Author: @SoDakCampaigns

From war zones and disaster areas to cutting-edge research and unparalleled leadership, the men and women of the U.S. military continue to inspire through their selfless service. Throughout our nation’s nearly 250-year history, the tasks we ask of our military heroes have changed considerably, but their commitment to defending our country and our national interests remains resolute.

On November 11, we recognize Veterans Day, and we celebrate Veterans and Military Families Month throughout November. I am proud to represent the 65,000 veterans and the thousands of military families who call South Dakota home. The men and women who have served and continue to serve our country are a special breed of patriots, and they and their families have made considerable sacrifices to secure the freedoms we hold dear.

Veterans have a lot to be proud of, but if you ask them about their service, you’re much more likely to hear about the men and women they served with rather than their own achievements. I encountered this humility growing up. My dad, Harold Thune, was a Navy pilot who flew Hellcats off of the U.S.S. Intrepid in the Pacific theater during World War II. My dad won the Distinguished Flying Cross, but that’s not what he talked about. He did, however, talk about Cecil Harris, among many others. Cecil was one of South Dakota’s aces, whose advice for a deft maneuver saved my dad’s life during a dogfight. Hearing those stories are among my fondest memories.

Earlier this year, we lost the last surviving World War II Medal of Honor recipient, Hershel W. “Woody” Williams, who said he wore the medal in honor of the men he served with who did not return home. These warriors who helped save the world didn’t brag about their achievements. They deflected praise. This same humility was on display in the Webster Area High School gym last month, where I had the privilege of  participating in a medal presentation for Vietnam veteran Wayne Wasilk of Grenville, who used the occasion to call attention not to himself, but to the heroic actions of the nurses he served with during the war.

While we can never fully repay the debt we owe our veterans, we have a responsibility to ensure they receive all of the benefits they’re owed, which is something I take very seriously as a U.S. senator. I have successfully fought for over a decade to prevent closures or service reductions at VA facilities in South Dakota to ensure veterans can continue receiving the health care they need close to home. Veterans pledged their lives to the service of our country, and they took upon themselves the burden of defending liberty for the rest of us. We must stand behind our promise to care for them when they return home, which includes keeping our state’s VA facilities open.

I am also deeply committed to ensuring that our military has everything it needs to deter threats and protect America. And, as always, Ellsworth Air Force Base is at the top of my priority list. I am currently working to continue making the needed investments in the facilities and other infrastructure that Ellsworth will need to host the future B-21 mission, as well as to ensure the influx of military families that will move to the area have adequate school capacity and housing access.

Veterans and military families have made tremendous sacrifices to secure our freedoms. We owe them, and the generations that came before them, our eternal gratitude. This month, let us take the opportunity to salute these great Americans and never forget the tremendous price they pay in their service.

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It’s easy to focus on what isn’t getting done in Washington—don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to do—but I was recently reminded of a big win from earlier this year. Once a bill crosses that finish line and is signed into law or implemented, sometimes we forget to highlight the impact it’s had on our economy and businesses.

Over the past few months, I have received feedback from industry leaders and government agencies on legislation I led—like the Ocean Shipping Reform Act and Butcher Block Act—and how they have impacted their respective industries. Spoiler alert, it’s good news!

The Ocean Shipping Reform Act has paved the way for your packages to be on time this holiday season. In 2020 and 2021, shipping delays were more common than ever before. But this year, cargo for holiday shopping is arriving in time to beat the peak season. Additionally, the average shipping rate has decreased by 60% since OSRA was signed into law. With record-high inflation, this savings is much needed for consumers and manufacturers.

My Butcher Block Act passed the House in June and has been implemented by the USDA through the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program. A new small beef and pork combination plant in Faulkton was recently awarded a grant through this program. The facility will have the capacity to process more than 100 animals per week. More grants of this kind will increase capacity in the market and provide greater stability in prices and supply for consumers.

Authorizing the year-round use of E15 is another priority I have supported which passed the House in June and has been implemented administratively to allow more fuel to enter the market with the goal of lowering gas prices. This reduces our dependence on Russia, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela for oil. I’ll continue to fight for American energy security and the reimplementation of policies that made our nation more energy secure under the last administration.

Addressing the supply chain crisis is just one area where I have seen many wins. There can be a lot of talk about what needs to be done, but without action, words don’t hold much weight. I’m proud to work on behalf of South Dakotans and deliver results that will directly impact them in positive ways. I’m looking forward to more wins in the next Congress with my Republican colleagues and getting our country on the right track.

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If you look across the nation, economic growth has ground to a halt. The price of everyday items – like milk, eggs, and pretty much everything else – has skyrocketed, making it harder for families to make ends meet. 38% of Americans point to “economic problems” as “the most important problem facing the country today.” In this tumultuous sea of negative economic news, South Dakota stands tall as a lighthouse – an example that Freedom and personal responsibility lead to sustained economic growth.

You’ve heard me recite the statistics before. We have the fastest growing incomes of any state in America. Our new housing development is No. 1 in the country. Our new business applications lead the nation, as well. We are outpacing the nation’s population growth tenfold, and we are No. 2 for inbound migration. Behind each of these statistics are countless stories – stories of South Dakota families and small businesses that had the opportunity to grow, thrive, and succeed because we stayed “Open for Business.”

In my State of the State Address earlier this year, I shared one such story. Alyssa Nix is a Sioux Falls native who started working in retail and fashion when she was 16. Four years ago, she took out a loan to purchase a women’s clothing boutique, and then the pandemic came. If Alyssa’s store had been in almost any other state, she would have had to close her doors. Because she lived in South Dakota, she kept the doors open. And today, she is still fulfilling her lifelong dream of helping women feel confident about themselves, no matter their budget and whatever the occasion.

These stories repeat time and time again, from our biggest cities to our smallest towns. It’s the family who moved here to escape tyranny from New York or Michigan or Washington – and then brought the rest of their extended family with them. It’s the law enforcement officers looking to continue their careers in a state where they would be respected. It’s the single mom wanting to live where her kids could learn in the classroom. In these stories and so many more, South Dakota’s Freedom has made a tangible impact in the lives of countless people.

I am proud of what we have done here – and I’m humbled to be part of so many stories. South Dakota is setting our next generation up for success because of the growth that we have achieved, together. Because of the new businesses that have moved into the state, there are more good paying jobs for our kids when they graduate. Because of the thriving industries that we are building – like cyberresearch and biofuels – the exciting jobs of the future can be found right here in South Dakota.

And when our kids start these exciting careers here in our state, they will be able to raise our grandkids here, too. That’s how we build a lasting legacy. That’s how we build off of our current growth to achieve sustained growth. As I’ve said many times, strong families build stronger communities. Together, we are achieving stronger communities and a stronger South Dakota. All it took was a little fresh air, a lot of Freedom, and the kind of hard work that can only be found in the Heartland. I’m honored to be a part of it, and I’m so thankful for every South Dakotan who helped make it possible.

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This didn’t escape my notice in the last few days. As Republican leaders across the spectrum of the GOP come together to support Governor Kristi Noem for re-election, including a possible message coming tonight from President Trump, a few members of the hard right have come out to support Republican Governor Noem over Democrat Jamie Smith. Including Citizens for Liberty Leader Tonchi Weaver, who had previously been critical of Governor Noem:

Tonchi Weaver understands the importance of securing our liberties for our kids and grandkids. Take it from her — it matters who the Governor is. I know we haven’t always agreed on everything, but thank you for the support, Tonchi! pic.twitter.com/AM6N1cOIKq

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) November 2, 2022

And it had me wondering, because who haven’t we seen in recent weeks come out and talk about how they’re voting Republican in this November election?

It has been months since the June primary. Losing US Senate candidates Bruce Whalen and Mark Mowry haven’t exactly been forthcoming with their endorsement for John Thune. In fact, from his corner of the Internet, Whalen continues to trash talk John Thune who delivered victory for the GOP.

Same goes for Taffy Howard. Since her loss, when it came time to support Republican Dusty Johnson in the race for Congress in his fall election, just like her voting record this last session, Taffy has ducked around the corner and failed to weigh in at any point that she is supporting the Republican ticket.

And let’s try paging Steve Haugaard?  Has anyone seen Steve Haugaard’s show of support for Governor Noem since his loss?  Interestingly, after the primary back when he was challenging Larry Rhoden for Lt. Governor, let’s not forget how Haugaard campaigned on this slogan…

For someone who campaigned on a platform of wanting to “Unite the Party,” I don’t see where has has made any public effort to unite anyone behind Kristi Noem and the GOP.

I can’t help but notice that the calls for party unity leading up to the primary tend to be forgotten once some of the people who couldn’t get people to unite behind them have lost.  Used to be that Republican candidates considered themselves competitors instead of sworn blood enemies.  We all know primary elections are tough, but it’s an election to be the candidate for the party. Even in loss, being willing to work as part of a team for a greater good has value.  After the 2002 Primary, the next morning, Mark Barnett was at the Rounds for Governor Campaign office with a check in hand and willing to go to work for Mike. Even after the bruising 2018 Gubernatorial Primary, Marty Jackley was on a postcard for Kristi Noem, and Kristi is fully supporting the now unchallenged Marty for a return to the Attorney General’s office.

There are a number of second acts in politics.  Which brings up a question – Why would anyone even consider voting for someone down the line who can’t move past their own race to support the person who beat them? If not individually, why wouldn’t they come out and support the Republican ticket as a whole?

It’s a good lesson to keep in mind as we approach election day. Did the people we didn’t choose come together to support the Republican candidates? Because if they couldn’t do it, when the wheel rolls around again and circumstances change, why would we consider them again in the future?

From my phone, the Kristi for Governor campaign notes that there will be an announcement that looks an awful lot like it will be coming from Donald Trump at tomorrow’s rally.

This comes at about the same time it’s rumored that Trump is planning on announcing for President in the next election. So, could be interesting.

Click here for your tickets!

Kristi for Governor Announces RALLY IN RAPID

RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA – On Monday, November 7, Governor Kristi Noem will host the RALLY IN RAPID at the Barnett Fieldhouse at the Monument in Rapid City.  

Doors will open at 5pm MT. Special guest speakers will deliver remarks starting at 6pm MT. At approximately 7pm MT, the 33^rd Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, will take the stage.

Special Guest Speakers:

• Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden
• Congressman Dusty Johnson
• Monae Johnson, Candidate for Secretary of State
• Chris Nelson, Candidate for Public Utilities Commissioner
• Josh Haeder, State Treasurer
• Marty Jackley, Candidate for Attorney General
• Rich Sattgast, State Auditor
• Brock Greenfield, Candidate for Commissioner of School and Public Lands
• Dan Lederman, Chairman of the South Dakota Republican Party

WHAT: RALLY IN RAPID
WHO: Governor Kristi Noem, Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden, Congressman Dusty Johnson, and candidates for statewide elected offices
WHEN: Monday November 7; Doors open at 5:00 pm MT; special guest speakers begin speaking at 6pm MT; the 33^rd Governor of South Dakota, Kristi Noem, takes the stage at 7pm MT.
WHERE: Barnett Fieldhouse, the Monument, 444 Mt. Rushmore Rd. N. Rapid City, South Dakota 57701.

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Another endorsement from Twitter for Governor Kristi Noem:

Thank you Senator Castleberry! Jessica and I will continue working to expand opportunities and flexibility in childcare to help our families succeed. pic.twitter.com/JPe5MKIOFl

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) November 4, 2022

Oh, good grief.  In a stunning move, a group of South Dakota election conspiracists succeeded in brow-beating the Tripp county commission into moving an election back 20 years to the point where the election will be counted by hand. According to the South Dakota Searchlight web site:

An election law on the books since 1994 allows county commissions to overrule the county auditor by “experimenting with” a combined hand-counting and tabulated ballot counting system.

and..

The new rules left Desersa in a rush to find several new volunteer election workers and to train herself, staff and election workers on how to hand count votes.

“We had to come up with more people to hand-count because all of these 90-year-old election ladies don’t want to stay longer hours to count,” Desersa said.

and..

“The remedy for that would be to bring forth legislation to tweak that particular statute — switch it to say something like, ‘county auditors shall use tabulators to count election votes,’” Barnett said.

The current statute’s vague language means each of South Dakota’s 64 state’s attorneys can interpret the current law differently.

Read the entire story here.

This should be interesting. To say the least.

Sioux Falls School Board member Cynthia Mickelson has been working on a newsletter “advocating for policies that promote strong public schools and statewide student success,” and the inaugural issue was sent out today.  And you can read it below.

First Newsletter – South Dakotans for Strong Schools by Pat Powers on Scribd

To sign up for Mickelson’s newsletter, you can e-mail her at cynthia@mickco.com.