Author: @SoDakCampaigns

From the Rapid City Journal website the other day, a story was filed about twin-sisters Julie Frye Mueller and Jodie Frye running for the State Legislature at the same time…

Yeah.. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. From Facebook:

Anti-vaxxer twins Rep. Julie Frye Mueller promoting facebook nonsense about Coronavirus being a manufactured epidemic, and her candidate sister Jodi claiming that the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases needs to be in prison.

This is the worst supervillain team-up ever.

Can’t believe I have to reinforce this but here we go. 5G has literally nothing to do with Coronavirus. https://t.co/lJm8bjBpjm

— Paul Ten Haken (@paultenhaken) April 21, 2020

From KELOland, The State Senate held day one of it’s inquiry into accusations against the Republican Senate Majority Leader Kris Langer and President Pro Tem Brock Greenfield, with their House Counterparts among the chief witnesses in the matter:

Five Republicans and four Democrats are scrutinizing what Senate Republican leader Kris Langer of Dell Rapids and Senate president pro tem Brock Greenfield of Clark said and did.

Former state Attorney General Marty Jackley represents them. Jackley objected several times Tuesday morning to Senator Art Rusch, chair of the investigation committee, challenging whether the Legislature had authority under state law and what evidence should be allowed.

and…

After viewing the videos, Rusch received a list of witnesses who contacted the Legislative Research Council about their interest in testifying. Most of them were legislators.

“Some but not all,” Bolin said. He suggested allowing Jensen, House Republican leader Lee Qualm of Platte, House Democratic leader Jamie Smith of Sioux Falls, and Haugaard.

Read the entire story here.

Considering the strained relations between the House and the Senate, I have the feeling that this has the potential to be a carnival sideshow as much as anything.

Rounds, Klobuchar Urge Administration to Make Sure Veterans Receive the Care they Deserve During Coronavirus Pandemic 

Their letter calls on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take additional measures to make sure that our at-risk veterans –including those exposed to burns pits and other toxic substances – receive the care they need    

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) wrote a letter calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take additional measures to make certain that at-risk veterans – including those exposed to burns pits and other toxic substances – receive the care they need during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Servicemembers who have been exposed to burn pits suffer from higher rates of asthma, emphysema, and rare lung disorders – making them particularly at risk for experiencing serious or potentially life-threatening symptoms should they contract coronavirus,” wrote the senators.

“The VA estimates that over 3.5 million veterans have been exposed to burn pits, and over 200,000 veterans and servicemembers have signed up for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry to date. Given the significant number of at-risk veterans, it is critical that the VA prioritizes efforts to ensure that these brave men and women are able to safely receive care during the current public health crisis.”

Full text of the letter can be found below:

Dear Secretary Wilkie:

We write to ask the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to take additional measures to ensure that our at-risk veterans, including those exposed to burns pits and other toxic substances, receive the care they need as our country confronts a significant increase in the demands on our health care system during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Service members who have been exposed to burn pits suffer from higher rates of asthma, emphysema, and rare lung disorders – making them particularly at risk for experiencing serious or potentially life-threatening symptoms should they contract coronavirus. The VA estimates that over 3.5 million veterans have been exposed to burn pits, and over 200,000 veterans and servicemembers have signed up for the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry to date. Given the significant number of at-risk veterans, it is critical that the VA prioritizes efforts to ensure that these brave men and women are able to safely receive care during the current public health crisis.

Considering reports that VA representatives have estimated that that up to one in five veterans could require coronavirus-related care, we call your attention to the VA’s COVID-19 Response Plan. The Plan mentions veterans with service-connected respiratory issues, such as burn pit exposure, are among at-risk populations that may engage with the VA through the Department’s Readjustment Counseling Services (RCS). According to the Plan, many veterans who access RCS do so at a local Vet Center; however, it also states that not all Vet Centers are telehealth-ready. In addition to this technology gap, we also have concerns about the safety and preparedness of RCS staff. It is important that staff have the necessary medical equipment and supplies, including masks, gloves, and sanitation supplies, to safely interact with and provide services to veterans visiting their facilities for telehealth appointments and other essential business.

We request that you provide information at your earliest convenience on how the VA is expanding telehealth capabilities across RCS facilities to provide veterans, including those with respiratory issues brought on by burn pit exposure, with greater access to care as well as what the VA is doing to provide all necessary medical and sanitation supplies to Vet Centers and other RCS access points to promote the safety of staff and the veterans they serve. Additionally, we request that you communicate with veterans the resources that are available to them during the pandemic.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
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Listening to the Senate Interim Investigation Committee being held today to investigate the conduct allegations against Republican leaders Kris Langer and Brock Greenfield.

Right now, they’re replaying the video from the final day of session which gave rise to the claims against the Senators.

I’m going to keep it in the background to monitor.. we’ll see what they come up with.

I had previously noted my contentious objection to supporting Kevin Quick for District 35 State Senate.. And while he was the first, he won’t be the last person I’m going to respectfully take a hard pass on supporting in the GOP Primary.

And with that, I’d bring you another edition of Candidates I just can’t get behind, with a pair of the candidates running for office. Aaron Aylward and Thomas Werner, who are hopefuls running for the State House of Representatives in District 6.

I believe I’ve noted previously Aylward’s previous political affiliation, as he’d been registered as a Libertarian last year.. when he was statewide chair for the Libertarian Party.  I’m a strong advocate for the GOP maintaining a big tent policy, as many people have had sincere changes in thought and ideology over their lifetimes, and have come to serve the GOP well after reaching a crossroads.

State GOP Chair Dan Lederman is one. So is Lt Governor Larry Rhoden who both changed after originally registering in another party in their long-ago days of youth. Ronald Reagan did the same thing himself before becoming one of our most noteworthy presidents in modern history. 

But, then there’s Aaron, who I have to view a bit more cynically:

When you tell someone you switched to the Republican Party, and are “running on that ticket for 2020,” I don’t exactly get the feeling that there’s been a shift of ideology, rather than a shift for opportunity’s sake.  If Aylward’s conversion to the GOP is sincere, he hasn’t sold me on it. And I have the feeling I’m no different that many others.

Sorry. I’m going to nope out of this one.

And then, there’s his fellow District 6 House candidate Thomas Werner. Much like Kevin Quick in the last edition of this column, when someone pops up on the scene and you have no idea who they are, you do some checking.

One of the first rules of opposition research is to research yourself first… and clearly… horrifically that was not done here. Otherwise, you would have asked yourself twice as to why Werner ever thought of running:

This was a public notice from February 17, 2000 in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.  And yes, it was 20 years ago. But, as you dig, you find plenty of things in more recent years, such as civil judgements and as noted here, a 2014 Sheriff’s sale (Argus Leader July 2, 2014).

And believe me, that’s not all… I’m just being brief for brevity’s sake.

I know businesses have downturns. I know people can have a bad run of luck.  But.. what I’m stumbling across in a very surface look is all very publicly filed, via notices in the newspaper.  It was a fairly simple look through the Argus, where I found this and more.

So, what happens when someone decides to do some serious digging against Werner in the fall?  Because that’s what opposition research is all about. It’s campaigning 101.  At times it can be difficult enough to run a race with a stellar candidate, much less one who seems to be deeply flawed.

So make this a District 6 double nope.

Party switching for opportunity’s sake, and being all too well acquainted with the Argus Leader’s public notice section?  Sorry, but District 6 House candidates Aaron Aylward & Thomas Werner are candidates I just can’t get behind.

So far, three Independent candidates for the State Legislature have filed to run for the South Dakota State Legislature:

I’m told Seth William Van’T Hof is running from the right against Republican Senate Majority Leader Kris Langer in District 25.  Former Democrat State Representative (and former Indy Lt. Governor candidate) Caitlin Collier is running for District 17 House, where both parties have their dance card filled.

Former Democrat House Candidate Jade Addison of Sturgis is also trying again, this time as an Indy candidate in a race that had no Democrats for State Representative. (Sorry GOP Candidates. No free ride here).

Hang on for more. Independents have until April 28th to turn in petitions. 8 more days to go!

From YouTube:

Governor Noem Signs Executive Order to Help South Dakota Pork Producers

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed an executive order to help South Dakota’s pork producers as the industry faces the impact of COVID-19.

The new Executive Order (2020-17) removes overstocking restrictions on pork producers. Producers now have some temporary flexibility in their state and county regulatory obligations, which is necessary for their operations and care of their animals.

To learn more about executive orders to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit COVID.sd.gov.

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From my mailbox, Rep. Dusty Johnson signed onto a letter to the president in support of local media, in recognition that the journalism industry is facing unprecedented economic impacts because of COVID-19:

Dingell Flores Veasey Upton… by Pat Powers on Scribd