Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Thune, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Support Law Enforcement Officers

“These kinds of attacks and violence against law enforcement officers are unacceptable and must be punished …”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined several of his colleagues in introducing the Protect and Serve Act, legislation that would create federal penalties for individuals who deliberately target local, state, or federal law enforcement officerswith violence. The legislation would support law enforcement officers by making it a federal crime to knowingly cause, or attempt to cause, serious bodily injury to law enforcements officers.  With the passage of this legislation, offenders could receive a life sentence if a death results from the offense, or if the offense includes kidnapping, attempted kidnapping, or attempted murder.

“Our men and women in uniform put their lives on the line day in and day out for the safety of communities across the country, and this last year, we’ve seen a dangerous rise in attacks against those who have chosen to wear a badge.” said Thune. “These kinds of attacks and violence against law enforcement officers are unacceptable and must be punished, which is why I am pleased to support this bill. ”

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and is co-sponsored by Sens. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jim Inhofe (R-OK), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W. Va.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Read a one-pager of the legislation here.

###

Following Johnson Request, IHS Strips Convicted Pedophile of Federal Pension

Washington, D.C. – The Indian Health Service (IHS) announced they will be stripping former Capt. (ret.) Stanley Patrick Weber of his federal pension and benefits. This announcement comes after a U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps Board of Inquiry completed its review of Mr. Weber, who was convicted of multiple felony charges of aggravated sexual assault of minors while he was on active duty as an officer of the U.S. Public Health Service and assigned to IHS.

In July 2020, U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Greg Gianforte (R-MT) urged an expedient review of Weber’s heinous crimes and swift removal of all federal benefits. Weber’s pension was estimated to be worth more than $100,000 a year.

“It’s disturbing someone like Mr. Weber would continue to receive a federal pension after what he put so many innocent children through,” said Johnson. “I’m grateful HHS and IHS took my request seriously and revoked his pension. There’s not much solace to offer in a situation like this, but I hope everyone rests easier knowing this monster isn’t receiving a government check every month and is behind bars where he belongs. A little more justice was served today.”

###

Rolling Stone just posted a story going after Governor Kristi Noem starting out with this gem:

At first, the angel of death skipped over South Dakota. This pleased the Snow Queen.

“This pleased the snow queen?” Ugh. That doesn’t exactly seem like this is a story based on unbiased journalism.

And the Governor’s Office has wasted little time in responding to a fairly sexist attack:

Folks – I’m not old enough to remember when Rolling Stone was worth reading, so it came as no surprise when Stephen Rodrick and his editors outlined all the reasons why they don’t like strong women.

Given the deafening silence on Cuomo’s sexual harassment, why wouldn’t Rolling Stone dedicate more than 7500 words attacking the only Governor in America who handled Covid appropriately? The sexist attacks on Governor Noem, either veiled or overt, are all the left has these days.

Would the same be true if Governor Noem was Gretchen Whitmer – a liberal Democrat eager to dictate to her people? Of course not. [At least the New York AG had the courage to investigate Cuomo for his nursing home policies; we can’t say the same about Whitmer and the Michigan AG.] The radical left’s press allies can’t stand by while a thoughtful, principled conservative woman runs her state well… Cue the sexist attacks.

Rolling Stone thinks it’s relevant to comment on Governor Noem’s physical appearance and choices of clothing.  Here are a couple of key facts for those of you who aren’t judging her based on her gender or appearance.

South Dakota’s rise in cases coincided with the wave that hit the Midwest. It wasn’t Sturgis; it was geographical – just like every other wave that hit the country. We weren’t unique when it arrived, and it had nothing to do with the media’s beloved mitigation strategies. When are journalists going to look at the connection between a state’s 85+ population and Covid spread?

Notably, Rodrick left out that Governor Noem has overseen one of the finest vaccination rollouts nationwide. To date, 34% of South Dakotans have received at least one shot of the vaccine (the only real way to move us past this pandemic).

Mollie Hemingway outlined why the Trump puppeteer caricature is laughable. The Governor believes in federalism. It works, and other governors should try it.

And it should be noted that left out of “activist” Nick Tilsen’s story is the fact that he is facing 16 and a half years in prison because he assaulted a femaleNational Guard soldier and stole a law enforcement officer’s personal protective gear. That’s a felony – as it should be.

On Monday, Professor Blessinger explained why South Dakotans are so special. It is why my family has chosen to make South Dakota our home, and why we’re being joined by so many others. Rather than attack Governor Noem and the people of the great state of South Dakota, Rodrick – and America – would do well to learn about the policies she advanced this last year.

Empty, dishonest attacks like this grow less meaningful each time they’re made, and eventually, like the boy who cried wolf, Americans are going to learn to ignore those who make them. We can help them along by focusing on what’s true. To borrow a line from Gina Carano, they can’t cancel us if we don’t let them.

Stay well,

Maggie

Maggie Seidel
Senior Advisor & Policy Director
Office of Governor Kristi Noem

 

Thune Leads Colleagues in Reintroducing Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Certainty for the 340B Program

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today reintroduced legislation that would provide certaintyto hospitals participating in the 340B drug discount program during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“The 340B program has been critical to South Dakota hospitals that are relying on the certainty it provides – especially during this ongoing health crisis,” said Thune. “This commonsense and targeted measure would ensure that no hospital that is currently participating in the 340B program can lose eligibility due to a reduction in hospitalizations during the pandemic. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation as we continue to fight this health crisis.”

“This pandemic continues to cause instability in funding for Michigan hospitals and health care providers,” said Stabenow. “This bill will help lower prescription drug costs, create more certainty in funding, and ensure that those on the frontlines of this crisis have the resources they need to care for patients and save lives.”

“The 340B drug pricing program has been an important tool for Ohio’s hospitals throughout the years, providing them with the flexible resources needed to meet the ongoing needs of their communities without a penny from the federal government,” said Portman. “As the ongoing pandemic disrupts our health care system, we must ensure that programs like the 340B program can be there to support our hospitals and our communities. I’m proud to support this bill so that we can ensure that our hospitals can continue to use the program throughout and after the pandemic.”

“Our hospitals, health care workers, and the patients they serve need certainty during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and we must work together to limit disruptions to our health care system,” said Baldwin. “The 340B program has served Wisconsin well by helping to lower drug prices for hospitals and health clinics serving vulnerable communities that would otherwise not be able to afford prescription drugs. This bipartisan legislation has the support of leading Wisconsin hospitals and it has my support as well because it ensures that hospitals currently eligible for the 340B program have the certainty of being able to maintain eligibility throughout this pandemic. Let’s get this done so hospitals can continue providing lower cost health care services to those in need.”

“Our health care safety net providers are needed now more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic, and the 340B program is an essential tool for them to stretch limited resources,” said Capito. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in reintroducing this legislation that will go a long way in helping to ensure that bureaucratic hurdles do not put care in jeopardy.”

“The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged our communities, especially low-income communities and communities of color,” said Cardin. “Extending eligibility to the 340B program is essential for these safety net providers to continue to serve these at-risk populations, especially during this public health crisis.”

“We thank Senators Thune, Stabenow, Portman, Baldwin, Capito and Cardin for their bipartisan leadership in protecting the health care safety net and 340B hospitals,” said Maureen Testoni, president and CEO of 340B Health. “Safety-net hospitals, both rural and urban, are on the front lines of America’s response to the challenges of COVID-19, providing life-saving care and delivering new COVID vaccines into the arms of people across the country. Some 340B hospitals have had to make major changes to the way they operate, and the resulting changes in patient mix could endanger their ability to access 340B savings. This legislation is a lifeline to these providers and the patients they serve.”

“The South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations (SDAHO) applauds Senator Thune and colleagues on the reintroduction of legislation to ensure hospitals do not lose 340B eligibility during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Tim Rave,CEO of South Dakota Association of Healthcare Organizations. “SDAHO stands in support of efforts to protect the 340B program, which hospitals use to leverage scarce federal dollars for vulnerable patients, hospitals and in rural communities.”

The COVID-19 public health emergency resulted in many hospitals experiencing a reduction in inpatient hospital admissions of low-income Medicare and Medicaid patients, a critical metric in determining eligibility for the 340B program. Though hospitals have started resuming elective procedures, and patients have begun returning to seek care, there is concern that as a result of the pandemic slowdown, some hospitals may not meet the required inpatient admission threshold to remain in the program for the following year. This legislation would ensure that any previously participating hospital will be deemed eligible for any cost reporting period during which the public health emergency occurred.

###

 

Thune: One Farm, Ranch, or Business Lost to the Death Tax is One Too Many
“I will continue to fight to ensure that no family farm or business has to worry about this punishing tax.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune’s speech.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, today discussed his commitment to permanently repealing the death tax, a fundamentally unfair tax that can hit a family at the worst possible time. Thune discussed the consequences of the death tax, which is inefficient, raises a small amount of revenue, and places a heavy burden on family farmers, ranchers, and small businesses.

Into the Woods
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)
March 16, 2021

During the pandemic, everyone has been using the extra time at home to get caught up on Do It Yourself (DIY) projects. If you’ve been at your local hardware store lately, you’ve probably noticed that 2×4 boards which are normally $2.50 are now almost $7. But you may not have considered how this price increase is just a sign of a macro issue that has a significant impact on our state’s economy and environment.

When the pandemic first started, we immediately saw businesses close or offer limited capacity. The timber industry was not excluded from this fate. They had to figure out how to operate sawmills in a COVID-safe manner in accordance with Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. On top of that, 2020 was anticipated to be a tough year for the housing market according to several economic forecasts. In preparation, the timber industry adjusted for the anticipated lower demand by cutting shifts and lowering production.

Surprisingly, however, the demand for lumber did not decrease. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Housing—where everyone was spending exponentially more time—turned out to be one of the strongest sectors of the economy in 2020. Throughout the spring building season, demand continued to climb. Interest rates reached historic lows, which led to a soaring amount of new housing construction. Additionally, a lot of canceled vacations led to the same DIY trend all across America. In an unpredictable year, the lumber industry had unpredictable supply and demand. This set the stage for record-high prices.

A boom in demand could be very positive for South Dakota’s economy and environment. However, we’re dependent upon the federal government to respond to this increased demand and hopefully respond with an increase in the supply of lumber.

South Dakota’s Black Hills region houses a robust timber industry employing more than 1,400 hardworking South Dakotans with an economic impact of over $120 million per year. They make hundreds of products with virtually no waste – even the sawdust is swept off the floor and used to make wood stove pellets to heat homes – all while being responsible environmental stewards who work hard for a healthy forest.

Not to get too deep into the weeds (or should I say deep into the woods), the timber industry measures production in terms of CCF which is 100 cubic feet of lumber. The Black Hills private timber industry has the capacity to process about 240,000 CCF. This keeps the mills running near capacity, people employed and forest products on the shelves of our retailers.

In South Dakota, private timber mills procure their wood products from the Black Hills National Forest (BHNF). Industry experts say the BHNF can easily produce more than 200,000 CCF without any problems. In fact, in order to maintain a healthy forest, we must actively manage it with long-term conservation goals, including logging. However, since 2000, the BHNF has only averaged 186,000 CCF in timber sales.

Unfortunately, the U.S. Forest Service recently proposed reducing the BHNF timber sales program, when they should actually be increasing it. That’s why, earlier this month, I joined the South Dakota and Wyoming Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to Forest Service Chief Vicki Christiansen expressing our concerns about a recent recommendation to reduce the timber sales program at BHNF.

Historically, the BHNF is nationally recognized as an example of proactive forest management. This proactive management is good for the environment by reducing the impacts of infestation and wildfires. It is also good for our local economy supporting 1,400 jobs.

Let’s hope the U.S. Forest Service and the timber industry can work together to increases timber sales this season. South Dakota is uniquely positioned to be part of the solution to lowering our lumber costs.

# # #

Hot off the “QAnon conspiracy press” this AM.

Now that she’s irretrievably broken the South Dakota Constitution Party, former 1-term State Legislator Lora Hubbel has been looking for new challenges. And according to the “Primary John Thune in 2022” facebook group, it looks like Lora must be getting bored with vaccination conspiracy theories and is telling anyone interested that she’s contemplating bringing her brand of wackiness to the 2022 US Senate Race:

Actually, a Lora Hubbel race opens up all sorts of possibilities for the candidates to discuss things that are never spoken of in US Senate races.

Imagine a Senate race where the candidates wouldn’t talk about the federal deficit… but how pharmaceuticals are actually sorcery…

And instead of national defense, they can debate Lora’s belief that America should have aided Israel in bombing Auschwitz in WWII:

“Being that America did NOT support Israel when they asked for bombers to help them destroy Auschwitz and hence we suffered for ignoring them (the Bible says that as a nation does to Israel, so God will do to them, and we suffered in Vietnam that same amount of years as months that we ignored Israel – maybe a coinsidence but may be not)… and similarly Ron Paul would not actively support Israel, I can’t support him. And Ron Paul does not acknowledge that Pharmachia and sorcery are the same in the biblical languages of Hebrew and Greek and are WRONG (and i believe are a gateway to hell) I cannot support him… though he would be good as the Sec of Treasury!”  (Lora Hubbel Facebook 3/3/2012)

Read that here.

Nevermind that Israel didn’t exist at the time, but details like that have never bothered South Dakota’s queen of conspiracy theories.

And for people following the US Senate race, maybe we might want to know what the federal government is doing about brain eating nanobots being put in vaccines:

I can’t say that brain eating nanobots have ever come up in a US Senate debate, and maybe – just maybe – we need someone willing to take on the issues that we didn’t know we should be concerned about.

At the very least, I guarantee it would provide me with plenty of material to mock… er, write about.  Plenty of material to write about.

A Taxpayer-Funded Liberal Wish List
By Sen. John Thune

While Democrats have tried to sell their recently signed $1.9 trillion spending legislation as a COVID relief bill, the truth is it isn’t one. Just 1 percent of this bill actually goes to our top COVID priority – vaccinations – and less than 10 percent of this bill is directly related to combating the virus. There’s been a lot of talk about how this bill is a liberal wish list – which it is. But that’s almost being too generous.

A liberal wish list at least suggests some grand policy schemes. This bill is mostly just a collection of payoffs to Democrat interest groups and Democrat states. For the extreme abortion wing of the Democrat Party, this bill omits longstanding federal restrictions on using taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion. It makes labor unions eligible for loans designed to rescue Main Street small businesses. It bails out failing union pensions – a bailout even the New York Times described as having “nothing to do with the pandemic” and as an “almost unheard-of” use of taxpayer dollars.

It provides nearly $129 billion for K-12 schools – despite the fact that these schools have spent just $5 billion of the $68 billion already given to them – while keeping teachers’ unions happy by making sure funding isn’t tied to any requirement to actually get back to in-person instruction, which South Dakota teachers and schools have been doing all year.

Then there’s the money for states. The bill appropriates a staggering $350 billion for states – despite the fact that a majority of states already have the resources they need to weather the rest of the pandemic. On top of that, the distribution formula for that $350 billion is heavily weighted in favor of blue states – like California, which stands to see billions under this legislation despite the fact that California’s revenues are up by $15 billion. Imagine the outcry if Republicans were directing funding to states that voted Republican in the last election.

And lest anyone think any of this was unintentional, Democrats doubled down on the partisanship when it came to amendments. They rejected an amendment that would have protected Americans from having their tax dollars used to pay for abortions – even though multiple Democrats broke ranks with their party to support this amendment. They rejected an amendment to tie funding for schools to schools actually reopening and an amendment to ensure seamless support to non-public schools serving low-income students.

They rejected an amendment to stop labor unions from taking loan money intended for small businesses. They rejected an amendment to provide greater transparency on nursing home COVID deaths – presumably in an attempt to protect the Democrat governor of New York, who is under fire for seemingly deliberate attempts to obscure reporting of these deaths. In a nod to the far-left environmental wing of their party, they rejected an amendment to reverse the president’s cancellation of the Keystone XL Pipeline, which will cost thousands of American jobs.

Democrats passed an amendment that provides an incentive for some Americans to stay on unemployment by making more than $10,000 of their unemployment benefits non-taxable. Working Americans will still have to pay their taxes – even if they’re making less money than they would on unemployment. But a substantial amount of unemployment benefits will be tax-free. That doesn’t seem too fair. Not to mention that the last thing we should be doing right now is discouraging people from going back to work.

It’s deeply disappointing that Democrats have turned a bipartisan process into a totally partisan exercise. We could have passed a bill with overwhelming support from both parties, but that would have required Democrats to be willing to genuinely collaborate with Republicans. Unfortunately, it’s becoming clear that collaboration is not a part of the new way of doing business in the Democrat-led Senate. No matter the roadblocks, you can be sure I will continue fighting for South Dakota’s hardworking citizens and our priorities.

###

Wrapping up a Great Legislative Session

By: Governor Kristi Noem 
March 12, 2021

This week, the 2021 legislative session came to a close. In South Dakota, we keep things short; the session lasts a maximum of 40 legislative days. Every bill gets a hearing, its opportunity to be weighed and vetted by the 105 legislators that you elect to serve you in Pierre.

This year was unique in many ways. South Dakota’s legislative session was perhaps the most “normal” in the country, with legislators still voting in person. And South Dakota had record revenue numbers and huge amounts of one-time money to invest in the long-term future of our state.

I challenged the legislature that we wanted these dollars to fix problems for 20-30 years or longer into the future. And that’s what we’re doing.

We’re investing a combined $100 million to finish connecting the state to high-speed broadband. We’re putting $50 million into an endowment for the South Dakota Freedom Scholarship, which will help kids who need financial assistance get a college degree. We’re building the new Dakota Events CompleX to make Huron a destination for national and regional rodeo events. And there are so many more important projects to strengthen communities.

We’re also putting record dollars into savings and trust funds to strengthen the state budget for the future. South Dakota’s economy is strong right now, but we want to make sure we’re prepared for any future difficulties.

We improved healthcare for South Dakotans by making it more flexible and affordable. We recognized healthcare licenses for folks moving to South Dakota from other states. We provided greater transparency in healthcare costs by requiring that insurance companies show you what the cost of a procedure will be. And we’re allowing South Dakotans to have greater flexibility in their access to healthcare.

We also defended the rights and freedoms of South Dakotans.

We defended life. I signed legislation to protect babies who were born alive. And I’ll be signing a bill to ban abortions based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome very soon.

We defended liberty. We simplified youth hunting. We empowered parental choice in education. And we didn’t expand government control over our citizens lives like we’re seeing in other states.

And we defended property rights. We passed asset forfeiture reform with regards to conservation officers. We’re allowing landowners East River to hunt on their own lands. And we passed legislation to codify the Department of Game, Fish & Parks’ policy as it pertains to open fields.

All told, it was a fantastic legislative session. We had a lot to get done in a short amount of time, and I’m happy to report that we accomplished quite a bit to make South Dakota safer, stronger, and healthier for our kids and our grandkids.

###