Author: @SoDakCampaigns

I Just watched @KristiNoem interview on Face the Nation.. if you could call it an interview.

It actually came off as little more than the moderator spending most of their time talking over Governor Noem when they werent outright attacking her. The low-point was when they went after the Governor on “allowing” the Sturgis rally to happen, hanging their hat on the debunked Sturgis Rally COVID study.

The Governor’s COVID detractors seem to think that totalitarian mandates coming from above are going to make a difference in South Dakota. When in comparison to our colder neighbor to the North… maybe it hasn’t proven to be so.

In case you wanted to watch the entire speech, we’ve got the whole thing right here!

From CPAC, Governor Kristi Noem had some words for attendees on exactly what ground our economy to a halt:

.@govkristinoem: "COVID didn't crush the economy. Government crushed the economy.

South Dakota is the only state in America that never ordered a single business or church to close." pic.twitter.com/hDJJPLlBa3

— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 27, 2021

From the Rapid City Journal, Governor Kristi Noem will be addressing CPAC this weekend.. and we’ll also hear from State Rep. Rhonda Milstead:

Gov. Kristi Noem will speak at 1:50 p.m. Mountain Time on Saturday at CPAC, considered the largest conservative gathering in the world.

Additionally, State Rep. Rhonda Milstead, R-Hartford, will speak at 1:20 p.m. MT the same day on a panel called “My Pronouns are First Place and Winning: Protecting Women’s Sports.”

Read that here.

I believe you can catch the speeches by clicking here.

This afternoon, three groups representing the major law enforcement associations added their voices to those advocating that Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg resign from his position as the chief law enforcement officer for the state. From the Argus Leader:

The South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police, the South Dakota Chiefs’ of Police Association and the South Dakota Sheriffs’ Association announced Friday afternoon they are “unified in requesting” that Ravnsborg resign, a call Gov. Kristi Noem made on Tuesday.

“Ravnsborg’s involvement in the death of Joe Boever on September 12th have resulted in a lack of confidence in his ability to effectively carry out his duties as the chief law enforcement officer in South Dakota,” the groups said in the joint announcement.

Read the entire story here.

If you recall at the time of his race, a significant number of the South Dakota Sheriffs were Ravnsborg’s base of support in both his Republican convention race as well as the general election contest – which makes this Friday afternoon announcement surprising.

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Iran Sanctions Resolution

WASHINGTON – Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Representative Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and 42 other members of Congress introduced a resolution to oppose lifting sanctions on Iran.

“Iran’s aggressive behavior and nuclear ambition puts our regional allies and our own national security at risk,” Rounds stated. “The U.S. must continue to maintain sanctions on the Iranian regime until it abandons its nuclear ambitions. The Biden Administration should not repeat the same mistakes of the Obama Administration.”

Cosigners of the resolution include Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Kevin Cramer (R- N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), John Thune (R-S.D.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Todd Young (R-Ind.) and 19 member of the House of Representatives.

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Governor Noem Signs Bills into Law

PIERRE, S.D. – Yesterday, Governor Kristi Noem signed ten bills into law:

• SB 81 authorizes certain flags and flagpoles to be located on residential property regardless of any private covenants, restrictions, bylaws, rules, or requirements.
• SB 82 revises certain regulations pertaining to dealers of motor vehicles, boats, snowmobiles, or manufactured homes and mobile homes.
• SB 92 requires that certain proposed rules include a housing cost impact statement.
• SB 94 revises requirements to the publication of milk regulation ordinances.
• SB 101 revises provisions regarding warranty agreements with certain repair facilities.
• SB 102 protects voter registration information for certain voters.
• SB 136 changes the criteria for a petition to vacate a highway.
• HB 1034 revises certain youth hunting requirements.
• HB 1068 revises the requirement for written findings of fact and conclusions in certain judicial proceedings involving a child.
• HB 1109 modifies requirements and restrictions related to certain alcoholic beverages.

Governor Noem has signed ninety-two bills into law this legislative session.

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A couple of weeks back, I’d written on my household’s bout with COVID and the experimental infusion treatment that I’d been given.  If you recall from my post, COVID for me was mainly in the form of body aches and low-grade fever.  My oldest son who got it mainly experienced it in the form of ridiculously chapped lips.. and his deployment to the Navy now being pushed back 2 months.

Of course, the youngest ones bounced back in a matter of days like they never had it.  What COVID?

For me, receiving the experimental monocyte treatment seemed to have been at the same time the viral tipping point where a lot of fatigue has set in, coinciding with the point in the COVID cycle where people reported that symptoms start raging.

After some challenges in managing bronchial irritation which has been my biggest cross to bear (think hacking cough that never wants to leave), 3 ½ weeks out I think I’m rounding the bend and on the uphill track. I’m definitely out of quarantine, but there’s still this sense of my body constantly telling me that it has a ridiculous drive for constant hydration (and lean protein – think tons of chicken breast), and not as much tolerance for my daily work schedule as I want.

At 54 years old, as I told a friend yesterday, if the worst thing I feel is needing to rest and it’s taking a while to get back to 100%, that’s ok. There are a lot of people who are far worse off than I am.

With the course of experimental treatment telling me I can go get a vaccination 3 months after, it looks like I’ll be in line in mid-May, and gladfully getting poked if it stands a chance at preventing any reinfections until COVID has run it’s course.

And as before, kudos to the care & service from the medical community at Avera Clinic.

Thune, Hassan Reintroduce Bill to Improve Railroad Infrastructure

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) today reintroduced the Railroad Rehabilitation and Financing Innovation Act, legislation to improve the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) loan program by providing dedicated funding for RRIF financing costs, streamlining the application process, and extending loan terms for certain assets.

“States like South Dakota rely on shortline railroads to transport agricultural products and other goods to market, and the RRIF program was originally designed to provide stable financing to small railroads for infrastructure investment,” said Thune. Unfortunately, shortlines are often unable to afford the time and expense associated with the current RRIF application process, discouraging them from using the program. This legislation makes necessary updates to RRIF so shortlines are better able to use the program as originally intended.”

“Infrastructure investments will be a critical part of our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Hassan.“Passenger rail has significant potential in New Hampshire, expanding options for commuters and helping our towns to thrive, and short line and smaller rail lines play a key role in our state’s economy. This bipartisan bill will improve financing options for both, and I look forward to continuing to work across the aisle to invest in infrastructure, create jobs, and grow our economy.”

“This legislation would improve the RRIF program and make it more viable for short lines,” said Chuck Baker, president of American Short Line & Regional Railroad Association. “It addresses several important issues that have been hurdles to participation in the RRIF program for our short line members, including some solutions that are being piloted in the RRIF Express program. Short lines will especially appreciate the streamlining of the application process, including the mandating of regular updates which will improve visibility, the extension of loan terms out to 50 years which will lower annual costs and better match asset lives, increased flexibility regarding collateral requirements which is important when working with small businesses, and perhaps most importantly the authorization of funds to reduce both the direct cost of applying and also the credit risk premium charges that have frequently been a hurdle to completing successful loans. This last change would bring the RRIF program more in line with the comparatively more successful TIFIA program.”

The Railroad Rehabilitation and Financing Innovation Act would:

Streamline the application process: Building on the work done by the Department of Transportation (DOT) in creating the RRIF Express pilot program, the bill establishes an expedited credit review process for loans that meet certain financial and operational criteria. The bill also reduces applicant uncertainty by requiring DOT to provide applicants with regular updates on the status of their application.

Improve program flexibility: The bill makes several changes to improve program flexibility, including longer loan terms for certain rail infrastructure projects and increased flexibility for DOT to evaluate collateral and creditworthiness.

Provide dedicated funding for RRIF financing costs: Similar to the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act loan program, the legislation authorizes funding to cover financing costs associated with providing RRIF loans. Half of the funding is dedicated solely to shortline railroads, while the remainder is reserved for passenger rail projects.