Author: @SoDakCampaigns

US Senator John Thune’s Weekly Column: The Fight to Repeal Obamacare

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thuneheadernew John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_CongressThe Fight to Repeal Obamacare
By US Senator Sen. John Thune

Before it became law, Republicans in Congress warned of the damage the so-called Affordable Care Act would cause and the burdens the American people would face as a result. Five and a half years later, Obamacare – as it became known – has chipped away at family budgets, squeezed small business growth, and led to fewer choices for patients and their doctors. Obamacare has broken nearly every promise its Democrat authors made to the American people, including the oft-repeated promise that if you liked your doctor and health care plan you could keep them, ‘period.’

Obamacare is broken – it always has been – which is why Republicans who campaigned for the Senate majority in 2014 promised voters that if they gave us the chance, we would send an Obamacare repeal bill to President Obama. Despite fierce opposition from Democrats and the president, Senate Republicans have now made good on that promise.

Now that the Senate has passed a repeal bill, the ball will soon be in the president’s court. He can either support this measure and help lift the burdens Obamacare has placed on the American people, or he can double down on his failed policies. If the president chooses the latter, it will be clear to the American people that the only thing standing in the way of an Obamacare repeal bill being signed into law is the current occupant of the White House.

The evidence to suggest repealing this fundamentally flawed law is necessary couldn’t be any clearer. Obamacare was supposed to lower health care premiums. It didn’t. It was supposed to reduce health care costs. It didn’t do that either. And it was supposed to protect the health care plans Americans wanted to keep, which couldn’t be further from the reality. Obamacare was sold to the American people as a health care solution, but it’s turned out to be yet another health care problem.

Since Obamacare was signed into law in 2010, I’ve heard from countless South Dakotans who have shared with me their personal stories about how this burdensome law is affecting their families. One person recently wrote to tell me that her and her husband’s health care plan is going up by more than $8,000 next year. That’s a staggering amount of money. What family can afford such a significant increase in expenses from one year to the next? Sadly, that’s only one of many stories I’ve heard, and these stories aren’t unique to South Dakota.

It’s time to move away from the president’s broken health care law and toward the kind of health care reform Americans are actually looking for: an affordable, accountable, patient-focused system that gives individuals control of their health care decisions. It’s what the American people want, and it’s what they deserve.

US Senator Mike Rounds’ Weekly Column: Repeal and Replace Obamacare

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RoundsPressHeader MikeRounds official SenateRepeal and Replace Obamacare
by Senator Mike Rounds

The American people deserve a healthcare system that works for them, not against them. One that is truly affordable for all families, offers viable health insurance options and strengthens patient-provider relationships. Unfortunately, the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare, fails on all these fronts. Instead, the ACA has brought about more government, more bureaucracy and more rules and regulations that have resulted in soaring health care costs and less access to care for families across the country.

I, along with many of my Senate colleagues, promised to repeal and replace Obamacare, and recently we had the opportunity to follow through on that promise. On December 3rd, we passed a bill to repeal significant portions of the Affordable Care Act.

My office has received phone calls and letters from hundreds of South Dakotans telling me how unaffordable the so-called Affordable Care Act really is for them. Premiums for certain plans in South Dakota have increased by nearly 50 percent under the ACA, forcing some families to choose between paying outrageous rates and forgoing health insurance all together just so they can afford to pay their mortgage and put food on the table. This is unacceptable.

According to the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, the healthcare law will cost American taxpayers more than $116 billion a year. In fact, on average, every household in the United States can expect more than $20,000 in new taxes over the next 10 years. This is a heavy burden to place on the already over-taxed, over-regulated American people.

Repealing the Affordable Care Act is only the first step in a long journey towards a better healthcare system. Congress must work together to create a replacement plan that puts the patient first. We also need a partner in the White House who understands that significant changes must be made in order to repair our broken healthcare system.

Any replacement plan must be market-based and patient-centered in order to be truly affordable for families. This can be achieved by enacting transparent, step-by-step reforms. I support common-sense initiatives, like expanding Health Savings Accounts and creating pools, such as the Multiple Employers Welfare Trust, in which small businesses can unite to secure better rates. The worst parts of Obamacare, such as the employer mandate, individual mandate and the Independent Payment Advisory Board, have no place in any future health care plan.

We can cut costs by reforming medical liability laws as well. Our current system encourages frivolous lawsuits which come at a high cost to doctors, taxpayers and truly injured patients who deserve timely compensation. Lastly, we must hold insurance companies more accountable by increasing transparency, standardizing paperwork and helping those with pre-existing conditions maintain access to care.

Allowing healthy competition within the private insurance market would allow families to choose the healthcare plan that best fits their needs and budget. I will continue to advocate for these responsible and effective solutions as we move forward with a replacement plan. The Affordable Care Act greatly expanded the government’s role in health care, and it very clearly did not work. This is the message the American people are sending and this is the message Congress sent by passing legislation to repeal Obamacare.

Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Fueled By South Dakota

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noem press header kristi noem headshot May 21 2014Fueled By South Dakota
By Rep. Kristi Noem

It might surprise many of us, but there are a lot of people out in D.C. who don’t seem to know the difference between South Dakota and North Dakota.  I know my counterpart in North Dakota often gets the question: “Is that the state with Mount Rushmore?”  No, that’s South Dakota.  For me, the question is: “Are you the state with all of that oil?”  No, that’s North Dakota, but while North Dakota has all that oil, South Dakota’s corn and soybean production plays its own role in America’s energy security.

Every year, South Dakota harvests more than 400 million bushels of corn and 100 million bushels of soybeans.  These commodities provide a pathway toward North American energy independence that can help boost our economy and our national security.

Today, about one-third of the petroleum used in the United States is imported from foreign countries, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  Most of this petroleum is refined into gas or diesel.  Especially with conflicts arising in energy-rich areas of our world, the need to decrease our reliance on foreign fuels grows every single day.  Now is the time to double down on domestic energy production, but unfortunately, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is looking to let off the gas.

In early 2014, the EPA proposed new Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes.  These volume requirements, which impact corn-based ethanol and biodiesel alike, tell refineries how many gallons of renewable fuels should be blended into our overall supply.  This gives both farmers and consumers more certainty and greater price stability.

The EPA’s initial proposal was very disappointing, as the agency moved to significantly roll back our commitment to ethanol and biodiesel.  Not only could this curb production, but the move would send the wrong message to investors, risk jobs, and threaten the creation of more developed biofuels.

I, along with a bipartisan group of 30 lawmakers, reached out to the EPA shortly after their announcement.  It was important that they reverse course.

When the final numbers were announced in late November, the RFS remained beneath the levels I believe are appropriate.  Nonetheless, the EPA did adjust the requirements at least slightly higher because of the pressure we put on them.

Especially at a time when the Middle East remains so volatile, our commitment to homegrown renewable fuels should not be in doubt.  While the EPA is backing down, I am not.  In recent weeks, I introduced an extension of the biodiesel tax credit.  This legislation would ensure that domestically produced biodiesel was given a $1-per-gallon tax credit through the end of 2016. The legislation has bipartisan support and I’m hopeful it can be wrapped into an end-of-the-year tax extenders package.

My number one responsibility is to keep the American people safe – protecting economic opportunities comes in at a close second.  By throwing our support behind homegrown fuels rather than foreign oil, we are accomplishing both and creating a nation that is fueled by South Dakota in the process.

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Governor Daugaard’s Weekly Column: Driving In Winter Weather

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daugaardheader DaugaardDriving In Winter Weather
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

There’s nothing like the first snowfall of the year. When I was young, a heavy storm meant no school, and my sisters and I would play cards with Dad, after we did the farm chores.

Snow is nice until you have to drive in it. Though South Dakotans know how to handle snow and cold weather, we still need to prepare ourselves for the hazardous driving conditions winter brings.

Driving in winter weather is a serious matter. Every year during the holiday season, the Highway Patrol sees a spike in traffic accidents and fatalities. Around the Thanksgiving holiday this year, 10 people lost their lives in car crashes and several others were severely injured.

If you will be traveling for Christmas or New Year’s, prepare yourself. Before you travel, go to SafeTravelUSA.com/SD, call 511 or download the SDDOT 511 app to check road conditions. Pack a flashlight, blankets, drinking water and a shovel. Make sure your car is ready for the trip by checking your tires and scraping off the ice from all of your windows.

When you’re driving, take it slow and allow yourself extra time to reach your destination. It’s usually a good idea to leave cruise control off. Conditions can change quickly in the winter and you need to be ready.

Don’t crowd the plow. Department of Transportation crews work long hours in the worst conditions, and they do their best to keep our highways clear of ice and snow. When you approach a snow plow, leave at least four car lengths between you and the back of the plow. Never pass a plow on the right. This is the direction plows push the snow.

No matter what season it is, always wear your seatbelt and make sure everyone in your vehicle is buckled up. Nearly two-thirds of those who died in car crashes in South Dakota in the last year were not wearing their seatbelts. Whether you are traveling across the state or just driving a few blocks, buckling up could save your life.

Traveling to spend Christmas with loved ones is well worth it. To keep the holidays from turning tragic, do all that is within your power to arrive safely at your destination. Be safe and have a great holiday season.

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Statement From Gov. Daugaard On Federal Transportation Bill

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daugaardheader DaugaardStatement From Gov. Daugaard On Federal Transportation Bill

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard issued the following statement today in response to the passage of the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act:

“I am pleased that Congress has passed the FAST Act, which will provide five years of funding certainty for our state transportation system. In January of this year I provided written testimony to the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on the need for a long-term, fully funded federal highway bill. I underscored the importance of providing flexibility to the states in the program, while also advocating for a large portion of the funding to be dedicated to the program formula, which benefits rural states like South Dakota.

“I sincerely thank Sen. Thune, Sen. Rounds and Rep. Noem for their efforts on this important piece of legislation. It will benefit South Dakota and our nation’s roadways well into the future.”

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In addition to begging for dollars, Ann Tornberg’s big plan is to ask people to run at the same time.

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Give Democrats five bucks, and run as a Democrat for the legislature.  That’s two losing propositions for Democrats, yet, the state Democrat Party is asking that of their e-mail list in their latest, awful e-mail fundraising appeal in what seems to be continuous and weekly (weakly?) rounds of begging for dollars:

dembegging

From: “Ann Tornberg” <[email protected]>
Date: December 3, 2015
To: REDACTED
Subject: It starts NOW!
Reply-To: [email protected]

Day 3
Candidate Recruitment for the 2016 election starts NOW!

REDACTED,
The South Dakota Democratic Party’s dedicated staff, officers, and volunteers are making an all-out effort to recruit 105 legislative candidates for 2016. While it won’t be an easy task, fielding candidates in all 35 legislative districts must be a priority! Here are five reasons why:

1) Each time we leave GOP incumbents unchallenged, we invite them to dump significant financial support into other legislative races where they see viable Democratic competition.

2) Each time we give GOP a “free pass” in a legislative race, we give Democrats in that District absolutely no reason to show up to vote, or perhaps even worse: Democrats and Independents start to get comfortable voting for a Republican because that is their only option.

3) Voters will turn out in a Presidential Election year. The 40 year history of voting patterns in South Dakota promises that 2016 turnout will be between a 72-78%. The Mid-term elections in 2014 had a 54% voter turnout and 2010 was 52%.

4) I sincerely believe that we are at a tipping point yearning for balance in the South Dakota legislature. One party rule has led to multiple examples of corruption, cover up, unethical behavior, tragedy of the worst degree, and finally the media seems to be paying attention. This could be our time! And,

5) Recruiting 105 legislative candidates means South Dakota Democrats are serious about bringing balance to the legislature!

Won’t you help us achieve this goal? Consider running yourself, recommend great Democrats, and encourage them to run.

Contribute to our efforts today and watch your investment pay off for a generation of South Dakotans.

Donate $5
Donate $10
Donate $15
Donate $20
Donate $2015

demlogo

Ann Tornberg,
Chair

Paid for by the South Dakota Democratic Party. (www.sddp.org) Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.

Did they actually sling that BS with straight faces?

It’s kind of like them claiming that they have a challenger for John Thune. It’s a lot of talk. But there’s no substance behind it, as the days keep ticking away. We’re long past them coming up with a viable candidate who has the basic commodity of time to raise the millions of dollars it takes to run a US Senate Campaign.

Now, they’re even running out of time to raid the nursing homes for a candidate as they’re apt to do!

But, a couple of counter points to Ann’s plea for help.

*Yes, it’s going to be a presidential year with a big turnout. And it’s going to be a bad, bad year for Democrats in the state which is among the top two or three where President Obama is the least popular.

*The Democrats continue to try to politicize the unfortunate deaths of people for political purposes. It was lower than low when Lora Hubbel did it. It’s not going to turn out any better for Ann Tornberg trying to run her political party’s campaign efforts on people’s graves, either.

*When Tornberg claims Republicans will “dump significant financial support into other legislative races where they see viable Democrat competition,” she’s missing a big point.

There actually has to be “viable Democrat competition.”

Because that’s kind of like going Jackalope hunting. There might be legends, and samples preserved in faux taxidermy.. but try to find “viable Democrat competition.”  You can look all darn day, and you aren’t going to find any.  And the new monthly figures from the Secretary of State show that on December 1st, SD Dems lost another 1,119 registered voters.

The problem for Democrats is that in their hard movement leftward into liberalism, they left South Dakotans behind.  They can beg for money and candidates all they want. But as we approach the campaign season, it isn’t looking good for Ann Tornberg, Obama’s cheerleader in the state.

The Democrat Party is running out of time, out of money, out of candidates, and taken all together, we can assume they’ll also be out of luck.

Noem Introduces Bi-Partisan Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension

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noem press header kristi noem headshot May 21 2014Noem Introduces Bi-Partisan Biodiesel Tax Credit Extension

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) today introduced the Biodiesel Tax Incentive Reform and Extension Act of 2015. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that domestically-produced biodiesel be given a $1-per-gallon tax credit through the end of 2016.

“Today, one-third of petroleum used in the United States is imported from foreign countries and most of it is used to fuel our vehicles,” said Rep. Noem. “Especially with conflicts arising in energy-rich areas of our world, the need to decrease our reliance on foreign fuels grows every single day. A commitment to renewable fuels, like biodiesel which can be grown right here in America, is critical as we look to improve our security by becoming more energy independent. By putting our support behind homegrown fuels, we are taking strides toward increased security while also enabling states like South Dakota to fuel our nation.”

“To fuel our future and improve our air quality, we need to invest in alternative fuel sources. This bill supports that goal and also promotes domestic industry. This will help us take things like food waste and turn it into usable fuel. And biodiesel reduces emissions to the tune of 16 million metric tons per year,” Pascrell said. “That’s like taking 3.6 million cars off the roads every year. In North Jersey’s rush-hour traffic, we call that a ‘no-brainer’. This is a smart incentive and a smart investment in domestic biodiesel.”

The biodiesel tax credit expired on December 31, 2014. The Noem-Pascrell legislation would extend the credit retroactively for 2015 as well as fully renew and reform it for 2016.

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Thune Statement on Passage of Bipartisan, Five-Year Transportation Bill

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thuneheadernew John_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_CongressThune Statement on Passage of Bipartisan, Five-Year Transportation Bill

 “Passing a bipartisan, multi-year transportation bill is a big win for America, especially for states like South Dakota that depend on a reliable and effective transportation system.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement on the Senate’s bipartisan passage of the five-year Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act conference report. The FAST Act contains several Thune-led transportation and safety initiatives that benefit South Dakota, including provisions that were included in the Senate’s multi-year transportation bill that passed earlier this summer. Following a 359-65 vote in the House of Representatives, the Senate approved the measure by a vote of 83-16. The bill will now be sent to the president for his signature.

“Passing a bipartisan, multi-year transportation bill is a big win for America, especially for states like South Dakota that depend on a reliable and effective transportation system,” said Thune. “This bill, which will soon reverse the trend of passing one short-term patch after another, will end uncertainty for our transportation system and make important investments in infrastructure projects in our state and around the country. These necessary investments will spur much-needed job creation and sustained economic growth in communities across our region.

“I am proud of the work the Commerce Committee contributed to this effort and was humbled to have been selected to serve on the conference committee that negotiated the final version of this bill that is now headed to President Obama for his signature. The Republican-led Senate has worked hard this year to pass meaningful legislation that helps our economy and puts America in a better, more competitive position. The FAST Act is one more legislative achievement we can add to that list.”

Last month, Thune was named to the highway bill conference committee, which ensured South Dakota’s interests would be represented at the negotiating table.

FAST Act highlights:

  • Increased highway investment levels:South Dakota is estimated to receive a $133 million increase in overall highway spending over the next five years. South Dakota’s apportioned highway funding will grow from $272 million in 2015 to an estimated $286 million in 2016 – and ultimately $312 million in 2020.
  • Increased transit investment levels:Funding for transit in South Dakota will grow from $15.5 million in 2015 to an estimated $16.6 million in 2016, and approximately $17.8 million in 2020.
  • Increased tribal transportation investment levels: The existing Tribal Transportation Program that addresses tribal road and bridge infrastructure needs will be funded at $465 million in 2016, an increase of $15 million from current levels, and will grow to $505 million in 2020.
  • Covered Farm Vehicles: Protects states from losing federal funding for granting additional regulatory relief to specially designated farm vehicles and drivers.
  • Agriculture hours of service (HOS) relief: Provides HOS relief for truck drivers transporting bees or livestock by making permanent the temporary rest break flexibility option.
  • Construction HOS relief: Drivers transporting construction materials will have a larger radius they can operate in before additional paperwork requirements, including logging and hours of service rules, apply.
  • Custom harvesters relief: Allows states to waive special hazmat licenses for custom harvesters operating diesel tanks (less than 1,000 gallons).
  • Freight formula program: Creates a freight formula funding program in which South Dakota would receive over $8 million annually.
  • Port metrics: Requires the Department of Transportation to issue yearly reports on port metrics allowing for more transparency and better planning to those that utilize our nation’s ports for import or export.
  • Dedicated funding for states without passenger rail: Adds freight rail eligibility to passenger rail grant programs, requires a 25 percent rural set-aside, and guarantees to states like South Dakota, which have no passenger rail, no less than 1.3 percent of appropriated funds from the programs. The total amount will depend on appropriations; if the program is fully funded, it dedicates to South Dakota no less than $3 million per year.
  • 24-7 sobriety: Rewards states for providing a 24-7 sobriety program, which started in South Dakota, by creating a new incentive grant under 23 USC 405 for states with a 24-7 sobriety program and by amending the penalty transfer section of 23 USC 164 to allow states to qualify for meeting the repeat intoxicated driver law with a 24-7 sobriety program.
  • Testing of electronically-controlled pneumatic brakes: Requires a National Academies test on a new rail braking technology for unit trains carrying flammable liquids to ensure it would deliver the intended results and would not lead to network slowdowns.

For a list of FAST Act provisions that benefit South Dakota, click here, and for a summary of the Commerce Committee’s role in over half of the 1,300-page legislative measure, click here.

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