Author: @SoDakCampaigns

This week, I presented the Strength of South Dakota Award to the Fred Assam Elementary School Student Council, students, and staff in Sioux Fall, South Dakota. The Strength of South Dakota Award was created to celebrate and honor South Dakotans that display unusual perseverance, compassion, and innovation, and are beloved by their community.

The Fred Assam Elementary Student Council challenged all students to “penny wars” during the month of January as a service project to support the Midwest Honor Flight. The Honor Flight is a program that flies World War II, Korea, and Vietnam veterans to Washington, D.C. to see their memorials and meet with their elected officials. The trip serves as a way to thank and honor veterans for their sacrifice and service to our nation.

The student council started the fundraiser with the goal of raising enough money to support three veterans’ trips to our nation’s capital. By the end of the month, the school had raised enough money to send six local veterans to Washington, D.C. The Midwest Honor Flight estimates the cost of one veteran’s trip to be worth $753. The Fred Assam students raised over $3,500 for their local veterans. 

Now that is kindness. The Fred Assam elementary students’ actions serve as a reminder to all of us of how a little bit of effort by a few people can positively impact the lives of those around you.

On Thursday, I had the honor of meeting these students and presenting the student council, staff, and students the Strength of South Dakota Award. We were joined by local veterans and members of the public. The show of support for these students and our veterans was phenomenal. I am proud to represent such bright, generous, and thoughtful students. I know our futures and our world are in good hands with them.

If you or a veteran you know would like to join the Midwest Honor Flight, you can learn more about the program and apply here: https://www.midwesthonorflight.org/veterans.html

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This past Wednesday, the South Dakota Legislature hit one of its biggest milestones of the legislative session: Crossover Day. 

Those who follow the Capitol calendar know that bills must successfully pass out of the chamber where they began on Crossover Day. Senate bills must pass the Senate and head to the House, and vice versa. The legislature began with 587 bills, and a handful of bills have now made their way from their first chamber where they began to the other. I have already signed two of the bills I championed in my State of the State address: protecting fairness for women’s sports and the repeal of the ridiculous bingo tax. 

Other “Governor’s bills,” as they are colloquially known, have also moved forward. Those include my bills to ban teaching Critical Race Theory and its divisive ideology in both K-12 schools and public universities. The House chamber passed them to the Senate in mid-February.  

Earlier this month, the Senate passed my bill extending COVID vaccine exemptions to private employees around the state. If this bill becomes law, employees will become eligible to claim a religious, medical, or natural immunity exemption for a COVID vaccine mandate issued by an employer in the state. 

The Senate also supported the state’s funding initiative to expand the cybersecurity program at Dakota State University. I testified in committee to support this bill, which would appropriate $30 million in state funds to double the size of DSU’s Beacom College and put the Governor’s Cyber Academy in every high school in the state. This $30M in state funds will be paired with a $50M private donation and $10M from the City of Sioux Falls to build a new cyber lab in Sioux Falls as well. The early support that legislators showed for this bill demonstrates that South Dakota is ready to make cyber-research its next big industry. 

Other important issues passed just before the Crossover deadline, with the House and Senate each debating the merits of big issues facing our state. The Senate discussed and passed my proposal to repeal fees related to obtaining a concealed carry permit for a handgun. The Senate also agreed with my recommendation to invest $660 million in federal dollars for water, drainage, sewer, and flood control projects around the state. That proposal will move on for consideration by lawmakers in a House Committee. 

The Senate also passed a bill that would appropriate funding to build a state-of-the-art shooting range in Rapid City. Meanwhile, the House gave my bill to ban abortions via telemedicine their support, clearing the path for a committee hearing in the Senate. 

These bills and dozens of others continue to move forward in the legislative process. The clock is ticking down as today marks Day 29 in the 38-day session. And there is one big-ticket item left for lawmakers to hash out: the budget. 

Lawmakers have until March 10^th to debate and find consensus on how the state will fund its operations for the next fiscal year. In addition to ongoing expenses, lawmakers will consider plans for one-time state and federal dollars for our public schools, infrastructure projects, university workforce programs, and improving the state’s public health laboratory. 

All of these issues and more will be part of the flurry of activity in the Capitol these final two weeks. The decisions made in these waning days of session have the potential to keep South Dakota riding a wave of responsible, sustainable growth. Together, we will balance our budget and keep making South Dakota safer, stronger, and healthier.   

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After losing races against Republicans in 2018 and 2020, an unsuccessful Democrat appears to be gearing himself up to run against Dusty Johnson to meet with destiny once again.   Democrat Attorney Ryan Ryder of Black Hawk, SD has filed a statement of candidacy to run for the US House with the Federal Elections Commission this afternoon:

Ryder had formerly ran for the State Senate in 2018 against Republican Phil Jensen, where he lost 38 – 62%. And again in 2020 against Republican David Johnson where he lost 32-68% (I sense a trend).

If this is a serious effort, Ryder has to collect 1,615 valid signatures and turn them into the Secretary of State’s office before March 29th… which given the success of prior Democrat candidates, that may be a more difficult task than he thinks.

And even if he reaches that hurdle, he then has to run against Dusty Johnson, who has the best ground game in politics in South Dakota at the moment.  That’s going to be even tougher.

Thune Statement on President Biden’s Supreme Court Nominee

“The president must obtain the consent of the Senate before his nominee to the Supreme Court can take the bench, and I plan to approach this nomination process with the respect it deserves.”

 RAPID CITY, S.D. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after President Biden nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court:

“The president must obtain the consent of the Senate before his nominee to the Supreme Court can take the bench, and I plan to approach this nomination process with the respect it deserves,” said Thune. “It is vital that we confirm judges who understand their responsibility is not to make law, but only to apply it as it is written. They must understand the importance of an impartial judiciary and reject the urge to legislate from the bench. The Constitution and the rule of law must be their guideposts, not personally preferred political outcomes.

“These are the standards by which I will consider Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the Supreme Court of the United States. I will be conducting a thorough review of Judge Jackson’s record, and, after doing so, I will seek to meet with her as her nomination to be a justice on the nation’s highest court is debated by the Senate.”

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The Steve Haugaard campaign appears to have put up a campaign commercial on YouTube yesterday, the first one of the campaign for him.

But – par for the course – they put it up and didn’t say anything about it.  Literally.

No mention on his facebook page. No mention on his website.

You know where I first saw a mention of it? From Governor Noem’s Communications Director Ian Fury, who pointed out in a tweet that one of the legislators taking a swing at her today – State Rep. John Mills – appeared in Haugaard’s commercial:

Related… this morning Rep. Mills appeared in a Steve Haugaard campaign ad.

It’s unfortunate that legislators are using the legislative process to launch campaign attacks. Mills should spend more time serving his constituents’ interests and less time playing politics. https://t.co/EQ1N0C1Jht pic.twitter.com/u7EDVcwXA2

— Ian Fury (@IanTFury) February 24, 2022

Yes. Haugaard is getting more attention in the press from his opponent’s staff member than he’s generating himself from his hopelessly inept campaign.

I hate to point it out, because it will probably more than double the views by doing so (currently at 72), but if you want to see his commercial for yourself..

Anyone hear anything about Dusty Johnson’s Democrat challenger for Congress?

Me neither.

While there had been some earlier chatter about Democrat Remi Bald Eagle possibly giving it a go, no campaign committee seems to have materialized.

Neither have any petitions started circulating that I’ve heard about.

What seems to be shaping up, is that Democrats stand more than a good chance of giving Dusty Johnson a second pass in challenging him for the state’s lone Congressional seat.

I don’t know if there’s ever been a time in the state’s history where Democrats have abandoned one of the top 4 seats for two elections in a row.  Sure, they skip the lower tier Constitutional offices all the time. But Congress? It’s remarkable that they skip at all, much less two in a row.

Sure, anyone good is reluctant to take on Thune, but they came up with Jay Williams and Brian Bengs (if he makes the ballot).  They wouldn’t dare skip the Governor’s race. But now they seem poised ready to throw their hands up in a second election against Dusty Johnson.

Now, I wouldn’t be shocked for a libertarian to throw their hat in the ring to run, since all they have to do is get talked into it at their convention. But they’re libertarians, not one of the two major political parties.

Clearly, Democrats have fallen pretty hard and fast from the days when Tim Johnson or Stephanie Herseth Sandlin won and held on to the Congressional seat.

And with it looking like they’re going to bag out from the Congressional race for two in a row, they’re still falling.

Where has time gone?

I missed the anniversary of the inaugural post on February 5th, but this month, South Dakota War College turned seventeen.. which is really, really old in blog years, considering that most blogs have a life of 2-years before authors tire of them, or get busy with other things.

There were a few South Dakota Blogs already established when I came along, but they eventually went by the wayside.  Even the most long-lasting, Sibby Online, went silent in 2018, perked up for a bit in late 2020/early 2021, and has remained silent for the last year.   I do understand the desire to to different things, as I left it to others at one point for about 18 months, but came back, and have been at the helm ever since, now for just a few months shy of the last decade.

In my minds eye, I see myself continuing to do this at least through 2026.. Which would get me past the blog’s 21st birthday.. and god help me, my 60th.  It’s hard to think that I started blogging in my 30’s, and anticipate continuing to do so into my 60’s.  If that doesn’t give a person a sense of mortality, I’m not sure what else does.

But really, when you’ve been riding with the blogging monkey on your back for this long, it’s probably not going to be a habit that is so easily given up.

Stay tuned!  At least through our 18th!

From my mailbox –

Monae Johnson Announces Bid to Become South Dakota’s Next Secretary of State.

PIERRE, SD FEB. 24, 2022 – Monae Johnson has earned an impeccable reputation for hard work and integrity while serving under the current Secretary of State, along with two former Secretaries of State. Johnson, having worked with three Governors and three Attorneys General, has also earned the respect of her peers. With over eight years of experience working in every division of the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office, she is fully prepared to take on any challenge.

Focused on election integrity and voter confidence, Johnson is officially kicking off her campaign today, by releasing the following statement.

“We live in a time where trust and confidence are paramount in our institutions. I have listened to voters across South Dakota and I agree that we can work harder and do better. The act of voting is the sacred cornerstone of our free society and we must work together to protect it.

“Today, I am announcing my candidacy for Secretary of State in the great state of South Dakota. As South Dakota’s next Secretary of State, I will work hard to safeguard that which is sacred. The good, hard working people of South Dakota deserve full transparency, election integrity and peace of mind.”

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From Facebook/Fox News:

Nelson to run for re-election to Public Utilities Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2022

Chris Nelson announced today that he will be a candidate for re-election to the Public Utilities Commission in 2022.  Chris made the announcement to a crowd gathered for the Hughes County Lincoln Day Dinner in Pierre.

Nelson said, “The complexities of the utility business demand commissioners who are dedicated to advocating for consumers, are able to dig into the details of cases before the commission, and have the integrity to make just and fair decisions based on law.  My record as commissioner over the past eleven years highlights my commitment in each of these areas.”

While on the commission Nelson has focused on three priorities.  First and foremost is listening to and advocating for utility consumers to keep rates as low as possible and service reliable.  PUC regulated electricity rate changes over the last five years have been held down to half the rate of inflation.

Second has been working to expand broadband availability in rural South Dakota.  With his roots in agriculture Nelson understands the importance of high speed broadband connections to the business needs of farmers and ranchers as well as education and healthcare advancements.  Federal Communication Commission data show that in the last five years 25 mbps broadband has increased from availability in 58% of South Dakota’s census blocks to 94% of census blocks.

Third is a commitment to making decisions on issues before the PUC based on law and facts, not political whims or personal agendas.  Chris has a reputation for digging into the details of each case to make sure consumers are protected throughout the process.

Chris will be seeking nomination for Public Utilities Commissioner at the state Republican convention held June 23-25.  The nomination will place his name on the ballot in the November general election.

Nelson was appointed to a vacancy on the PUC in January 2011 by Governor Dennis Daugaard, won election in 2012 to serve the remainder of the six year term, and won reelection in 2016.  He previously served two terms as Secretary of State.

Additional information is available at www.nelsonforsd.com.