Author: @SoDakCampaigns

South Dakota loves Mike Rounds and John Thune, as Morning Consult points out we have two of the most popular US Senators in the nation:

America’s Most Popular Senators:

John Barrasso (R-WY): 70%
Cynthia Lummis (R-WY): 63
Mike Rounds (R-SD): 60%
John Thune (R-SD): 60%
John Hoeven (R-ND): 57%

*Approval among registered voters in each state. Surveys conducted April 1- June 30, 2022https://t.co/VGRKXRiSq0 pic.twitter.com/gy05NPbMZG

— Morning Consult (@MorningConsult) July 25, 2022

People are leaving Democrat-run states in massive numbers for @KristiNoem’s South Dakota.

People just “want to live somewhere where the leaders respect the law.” pic.twitter.com/Q21i1HvxhL

— The RGA (@GOPGovs) July 24, 2022

I have some personal things which will bring me to the east coast in a couple of weeks, including stops to see my daughter working on Congressman Dusty Johnson’s staff, and possibly catching up with my son on the USS Montana.

Given the amount of time I’ll have in our nation’s capital, and the fact I’ve largely been shut out of DC frivolity over the past 2 years due to COVID, I think that it’s time to revisit and review who has the best Fish & Chips in the DC Area.

I know Eamonn’s in Alexandria didn’t get past COVID, and they closed the Rí Rá Irish Pub in Georgetown (dammit), but the Dubliner is still a short distance from Union Station, and The Queen Vic is still up and running.

From the 2018 tour, Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar had high marks and looks to still be in operation, so I’m definitely putting that on the itinerary.

What am I looking for? I’m mainly looking for a well cooked and generous portion of fresh haddock or cod. On the chips, I want something that seems truer to what chips should be, as opposed to frozen steak fries from Hy-Vee.

So, three return visits at least in the planning stage, and we’ll see what else I can scare up for the trip between now and then.

When Democrats took office in January 2021, Congress had just passed a fifth bipartisan COVID relief bill that met essentially all current pressing COVID needs. Still eager to spend more, Democrats then passed a massive $1.9 trillion piece of legislation under the guise of COVID relief that flooded the economy with unnecessary government money, and the economy overheated as a result. Then, despite steadily climbing inflation in the wake of their bill, Democrats seemed incapable of learning from their mistake, and they spent last fall attempting to double down on the failed strategy that helped get us into this mess in the first place.

Fortunately, Democrats’ plan for a second spending spree failed last December, but it’s become clear that they’re not giving up. Right now, they’re trying to pass a new version of their tax-and-spending spree where they plan to hike taxes on small businesses.

While President Biden was on the campaign trail, he touted, among many things, that he would repeal the tax cuts from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act – the tax relief legislation Republicans passed in 2017 that helped increase wages and incomes, boost economic growth, and drive the poverty rate to a record low. The president falsely claims that the bill solely benefitted high-income earners and corporations when it was actually lower- and middle-income Americans who are the ones who saw some of the biggest benefits from Republicans’ tax relief legislation. The effects of tax reform on business investment, wages for working families, and tax revenue were a boon to the American people and our economy.

I wish we had continued down that path of growth and opportunity, but Democrats have decided to take another route. The president claims he ran for office because he was tired of the “trickle-down economy” and that he wants to build an economy “that works for working families.” But as families across the country know, President Biden’s economy is not working for them.

Inflation is at its highest level since November 1981 – a staggering 9.1 percent. Everywhere South Dakotans look, they’re facing price increases. I was recently back in my hometown of Murdo for an all-school reunion, and some folks told me that business profits are down by 30 percent or more this year due to high gas prices and soaring inflation. Like many small towns across South Dakota that rely heavily on the tourism industry, record-high inflation has stunted travel and resulted in a significant loss in revenue.

It’s abundantly clear that raising taxes would likely lead to a combination of lower wages for workers, lower returns for business owners, and higher prices for goods and services. When you combine that with inflation and more unnecessary government spending, you have a recipe for continued economic misery for American families and communities across the country. If Democrats really wanted to help American families, they’d be focused on making all of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act tax cuts permanent. I am doing everything in my power to stop the Democrats’ newest version of their reckless tax-and-spending spree. South Dakotans have suffered enough.  

###

July 12. That is the day Feeding South Dakota – a hunger relief organization – hit its budget for the month of July. With more than half the month to go, there are needs to be met – families and children that need the food they provide. Feeding South Dakota has seen fewer donations likely caused by the lack of surplus in kitchen pantries and in wallets because of inflation.

In the past 12 months, there has been a 20% increase in families visiting Feeding South Dakota mobile food distributions. Pierre has seen a 13% increase. Sioux Falls a 28% increase. And Rapid City is seeing a 33% increase in families needing assistance.

The reality is that food prices are much higher than last year. It’s been reported that an average family of four is spending around $100 more per month on their groceries than they did last year. 

The cost of just about everything going up, especially the cost of fuel. Gas prices have increased by 60% and energy is up 41%. An additional $100 a month isn’t a small number – average earnings can’t keep up with the unprecedented inflation – this puts families in a lose-lose situation. Choosing whether to pay for electricity, heating, and cooling, gas for your commute to work, or putting food on the table is a decision many families are facing today.

I’ve opposed more than $9 trillion in Washington spending bills because I know the impact this spending has on real people. Decisions in Washington, D.C. to spend more money has created too many dollars chasing too few goods, but surprisingly enough, the top issue I hear from most business owners in South Dakota isn’t inflation, it’s the labor shortage.

According to the U.S. Chamber, our nation has 11 million job openings—but only 6 million unemployed workers. We have more than three million fewer Americans participating in the labor force today compared to February of 2020. We need to fill these openings to have a robust economy.

Tackling inflation needs an all-hands-on-deck solution. If Congress stops the reckless spending and folks head back to the office after a two-year hiatus, we can get back on track. I’m grateful for organizations like Feeding South Dakota for filling the gap as so many families are feeling the impact of rising inflation.

###

Earlier this week, the State of South Dakota closed the financial books for fiscal year 2022 with a record-breaking $115.5 million surplus. This historic surplus was a combination of revenues unexpectedly being $72.3 million above what was adopted by the legislature this past session and the general fund budget for state government operations having expenses $43.2 million less than budgeted.

For starters, the growth in our revenues reaffirms the strength of our state’s economy. South Dakota’s personal income growth led the nation again in the first quarter of 2022, and we have been a leader in this metric since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. People continue to move to South Dakota as our net inbound migration was ranked second in the nation. South Dakota’s 2.3% unemployment rate is among the lowest in the nation and lower than before the pandemic. For their part, state agencies displayed tremendous fiscal responsibility throughout the year and, at my direction, brought state expenses in under the appropriated budget.

While this surplus may lead individuals to call for a reduction in our state’s tax structure, I offer a word of caution. Our state is in a great financial position thanks to our structurally balanced budget and strong reserves, but we must be prepared to weather any economic storm that may come our way. It will be difficult for our state to maintain the unprecedented growth as our citizens struggle with the highest inflation in 40 years.

Over the past few years, the national economy has been artificially supported by the trillions of dollars that Congress provided to states, businesses, and individuals because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The result was a predictable one: historic inflation. Until President Biden reverses the policies that have caused inflation to skyrocket, the strain of inflation will continue to be an obstacle to South Dakota’s fantastic growth. There will come a time when our economy is no longer boosted by these stimulus dollars, and we must be prepared for the impact that will have on our state’s finances.

In addition to an unknown economic climate, there are key investments our state needs to continue to make in education, healthcare, public safety, and our state workforce. As many of your wallets have felt the impact of inflation, our state’s budget will also feel this increase.

As always, we will turn these challenges into opportunities for South Dakota to continue to thrive. We will spend taxpayer dollars wisely and responsibly and save where we can. South Dakota is financially stronger than ever. I am committed to ensuring our state continues to invest in our people, workforce, and infrastructure while continuing to have as low of a tax burden as possible.

###

Gov. Noem Appoints Mark Roby to Housing Board

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem appointed Mark Roby to the South Dakota Housing Development Authority’s Board of Commissioners. This appointment is effective immediately.

“South Dakota has the strongest economy in America, but our state’s housing challenges continue to be one of the obstacles to sustaining that momentum,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Mark will bring a common-sense approach to the Housing Board to help solve these challenges in a way that works for every community across South Dakota.”

Before retiring in 2017, Roby served as the President and Regional Publisher of Dakota Media Group from 2016 to 2017 and as the Publisher of the Watertown Public Opinion from 2002 to 2016. He has served on the board of Prairie Lakes Health System since 2006, including as chairman from 2013 to 2016. He previously served on the South Dakota Judicial Qualifications Commission from 2013 to 2021, including as Vice Chair from 2015 to 2021; on the South Dakota Newspaper Association from 2005 to 2010, including as President from 2008 to 2009; on the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority from 2009 to 2013; as well as on numerous other boards and organizations.

Roby was born in Watertown and graduated from Watertown Community Schools before receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Drake University. He and his wife Ronda have three children and ten grandchildren.

Roby is replacing Steve Kolbeck on the board. Kolbeck resigned his seat after winning his election for the South Dakota State Legislature.

###

What's @KristiNoem's favorite movie?

We'll give you a hint: it features a former GOP governor. pic.twitter.com/ukknineYOY

— The RGA (@GOPGovs) July 22, 2022

AOC pretends to be handcuffed. At least when I get arrested, I get arrested for real! pic.twitter.com/kuwjpp0g5v

— Rod Blagojevich (@realBlagojevich) July 21, 2022

Greetings!  Hope summer is going well for all of you.  Marcia and I have been at our lake cabin with grandkids.  There is something special about teaching grandkids to fish.  Jonathan, 7 yrs. old, caught his first northern, off the dock no less.  I had him run to the shoreline and reel in from there.  God only knows what could happen on the dock with our chocolate lab Mocha dancing around and then trying to lift the northern out of the water onto the dock!  The fish wasn’t big to us (3 lbs.), but to a 7-year-old, it was huge.  Great memories!

Let’s talk about ballot measures, specifically Medicaid Expansion, shall we?  This is on the ballot on Nov. 8^th as Constitutional Amendment D, Medicaid Expansion Initiative (2022).  So what does Amendment D do?

Constitutional Amendment D would amend the state constitution to require the state to provide Medicaid benefits to all adults between 18 and 65 with income below 133% of the federal poverty level beginning July 1^st, 2023.  Because the Affordable Care Act (Obama Care) includes a 5% income disregard, this measure would effectively expand Medicaid to those incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level.

How much is that you ask?  It is $17,774 for an individual and $36,570 for a family of 4 in calendar year 2021.

To date 38 states have done this (expanded Medicaid).  South Dakota is one of the 12 states that have not.

Who do you think supports Amendment D?  Any guesses?  It is sponsored by a group called SD Decide Healthcare and is sponsored by SD State Medical Association, SD Nurses Association, SD Education Association, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, SD AARP and many, many others.  Looking at what organizations have donated money to Amendment D, thus far, are the following:

• Avera Health $250,000
• Farmers’ Union $250,000
• Sanford Health $250,000
• SDAHO Enterprises $250,000
• Monument Health, Inc. $100,000

and others with lesser amounts, so far. It will be interesting to see how much those donations increase as we get closer to the General Election on Nov. 8^th.  South Dakota Healthcare has $1,572,585 in contributions.  The cost of Amendment D for South Dakota is figured at around $80 million.  Federal government has indicated they could fund South Dakota initially.

So, why is this not a good idea?  Thought you’d never ask!  First off, the Federal government is approaching $30 trillion in debt with no end in sight.  We keep taking all this “free” federal money, but what happens when and if the federal government goes bankrupt?  It is almost unthinkable what would happen.  I say it is time to draw a line in the sand and say, “enough is enough.”

Another major reason not to do this is that we are covering the able-bodied workforce.  Actually, we would be making winners and losers; those who make more than $17,774 and those who make less.  It is the same for a family of four who make more than $36,570 and those who make less.  This concept penalizes the able-bodied workforce who have worked hard to get a career that pays above this standard and those who have a job with health benefits.  Is that what we want to do?

Another point that needs to be made is that in South Dakota there are more jobs than workers available.  Medicaid Expansion is only going to worsen our worker shortage.

Please vote NO on Constitutional Amendment D.

To the citizens of South Dakota and to the men and women in uniform, in honor of all who served, in respectful memory of all who fell, and in great appreciation to those who serve today, Thank You, for giving me the opportunity to represent you.

Tim R. Goodwin, District 30 Representative
Tim.goodwin@sdlegislature.gov