Author: @SoDakCampaigns

House Bill 1069, the measure to stop illegal Chinese vaping products from being sold in South Dakota that have not yet bothered to even apply for FDA approval, passed another step in the legislative process yesterday, as Senate Commerce and Energy sent the bill through after amendment, on a vote where 6 Senators voted in favor to protect children from the illegally imported products being sold on store shelves, versus 3 who sided with Big Vape.

 

Senators Chris Karr, Carl Perry and Liz Larson voted on behalf of Big Vape to keep cherry slushie and fried oreo flavored vapes illegally imported into South Dakota. (Which pair nicely with the MP3/Video Game vape pens for the children of their constituents).

Voting to protect South Dakota kids from the illegal products that the FDA considers adulterated were Senators Arch Beal, Randy Deibert, Joy Hohn, Steve Kolbeck, Sue Peterson and Casey Crabtree.

The measure will be heard on the Senate Floor today, so keep a watch on this bill to see how Senators vote on House Bill 1069!

Gov. Rhoden Signs Six Bills into Law

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden signed the following six bills into law:

• SB 72 revises the payor of autopsy costs in certain circumstances;
• SB 84 extends the timeframe for filling a vacancy in a board of county commissioners;
• SB 97 allows the governing body of a municipality to change the use of municipally owned parkland by ordinance;
• HB 1042 makes an appropriation for the construction of historical exhibits at the Cultural Heritage Center;
• HB 1095 extends the area in which a director for an irrigation district may reside; and
• HB 1160 waives the driver license renewal period for members of the military and their families, and employees of the state department.

Governor Rhoden has signed 51 bills into law this legislative session.

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Thune: Linda McMahon is Focused on Students’ Success

 “I’m glad that Mrs. McMahon plans to work in a way that empowers those closest to the student – because they are in the best position to do what’s right for that student.”

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor.

Thune: Senate Will Vote to Protect Women and Girls’ Sports

 “Women deserve their own athletic opportunities – opportunities that are not taken away from them by biological males, who have their own spaces in which to compete.”

Click here to watch the video.

 WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor

Johnson Announces Guests for Trump’s Joint Address 

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) announced that Meade County Sheriff Pat West and Clay County Sheriff Andy Howe will join him for President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress.

“The law enforcement community is well acquainted with the effects of the Biden Administration’s soft-on-crime policies,” said Johnson. “President Trump’s leadership is a welcome change for our men and women in blue. I’m glad Sheriffs West and Howe will be able to hear how the President will partner with our law enforcement community to make America safe again. Law and order has returned to America.”

“I want to extend my sincere gratitude to Congressman Johnson for the opportunity to attend the upcoming State of the Union Address in Washington, D.C. It is truly an honor to witness firsthand President Trump’s address to the nation,” said Sheriff West. “This event underscores the significant accomplishments achieved under the President’s leadership and highlights his vision for the future. Attending the State of the Union Address is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and I am deeply appreciative of this opportunity.”

“I’m sure that being personally present while the President of the United States addresses a Joint Session of Congress will be an unforgettable experience,” said Sheriff Howe. “I appreciate and am honored by Representative Dusty Johnson’s invitation to attend this important event.”

Sheriff Pat West was first elected in 2022. Prior to being elected, he served South Dakota as an agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation for over 20 years. Sheriff West has worked on cases in Meade County and western South Dakota caused by the opioid, methamphetamine, and fentanyl crises. He’s also worked on sex trafficking cases, like when he and other law enforcement agencies found a missing 13-year-old girl, who had been abducted by a 33-year-old male sex offender.

Sheriff Andy Howe was first elected in 2002. He also serves as South Dakota’s delegate to the Mid-States Organized Crime Information Center, advocating for support for the Regional Information Sharing System, which helps law enforcement at all levels to facilitate information sharing for criminal investigations and protecting officers. Sheriff Howe has assisted in the arrest of a suspect involved in a fentanyl overdose death of a 15-year-old girl.

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House Judiciary Committee Approves Attorney General Jackley’s Anti-Trafficking and Corrections Bills

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota’s House Judiciary Committee Monday approved two bills, proposed by South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, regarding human trafficking and unauthorized items being brought into state correctional facilities.

“I appreciate this Legislature’s continued support of the Attorney General’s proposals to better protect victims, our communities, and our correctional officers and staff,” said Attorney General Jackley.

The two bills approved were:

• Senate Bill 58: Which revises provisions related to human trafficking, to prohibit the obstruction of human trafficking enforcement, and to provide a penalty.
• Senate Bill 59: Which revises provisions relating to the delivery, possession with intent to deliver, and possession of unauthorized articles in a state correctional facility, and to provide a penalty.

Committee members tabled a third Attorney General proposal, Senate Bill 57 which would have revised presumptive probation.

The two approved bills now go to the House floor for further consideration. Both bills previously passed the Senate.

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Gov. Rhoden Announces Habitat Conservation License Plate

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden and South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) announced the Habitat Conservation License Plate, which is now available for individuals to show their support of habitat conservation across the state.

“Habitat conservation is crucial to keep our animal populations strong and healthy and conserve South Dakota’s natural beauty. I look forward to seeing these new plates on the road,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “They will raise awareness for habitat management and also provide additional revenue to support conservation efforts.”

Habitat Conservation License Plates can be obtained at local courthouses, and there is no additional charge when renewing the plates. Like other specialty license plates, this plate is valid for three years.

“Habitat is the foundation of wildlife management. It is truly exciting for individuals to be able to show their support with every drive,” said GFP Secretary Kevin Robling. “We thank everyone for their support, and we look forward to seeing fellow habitat supporters on the road.”

Once a habitat conservation license plate is obtained, individuals will be able to select between four approved habitat decals, which include a deer, meadowlark, pasque flower, and pheasant. You can find the visuals of the license plate and decals here.

Habitat decals are $50 per set and can be purchased online at Go Outdoors South Dakota or at any Game, Fish and Parks office.

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Had the lightbulb go off earlier today after I pointed out that goofball mattress guy Chris Larson was chirping about meeting up with someone last week in Pierre who is supposedly going to run for US Senate against Senator Mike Rounds.  And while it’s possible that it could be a different c-lister, it makes the most sense that he is referring to the man who could not get on the ballot to save his life last election, failed Republican congressional wannabe/failed Independent congressional wannabe Justin McNeal.

Why do I think he was referring to McNeal?

• McNeal was most definitely at the Capitol in Pierre last week when mattress guy Larson was.  I happened to be watching House Floor proceedings when I think it was awful Rep. Phil Jensen introduced McNeal in the gallery. So, we know he was in the building.
• Mattress guy Larson cited that the person was “roaming the halls on some unspecified business.”  Well, McNeal’s Supreme Court case dismissal also took place that same day, on 2/27.  That may likely be “unspecified business.”

Mmm.. maybe you think those breadcrumbs are a little light?

Here’s the one that sent up the larger flare for me:

justinmcneal.com only recently went live and on-line.  And before you think this was a leftover from his failed congressional campaign(s), according to internet records, this website was just purchased in late December, and is now telling visitors that it’s “launching soon.”

Here’s another item that caught my attention.  McNeal still has a $50,000 unpaid loan his failed campaign(s) owe to him:

Is there any way his mess of a congressional campaign is ever going to be able to pay him back. Very, very doubtful, leaving him $50k in the hole.   But launch a campaign for US Senate where the dollars are larger, and there are always groups willing to throw cash around if just to be a disruptor, that would be the US Senate.

Remember when Gordon Howie was running for US Senate in the Republican Primary and a related PAC picked up $118k from a Democrat PAC with money from the Soros family?  Candidates can and will collect cash and support from a myriad of sources including those who want to try to disrupt a solid Republican officeholder to help beat them up in a primary to weaken them for the general.

No cash coming in to support a race that never launched, versus fundraising for an active US Senate challenger campaign?  Running for Senate is the only chance that someone like McNeal could bring in $50k of other people’s money to pay himself back.

To summarize; McNeal at the capitol at the same time his confederate mattress guy who announced he met up with someone running for Senate, JustinMcNeal.com is a website “launching soon,” and Justin has a big campaign loan that’s not getting paid off without a campaign.

It’s entirely possible I might erroneously be making assumptions. But the fact that there’s a new website kind of ties many things together with a bow.

Which means one thing…

 

… that you need to make sure you get over to RoundsForSenate.com to contribute and volunteer for Senator Mike Rounds.  Because especially now, when we need fewer goofballs in office. Very happy to continue to have Senator Rounds doing the job for South Dakota.

Looks like Justin McNeal’s lawsuit against the Secretary of State and the SDGOP was spiked a final time this last week, as the Supreme Court ordered it’s dismissal as a moot point:

McNeal Appeal Dismissed by Pat Powers on Scribd

If you check out Senator Randy Deibert’s facebook page, he seems to be getting contact from constituents, as he notices what local governments have to say as they oppose HCR 6010, Scott Odenbach’s big government proposal to create an interim committee for more regulations on mining and development in the hills:

When Rep. Odenbach writes in a column what he considers on the table as part of his proposed committee…

..whether that is mining severance tax for Lead or Deadwood gaming revenue, we need to balance east-river levels of growth with preserving the Black Hills way of life..

Glad to see at least one member of the delegation noticing that we don’t need a legislative committee with the mandate to create MORE government, and MORE taxes on mining, economic development, gaming and housing.