Author: @SoDakCampaigns

(GOP Activists should recall Kyle Holt, who served as an office manager for the South Dakota GOP in 2010, joined Steve Barnett’s Staff, and subsequently went to work for Congresswoman Kristi Noem. As you’ll note in the release below, Kyle is going back to work for his old boss at the GOP, Lucas Lentsch, except this time with a nicer office, and fewer envelopes to stuff!    Congrats to Kyle!   -PP)

Holt Named Deputy Secretary of Agriculture

PIERRE, S.D. – Secretary of Agriculture Lucas Lentsch has named Kyle Holt as the deputy secretary for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.

Holt has worked in various aspects of government at the state and federal levels. He most recently worked in Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s Rapid City office.

“Kyle has a working knowledge of our state’s diverse agricultural industry,” says Secretary Lentsch. “His knowledge of production agriculture, along with the state and federal government processes, makes him a tremendous asset to the department.”

Holt grew up on his family farm near Cresbard. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science from South Dakota State University.

“Agriculture impacts everything in South Dakota, and it’s such a big part of what makes this state so great,” said Holt. “I’m excited to be part of a department that’s dedicated to helping that success continue.”

Kyle and his wife Jessica have one son.

Agriculture is South Dakota’s No. 1 industry, generating $25.6 billion in annual economic activity and employing over 115,000 South Dakotans. The South Dakota Department of Agriculture’s mission is to promote, protect, preserve and improve this industry for today and tomorrow. Visit us online at http://sdda.sd.gov or find us on Facebook and Twitter.

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I don’t think you can make this stuff up.

Apparently State Senator Phil Jensen is the person who had obtained the Ashley Madison Database for South Dakota. And mustering up all his computer expertise, he mistakenly sent to the people in charge of South Dakotans Against Prohibition.

Wow. I repeat, you can’t make this stuff up.

Deadline Approaching For Spring Internship Applications

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced the deadline is approaching to apply for internships in his Washington, D.C., Pierre, Rapid City and Sioux Falls offices for the spring 2016 semester. The spring semester will run from mid-January to mid-May. College credit is available.

Duties in the Washington, D.C., office may include tracking legislation, researching bills, attending committee hearings and briefings, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, handling constituent phone calls, sorting mail and providing legislative support. Duties in the South Dakota offices include researching constituent inquiries and requests, participation in outreach activities, assisting staff on special projects, handling phone calls and constituent requests and sorting mail. In all offices, students will work closely with constituents and staff, polish their research and writing skills and gain an in-depth understanding of a Senate office.

Interested college students should complete the online internship application and submit a resume no later than October 15, 2015.  Resumes should be submitted to Erin Budmayr, intern coordinator at [email protected]. Information about the internship program, along with the application, can be found online at www.rounds.senate.gov/internships.

Additional questions can be directed to Erin Budmayr at (605) 224-1450.

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If you missed Lee Schoenbeck on the Argus Leader yesterday, he had the quote of the day.

When he was asked about Larry Kurtz, who has long been banned from this and other South Dakota websites for his bigotry, misogyny, and generally being offensive, Schoenbeck exclaimed “Larry Kurtz?!? That guy is nuts!” 

Yep. Hit that nail right on the head.

Rounds: Democrats Continue to Filibuster Appropriations Bills

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after Senate Democrats again filibustered the national defense appropriations bill:

“I have been a proponent of establishing regular order to the Senate budget and appropriations process, yet Senate Democrats refuse to allow us to consider a single appropriations bill. National defense spending should have been the first of 12 appropriations bills debated and amended on the Senate floor. By continuing to filibuster these bills, Senate Democrats are preventing the American people a voice on how and where their hard-earned tax dollars are spent. We cannot find common ground on legislation unless we are allowed to actually discuss them on the floor.

“No one wants to see a government shutdown, but refusing to allow appropriations bills to be considered by the full Senate when 9 of the 12 received broad bipartisan support in committee is both reckless and irresponsible. As it becomes apparent that Democrats in the Senate are obstructing the process, I am pleased leadership is taking the next step to prevent a government shutdown by introducing a funding mechanism that includes policy changes. This moves us in a path that I can support so that we can continue making changes to spending policy.”

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This sounds like the worst fundraiser ever. Although, it’s very telling why Cory doesn’t say anything bad about the Democratic Party apparatchiks anymore.

The First Annual Democratic Buffalo Round-Up Dinner in Rapid City, SD is only FIVE days away! Get your tickets while you still can! New additions to the program include:

• a Mystery Journalist and Honorary Member of the Cowboy Caucus
• VIP Reception Special Guest Speaker, Cory Heidelberger of Dakota Free Press

​Join Founder’s Club today, by making a monthly sustaining donation of any amount, to attend this special VIP Reception with Cory Heidelberger at Joe Lowe’s Reflections of South Dakota Art Gallery! Wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

Buy your tickets right away to ensure you have a spot, Saturday, September 26th’s event!

The South Dakota Democratic Party invites you to the
First Annual Democratic Buffalo Round-Up Dinner on Saturday, September 26, in Rapid City, SD at the Historic Hotel Alex Johnson. 

Featured Speakers Include:

Rep. Paula Hawks (U.S. House Candidate),
Rep. Kevin Killer, & The Cowboy Caucus– Sen. Billie Sutton & Mystery Journalist

VIP Reception | 6:00 pm MT
Featured Speaker: Dakota Free Press Blogger, Cory Heidelberger
For all Founder’s Club & Builder’s Club Members & those Joining at the Event
At Joe Lowe’s “Reflections of South Dakota” Art Gallery in Downtown, Rapid City

Dinner | 7:00 pm MT
 At the Historic Hotel Alex Johnson in Downtown, Rapid City.
We hope to see you there!

Suzanne Jones Pranger,
Executive Director

Maybe they’ll switch tactics, and instead of raising money, they’re planning to pay people to come?

Interestingly, I notice the new face of the Democrats is pushing an income tax today.  At least we know what their legislative agenda will be for 2016.

A facebook acquaintance posted the following on his facebook page past night, alleging that the Flandreau City Council isn’t terribly inviting to the media when it comes to the local newspaper taping and broadcasting their meetings.

Somehow, that doesn’t come as a shocker in South Dakota, where open meetings are still anathema to many local boards who haven’t experienced such things up until now.

What’s more troubling is that there’s an allegation that their attorney might even be backing them on it.

Your thoughts? And where’s the SDNA on such things?

SD Right to Life Supports Effective Plan to Defund Planned Parenthood

Refuses to Let Shutdown Politics Interfere with Primary Goal

Watertown, SD – South Dakota Right to Life issued a statement today in support of strategic and effective efforts to truly defund Planned Parenthood and called on federal legislators in Washington, DC to do the same.

“The mission of our organization is to protect and defend the right to life, which is the most fundamental right of humankind. Like so many other Americans, we were shocked and horrified as the Planned Parenthood videos were released over the last few months and we strongly support defunding Planned Parenthood,” said Fred Deutsch, President of South Dakota Right to Life.

“We believe the best way to actually achieve our intended result, to stop federal funding of Planned Parenthood, is through focused efforts that are well-timed and have a chance at becoming law. Shutting down the government over funding to Planned Parenthood would create a distraction from our primary cause.  Additionally, it wouldn’t even be effective if we won the shutdown fight since the majority of federal funds flow through entitlement programs like Medicaid that are not part of the annual funding approval process,” continued Deutsch.

“We are thankful for the strong pro-life positions that South Dakota’s federal delegation has taken and their support to defund Planned Parenthood. Our organization will continue to educate the public and we look forward to working with our delegation, and a new pro-life President, very soon to defund this horrible organization once and for all,” concluded Deutsch.

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Preliminary Autopsy Results Released in Platte Fire

PIERRE, S.D – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the preliminary autopsy results have been released in connection to the house fire that occurred in Platte, S.D. on Thursday, September 17, 2015. Preliminary autopsy reports indicate that cause and manner of death for Nicole, Kailey, Jaeci, Connor and Michael Westerhuis were homicide by shotgun wounds. Cause of death for Scott Westerhuis was shotgun wound with manner of death as suspected suicide based on the current investigation findings.

“We have experienced the tragic loss of an entire family including young children that has affected an entire community. Based on evidence of foul play continuing to be uncovered, law enforcement remains committed to a complete and thorough investigation,” said Jackley.

“We at the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office express our deepest sorrow to the families involved and to the Platte community,” said Charles Mix County Sheriff Randy Thaler.

The Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office and the Division of Criminal Investigation continue their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the manner of death of Scott Westerhuis, including interviews, evidence collection and forensic testing.

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And Slick Rick Weiland is back at it again. The ballot explanation for his measure to have taxpayer funding of campaigns has been released into the wild by the Attorney General (Which you read about here first, btw), so it’s just a formality by filing it with the SOS to begin circulating.

First, they have to fix all 36 pages of the measure on to a petition form with the signature blanks – it’s a legal requirement, and will be absolutely laughable to see them do it. I suspect it’s going to fold up and look much like the South Dakota road map by the time they’re all done cramming it on there.

But that’s not my point regarding writing about it today. My question is openly wondering how many of you out there think such things in the measure like public financing of campaigns is a good thing?

I mean, we’re having trouble finding the revenue to pay teachers more, and here’s a politician asking for the public to pay for political campaigns?  Somehow, I don’t think that’s going to fly, and may just leave a bad taste in taxpayer’s mouths.

One thing that’s been pointed out to me is that most states that have public financing of campaigns also have a state income tax as well, so they’re a bit more flush with cash for this sort of thing. I really doubt that’s the kind of trade-off South Dakotans would have any interest in making.