Author: @SoDakCampaigns

I love learning about history. When I see the granite faces on Mount Rushmore, I always want to learn more about the men enshrined there. When I walk through downtown Rapid City and see the bronze statues of our presidents, I want to learn more about each of their successes and failures. I love the stories — and we can learn powerful lessons from those stories. 

At times, history can be a refreshing reminder that the difficulties that we face are not wholly unique. There are often corollaries in the past, lessons to be learned from situations that mirror the present challenges that we face.  

America’s history is unique when compared to every other nation on the planet. To this day, we are the only nation founded on an idea — and a transformational idea at that. It’s an idea that has inspired nations the world over, one that even inspires the people of Ukraine today: “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.”  

Unfortunately, our nation’s appreciation for that founding idea has slipped over time. This isn’t a new phenomenon; President Reagan warned us of it in his farewell address: “We’ve got to do a better job of getting across that America is freedom — freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of enterprise — and freedom is special and rare.” We need to remind our children about those freedoms and why they were instituted in the first place.   

In particular, our children should learn the struggles our nation faced to implement those freedoms and the triumphs that were made in advancing them to folks who had not enjoyed them previously. Sometimes that history is tough, but it must be told for future generations to understand why this country is worth fighting for.  

In the process of teaching that history, we should not compel our children to adhere to the false narrative that they are responsible for those previous shortcomings — not on the basis of their race, color, or sex. Such a philosophy is not in keeping with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s powerful dream, “that (his) four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” That is the America that I was raised in, and that is the America that I am proud to pass on to my children and to my granddaughter.   

This week, I signed an executive order to restrict the teaching of divisive ideologies like Critical Race Theory in our K-12 classrooms. These ideologies reject America’s founding idea and instead teach that America was founded on racism — and that is not true.   

At various times in our history, America fell short of the founding belief that all men are created equal. And together, our nation overcame those shortcomings. It is on us as a society — and on each elected leader — to commit to defending American liberty for every person in this country. That is my commitment to you as Governor. 

Our children should learn America’s true and honest history. I hope that it will inspire them to accomplish incredible things with their lives and to always recognize that all of their peers are just as valuable as they are — no better and no worse. We all have incredible opportunities in this Land of the Free. The lessons from our past should inspire us to reach for those opportunities and teach us the mistakes to avoid along the way.  

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If you remember the election of 2020, I had done a post regarding former State Representative John Teupel, who was running for the State Senate at the time, noting that he was not someone I could support for the legislature. And a lot of that was geared towards the fact that in 2018, I considered it poor judgement to when he decided to raise hands against law enforcement:

Former State Representative John Teupel had previously served in the State House of Representatives from 2001-2004.. and had been a Majority Whip for the House from 2003-2004.

So, as took place in August 2018, how does a former State Legislator get arrested, charged with assault against a law enforcement officer, and it does not seem to make the news in any way, shape or form?

This took place in August of 2018 – Literally less than two months after Teupel was giving a nominating speech at the end of June in front of the Republican State Convention for Attorney General Candidate John Fitzgerald, this same person was arrested for assault against a law enforcement officer.

As you can see, the charge of assaulting a police officer (a felony) was disposed of and pled down with a guilty plea of resisting arrest, and in October of 2018, Teupel received 4 days in jail, being required to successfully complete anger management classes, a year of probation, etc.

Not exactly a resume builder that makes me want to get behind him for State Senate. If you find yourself fighting with law enforcement as a 56 year old man.. you might want to re-evaluate your decision making process. And the legislature is not the place you want to do that.

Read that here.

He went on to not win his Senate race against Tim Johns on a vote of 58/41.

But there was another interesting contest in 2020, where a number of people were competing within the confines of the Republican party to be delegates to the State Convention. I was running, and gained a slot (only to have COVID cut that short), and John had similarly, but unsuccessfully, offered himself up as a candidate.

Quite a while later, I was speaking with a former board member about the process, and was told how there was also some vetting from those with Trump campaign who wanted to avoid any preventable embarrassments and that might have contributed to Teupel not being selected as a delegate. Being ever inquisitive, and just kind of nosy, I asked “So, did that have anything to do with the assault charge?”

And they replied, “No, it was all about when he made a floor speech about bestiality.”  You can imagine a record needle being drug across a record here.  Wait, what?

So, I actually went and looked it up. And there was a long ago speech on the floor of the State House I think we had all forgotten about. But, in case you need a reminder..

In 2003, a measure was proposed to the South Dakota State Legislature, House Bill 1061, to provide for the crime of bestiality. Basically South Dakota has done away with it as a law at one time, but was finally getting back around to a bill to say it was ok to like your horse..but it needed to draw the line at the relationship being strictly platonic.

But there was surprisingly some opposition to it. And the most vocal was State Representative John Teupel.

Legislators didn’t like talking about the measure at all on the floor because of the topic dealing with some of the worst sexual deviants, but Representative Teupel got up and gave his speech. While he claimed he “wasn’t rising in opposition of the bill,” he did have a very detailed three point notation of his “concerns.” #1, “With a class 6 felony, they usually have an identified victim of the crime.”  #2 “With the prosecution of a crime like this,  there’s not really a plaintiff you can put on a witness stand.”  And there was also concern #3..

Concern #3 was the concern that kids who were “sexually experimenting” would be caught in something like this as a young age, and be labeled permanently as a sex offender, when it might have “been a phase that they would have outgrown.”

Teupel went on declare that he’s not “opposed to the measure” but “has concerns about the legislation.”  And despite his concerns, he actually was an opponent, and went on to be one of the votes against making bestiality a crime.

Obviously, with people still remembering it in 2020, it hasn’t been forgotten.

So, looking at my previous story, while I think the fighting with police constituency is pretty small in District 31, I tend to think the constituency against bestiality being a crime is probably even smaller.

And that’s why I’m still not going to support former State Representative John Teupel for State Senate in D31.

Thune Questions IRS’ Handling of Private Taxpayer Information, Calls for Better Customer Service for South Dakotans

“I hear from a lot of South Dakotans who are frustrated with the IRS. Many are reaching out to my office as their returns are over six months behind. Not only are they frustrated with the delay, but with the lack of assistance as it feels impossible sometimes to reach an IRS representative.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video. 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, which has jurisdiction over tax and other revenue measures, today questioned Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Charles Rettig at a hearing on President Biden’s fiscal year 2023 budget and the 2022 tax filing season. Thune questioned Commissioner Rettig on the administration’s poor response to the IRS’ recent data breach or leak, which led to private taxpayer information being published by ProPublica, a left-leaning media organization. Thune also called out the IRS for its notoriously poor customer service

Thune spoke on the Senate floor last week and criticized the IRS’ failure to deliver basic customer services and the negative effect it has on South Dakota taxpayers. Last September, Thune led a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) urging him to abandon the Biden administration’s unprecedented proposal to expand the reporting of the private, confidential financial data of law-abiding Americans from financial institutions to the IRS. Thune’s letter was signed by every Republican member of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

On ProPublica’s 2021 leak or breach of private taxpayer information (excerpt):

“Since last year’s IRS data breach or leak of private taxpayer information, which the left-leaning ProPublica went out on to publicize confidential taxpayer details, there has been no meaningful follow-up from the administration. In your March 8 response letter to Finance Republicans, you pointed to Secretary Yellen’s testimony that said the Department of Treasury, the Office of the Inspector General, the FBI, and the Department of Justice are conducting independent investigations into this matter. This apparent leak or hack of private taxpayer information is a serious breach of trust between taxpayers and their government. And it is simply inexcusable that the administration hasn’t provided any accountability.

On the IRS’ customer service shortfalls (excerpt) 

“I hear from a lot of South Dakotans who are frustrated with the IRS. Many are reaching out to my office as their returns are over six months behind. Not only are they frustrated with the delay, but with the lack of assistance as it feels impossible sometimes to reach an IRS representative.” 

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Gary Schuster announces his candidacy for the 12th District South Dakota State House

“I’ve been interested in politics from an early age,” said Gary, “and decided that now is the time to take action. South Dakota is a great state and has largely avoided the political craziness that has taken hold in many of our nation’s large cities and states.

Nevertheless, we need to be aware that even in South Dakota our liberties will slowly erode if we don’t actively defend them.”

Gary is a retired metallurgical engineer. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Physics from Iowa State Univ. A PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from the Univ. of  Illinois and an MBA from the Univ. of South Carolina. He was raised on a farm near Pleasantville Iowa. He’s lived all across the United States and his jobs have taken him to many countries. Even so he’s never forgotten his early life on the farm and has respect for anyone that is honest and hard working. He sincerely believes that government should strive to create an environment that gives people the most opportunities to succeed and minimizes what is taken from them in the form of taxes and fees. He’s a fiscal conservative and constitutional originalist.

If you would like to learn more about Gary then check out his website: https://www.garyschusterforsd.com

My longing and waiting are over. My 1889 Pierre for Capital Map/Broadside finally arrived!

And as hoped, it is in mint condition, as much as anything from 1889 could be hoped to be. It’s in much better shape than the one from the State archives.  It’s sandwiched in plastic sheeting (hence the glare) for transport, and they did a masterful job of getting it to me in one piece.

Already planning to get it, and a map of South Dakota I bought many years ago with the first 5 governors at the top, matted and framed.  Until then, I’ve got it squirreled away until I can get them to Sioux Falls where I’ll have them done.

As Democrats hyperextend their arms to pat themselves on the back for the job they did in recruiting candidates, at least one is not exactly loving what the Democrat Party stands for, knowing what a drag on her candidacy it is:

“I think we would always love to have more candidates,” Berk Ehrmantraut, the South Dakota Democratic Party Executive Director, told KELOLAND News. “I think we’ve set ourselves up to be really competitive and pick up some seats this year in the legislature.”

and..

Heenan, who ran for a spot on the Pennington County commission as an independent in 2018, said she reluctantly switched from an independent to Democrat a month ago. She said the national tone of the Democratic Party is not applicable or appropriate to South Dakota, but said running as an independent for state office was not efficient.

and..

While Democrats will leave 23 Senate seats and nine House seats uncontested, Ehrmantraut said having more than 50 candidates for state Senate or House was in the range the party was aiming for.

Read that here.

More than 50 Candidates? How many were placeholders? Because I know they were calling for people to be placeholders.

I’m happy to say that Republicans were shooting for 105 seats and got them. Because the seats where you don’t run anyone are the seats you are most certainly going to lose.

As impeachment talk heats up in the matter of Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, one House member is going to take a pass on voting, due to conflicts over providing the Attorney General counsel in the matter:

Representative Scott Odenbach had assisted Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg in an initial statement on the accident, and considers himself to have an attorney-client relationship with the Attorney General, and deems it a conflict to vote in judgement on whether impeachment is warranted during the April 12 gathering of the State House.

Leslie “Doc” Heinemann announces candidacy for District 25 SD Senate.

We are pleased to announce that Leslie “Doc” Heinemann, Flandreau is running for SD Senate in District 25. He had previously served for six years in the SD House (2013-2018) from District 8 (Moody, Lake, Miner, and Sanborn). The decision to get back into politics for him was a very personal one.

“ I enjoyed the legislative experience, especially the relationships I developed in Pierre. My health has been stable the last 4 years, and after retiring in 2018 after the sale of my dental practices in Flandreau and Dell Rapids, I realized how much I missed being involved in the decision making processes of the state.  I’m ready to jump back into the legislative area, and get to work for the citizens of the new District 25”

Dr. Heinemann will face 3 other candidates on the Republican primary ballot on June 7, 2022. The new District 25 includes towns in Moody and northern Minnehaha counties, including the cities of Flandreau, Colman, Egan, Trent, Dell Rapids, Baltic, Garretson, Colton, Renner, Lyons and Humboldt.

Dr. Heinemann actively farms with his son Jason northwest of Flandreau. He provided dental care for over 37 years to the people of Moody and northern Minnehaha counties, the last 7 of which were in conjunction with his daughter Kimberly, who is also a dentist. He has been married to his wonderful wife Libby for 46 years. They have 4 children and 9 grandchildren with number 10 expected in June.

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Gov. Noem Restricts Critical Race Theory in K-12 Schools

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed Executive Order 2022-02, which restricts the teaching of Critical Race Theory in K-12 education in South Dakota.

“Political indoctrination has no place in our classrooms,” said Governor Noem. “Our children will not be taught that they are racists or that they are victims, and they will not be compelled to feel responsible for the mistakes of their ancestors. We will guarantee that our students learn America’s true and honest history – that includes both our triumphs and our mistakes.”

Executive Order 2022-02 restricts Critical Race Theory in the following ways:

• The Department of Education (DOE) shall not compel employees, students, or teachers to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to inherently divisive concepts;
• The Secretary of Education will review all policies within DOE to identify if any promote inherently divisive concepts;
• DOE will review other materials and trainings  to identify if any promote or endorse inherently divisive concepts;
• If any policies, materials, or trainings promote inherently divisive concepts, they shall end or be removed no later than October 1; and
• Directs the Board of Education Standards to ensure South Dakota Content Standards do not promote inherently divisive concepts.

“Inherently divisive concepts” are defined in Section 7 of Executive Order 2022-02.

In the 2022 legislative session, Governor Noem signed HB 1012 to block mandatory Critical Race Theory trainings and orientations at colleges in South Dakota.

Last year, Governor Noem signed Executive Order 2021-11, blocking federal civics and history grants due to concerns with ties to Critical Race Theory. She also worked with the Board of Regents to ensure that Critical Race Theory will not be the basis of education at South Dakota schools.

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Christmas came early for Michael Rohl, as he has one less obstacle to return to the State Senate:

Susan Wismer was successfully decertified today from the ballot.  Why? Simply because her petitions were a mess. I saw one where people had signed before the candidate declaration, and I saw one where people had signed after the circulator’s signature had been notarized.

And it’s not like it’s her first time at the rodeo.

I suspect we’re going to hear more about this.

Susan Wismer – #NotWinning!