Author: @SoDakCampaigns

The Big Three
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
September 15, 2023

BIG Update

Our national debt is skyrocketing. At this rate, it’s going to increase by $20 trillion in the next ten years. This is a crisis.

If we don’t act now, we know the impact it’ll have on Americans:

• Higher cost of living
• Higher interest for borrowers
• Higher inflation
• Private investment and economic growth is crowded out
• Funding for our national priorities, like defense is stopped

But House Republicans’ have a plan:

• Rein in out-of-control spending. President Biden has added $17 trillion to the national debt over the next decade. This is reckless. We must right-size government spending post-Covid.
• Restore fiscal responsibility. $2 trillion of wasteful spending is due to improper payments—either payments that should not have been made or were made in the incorrect amount. The government should not be authorizing incorrect payments. We need to steward taxpayer dollars in a responsible way.
• Reverse the curse. Our deal sets next year’s spending to the Fiscal Year 2022 levels and limits government spending growth to 1% for the next ten years. By returning to pro-growth, pro-work, pro-energy policies that re-ignite our economy, we can turn the tide of our economy, benefiting all Americans.

Our current fiscal trajectory is simply unsustainable. We need to solve these problems. We owe it to our children and grandchildren.

BIG Idea

A lot of folks out in cattle country are still looking for small and local options to process their cattle. I met with the Livestock Marketing Association to discuss how livestock marketers are currently prohibited from having an ownership stake in livestock processors. My bill, the A-PLUS Act, would fix this by expanding the opportunity for investment in small and local packers. This would also increase processing capacity and diversify market options for producers.

BIG News

BIG NEWS! My bill to protect and preserve the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre passed out of the U.S. House. This is an important step forward to getting this bill signed into law, so the land can be maintained as sacred for generations to come. The lives lost that day should be remembered and honored.

I introduced the bill in May. Not many bills receive a vote on the House Floor, and it is even more rare for a bill to receive a vote so soon after being introduced. I’m grateful for the work the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe contributed to the process of the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act and look forward to getting it across the finish line.

Cybersecurity: South Dakota’s Next Big Industry
By: Governor Kristi Noem
September 22, 2023

When I first ran for governor, I promised the people of South Dakota that I would bring the next big industry to our state. We want to keep our kids and grandkids living and working in South Dakota, so we’re focused on bringing the jobs of the future to keep them here. Careers in technology and innovation are the future. And South Dakota has the opportunity to build a future for our kids and grandkids.

Cybersecurity is South Dakota’s next big industry. Our fastest growing sector is “Scientific, and Technical Services,” with 4,000 jobs added in the past five years – a growth of 25%.

South Dakota already has one of the top universities in the nation for cybersecurity and emerging technology. Dakota State University has received designations in cyber operations, cyber defense, and cyber research from the NSA and Homeland Security. There are only ten institutions in the entire country that can say that!

DSU was also the first school in America to create a Ph.D. program in cyber operations. And earlier this year, Dakota State University established an Educational Partnership Agreement with the U.S. Army Cyber Command. This partnership allows students to experience work and educational opportunities at the top classification level. In fact, DSU was the only school in America to send four students to compete for Team USA at the World Cyber Games.

South Dakota is in the middle of the country – and we’re landlocked, so foreign spy ships and subs can’t reach us. It makes a lot of sense for cybersecurity resources to be centered here.

Dakota State’s “MadLabs” is the heart of this. It is the key facility in Madison, and we’ve built partnerships with private industry to expand it to Sioux Falls. They are doing incredible work to drive innovation throughout both the South Dakota economy and the entire nation. They focus on cybersecurity, AI, machine learning, digital forensics, and so much more.

We are also training kids even before they get to college. The Governor’s Cyber Academy provides opportunities for high school students to get some of this training early. Students can attend the academy to get dual-credit training opportunities during the summer. They earn digital badges as they learn skills that will help them get in-demand jobs in the future.

Dakota State University is giving students the kind of career opportunities that they can’t get anywhere else. These opportunities not only encourage our kids to stay in South Dakota to earn their college degree, they also put our state on the map and attract students from across America to choose South Dakota for their education.

I ran for governor to make sure that the next generation would inherit an America that they could be proud of. Accomplishing that goal starts with education.

I recently had the opportunity to be a member of a panel on the future of U.S. regional innovation at the Global Emerging Technology Summit. During this discussion, I got to tell South Dakota’s story and how we are making real progress right here in the heartland. I am so proud that South Dakota schools understand the importance of educating our students in the fields of the future – and I can’t wait to continue our hard work.

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Deutsch announces candidacy for State Senate

FLORENCE – Fred Deutsch, Florence, officially announces his candidacy for the South Dakota State Senate from District 4 in the 2024 Republican primary election.

First elected to the House of Representatives in 2015, Deutsch notes he is running for Senate to continue to be a servant for the people of District 4 and to protect families and children.

“As a father of four and a grandfather of nine, I worry about the world they will grow up in. I’ll bet you worry too. That is why I want to be a senator in the SD legislature,” says Deutsch.

Concerned about quality of life for our children and future generations, Deutsch believes now is the time to take a stand.

“Since you first sent me to Pierre, it’s been my honor to be your voice. As your state senator, I will continue to stand in the gap; I’ll continue to fight for you and your family, to support agriculture, our schools and small towns, and especially our common-sense, rural way of life in District 4.

“I am running because I believe it’s important we protect our way of life, give hope to moms and dads, and leave this world a better place for our kids.”

Deutsch is seeking the seat currently occupied by Sen John Wiik who is term limited.

To learn more, see www.freddeutsch.com.

SD Communities are Embracing Gov. Noem’s “Freedom Works Here”

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem’s “Freedom Works Here” nationwide workforce recruitment campaign is creating a lasting impact. The city of Mitchell is embracing the values of the campaign by offering folks $1,000 to help with relocating to the community. Geri Beck, the head of the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, highlighted this effort at the groundbreaking of a new soybean processing plant near Mitchell earlier this week.

“I am excited to see the Mitchell community join us in encouraging folks to move to South Dakota,” said Governor Noem. “We are building a winning workforce and ensuring that our state’s economy will continue to thrive for generations to come. I hope more communities across South Dakota will get involved in telling our story and welcoming families to our great state.”

Bob Douglas is a seasoned RV professional who recently moved to South Dakota from California. His skill set has already made an impact on the business model at TrailManor in Parkston.

“I accepted this position because TrailManor builds a first-class recreational vehicle and I wanted to be a part of the team taking it nationwide and even expanding worldwide,” said TrailManor sales manager Bob Douglas. “It was an easy decision to make to relocate to South Dakota. It is a beautiful state with a lot to offer and I like that my thought process is in alignment with the state’s view on mostly everything. No looking back, no regrets. Happiness is seeing California in my rear-view mirrors!”

6,958 people have applied to move to South Dakota through “Freedom Works Here.” 1,650 applicants are in the final stages of moving to South Dakota. The most applications have come from California (1,068), Florida (539), Texas (498), Minnesota (376), and New York (320). 189 South Dakotans have also used the campaign as a tool to get plugged into career opportunities. A map showing where applicants are from can be found here.

These numbers represent those working directly through the “Freedom Works Here” program. Even more people are finding jobs and moving to South Dakota of their own accord after seeing the ads.

More information about the Freedom Works Here campaign can be found here.

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After admittedly doing some District shopping, former Republican legislative candidate Brad Lindwurm has filed paperwork to run for the House in Legislative District 15, according to documents filed with the Secretary of State on September 9th.

But in looking at Lindwurm’s voter registration this afternoon, you’re told a bit of a different story..

.. which still has Lindwurm voting from District 10.

Do we think he’s going to have it figured out by the time of the election?

Johnson Bill to Protect Wounded Knee Massacre Land Passes U.S. House

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act passed the U.S. House by unanimous consent. This bill preserves a section of the land where hundreds of Lakota Indians were massacred by the U.S. Army. U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) introduced the bill in May after months of working in coordination with the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. The bill unanimously passed the House Natural Resources Committee in June.

“What happened at Wounded Knee is a stain on our nation’s past that cannot be washed away,” said Johnson. “But passage of this bill is a step closer to properly memorializing the lives lost and protecting the land forever.”

“In the dead of winter, December 29, 1890, the United States’ 7th Cavalry massacred our People, old men, women, and children. We stand as a united voice for our ancestors who suffered the pain of the Wounded Knee Massacre and our countless generations who continue to suffer from the historical trauma.  We, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, extend our strong support for the passage of the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act.  We thank Dusty Johnson and the House for taking this important step,” said Chairman Ryman LeBeau, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.

“We are pleased the House of Representatives acted quickly to pass this important legislation. This bill will protect our sacred land at Wounded Knee. It also continues the healing process for the descendants of victims and survivors of the 1890 Wounded Knee Massacre,” said President Frank Star Comes Out, Oglala Sioux Tribe.

Read full bill text here. Find the Covenant between both tribes here. Find the map here.

Wounded Knee Massacre Background:

In the late 1880s, a movement called the Ghost Dance swept across the nation. Indians believed that this dance would give stolen land back to the Indians, bringing about a renewal of Native society. Indians would join together, wearing shirts they believed would protect them from bullets, to dance for this renewal, all at the protest of the federal government.

On December 29th, 1890, a group of Lakota Indians led by Chief Spotted Elk had made camp near Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. There, U.S. Army 7th Calvary troops were sent to disarm the Lakota. A struggle occurred between the U.S. Army and some of Chief Spotted Elk’s band – a majority of which consisted of women and children. A shot rang out, and the U.S. Army opened fire on the largely unarmed group, massacring an estimated up to 350-375 Lakota Indians. Twenty-five U.S. soldiers also died.

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Rounds Delivers Opening Remarks at Banking Hearing on AI 

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, delivered opening remarks at a committee hearing titled, “Artificial Intelligence in Financial Services.” Click HERE to listen to Rounds’ opening remarks.

“The U.S. continues to be the birthplace for new innovation in this field,” said Rounds in his opening remarks. “Congress should help shepherd the development of American AI – artificial intelligence that is embodied with key principles to promote confidence and trust – principles like privacy and transparency. We are at a crossroads. Artificial intelligence is real and it’s not going away. We have the opportunity to shape it in a way that reflects the values that are important to us. AI is a tool and it’s up to us whether we harness it to make improvements to our financial system or if we simply fall behind.”

South Dakota Democrats made their new choice for party chair, Shane Merrill, official at a meeting this last weekend where Merrill was challenged for the office by John Cunningham, who was denied for the office for a third time after running for SDDP Chair unsuccessfully in both 2019 and 2023:

The elections occurred at a pre-planned party event in the Black Hills this weekend. Meyers ran unopposed for the vice-chair position, while Merrill easily fended off a challenge from Sioux Fall Democrat John Cunningham, who most recently ran for the same position in February.

and..

The Dakota Scout first reported in August that former party Executive Director Dan Ahlers had quit just three months into the job, citing allegations that Slaight-Hansen was creating a hostile work environment and mismanaging the party. What would follow was a contentious but unanimous vote to sack the former chair, and an unsuccessful attempt to appeal the recall decision by Slaight-Hansen.

Read the entire story here.

Cunningham was also South Dakota Democrats’ unsuccessful candidate for State Treasurer in the last general election.

Pheasant season. Deer season. Turkey season. There’s plenty of opportunities in South Dakota to get outdoors and partake in our state’s hunting tradition. Hunting is a part of our way of life, our traditions, and our economy. South Dakotans know that, but the Biden administration has once again proved itself to be wildly out of touch with reality in rural America. Case in point, the Biden administration’s latest instance of overreach by denying federal funding for school hunting and archery education programs.

Last year, the president signed the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act into law. I opposed this bill for several reasons. Among them was a concern about how the Biden administration would implement the bill to advance its far-left agenda. This concern proved to be well-founded when the administration interpreted a straightforward provision, which mentions neither archery nor hunting, to block funding for archery and hunting education programs, something it was never intended to do.

Hunting and archery programs enrich our cherished hunting tradition and add value to students’ educations in South Dakota and across the country. The National Archery in the Schools Program is in nearly 9,000 schools in 49 states. It provides 1.3 million students the opportunity to experience archery and its benefits, sometimes for the first time. Nine in 10 students pursue or want to pursue other outdoor activities because of the program.

Hunting programs, like South Dakota’s HuntSAFE for Schools program, have similarly positive results. HuntSAFE uses nonfunctional guns to teach kids about hunting with “an emphasis on firearm safety and responsibility.” Learning to safely handle firearms decreases firearm-related injuries and accidents, and hunting education programs have contributed to a steep decline in hunting accidents.

I’m at a loss to explain why the Biden administration would seek to deny federal funding to these programs. Funding programs like these seems like a good thing to do to promote safer communities. Schools should have the choice of spending their federal funding on programs that unquestionably meet the goal of helping to offer students a well-rounded educational experience. Unfortunately, there are already reports of schools canceling plans for these programs in their curricula as a result of this policy.

To ensure students are able to access the benefits of archery and hunting programs in their school, I’ve joined several of my Senate colleagues in urging the Biden administration to reverse its decision. I’ve also introduced legislation that would prevent this prohibition from going into effect and to clarify that federal funding can support sports clubs, teams, trainings, and other curricular and extracurricular programs for students.

Hunting is an institution in rural communities. Growing up in Murdo, my dad taught my siblings and me how to bag roosters. Hunting taught us about patience and perseverance. And it taught us to appreciate the land and the importance of safety when handling firearms. I cherish those memories, and I keep up the family tradition with my siblings and sons-in-law. I’m not surprised the Biden administration doesn’t quite understand how we do things in South Dakota, but I wish they would stop interfering with our way of life. I’ll continue fighting against the Biden administration’s overreach to protect the rights of individuals and, in this case, local communities.

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I’m revamping the Weekly Column to give you a greater look at what’s happening in Washington, D.C. This is the first edition of The Big Three, where I’ll share a BIG update of what’s on my mind, a BIG idea from a meeting I had, and BIG news about the hot topic in D.C. This week was full of BIG headlines, so I’ll try to keep it short.

BIG Update

House Republicans spent the week fighting the Left’s attempts to mandate all new cars be electric vehicles. We successfully passed the Preserving Choice in Vehicle Purchases Act to stop California and President Biden from deciding what vehicles you may and may not drive. A fully electric vehicle fleet is not sustainable, not practical, and not affordable.

BIG Idea

This week, I met with the South Dakota Auto Dealers Association. We talked about catalytic converter theft, harmful Environmental Protection Agency attempts to mandate electric vehicles, and record-high used car prices. SDADA’s big idea is to add a VIN or serial number to every catalytic converter. It only costs $2 to add compared to $1,200 for a new catalytic converter.

BIG News

Talks in Washington, D.C. were centered around the impeachment inquiry and the spending bills to fund the government. As we barrel toward the September 30 government funding deadline, we face the possibility of a government shutdown. The stakes are high, and Republicans and Democrats are hitting major roadblocks during negotiations.

I’ve been fighting to keep the lights on, but not without measures in the funding package to secure the border. The situation at the border is getting worse, and it’s affecting communities across America. New York City begged the New York Governor to bus migrants out of the city. Massachusetts recently declared a state of emergency and requested funding for help due to migrant families. President Biden’s open border policies need to be reversed.

Ensuring border security is in the funding package isn’t the only thing I’m prioritizing—we need to cut spending. Congress’s runaway spending under Democratic leadership has piled up our debt. We cannot continue to spend into oblivion. Budget cuts must be made.

I’m working do all three: cut spending, secure the border, and keep the government open. Congress needs to act.

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