmers and ranchers are hardworking, glass-half-full optimists, and I’m proud of what they do, but I don’t want to underplay the raw anxiety that exists in farm country today. While folks are glad this administration is willing to go toe-to-toe with China on trade, and they look forward to what that means for the future of agriculture, there’s no doubt they are still concerned about the here and now and the difficult situation that currently exists.

It’s not just farmers’ and ranchers’ optimism that I admire. One, they know more about agriculture policy than just about anyone else I know. And two, they aren’t shy. I rarely make a stop in South Dakota these days without hearing about the day-to-day struggles in the agriculture community as well as the many ideas folks have to address it, and I want to thank them for their counsel, especially on trade.

Not only do I take the advice I receive throughout South Dakota seriously, I oftentimes take it directly to the White House – to the Oval Office, if necessary. I’ve met with the president twice in September alone, during which I had the opportunity to advocate for South Dakota’s agriculture producers.

While negotiations with China and other countries are ongoing, there’s one important trade agreement that’s already been completed, and it’s now up to Congress to get it across the finish line. The administration wrapped up its negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) literally hundreds of days ago. Mexico’s government has already approved it, and Canada is just waiting on the United States to take the next step. We could take that next step, and we could take it quickly, but there’s one thing standing in the way: politics.

If possible, the Senate would be prepared to vote on USMCA tomorrow, but the Democrat-led House of Representatives continues to drag its feet on this deal, which would benefit virtually every sector of our economy – from manufacturing to digital services to the automotive industry. They’re standing in the way of a pro-growth trade agreement that is expected to create 176,000 new U.S. jobs and raise wages for workers.

From my vantage point, this administration has worked in good faith to address many of my Democrat colleagues’ concerns, and I’m encouraged by their ongoing discussions. I just hope Democrats wouldn’t intentionally slow-walk this deal just to prevent a perceived political win for the president. Let me be clear, political parties don’t win with USMCA. America wins, which is why every single living former secretary of agriculture who has served since the Reagan administration – Republican and Democrat – supports USMCA.

Farming and ranching is a tough, unpredictable business. Last year at this time, many of the same parts of the state that have battled this year’s wet weather were facing opposite conditions – a drought. There’s more than enough unpredictability for these folks as it is, which is why we owe it to them to provide as much certainty as possible in the areas that are within our control. That’s exactly why the time is now to pass USMCA.

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US Senator Mike Rounds Weekly Column: Deb Bowman: A Genuine Public Servant

Deb Bowman: A Genuine Public Servant
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

There’s a difference between public servants and bureaucrats, and we have known or dealt with both. Our office spends an incredible amount of time and energy helping constituents bust through the federal bureaucracy and unfortunately, we often bump heads with federal bureaucrats. It is time-consuming and aggravating for constituents. After experiences like these, we unfortunately have a tendency to stereotype all government employees in that manner.

Thankfully, that’s not always the case. There are examples of legitimate public servants, often behind the scenes, who truly seek to make the lives of our citizens better. One of those special individuals is Deb Bowman.

Deb Bowman was the truest, most sincere (and brutally honest) public servant I’ve had the honor of knowing.

For those of us who knew Deb, especially her family—her husband Randy, her children Brooke and Jessamine and her grandkids—our hearts ache. At just 65 years old, Deb passed away on September 17, 2019, after a fairly recent lung cancer diagnosis. Years earlier, Deb became a kidney transplant recipient and I believe that experience and the other hardships in her life shaped her view of public service.

Deb was a loyal friend who worked with me while I served as governor. She was a tremendous asset on my 2002 transition team, as a senior advisor and cabinet secretary. Prior to that, Deb was an advisor to Governors Mickelson and Janklow and she went on to serve Governor Daugaard before her retirement in 2014.

It is not hard to understand how four governors saw the same value and passion in Deb. It is a testament to the legacy she has left.

Deb was a fierce conversationalist. Her ability to identify with those less fortunate was her signature quality. She was able to put a “face” on the policy decisions that were made and reminded governors, legislators and state employees that the monetary and policy decisions we make impact real people and families. She was a tough and relentless advocate for those less fortunate. And, she inspired understanding about the role society and state government played when it came to children, the poor and the elderly.

Often, Deb would be outright arguing a position with me and she’d say; “Oh now come on Governor, that’s ‘bullcrap’, have you considered…” Needless to say, Deb won those debates multiple times and our state is better off for it.

She understood that her value was not mimicking the opinions being expressed around the table. She brought compassion to her advocacy and I believe, it made me a better governor. Her service was not without sacrifice. On top of time away from her family and the strain upon her health, her empathy was so deep and pure that she carried the weight of the vulnerable through long hours and personal anguish. Yet despite many times being dismissed as the lone, unpopular voice, she’d take a drive around the Capitol, think over her argument, and show up with a new line of reasoning. She was persistent.

When I think of the rare public servant like Deb, I’m reminded of Matthew 23:11; “The greatest among you must be a servant.” Deb was a phenomenal public servant – for all the right reasons.

Deb could have been the CEO of any organization and made a bunch more money. She was intelligent, a hard worker, a professional, a leader. She chose public service, and in doing so she was a friend, to me and to many.

Thank you, Deb, for showing all of us what a true public servant looks like.

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Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Column: “For Show” or “For Real”

“For Show” or “For Real”
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

Washington is a town where investigations can last for years and cost millions of taxpayer dollars. Some investigations happen in order to check a box before moving onto the next task. We all know in D.C. there are two types of investigations. Investigations that are “for show” and investigations that are “for real.”

In cattle country we need an investigation “for real.”

Times have been tough for cattle producers, especially throughout the last couple of years. South Dakotans have faced unprecedented hard weather – as recent as last week, folks are facing flooded fields and their cows are stranded on flooded plains.

Despite tough times, the producers I know don’t ask for guarantees or handouts, all they want is a fair chance to earn a living. Unfortunately, cattle prices have been soft, and those producers’ tight margins don’t allow for huge swings for our feeders and to our ranchers.

Following the Holcomb fire, the market experienced extreme volatility. The producers I know are smart and savvy professionals—they expressed that the immediate aftermath of the fire caused serious damage to the long-term viability of their business and to their way of life.

USDA has taken notice—I’m grateful Secretary Perdue and USDA acted expediently and opened an investigation under the Packers and Stockyards Act into the cattle market. An investigation like this does not happen every day. Many folks in South Dakota are anxiously awaiting the results. I know that I am.

It’s for these reasons that Congress gave USDA oversight authority. Every indication from USDA gives me a good feeling that they are conducting this investigation “for real.” I believe they are doing their best to gather and analyze the pertinent data.

It’s imperative our agencies continue to pay attention as Congress intended. USDA wants to get to the bottom of this and rightly so. They want to determine if there has been unfair trade practices or market manipulation.

Making that kind of a serious determination won’t be easy. It will require real effort, real persistence, and a real willingness to dig deep.

As I said at the beginning, there are two types of investigations in this town, those that are “for show” and those that are “for real.” It looks like USDA is conducting this investigation “for real,” and thank goodness for that.

Our cow-calf producers deserve it, our feedlots deserve it, and our country deserves it.

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