Author: @SoDakCampaigns

From Twitter, House Speaker Pro Temp Jon Hansen is announcing this afternoon that the House will be bringing back a measure to ban transgender surgery for minors:

We will bring a bill in the South Dakota Legislature to ban chemical castration and surgical mutilation of minors suffering from gender dysphoria. I hope other members and our governor support the effort and political leaders across the country do the same! Thanks @JonSchweppe! https://t.co/RFM8ATCgiv

— Jon Hansen (@RepJonHansen) December 15, 2021

What are your thoughts? Should the procedure be banned in the state?

The Federal Elections Commission has sent a warning to Congressional Candidate Taffy Howard that she may have accepted too much money from one of the donors throwing cash at her campaign, according to this letter dated December 7th, and filed electronically on the Federal Elections Commission website today:

FEC says Luke Blindert spent too much on Taffy by Pat Powers on Scribd

Luke Blindert, the poker-playing crop insurance salesman from Salem, was one a handful of donors who maxed out to the campaign in the first FEC report filed by Taffy Howard.

From an examination of the report, it’s likely a matter that the error is because both donations were attributed to the primary election, as opposed to one being primary, and the other needing to be attributed to and held for any general election expenses.

(Not that Taffy will have any General Election expenses at this rate.)

Thune Applauds Senate Passage of Annual Defense Bill, Ellsworth Funding

“I am committed to ensuring that Ellsworth has everything it needs for its new mission, so that it can continue to serve as one of our nation’s essential military assets for decades to come.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today applauded the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2022. Thune noted that the bill contains numerous priorities that benefit South Dakota and the future B-21 bomber mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base.

NDAA priorities for South Dakota include:

• $2.87 billion for B-21 development
• $47 million for a B-21 Field Training Detachment Facility
• $36 million for a B-21 Mission Operations Planning Facility
• $65 million for a B-21 Washrack and Maintenance Hangar
• $24 million for a B-21 additions to the flight simulator facility
• $70 million for a B-21 Formal Training Unit/Aircraft Maintenance Unit
• $41 million for a B-21 two-bay Low-Observable Restoration Facility
• $9.8 million for an F-16 Mission Training Center at Joe Foss Field
• $15 million for a South Dakota Guard Readiness Center in Sioux Falls
• Preservation of B-1 maintenance and operational squadrons through at least fiscal year 2023 or until their replacement by B-21 units

In a tweet a short time ago, Governor Kristi Noem is underlining the fact that the proposed 6% increase in state aid to education should go directly to educators:

My budget proposes a historic 6% increase to education funding.

Legislators need to get it passed. And school districts need to give that money directly to teachers and staff. https://t.co/AwNWUE54yV

— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) December 15, 2021

Fonkert Announces Candidacy for District 9 House

HARTFORD, SOUTH DAKOTA – I am excited to announce my candidacy to serve District 9 in the South Dakota House of Representatives.

Today’s problems require leaders that are willing to listen, build consensus, and execute policies that serve not only this generation but those to come. As a product of a small town in north central South Dakota, I understand the challenges facing our rural communities. Working in economic development in the Sioux Falls metro has exposed me to the issues facing our growing area. Through these combined experiences, I feel prepared to serve District 9 residents that live in both Sioux Falls, Harford, and in-between.

South Dakota is a great state with unlimited potential. After graduating from Mobridge-Pollock High School, I chose to attend Augustana University in Sioux Falls. Thanks to the support of numerous mentors that represent some of the great characteristics of South Dakotans, I was able to find jobs in the Sioux Falls area in my profession. Spending nearly four years as Hartford’s Chamber and Economic Development Director and now as the President & CEO of the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance, taught me the importance of working with community stakeholders to create solutions.

Education, housing, and infrastructure are all topics that need greater attention in our state. As your representative, I plan to focus on these issues to ensure that South Dakota continues to be competitive in attracting new families and businesses but also creating opportunities to attract former residents back to our state. While the state doesn’t always have the solutions, I plan to work closely with the private sector to continuously improve South Dakotans quality of life.

It would be one of my life’s greatest honors to serve the people of Sioux Falls and Hartford in the State legislature. As a conservative, family-oriented individual, I hope to take my values and serve you well in Pierre starting in 2023. More than ever, we need your input to make our state even greater. You can support me or learn more about the campaign by visiting my website at www.jessefonkert.com. Please take a moment to share what you think our state needs by emailing me at elect@jessefonkert.com. Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to earning your vote in 2022.

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This might be the most tone-deaf photo I’ve seen in a while:

Congressional candidate Taffy Howard just posted this photo on facebook with Mark Meadows, who the House of Representatives just voted to hold in contempt for refusing to testify about his role in the January 6 riots.

Gosch tabs Rapid City lawyer for impeachment special counsel role https://t.co/9gMX9T7Wxo

— Austin Goss (@AustinGossSD) December 14, 2021

Sara Frankenstein, an attorney with Gunderson Palmer (and law partner to 2022 AG Candidate Marty Jackley) is noted tonight as being hired to serve as special counsel for the special session regarding impeachment.

Go read the entire story here.

It seems as if we can’t keep these numbers down for COVID-19 hospitalizations in the Sanford Health system. After dropping from the week prior, the new COVID numbers are bouncing back up from 12/7.  Hospitalizations are up to 224 from 207. ISU numbers are up 4 from 66 to 70. And a big jump from 37 on ventilators to 50.

Numbers of vaccinated patients are stable …at very few!

Seriously, the people getting sick are the ones who are unvaccinated. It’s a free country, but statistics aren’t lying here. If you want a greater chance of getting sick, these numbers have been pretty consistent.

So, stop reading facebook goofiness, and go get your jab.

Thune, Smith, Rounds, Tester Introduce Legislation to Encourage Homeownership Across Indian Country

Senators’ legislation would accelerate the review and processing of mortgages by the Bureau of Indian Affairs

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) today introduced the Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act. This bipartisan legislation would create statutory timelines in which the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) would be required to process and approve mortgages involving property located on tribal trust land. Additionally, it would enhance the ability of certain federal agencies to operate their tribal housing programs and improve communication between the BIA and tribes, tribal members, and lenders through the establishment of a realty ombudsman within the BIA who can communicate with relevant parties.

“Affordable housing opportunities on tribal trust land can be hard to come by in South Dakota and across the nation, due in part to the BIA’s challenging mortgage approval process, which can complicate lenders’ ability to provide financing and participate in federal tribal housing programs,” said Thune. “My bipartisan legislation would expedite this mortgage approval process and encourage more lenders to provide mortgages across Indian Country, which would, in turn, expand tribal members’ opportunities for homeownership.”

“Without a safe, affordable place to live, nothing in your life works,” said Smith. “The Indian Home Loan Guarantee program is a key federal tool to help Native families buy a home, but for too long, the program has been plagued by bureaucratic delays that have left families waiting months to complete home purchases, especially on Tribal trust lands. Our bipartisan legislation seeks to cut through the red tape and help Native homebuyers acquire homes in a timely manner.”

“As a member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, I strongly support this legislation that benefits home and business ownership opportunities for tribal members,” said Rounds. “This bill is a product of many discussions with tribal entities, lenders and the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition. The Tribal Trust Land Homeownership Act will hold the BIA accountable to timely processing of mortgage packets and title status reports.”

“Housing availability and affordability are serious issues in Indian Country, and the red tape around getting a mortgage on Tribal land is making it even worse,” said Tester. “This legislation will hold bureaucrats to timelines and help folks in Indian Country access financing quickly and efficiently. Expanding access and availability of housing is critically important for families to thrive and businesses to grow, and I’m going to keep fighting to make sure the federal government isn’t getting in the way.”

“The South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition really appreciates Senator Thune’s and Rounds’ leadership in promoting Native homeownership opportunities,” said Juel Burnette, branch manager of 1st Tribal Lending and member of the South Dakota Native Homeownership Coalition’s executive committee. “This legislation will go a long way with putting sound processes in place so that more Native Americans can enjoy the benefits of homeownership on our reservations in South Dakota and across the nation.”

“The Mortgage Bankers Association commends Senators Thune, Smith, Rounds, and Tester for taking action to improve and encourage access to quality affordable housing on trust land,” said Bill Killmer, senior vice president of legislation and political affairs at MBA. “Specifically, this legislation will reduce or eliminate BIA processing delays, thereby encouraging more lenders to participate in trust land mortgage lending.”

Currently, mortgages involving property on tribal trust land must be reviewed and approved by the BIA in order for the mortgage to be finalized. This pertains to residential, commercial, and right-of-way mortgages, to name a few. The BIA Mortgage Handbook establishes timelines for BIA offices to process and approve these mortgages, to which the timelines are not always adhered. Placing these timelines into statute would improve the timeliness of mortgage approvals and ensure lenders are not disincentivized from providing homeownership opportunities on tribal trust land.

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Thune: Democrats Double Down on Failed Policies That Have Created Record-High Inflation

“I’m not sure whether Democrats simply don’t care about the inflation situation facing American families, or whether they’re operating under the delusion that they can somehow pass another major government spending bill without serious consequences for our economy.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed how the Democrats’ plan to double down on their failed policies and pass their reckless tax-and-spending spree would worsen the already record-high inflation and continue to hurt families in South Dakota.