Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Dusty Johnson Safeguards U.S. Infrastructure from Chinese Spy Technology

 Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, re-introduced his legislation to prohibit the Department of Transportation from using foreign adversary digital 3-D mapping technology, LiDAR. Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology creates 3-D maps with millimeter-level data of surrounding environments.

“LiDAR technology creates incredibly detailed maps of its surroundings. Allowing our adversaries like China to have access to these maps of critical infrastructure like ports, railways, airports, roads, and bridges could allow them to disrupt our supply chains and cause a national security crisis,” said Johnson. “My bill ensures our nation’s critical infrastructure is protected from the malign interests of the Chinese Communist Party.”

“Taxpayer dollars should never be used to fund technology from our adversaries,” said Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI). “This bill makes America’s critical infrastructure more secure from foreign surveillance and influence by ensuring the Department of Transportation is not supporting the growing market share of Chinese-made LiDAR equipment. It’s a common-sense step to put American security first.”

“LiDAR is essential to modern infrastructure, but when it’s controlled by companies linked to the Chinese Communist Party, it becomes a security risk,” said Select Committee on China Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL). “We can’t allow adversaries to gather sensitive data or disrupt our systems. This bill takes a necessary step to keep our infrastructure secure and our technology supply chains trusted.”

“While LiDAR technology is widely employed in our nation’s transit infrastructure, including in airports, autonomous vehicles, and traffic control systems, it is increasingly being produced by Chinese companies that are required to hand over any data collected by their equipment to the Chinese government upon request,” said Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA). “This raises serious concerns that China could not only access sensitive data mapping U.S. infrastructure, but also use it to disrupt the systems that rely on their technology. That is why I am joining Rep. Johnson to introduce legislation prohibiting the Department of Transportation from using LiDAR technology sourced from foreign adversaries. Now more than ever, we must remain vigilant and proactive in safeguarding the infrastructure that Americans depend on every day.”

“Trucks reach every corner of the country and routinely access some of our nation’s most sensitive sites—such as ports, border crossings, and military installations.  That is why supply chain and infrastructure security are very important to our industry. The American Trucking Associations commends Reps. Johnson, Brownley, Moolenaar, and Krishnamoorthi for taking this issue seriously by working to block potential national security threats from foreign-owned LiDAR technology,” said Henry Hanscom, Senior Vice President of Legislative Affairs at the American Trucking Associations.

“This legislation marks an important step forward in strengthening the security of America’s transportation systems and critical infrastructure. As LiDAR technology becomes increasingly central to the future of transportation, including autonomous systems, it’s essential that the technology used to build and operate our national infrastructure is safe, secure, and protected against adversarial interference,” said Michael Robbins, President and CEO of the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International.

The Securing Infrastructure from Adversaries Act is cosponsored by Select Committee on China Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), and Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA).

Click here for bill text.

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Brian Jorde, an attorney who has represented landowners in South Dakota against Summit Carbon Solutions was recently sanctioned by the Iowa Supreme Court for filing “misleading or deceptive” information during utility commission reviews of permit applications.

According to South Dakota Searchlight:

The Iowa Supreme Court Attorney Disciplinary Board ruled last month that Brian Jorde, an attorney who has represented hundreds of property owners in lawsuits against pipelines in multiple states — including South Dakota and Iowa — submitted “misleading or deceptive” information during both states’ utilities commission proceedings regarding permit applications for the carbon sequestration project.

and..

Jorde’s filings on behalf of Dugan, however, included introductory written testimony, which Dugan later said, in an email to Jorde obtained by the advisory board, were “not statements I would choose to submit.”

The reprimand said Dugan did not approve these written statements. The statement submitted in South Dakota had an electronic signature at the bottom, but the IUC document had not been signed by Dugan.

and..

The board concluded the actions in South Dakota were “deceptive” and wrote it was “deeply concerning” that Jorde and his staff did not mention to Dugan the extra pages filed in addition to the research she had consented to filing.

Read the entire story here.

Does no one at the SDGOP own a calendar?

I noticed this morning the SDGOP has scheduled their next big fundraiser today, after what must have been a *wildly successful* event with “God’s comic” in Mitchell. (that was sarcasm).

A fundraising pheasant hunt which starts on 9/11 appears to be at a preserve, since the normal season runs resident-only from October 11 to October 13, and the traditional season from October 18, 2025, to January 31, 2026.

But what threw me a little was that it runs through and includes Saturday, September 13.

Um… aren’t there some other things going on in early September in South Dakota that tend to attract people?  Such as in Aberdeen, where the NSU Wolves are playing Wayne State at the Dacotah Bank Stadium. Or in Vermillion, where the University of South Dakota Coyotes are playing the Northern Colorado Bears at the Dakota Dome.

And then there’s the big one – where the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits are playing the Drake Bulldogs at the Dana Dykhouse Stadium at a little game they like to refer to as the SDSU Beef Bowl?  According to Google AI..

The South Dakota State University (SDSU) Beef Bowl typically sees large attendance numbers, often the second highest for home single-game attendance outside of Hobo Day.  In 2023, the Beef Bowl game against Montana State drew a sold-out crowd of 19,332, according to Dakota News Now. The Beef Bowl is an annual event recognizing the beef industry in South Dakota, including a pre-game barbecue and a live steer auction.

Only 3% of those tickets are left, meaning there’s in the neighborhood of just under 19,000 people who have already committed to being there, with several thousand people who will be tailgating all afternoon. Maybe it’s just me, but I’m guessing many of the candidates and attendees are going to be where tens of thousands of people are.

Back when it was being ran by people who know what they were doing, there’s a reason why the SDGOP would usually schedule their pheasant hunt fundraiser on the Sunday after the Governor’s hunt, and they would do quite well.

This one? Well.. we’ll just see when the fund-raising totals are filed.

Toby Doeden struck a chord with a number of leaders in South Dakota yesterday with his comments on how South Dakotans aren’t the ones being hired for high tech jobs, so we need to reject those opportunities for our state. The flood gates opened with Erin Tobin, and now others are chiming in AND THEY ALL DISAGREE WITH DOEDEN’S LACK OF VISION AND CONFIDENCE IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

First, Senator Tim Reed who has actually done economic development notes why Toby doesn’t know what he’s talking about:

Even Democrats who may disagree on a lot with Republicans understand that South Dakotans are capable and up to the task. And that Toby is unfit to lead. 

As family members jump in to try to doeden-splain Toby’s words, they’re getting rebuked … although one doesn’t have to be an attorney like Austin to understand that inferring that South Dakotans are incapable is utterly indefensible:

Ben Koisti notes that no matter how much media coaching Toby gets, he still doesn’t get it.

And one of my favorites, from South Dakota tech entrepreneur Matt Paulson who has made a very lucrative career out of being one of those “tech people”..

(I’ll add to this as I catch any others posting to social media. )

 

From Facebook, Toby Doeden is taking some heat over his videoed comments against data centers, and claiming that it will be Californians leading Data Centers, not South Dakotans, as former State Senator Erin Tobin takes him to task over not believing in South Dakota innovation and leadership in the technology sector:

Restoring American Energy Dominance Starts in South Dakota
by Mike Karbo

President Trump has been clear since the first day of his campaign that he intends to lead the charge to restore American energy leadership. Delivering on that promise requires us to start building, especially in South Dakota, given the critical role South Dakota energy plays both in our state and across the country.

To continue to deliver on ever-increasing demand, South Dakota needs to build more infrastructure. Infrastructure is essential to protecting American energy independence, and it enables a future where our nation’s oil, natural gas, and other liquid fuels power the world.

This future is actually a return to something we know works well. During the president’s first term, the U.S. became the world’s top energy producer through efforts to prioritize American energy independence that cut red tape, approved infrastructure projects like pipelines, and gave American workers the freedom to build.

Now those efforts are back in action. But to continue to build on this momentum, we need to prioritize physical projects that safely transport gas and liquids. Pipelines are one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly ways to do so.

The silent majority of South Dakotans understand what’s at stake. With foreign rivals like China and Russia locking up critical minerals and industries in the battle for the edge on energy, we can’t afford to give up or slow down, especially when our farmers, truckers, and manufacturers are all depending on reliable energy to do their jobs and keep our economy running. When energy stops moving, so does everything else.

To truly compete, we need to be honest about what the modern energy landscape looks like. That includes being open to new options and tools to help meet the demand for energy while staying ahead. One of those tools is carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).

CCUS is a crucial part of ensuring American energy security and is vital to advancing American energy leadership. Like other infrastructure, CCUS can bring enormous benefits to nearby communities, often far greater than even the publicly announced investments. Infrastructure enables economic activity and can generate income for local businesses and create well-paying jobs.

This type of technology has been safely used for decades in oil and gas applications, and it is even more vital to support the fuels we need to stay competitive today. CCUS is a practical step toward empowering American energy and keeping our nation moving forward.

Just as roads, rail, grain elevators, and other infrastructure helped turn South Dakota into an agricultural powerhouse, CCUS is part of the next generation of projects that can strengthen the economy and protect critical industries.

South Dakota is well-positioned to succeed, and the time to start building is now.  Let’s get back to doing what we know works. The president’s agenda, American energy security, and South Dakota’s economic future depend on it.

Toby Doeden must not think much of DSU cyber program graduates, as in this video, starting around 1:25, he uses scare-tactics to run down data center development, claiming they are only going to hire California liberals to work in data centers:

I mean *it is DSU* but I say that as an SDSU grad doing some good-natured trash-talking. (I’m sure Matt Paulson, a DSU alum who has done quite well for himself in cyberspace would disagree.)

Here’s another problem besides Toby thinking South Dakotans are too dumb to be hired in data center operations. Toby Doeden’s attack on Data Centers flies in the face of President Trump’s data center action plan to make sure that they’re built in America (one of the things even his detractors should not find fault with):

The Plan identifies over 90 Federal policy actions across three pillars – Accelerating Innovation, Building American AI Infrastructure, and Leading in International Diplomacy and Security – that the Trump Administration will take in the coming weeks and months.

and..

“Winning the AI Race is non-negotiable. America must continue to be the dominant force in artificial intelligence to promote prosperity and protect our economic and national security. President Trump recognized this at the beginning of his administration and took decisive action by commissioning this AI Action Plan. These clear-cut policy goals set expectations for the Federal Government to ensure America sets the technological gold standard worldwide, and that the world continues to run on American technology,” said Secretary of State and Acting National Security Advisor Marco Rubio.

Read that all here.

Unless South Dakota has shut our doors for business permanently, we need to welcome data centers AND the jobs and development they’ll bring to our communities.

(Or, we could screw it up like we have with bio-jet fuel and ethanol.)

Flags at Half-Staff at State Capitol in Honor of Louis Sebert

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the State Capitol from sunrise until sunset on Friday, August 1, 2025, in honor of former state legislator Louis (Lou) Sebert. He served in the South Dakota State House of Representatives from 1999 to 2006.

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 AM CT on Friday, August 1, 2025, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Graveside services will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Mitchell.

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Rounds Advances Major Housing Wins for South Dakota in Committee Markup

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today successfully advanced key housing priorities for South Dakota during a bipartisan markup in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. As part of the Road to Housing Act, Rounds secured the inclusion of four of his bills, delivering the first major update to the Rural Housing Service in over a decade, eliminating burdensome red tape that hinders housing development in local communities and empowering communities with greater flexibility to address homelessness through locally driven solutions.

“Access to safe affordable housing is critical to the strength and future of our communities. I’m proud that my legislation became key provisions in this bill, including modernizing rural housing programs, cutting burdensome regulations and giving local communities more tools to address homelessness and housing shortages,” said Rounds. “These are real wins for South Dakota. President Trump and Secretary Scott Turner have made it clear that increasing our housing supply is a national priority and this legislation moves us in the right direction.”

Rounds’ legislation included in the Road to Housing Act:

• Rural Housing Service Reform Act: This bill would to improve federal rural housing programs and strengthen the supply of affordable housing in rural America by modernizing and strengthening several U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) rural housing programs. The Rural Housing Service Reform Act addresses longstanding challenges with maturing Section 515 properties, aligns income calculations with HUD standards, streamlines foreclosure and loan approval processes, and invests in IT upgrades to improve efficiency. It would also ease access to home repair loans and expand eligibility for USDA loan guarantees to include properties with accessory dwellings and in-home daycares.
• Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act: The bill would modernize the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for housing projects/services funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
• Reducing Homelessness Through Program Reform Act: The legislation would cut federal red tape for homeless service providers by easing burdens on Continuum of Care organizations by moving to a two-year funding application and removing barriers that delay access to housing and services. It also strengthens local responses by improving coordination with healthcare and law enforcement, supporting workforce development, enhancing data use, including AI, and expanding feedback channels to inform HUD policy and improve federal accountability.
• Better Use of Intergovernmental and Local Development (BUILD) Housing Act: The bill would modernize the NEPA review process by increasing capacity sharing between HUD and state and local governments, aligning HUD’s standards with other agencies through delegated housing reviews, and granting the agency greater flexibility by allowing it to designate certain housing assistance as “special project funds.”

These bills were incorporated into the Road to Housing Act, sponsored by Senator Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.). The comprehensive proposal would expand and preserve the housing supply by removing regulatory barriers, promoting innovative construction, addressing blight and supporting disaster recovery, while also improving housing affordability, expanding homeownership, reducing homelessness and increasing access for veterans. The bill advances accountability and oversight by promoting evidence-based policies, strengthening program integrity and improving coordination and transparency across federal housing programs to make efficient use of taxpayer dollars.

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(Editor’s note – still haven’t noticed SDGOP acknowledging President’ Trump’s very LOUD endorsement of Senator Rounds – pp)

South Dakota Democrats are in the media today, complaining about efforts by Governor Larry Rhoden to deport illegal aliens who are in state prison after being convicted of felony crimes.

In a press release from South Dakota Democrats, House Minority leader Erin Healey noted:

“This operation with ICE creates fear and uncertainty for immigrant families. When we turn state troopers and DOC agents into ICE enforcers, we’re not protecting anyone. We’re tearing families apart, hurting our economy, and damaging trust with law enforcement.”

Read that here.

In a story posted by the Dakota Scout, the Governor’s staff provided an example of the families being ‘torn apart’ by deportation:

The governor’s office is defending the initiative as a targeted public safety effort aimed at removing individuals convicted of serious crimes from the state. Rhoden’s press secretary, Josie Harms, cited two recent ICE deportation cases that originated in South Dakota: a Honduran woman convicted of child sexual exploitation who was deported, and an Eritrean man convicted of sexual contact with a child. The latter is still in DOC custody awaiting deportation.

Read that here.

I think the criminal’s families were torn apart by their sex crimes against kids moreso than these people being removed from the country.

Democrats are protesting that illegal aliens or others who came to this country who have been tried, convicted, and sent to prison are being removed from the country for child sexual exploitation, and child molestation?

I don’t think that’s a hill I would die on if I were the Democrats.