US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: A New Direction

Pat Powers

A New Direction
By Sen. John Thune

The 58th presidential inauguration, like others before it, was filled with the familiar traditions and pageantry that comes with the peaceful transition of power from one administration to the next. It’s an awesome event to witness in person, and it’s unlike anything else in the world. I’ve attended several inaugurations over the years for both Republican and Democrat presidents, and I’m always glad to see so many South Dakotans make the trip to Washington, D.C., to experience these historic moments, too. 

Now that President Trump and Vice President Pence have taken the oath of office and assumed the enormous responsibility that comes with holding two of the most powerful positions on the face of the earth, the hard work truly begins. I’m particularly excited for the weeks and months ahead because with a Republican-controlled Congress and a Republican in the White House, we have a good opportunity to help move the country in a new and hopefully more prosperous direction. 

Eight years after it began, the Obama administration’s government-knows-best agenda has resulted in stagnant economic growth, mountains of costly federal regulations, and a weakened position on the world stage. We need to reverse this trend, which is why I look forward to working with the new administration and my colleagues in Congress to pursue pro-growth policies that strengthen the economy, create more good-paying jobs in South Dakota and across the country, and increase our national security.

We don’t need revolutionary ideas or to invent a new philosophy in governing in order to achieve these goals. A lot of this can be accomplished by simply returning some of the Washington decision-making back to states and local governments. Governors and state legislatures are often in a much better position to make more localized decisions on education, health care, and a wide range of other issues. We can help grow the economy by rolling back some the most costly and egregious regulations that businesses are forced to comply with in the United States. We can help farmers and ranchers by cutting red tape, too.

A new president is often judged, at least in part, by what he is able to accomplish in the first 100 or 200 days of his administration. There’s always a high bar, but that is because the American people always have high hopes for the future. As we begin our journey toward that future, I, too, have high hopes and can’t wait to help do my part to make it as great as we possibly can.  

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5 thoughts on “US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: A New Direction”

  2. We “have a good opportunity to help move the country in a new and hopefully more prosperous direction.” Really? How many years have Repubs controlled Congress and all they got passed was 1 repeal of ACA? From the sounds of that frightfully dark, miserable Inaugural Address, or the speech at the luncheon, this guy who’s just ascended to being Leader of the Free World is definitely not impressed with your or your fellow Republican leaders’ performance, Senator. How can you, McConnell, and Ryan not count yourselves as part of that “elite few” he was attacking? For years now you’ve made it sound like President Obama vetoed everything you could pass. I sure don’t remember much that you managed to get to his desk that he had to block, but whatever. Where are you and your ilk going to be when he “drains the swamp,” if he really does?

  4. It sure is ironic to have a SDDP Central Committee member make it well known she did not support the DNC presidential nominee and then turn around and slam President Trump and support the Women’s protest marches. Time to ditch the SDDP!

    1. The SDDP Central Committee member made it clear she did not vote for the nominee either.

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