Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Rounds Joins Colleagues to Introduce Bipartisan Resolution Calling on Americans to Buy Products Made in the U.S.

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) to introduce a bipartisan resolution calling on Americans to buy products made in the U.S. whenever possible in order to support American jobs and manufacturing, and help build up the U.S. supply chain.

“Reducing our dependence on other countries such as China will help to keep America strong,” said Rounds. “Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, American businesses have taken an economic hit in recent months. Our resolution encourages folks to shop at businesses that manufacture products here in the United States, which helps to support the American workforce.”

In addition to Rounds, Scott and Baldwin, the resolution was sponsored by Senators Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.). The resolution is also supported by the Coalition for a Prosperous America and the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

See the resolution HERE.

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Gov. Noem Holds Discussion with Key Law Enforcement Officials 

PIERRE, S.D. – Yesterday, Governor Noem sat down with key members of the law enforcement community from across South Dakota. The in-depth conversation was the first of many to proactively address questions about the role of police in our communities.

“I’m thankful every day for the great job our South Dakota law enforcement officers do to keep us safe,” said Governor Noem. “While we need to deal with bad actors, the vast majority of our police officers do a great job protecting and serving our communities. I’m committed to working with South Dakotans to identify problems in our state and develop common sense solutions to those problems.”

Governor Noem will be having similar conversations with community leaders, stakeholders, and South Dakotans of all backgrounds in the coming days.

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What was I saying about Stehly rejecting Jesus Christ himself to drag this election out?  Hot off the press from Joe Sneve:

Sioux Falls Board of Ethics chairman and former Argus Leader executive editor Jack Marsh, nominated by Greco on Monday, was the first to get the thumbs down from Stehly. On Tuesday, Greco’s nominations of former Supreme Court justice Glen Severson and longtime Second Circuit Court judge Joseph Neiles were nixed by the candidate.

and..

Jensen said Stehly’s decision to reject three nominations made by the city clerk to the recount board is hard to understand.

Read the entire story here.

Another day, a few more dollars of paycheck. Watch this continue to drag on.

(Update.. sounds like after universal mocking, Stehly finally agreed on a third retired judge, Rodney Steele. What a circus!)

I heard there are rumors afoot regarding the recount that’s awaiting in the at-large Sioux Falls City Council race between outgoing city councilwoman Theresa Stehly, and councilor-elect Alex Jensen.

At the same time as Stehly appointed South Dakota Democrat party Chair Randy Seiler as her representative on the recount board, Councilor-elect Alex Jensen selected State Rep. Jon Hansen.

But not so fast on the third member of the three-member panel.

Yesterday, there was news of Theresa’s rejection of the City of Sioux Falls’ selection for the recount board, after they named Jack Marsh, head of the city’s ethics panel, which means the process is stymied and delayed until the third person can be agreed on.

After yesterday’s no-go, I’m hearing rumors of Stehly again rejecting a proposed city designee for the panel. No word yet who the outgoing councilor rejected this time. But it seems as if Jesus himself were named, Stehly would be rejecting the Lamb of God with claims of alleged bias.

Aside from Theresa doing anything and everything she can to cling to power, there might be another perk she’s eager to hold on to.

Sioux Falls City Councilors do receive a salary. And the word is that Theresa continues to get paid as long as this drags out.  I’m told that in addition to monthly car & cell phone allowances, councilors receive a paycheck which Theresa will still have coming in as long as this recount takes.

If this isn’t about trying to squeeze every dime she can out of Sioux Falls taxpayers while she’s dragging the process out, Councilor Stehly should donate the entirety of her city salary for this “period of recounting” to a charitable cause while this is decided.

Alex Jensen Announces Recount Board Appointee and Recount Team to protect Tax Dollars and Provide Fairness and Oversight

Sioux Falls – Today, Councilor-Elect Alex Jensen announced his appointee to the recount board and the formation of a Recount Team to ensure fairness and proper oversight throughout one of the state’s largest recount efforts in the last 50 years. Jensen was declared winner of the Sioux Falls At-Large City Council election on June 2, 2020.

Serving as Alex’s appointee to the recount board is respected attorney, current South Dakota lawmaker and Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, Jon Hansen.

“Representative Hansen is a man of character who has the confidence of Sioux Falls-area voters, having been elected multiple times to serve in Pierre and worked on previous recounts,” said Councilor-Elect Alex Jensen. “The voters deserve to know that this process is handled in a fair and transparent manner and I’m confident in Jon and our Recount Team.”

Alex Jensen’s Recount Team includes:

• Alex Jensen, Councilor-Elect
• Lisa Prostrollo and Matt McCaulley, Lawyers
• Ryan Budmayr, Team Spokesperson

“There is a real cost both in time and money for this recount, but the citizens deserve a fair and accurate count. As the first recount in the history of the city’s new charter, this is an important matter and significant endeavor to sort through almost 30,000 ballots,” stated Councilor-Elect Alex Jensen.

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The anti-vaxxer measure House Bill 1235 generated a lot of controversy this past election season – and as noted via public radio this evening, it generated not just controversy but pro-active action by several people against those who brought the measure to not just do away with mandatory vaccinations for school attendance, but to make it class one misdemeanor for employers to require vaccinations for employees:

“To put our state back in a little different direction,” Schoenbeck says. “The legislature needs more credibility. To get there it needs good people. There are a lot of good people there, but there have been these aberrations. We need to get past that.”

Schoenbeck says he backed primary candidates running against members of an alternative Republican caucus—sometimes self-described as ‘ultra conservative.’

Schoenbeck disputes it’s a moderate versus conservative distinction.

“There’s a difference between conservative and crazy,” Schoenbeck says. “Some people are just crazy.”

Another person who’s out to reshape the legislature is former Republican State Senator Deb Peters. She left the legislature in December of 2018. She’s the founder of a political action committee called Pac’n Heat.

Peters targeted six primary races. Her goal – to defeat candidates who sponsored or voted for an anti-vaccination bill last session.

The vaccine issue is one that Deb Peters takes seriously.

“The anti-vaxxers are talking about it being personal choice, but the problem is there are so many people out in the community who are auto-immune,” Peters says. “Their systems can’t fight off the simple things and can’t take a vaccine. So, where’s their personal choice?”

Read the entire story here.

As I’ve noted on this website before, House Bill 1235 can’t be categorized as anything but an anti-vaxxer measure, and many voters agreed, pressing the issue hard against many legislators who supported it in the primary election.

SDGOP Chair Dan Lederman notes, Republicans encompass a wide variety of views on the issues. And I would agree wholeheartedly.

But on the vaccination issue?  Well… you know when you’re out there with wild views akin to claiming the earth is flat and trying to legislate it… well… that’s a viewpoint that’s somewhat extreme. And you might find that there’s going to be an equal and opposite pushback.

There’s likely more to come on this topic, as Senator Schoenbeck notes:

“I think the fall will be interesting, stay tuned.”

I’m sure it will be..

South Dakota Students Invited to Submit Artwork for the 100th Anniversary of the Women’s Suffrage Movement

The 19th Amendment, which gave women the constitutional right to vote, was ratified 100 years ago this year

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that South Dakota students in grades 3-12 are invited to submit artwork to the White House for an exhibit called Building the Movement: America’s Youth Celebrate 100 Years of Women’s Suffrage.

“Throughout our nation’s history, women have made significant contributions to our state and nation,” said Rounds. “We are a better country because of the women who helped shape it. 2020 marks 100 years since the 19th amendment was ratified, giving women the constitutional right to vote. I encourage interested South Dakota students to submit artwork for the White House’s exhibit honoring the women’s suffrage movement.”

From the White House:

The exhibit will launch this August and will showcase artwork by young Americans depicting this historic milestone. To create this exhibit, the First Lady is asking students across the United States and its territories for submissions depicting individuals, objects, and events representing the women’s suffrage movement. Their artwork will appear alongside images of women’s suffrage parades, marches, and gatherings that took place at or around the White House.

Submission applications can be found HERE. Entries must be received by July 6, 2020 at 5:00 p.m. ET. To be considered, artwork must meet the following requirements:

1. Two-dimensional, created on an 8”x 8” piece of paper. To submit, parents and guardians are asked to upload an image of your child’s artwork which can be a simple snapshot taken with a camera or a cell phone. Winners will be asked to send their original artwork via mail at a later date.
2. Include a statement (up to 300 characters) about the artwork and how it represents women’s suffrage.
3. Be based on one of the following categories: Suffragists, Suffrage Symbols, or Suffrage Events.

• Suffragists: Portray a suffragist who inspires you. Many brave individuals dedicated themselves to fighting for women’s right to vote. Depict one of the well-known women from the national movement or someone who did work in your state/territory.
• Suffrage Symbols: Create your own button, ribbon, or sign. Activists and supporters wore buttons with messages such as “Votes for Women” or carried signs with statements to President Wilson: “Mr. President: How Long Must Women Wait for Liberty?”
• Suffrage Events: Depict a historic march, protest, or other event related to the women’s suffrage movement. This can be a national happening or something from your state/territory.

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Theresa Stehly – who has gone out of her way to claim she’s “Republican” – has apparently made an interesting choice to be her Representative on the City election recount board. Because she’s hired Randy Seiler, chairman of the State Democrat Party for that position:

Today, Monday June 15, Stehly is announcing her representative on the recount board is former U.S. Attorney for South Dakota, Randy Seiler.

Stehly stated “In this non partisan municipal recount, I am honored to have the expertise of Attorney Seiler representing the best interests of the citizens and protecting the sanctity of the electoral process.”

Read it all here at KELO AM Radio.

That’s …an interesting choice… to say the least. I’m not aware of Randy having spent any time specializing in election law.

An interesting choice… but not shocking..  (noting the picture below)

UPDATE:  Apparently Theresa Stehly has rejected the City Clerk’s first pick for the recount board because… she doesn’t like the Sioux Falls ethics board for some reason?

Initially, Sioux Falls City Clerk Tom Greco nominated Jack Marsh, the Sioux Falls Board of Ethics chairman. However, that pick was rejected by Stehly, who said she hopes to see someone with less interaction with the city council and candidates.

As an ethics board member, Marsh has disagreed with Stehly numerous times during her first term on the City Council. And earlier this spring he moderated a candidate debate between her and Jensen.

“I’d like to have someone with less council involvement,” she said.

Read that here at the Argus Leader.

Apparently the chair of the Sioux Falls Ethics board is too… ethical for Theresa Stehly?

Showing Up to Work
By Sen. John Thune

For the last few months, essential employees across the country have been showing up for work, often risking their health and safety when they do. We’ve all heard harrowing stories of doctors, nurses, and other health care professionals who’ve spent weeks away from home so they could help treat patients and comfort families, sacrificing time away from their own.

We’ve also heard stories and seen the realities of other heroes who, up until the pandemic, have all been members of the unsung variety: delivery drivers, sanitation workers, grocery store workers, and cable and utility technicians, just to name a few. They’re the people we often took for granted on trash day or after placing an Amazon order or when we made a trip down the meat or dairy aisle. Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll ever look at a fully stocked grocery store the same way ever again.

Essential workers have helped keep America running, and during a crisis, Congress is an essential industry.

At the height of the pandemic, after Congress passed a massive, multi-trillion dollar coronavirus relief package, the Senate practiced what it was preaching. We spent a few weeks working from our home states to help reduce the risk of spreading the disease. Our top priority was – and is – keeping people safe. During that time, the attending physician and others at the Capitol worked hard to develop a plan for the Senate to safely return to Washington as soon as possible, and we did on May 4.

We’ve been hard at work monitoring the $2.4 trillion comprehensive response to the coronavirus pandemic, convening important committee hearings to conduct oversight and prepare legislation for future floor consideration, and walking and chewing gum by passing bills and confirming executive and judicial branch nominees.

I’ve participated in several Commerce Committee hearings that have examined how the coronavirus crisis has affected transportation in the United States – a critical industry for South Dakota. The committee heard directly from the airline, automotive, and railroad industries about how they’ve dealt with the pandemic and how they’re planning to be part of the reopening. The Commerce Committee has also examined the heightened reliance of broadband – another critical issue in South Dakota – particularly the dependence on keeping America connected over the last few months. And the Finance Committee, of which I’m also a member, has convened hearings to examine unemployment insurance during the pandemic and conduct oversight of certain Food and Drug Administration inspection processes.

As the economy continues to reopen in South Dakota and around the country, the Senate is going to continue to focus on those buckets: monitoring COVID relief efforts, convening hearings and conducting oversight, and passing bills and confirming nominees. All of them are important to our state’s and nation’s recovery and reopening.

This has been a difficult year. I know it feels like there have been more downs than ups. I think it has highlighted, though, that while our individual struggles might be unique, so too is our shared optimism that tomorrow will be better than today. Despite any obstacles we find in our way, we still wake up every morning in the greatest country the world has ever known. We are American together, and that’s why brighter days are always ahead.

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Strengthening our Armed Forces
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

The United States military is the best in the world. Our all-volunteer force is made up of men and women from different backgrounds and different states, but what they all have in common is a love of country and a desire to serve. We are eternally grateful to them—and their families—for the incredible sacrifices they make to protect our freedoms. One way we can show our thanks is by making sure they have the tools and resources necessary to do their job. In Congress, we do this by passing a National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) each year.

The Senate Armed Services Committee, which I’ve worked on since coming to the Senate in 2015, recently voted to approve the NDAA for fiscal year 2021. It will be debated by the full Senate before we vote on final passage. Our committee put in a lot of work this year on the NDAA and I’m pleased that we were once again able to pass it with strong bipartisan support. In fact, this will be the 60th consecutive year that we will have passed a widely-supported NDAA.

As our near-peer competitors, like China and Russia, continue to grow their own militaries, it’s critically important that the U.S. makes sure our troops have better weapons systems, better tools and more resources than our adversaries. We never want to send our men and women into a fair fight—we always want them to have the advantage. The NDAA authorizes Department of Defense (DoD) programs and provides defense policy to make sure the United States maintains irreversible momentum when it comes to implementing the National Defense Strategy. The National Defense Strategy provides clear direction for restoring our military’s competitive edge in an era of re-emerging, long-term great power competition. The B-21 Raider bombers coming to Ellsworth Air Force Base in the near future are a part of this long-term National Defense Strategy. As I said earlier, we have the best armed forces in the world, but we need to make sure we remain the best well into the future.

One of the ways we can do this is by improving the way the DoD hires personnel. The NDAA includes language to improve recruitment and retention efforts to maintain the force, while also offering more flexibility to hire civilian talent. In particular, the DoD needs highly-skilled, brilliant cybersecurity professionals to help improve the cybersecurity efforts of our armed forces. In some cases, the most qualified cyber personnel could be private sector cybersecurity personnel serving in the National Guard or Reserve. Dakota State University (DSU) in Madison has been at the forefront of cyber-related research for years. As a National Security Agency and Department of Homeland Security Center of Academic Excellence, DSU is preparing its students for government careers in cybersecurity.

Just like the FY 2020 NDAA, this one includes a pay raise for our troops. Military families are recognized in the NDAA as well—we’ve included language to increase access to high-quality child care for military families and to improve military housing. When a husband or wife is deployed, the last thing we want is for spouses to have to worry about home repair issues or finding a good daycare for their kids when they’re at work.

The men and women who wear the uniform of the United States put their lives on the line to protect and preserve our freedom. We’re forever grateful to them for their service and sacrifice. Passing the NDAA each year is one way for us to make sure they and their families are taken care of and have all the resources they need as they serve our nation.

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