Hot off the press:

Apparently, X-senator Julie Fry Mueller’s husband is running for the open seat on the South Dakota Republican Party executive board vacated by Ezra Hays recently.

Mueller, if you recall, was part of his wife’s ’breastfeeding scandal,’ and was in the closed room as all of it was going on with the legislative employee:

The unnamed staff member said in written testimony that Frye-Mueller and her husband, Mike Mueller, came into her office last week to discuss a bill. The senator asked the staff member about her child and if she had vaccinated her child. When she said ‘yes,’ Frye-Mueller pointed her finger at the staff “aggressively” and told her “it would cause issues,” according to the testimony.

Frye-Mueller then asked the staff member if she was breastfeeding, the staff member said. When the staff member said she was using formula, Frye-Mueller began describing how she could breastfeed.

“She proceeded to provide hand gestures to her chest area and motion to her husband to see if he agreed,” the staff member said in her testimony. “He smiled and nodded.”

Read the entire story here.

Do we have someone to serve on the state Republican Party Executive Board who hasn’t been in the middle of a legislative scandal telling an employee how to breast-feed?

The Julian Beaudion for US Senate campaign has launched, and according to the first FEC report that has been filed, the fledgeling Democrat Senate campaign is doing marginally better than the Brian Bengs (I) campaign for the same race.

JULIAN FOR U.S. SENATE July 2025 FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd

Beaudion raised a total of $85,413.40 in his first quarter (Compared to Bengs’ $77,542.44). I make this comparison, as both the Democrat and the Independent are raising money through ActBlue, the Democrat fundraising platform.

Beaudion had a lower burn rate than Bengs, only spending $41,688.46, leaving him $43,724.94 cash on hand, compared to Bengs ending up with $16k after spending $60k.

The question is whose approach is better? Spending more to get geared up for the campaign, or banking as much as possible?  Beaudion will have access to Democrat campaign money from the national level is he can get a credible campaign pulled together by the end of the year… And he may have access to it anyway, “just because” Democrats want to throw rocks at Republican in the majority leader’s own state.

Keep on watching as things develop in the months to come.

Gov. Rhoden Announces Prison Special Session on September 23

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the date of the special session to consider and pass legislation for a new prison. The special session will be on Tuesday, September 23, 2025, at 9:00 am CT. Governor Rhoden signed an Executive Proclamation formally announcing the special session. You can read his letter to the legislature, which includes the Executive Proclamation, here.

“When we started this process, we knew that we needed to build consensus on a plan that a supermajority of the legislature can agree on, and I believe that we are in good shape to achieve that,” wrote Governor Larry Rhoden. “The purpose of this session shall be to consider and pass legislation to authorize the Department of Corrections to do everything necessary to move forward with this project.”

Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen, who chaired the prison task force, also wrote a letter to Governor Rhoden on the task force’s findings. You can find that letter here.

“We understood that compromise was necessary to reach a recommendation that can win [the Governor’s] support and the support of the legislature,” wrote Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen. “The task force’s unanimous vote for its recommendation demonstrates that we have found a good site f0r a new penitentiary and a strong path forward.”

The prison task force was announced by Governor Larry Rhoden in February. They were tasked with answering three questions:

• Do we need a new prison?
• How big should it be?
• Where should it go?

The prison task force came to unanimous agreement on all three of these questions.

The special session is called pursuant to Article IV, Section 3 of the South Dakota Constitution.

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Johnson Votes to Protect Americans’ Financial Privacy

 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) voted to pass the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act to prohibit a central bank digital currency (CBDC) and protect the financial privacy of all Americans.

“A central bank digital currency allows governments to track purchases of its users – this is wholly un-American,” said Johnson. “Countries like China utilize a central bank digital currency to punish and reward their citizens – we should not be taking any tips from the Chinese Communist Party’s playbook. I’m glad the House passed the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act to protect the financial privacy and freedoms of Americans.”

Background:

Unlike decentralized digital assets, CBDCs are digital forms of sovereign currency issued and controlled by the federal government, with transactions occurring on a government-managed ledger. In short, a CBDC is government-controlled programmable money that, if not designed to mimic cash, could provide the federal government with detailed transaction data on individual users and the ability to program the CBDC to suppress politically unpopular activities.

In March 2022, then-President Biden issued an executive order urging for CBDC research and development. The corresponding report made it clear that the Biden Administration was not only wanting to create a CBDC, but they are willing to trade Americans’ right to financial privacy for a surveillance-style CBDC.

President Trump issued an executive order prohibiting federal agencies from pursuing a CBDC. The Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act codifies President Trump’s executive order, permanently banning their development, so future administrations cannot weaponize this technology against Americans.

Specifically, the Anti-CBDC Surveillance State Act:

• Prohibits the Federal Reserve from issuing a CBDC directly to individuals, ensuring the Federal Reserve can’t mobilize itself into a retail bank with the ability to collect personal financial data on Americans.
• Prohibits the Federal Reserve from indirectly issuing a CBDC to individuals through an intermediary or third party.
• Prohibits the Federal Reserve from using a CBDC as a tool to implement monetary policy.
• Requires authorizing legislation from Congress for the issuance of any CBDC.
• Protects innovation that reflects American values.

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From the Argus Leader, a group fighting the Sioux Falls School District opt-out might need some remedial math after they turned in about half of the signatures needed to bring the action to a public vote:

District community relations coordinator DeeAnn Konrad said the group submitted 2,302 unverified signatures by the 5 p.m. deadline on July 17, well short of the required amount of 5,490 signatures, or of the group’s initial goal of 6,500 signatures.

and..

The leader of the petition effort, Misty Furness, didn’t immediately respond to the Argus Leader’s request for an interview at the time of publication.

Furness did speak with conservative political group Patriot Ripple Effect’s members in a meeting publicized in her opt-out Facebook group and on the conservative group’s Facebook page, but reporters from the Argus Leader and Sioux Falls Live were barred from attending this meeting.

Read that here in the Argus Leader.

You can also read this from the leader of the petition effort, Misty Furness:

You can see that here.

Maybe that’s one reason the group was challenged to get people to sign…

COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROVIDERS INTERIM COMMITTEE TO MEET

PIERRE – The Community Support Providers, State and Federal Efficiencies Interim Committee will hold its second meeting of the 2025 Interim on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. (CT). The meeting is being conducted in Room 414 of the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota.

The Community Support Providers, State and Federal Efficiencies Interim Committee, co-chaired by Representative Leslie Heinemann (R-Flandreau) and Senator Chris Karr (R-Sioux Falls), will meet to receive information on conflict- free case management organizations; and discuss potential efficiencies regarding accreditation and state policy reviews, conflict-free case management, day services payment models, and a standardized documentation system for CSPs and case managers. Public comments will also be accepted. The full agenda is available online.

In addition to Representative Heinemann and Senator Karr, members include Representatives Heather Baxter (R-Rapid City), Brian Mulder (R-Sioux Falls), Nicole Uhre-Balk (D-Rapid City), and Richard Vasgaard (R-Centerville); and Senators Liz Larson (D-Sioux Falls), Lauren Nelson (R-Yankton), and Mykala Voita (R-Bonesteel).

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Fiscal Strength
By: Gov. Larry Rhoden
July 18, 2025

South Dakota’s pretty darn special. What other state has the lowest unemployment rate in America, the 2^nd best overall tax system, the 2^nd least regulations, no income tax, a AAA credit rating, a fully-funded pension, and 136 consecutive years of balanced budgets? Very few states can boast even one such accolade – and no other state can boast all of them together!

Our state is a model of fiscal strength, and I will keep it that way for as long as I am Governor.

We just ended another fiscal year when the calendar turned to July, and despite a tighter budget than usual, South Dakota ended the fiscal year in strong shape. All those accolades remain true, and we delivered a $63 million operating surplus, to boot.

Since we announced our year end surplus, South Dakota has been criticized by some who say that we should have spent more money on this handout or that pet project. But I’m glad we didn’t, and I’ll explain why by digging a bit more into the particulars of the surplus.

Yes, we finished the year $63 million up – and that was driven in part by state agencies spending $22 million less than what they were budgeted. That’s just good, commonsense decision making from the leaders of our agencies. They didn’t spend more than what they were allocated, and they looked for opportunities to save. If every state and Washington, DC, did business that way, our country would be a lot better off.

Our revenues also came in $41 million above what was budgeted, but that was driven by unexpected $47 million in additional unclaimed property receipts this spring. Starting this new fiscal year, all such receipts in the future will be put into a new Unclaimed Property Trust Fund, which I signed into law this past session. That’s a complicated way of saying this: we won’t be able to depend on those dollars in the same way going forward.

We came into this last legislative session knowing that we had a bit of a budget pinch. Then-Governor Noem recommended $80 million in cuts, and I stood by those. The legislature passed $70 million of those cuts but added none of their own. So, we did have to cut to get to where we’re at today. That’s how South Dakota families balance their budgets, and that’s how our leaders do business in Pierre.

For those who wish that we would’ve spent more, I won’t apologize for making fiscally conservative decisions as your Governor. South Dakota is a leader in disciplined financial management. No other state can boast of all the accolades that I listed earlier, so we shouldn’t start doing business like other states.

As long as I am your Governor, we will continue to be careful stewards of taxpayer dollars by making wise long-term investments, maintaining conservative fiscal policies, and only spending within our means. I’ll keep making financial decisions the same way going forward – after all, this approach has served South Dakota well for the last 136 years.

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The SDGOP is holding their summer Central Committee meeting in Pierre tomorrow, and many are thinking that it’s going to be a controversial and contentious gathering before one person steps in the door.   Why is that?

**** Where is the current FEC Report? Last month, the leadership of the state’s largest political party had their monthly Federal Elections Commission completed well in advance of the June 20 deadline on June 5. Yet it showed NO donations for the month, save for the $700 that Treasurer Tina Mulally donated at the last minute.

One month later, with a gathering of all the state’s county GOP Leadership on 7/19, the party does not seem to be in a hurry to file that report in advance of the 7/20 deadline.

**** What Party Financials have been released are a little stale.  The SDGOP has sent out a Profit and Loss statement along with their meeting notice. But, it reflects the state of party affairs ending in May. Look for yourself:

The financials contain nothing for the month June, and nothing for July.  It’s not a look at where they are today, it’s a look at where they were nearly 2 months ago. Only covering the period of time ending in May, the profit & loss statement shows they went backwards $3163.05 in the state account, and backwards $2468.46 in the federal account.

Those were not sustainable numbers in May, and if that trend continues, the South Dakota Republican Party is not in a good position for moving forward.

**** The weaponization of the party to attack officeholders has commenced.  The SDGOP has started weaponizing their social media, and nowhere is that more evident than their recent facebook post reprinting nonsense from the group ran by vice-chair’s Janet Jensen’s husband (Phil Jensen) with the SDGOP treasurer (Tina Mulally), as it attacked US Senator Mike Rounds:

Oh, and this gets better.  Immediately after the party parroted this attack against Senator Rounds – and I mean within a couple hours – they asked the Senator’s campaign for a BIG donation of money to support the party.  Let’s just say from anecdotes that have been related to me that it didn’t go well.

I’m even told the chairman – former 32 year Democrat and Obama supporter – Jim Eschenbaum himself doubled down on the sentiment of the facebook post claiming it somehow exerted pressure on the Senator.  I don’t think that this bodes well for any future financial asks the GOP may have.

**** The meeting agenda is filled with kooky proposals. There is a packet of bylaw proposals that looks like it will take several hours to get through.  One proposal demands that any lobbyists are to be banned from participation in the state executive board, because some people don’t like that others might talk to the legislature as part of their job. Another is to allow any member to present any matter at a meeting whether or not included in the agenda. Basically a “free for all” rule.  Rules are being brought so the Minnehaha GOP Chair can directly shut down the silliness in his county. And the group now in charge who was demanding audits… is now proposing a bylaw that they don’t have to to them very often at all…

And there are 18 pages of this stuff in very small type that Central Committee members will get to argue over, ad nauseam, so the meeting can stretch as far as possible into the evening.

**** And don’t forget the fundraising plan (from people who don’t know how to fundraise).  This document which is part of the financial information looks to be setting the SDGOP up for disaster in the coming months:

Not sure if they’re claiming that’s what their golf tournament brought in before or after the split with the local VFW.   But as for the rest of it..

• County contributions – they’re doing well with $12.7k, as that’s 10k more than the GOP had brought in recently.  But, 30k is overly optimistic. Figure 15k if they’re at 12k now.
• Pheasant Hunt for September… If memory serves, who was always good about participating so there’s a big name to help get people to attend? Senator Mike Rounds. Who will probably not be helping the party do anything until there is new GOP Leadership? (See above where they attacked him). Draw a line through this one.
• RNC Grow? Maybe $15.
• Raise 30k with a statewide GOP Mass Mailer? In 2024, the SDGOP did one, and LOST money, much less raised any. This will be a complete bust.
• 52 week Gun Raffle?  Have they reviewed the laws on raffles yet? They have not submitted a request yet.  $25k might be wishful thinking, especially since they’re going to have to try to keep people’s enthusiasm up to keep selling tickets for a long time…

Attacking the officeholders they’re here to support, Pie in the sky fundraising plans which will likely flop, bylaws that start with kicking people out of the party and threaten to drag on for hours, and finances which look to be in a death spiral..

Boy, that sounds like a meeting that everyone is going to want to attend, eh?

Hansen and Lems Highlight Gubernatorial Campaign Goals

In Brief: Candidates discuss what they can do for Watertown, statewide issues in extensive KXLG interview
Northern Plains News, LLC  –   By Steve Jurrens, KXLG Radio

WATERTOWN, S.D. (KXLG Radio) —South Dakota House Speaker Jon Hansen and Speaker Pro Tempore Karla Lems, running as a Republican ticket for Governor and Lieutenant Governor, made a focused campaign stop in Watertown on Friday.

They engaged with local Republican community members. Their day included a discussion with the Codington County Republican Women’s group, followed by a public meet and greet, and a show of support for a local family event.

KXLG News was invited to cover the Republican Women’s group meeting, and shortly after, Hansen and Lems stopped by KXLG studios for a short exclusive interview.

The legislative leaders, who have formally launched their gubernatorial campaigns, reiterated their platform while discussing their stop in Watertown…

Hansen highlighted their work on issues ranging from private property rights to Amendment G.

Hansen, a resident of Dell Rapids and married with six children, emphasized his long-standing commitment to preserving South Dakota’s “faith, family, and freedom.”

Lems, from Canton, discussed her work in the legislature.

She also shared her recent trip to Washington, D.C. with Hansen to advocate for South Dakota’s property rights law (HB 1052) against potential federal overreach.

When asked about what sets their campaign apart from other declared candidates, Hansen reiterated their “track record” and “authenticity.”

A key point of their platform, discussed by Hansen, is reducing the power of the Governor’s office

Hansen criticized the existing “slush fund” that allows the governor to allocate money to businesses, citing examples such as the “True Shrimp” company in Madison, which received millions in taxpayer money but never materialized.

The issue of property taxes was another focus of their message. Hansen described the current property tax system as “flawed,” arguing it taxes “unrealized gains” and creates a feeling of never truly owning one’s property.

He announced the creation of a legislative task force, which recently held its first meeting in Sioux Falls, with a “minimum goal” to deliver a “50 percent property tax cut for owner-occupied property owners in South Dakota.”

Lems echoed the importance of property taxes and property rights, listing them as top issues she hears about from citizens across the state. She also highlighted the need for greater “government transparency” and accountability.

Following their interview, Hansen and Lems attended a meet-and-greet at Pizza Ranch from 3 to 4 p.m., allowing them to interact directly with attendees. To conclude their day in Watertown, the candidates joined the Haven Center’s family field day at Stoke’s Thomas Lake City Park at Lake Kampeska in Watertown, SD, demonstrating their support for the local pregnancy center and its mission.

Both candidates concluded their remarks by urging voters to support their campaign. They directed interested individuals to their website, hansenlems2026.com, and their social media platforms for more information.

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In recent days, the D30 State Senator had been mentioned as a possible AG candidate, but she confirms she’s taking a pass on that contest.

After her authoritative win over Julie Frye Mueller in the 2024 primary, District 30 State Senator Amber Hulse’s name has been mentioned for several offices for 2026.  But the Senator herself would not want you to wargame the Attorney General’s race possibilities with her name as part of it.

In a statement released to dakotawarcollege.com, the Senator says an AG race is a no go for her at this point:

“I’m humbled by Attorney General Marty Jackley’s confidence and support. As a first‑generation lawyer, I don’t take that lightly. The opportunity to serve as South Dakota’s next Attorney General would be an incredible honor. However, I believe God is calling me to serve our state in another way. I wish every success to whoever becomes South Dakota’s next guardian of the rule of law—our ‘top cop.’”

The only currently announced candidate for Attorney General is former Senator and current Fall River County State’s Attorney Lance Russell.

Others mentioned in the race include Perkins County State’s Attorney Shane Penfield among other SA’s currently holding that office, including Dan Nelson in Brookings, and Austin Hoffman in McPhereson counties.

Gubernatorial hopeful Jon Hansen is also mentioned as possibly using it as his plan B in his race for governor, despite lacking prosecutorial experience, since republican party convention delegates choose the candidate for that contest after the primaries are over next June.