Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Gov. Noem Announces Stronger Families Scholarship Program

 PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem and legislators announced SB 100 to establish the Stronger Families Scholarship. This bill appropriates $15 million to improve educational outcomes and stability for children in foster care.

“Foster children go through such difficult, traumatic, and disruptive events that often interrupt their ability to achieve a high-quality education,” sad Governor Noem. “The new Stronger Families Scholarship will equip these children with access to consistent resources and relationships that are critical to healthy academic development.”

The Stronger Families Scholarship will give children in foster care the opportunity to achieve their full potential. The prime sponsor of this legislation is Senator Al Novstrup (R-03).

“Children in foster care face disparate educational outcomes compared to their peers,” said Senator Novstrup. “These scholarships will allow these children to access key services and resources that wouldn’t be available to them otherwise.”

This three-year pilot program will provide up to $4,000 to eligible youth in foster care to reimburse families for the costs of tutoring or teaching services, curriculum, online learning programs, private school tuition, standardized achievement tests, certain transportation expenses, and technology used for educational purposes.

These additional resources help create positive relationships with adults who can provide support to a child and serve as a protector against the negative outcomes we see too often among foster children.

Governor Noem discussed this proposal during her State of the State Address. You can find the video of that portion of the speech here.

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Gov. Noem and AG Jackley Remind Pharmacists of Illegality of Chemical Abortions

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem and Attorney General Marty Jackley wrote to South Dakota pharmacists to remind them of state law regarding the illegality of abortions except those necessary to save the life of the mother. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently declared that the federal government will permit chemical abortion drugs to be dispensed at all retail pharmacies. You can find the letter here.

“Chemical abortions remain illegal in South Dakota. Under South Dakota law, pharmacies, including chain drug stores, are prohibited from procuring and dispensing abortion-inducing drugs with the intent to induce an abortion, and are subject to felony prosecution under South Dakota law, despite the recent FDA ruling. Their resources should be focused on helping mothers and their babies, both before birth and after,” wrote Governor Noem and Attorney General Jackley.

Following the United States Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision in June 2022, states were once again allowed to make their own choices over abortion policy. South Dakota had a trigger law on the books, passed in 2005, that made abortion illegal except to save the life of a pregnant mother.

At that time, Governor Noem announced a new website, Life.SD.gov. The mission of the site is “Helping mothers and their babies before birth and after.”

Governor Noem and Attorney General Jackley echoed this sentiment: “All abortions, whether surgically or chemically induced, terminate the life of a living human being. South Dakota will continue to enforce all laws including those that respect and protect the lives of the unborn. We trust pharmacists doing business in this state will take the same approach to respecting life.”

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This is what people are spending their time complaining about. The footwear for an animated piece of candy in a commercial.

A message from M&M'S. pic.twitter.com/EMucEBTd9o

— M&M'S (@mmschocolate) January 23, 2023

Draft-dodger. member of Oath-Keeper insurrection group.  It looks like State Representative Phil Jensen is adding another superlative, as he adds anti-vaxxer to his repertoire and proposes a constitutional measure to give those actively infected with typhus and polio a constitutional right to hang out in crowded classrooms, and otherwise refuse treatment and confinement:

I’m pretty sure they called the Dark Ages that for a reason, with the active spread of bubonic plague.  Which it seems that Representative Jensen is ok with seeking a return to.

It also answers the question of whether Representative Carl Perry will sign on to any bill placed under his nose, or if he actually reads the content of the pieces of paper with squiggly lines on them.

Because Perry also signed onto sponsor this measure to give someone actively infected with ebola the right to snuggle up next to him in church, since this person would have the right to refuse treatment, and can’t be denied going into public accommodations under the proposed amendment.

Seriously. Who comes up with these crackpot proposals?

Johnson Named to Select Committee on China

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) was named to the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, more commonly referred to as the “Select Committee on China.”

“We need to address the threats posed by China to our food security and national security,”said Johnson. “I’ve been a leader limiting China’s control over our technology, specifically TikTok, and prohibiting the CCP’s purchase of American farmland and ag businesses. This Committee will play a critical role in mitigating the CCP’s influence in the U.S. and establishing policies to increase our national security. I’m grateful to Speaker McCarthy and Chairman Gallagher for appointing me to the Select Committee – I am ready to get to work.”

The Select Committee will work on restoring supply chains and ending critical economic dependencies on China; strengthening our military; ending the CCP’s access to Americans’ personal data and intellectual property; and contrasting the CCP’s techno-totalitarian state with the values of the Free World.

Johnson has been actively opposed to China’s influence and control over our farmland, food,supply chains, and Americans’ personal and private data, as well as their authoritarian regime actions opposing personal freedoms.

Learn more about the Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party here.

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The Mitchell Daily Republic has a story today about the takeover of the Pennington County GOP by a faction of the party not exactly known for it’s tolerance of those with differing opinions:

In the race for party chair, Amy Wagner, who spent stints on the Family Heritage Alliance advisory council and as the state coordinator for the National Day of Prayer, beat Lauri Davis, the previous vice chair of the county, by a delegate tally of 44-33.

and..

According to Wagner, every victorious candidate during Saturday’s election in Rapid City mentioned “adherence to the platform” as part of their pitch to the delegates in the room.

and..

Moving forward, Wagner said her goal will be to harness the political energy among conservatives in the region toward electoral success. She says that starts with communication, team-building and education.

Read that here.

You notice the last sentence where the new chair notes she wants to “harness the political energy among conservatives.”  Not Republicans, but those she believes to be “conservative,” according to her dogma.

It’s going to be a long election cycle.

Gov. Kristi Noem’s Personal Cell Phone Hacked

 PIERRE, S.D. – Following the leak of Governor Kristi Noem and her family’s personal Social Security numbers and other private information by the January 6^th Committee, Governor Noem’s personal cell phone number has been hacked and used to make hoax calls. Governor Noem had no involvement in these calls.

“Callous mishandling of personal information has real world consequences,” saidGovernor Noem. “If you get such a phone call from my number, know that I had no involvement. I have urged both the United States Attorney General and multiple congressional committees to investigate the leaking of my family’s personal information, and I look forward to whatever resolution they can provide.”

The South Dakota Fusion Center has been notified of this breach.

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Gov. Noem Funds Equipment at South Dakota Tech Colleges

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced $10 million in funding for modern equipment at South Dakota’s four technical colleges. The funding will come from Future Funds and thus will not require a legislative appropriation. Governor Noem is providing a 2-to-1 match for funding that is being put up by the technical colleges themselves for a total investment of $15 million.

“This equipment will help our technical colleges train our kids and grandkids for the jobs of the future,” said Governor Noem. “We have some of the best technical colleges in the nation, and we will continue working closely with them to tackle our state’s workforce needs.”

Lake Area Technical College in Watertown received $4.7 million in Future Funds for a $7.1 million total investment. The largest investments went to the following programs: Heavy Equipment Operator, Robotics/Electronics, Precision Machining, Med Fire Rescue, and Diesel Technology.

Mitchell Technical College in Mitchell received $2.3 million in Future Funds for a $3.5 million total investment. The largest investments went to the following programs: Technician Programs, Radiology Technology, and Sonography.

Southeast Technical College in Sioux Falls received $1.6 million in Future Funds for a $2.4 million total investment. The largest investments went to the following programs: Licensed Practical Nursing, Mechatronics Technology, and Diagnostic Medical Sonography.

Western Dakota Technical College in Rapid City received $1.6 million in future funds for a $2.3 million total investment. The largest investments went to the following areas: student housing, classroom furniture, and the CDL-Truck Driving program.

South Dakota’s technical colleges are governed by the South Dakota Board of Technical Education. You can find more information about the Board here.

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Former House Speaker Spencer Gosch, who broke his leg while cliff jumping during a Council of State Governments meeting last month, is speaking out and declaring that legislation isn’t needed to stop things like when he sent himself and Democrat Jamie Smith to Hawaii after both were out from the legislature.  The Hawaiian junket traveling Gosch says that legislators can just choose to do it on the honor system:

Gosch on Sunday told KELOLAND News he was fulfilling his responsibility as speaker.

“I simply allowed elected officials to attend these meetings — as is the policy — to complete their work throughout the years and to speak for the people of South Dakota,” Gosch said.

and..

“Any legislation the Lee Schoenbeck is introducing isn’t necessary as it requires a mere policy change of the E-Board, if they deem it necessary. Even then, the presiding officers would still be able to use discretion.”

Read the entire story here.

What say you, the reader?  Trust the presiding officer’s discretion, as cliff-jumping Gosch demonstrated, when he sent himself and fellow lame duck Jamie Smith to Hawaii?  Or as Schoenbeck proposes, having a stronger rule than “presiding officer’s discretion?”

 

Weekly Update from 
House Majority Whip Rep Drury
Jan 20, 2023

The legislature has wrapped up the second week of session, and we are beginning to see things start to pick up! This week, House Local Government hosted a presentation from The National Conference of State Legislators about the facts surrounding elections, and policies that others states have used to make sure that our elections stay safe and secure. It was an honor to hear from them!

Our floor debate has been limited this week as committees are starting to work through bills, but on Wednesday the House passed the first tax cut of the year! The bill, HB1011, will provide reimbursements to employers who choose to contribute to the South Dakota Reemployment Assistance Program. It will now head over to the Senate for their consideration! Additionally, the House floor had some very special guests! The SDSU Jackrabbits paid us a visit, along with their new championship trophy, and we congratulated them on their big win!

On legislation, the drafting process is still in full steam. Legislators have about 2 weeks to file any bills they would like to bring, and I have signed on to a couple more bills:

• SB70: This bill is from my good friend Senator Tim Reed from Brookings and is a great protection for South Dakota children. It states that when a child under the age of 16 has been the victim of a sex crime, the child may have the option to testify remotely if being in the presence of the defendant will cause them emotional distress. I could not imagine the trauma it would cause a young person to take the stand in such a matter, and I am beyond proud to be the House Prime Sponsor.
• HB1079: This is legislation I’ll be co-sponsoring, which provides funds to the Department of Health to further provide mental health and suicide prevention resources. Community health is a key factor in higher employment and lower crime, and I hope we see this legislation succeed.

These bills are difficult topics for many in our communities, but that makes them more important. Mental health, suicide, and human trafficking can leave a grave impact on South Dakotans, and every step we take to improving on these issues counts.

As we dig deeper into committee work and floor debate, please always reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns. To best stay in touch, sign up for email updates at this link: https://forms.gle/Dqb9u6Q4PVEdMwiH8. You’ll get updates about bills and current events, and you’ll be able to better keep up with what’s going on in Pierre. Have a great weekend and stay warm!