Author: @SoDakCampaigns

A Message to South Dakota Dads: Happy Father’s Day
By Governor Kristi Noem 

Strong families are often built around strong dads. I was so blessed to grow up with a strong dad, a cowboy. But as you probably know, we lost my dad in a farm accident when I was 22. That tragedy lives with me always, but so does his memory and all the lessons he gave me and my siblings before he died.

For example, he was adamant about getting up in the morning and tackling the day, reminding us that more people die in bed than anywhere else. Despite plenty of groaning, my kids got to learn this lesson too.

There was also his work ethic and drive – both of which were second to none.  And his insatiable entrepreneurial spirit – buying up land starting when he was just a boy. Despite whatever tough time we were dealing with, he would say, “Never sell the land, because God isn’t making any more of it.”

Another thing he would do is make sure we were always paying attention to the small details and doing the right thing – no matter how trivial. Whether it was taking care of the cattle or keeping bags of feed stored appropriately, it didn’t matter – there was a right way and wrong way to do it. He insisted on doing it the right way.

There was also his regular doling out of impossible things to accomplish for me and my siblings. It was through these tasks that we learned how to problem solve. He’d remind us, “you don’t complain about things; you fix them.”

This brings me to the biggest lesson he taught me. There is no institution in the state more important than the family. We are blessed with great families in South Dakota. Whatever your family looks like, parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents, make sure you’re a strong family.

This Father’s Day, take some time to thank your dad for his influence in your life. We may not always realize the impact that fathers have at the time, but the lessons they teach us last a lifetime.

Dad’s life lessons live on in me and also now all of my kids, Kassidy, Kennedy, and Booker. That wouldn’t be possible, of course, without Bryon. To Bryon, and all the Dads out there, Happy Father’s Day!

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Investing in the Future of Agriculture
By Sen. John Thune 

Unlike the majority of the economy, which was thriving before the coronavirus pandemic, the agriculture economy had been struggling for a while. Low prices, extended trade disputes, and natural disasters had meant a tough few years for farmers and ranchers even before the coronavirus hit. Now things are even more challenging.

Agriculture is the lifeblood of South Dakota, so supporting farmers and ranchers during this crisis has been one of my top priorities. I fought to get agriculture relief money included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act – the CARES Act – which was signed into law in late March. The final bill included $14 billion to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation to allow the Department of Agriculture to provide income and price support for farmers and ranchers, plus an additional $9.5 billion in emergency support for agriculture producers affected by the pandemic.

Over the past few months, I’ve kept in frequent contact with the Department of Agriculture and others to amplify producers’ concerns and urge swift relief. I’ve also been focused on developing additional legislation to help farmers and ranchers weather this crisis.

I recently introduced legislation to allow emergency haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program acres for the duration of this crisis. Under current law, agriculture producers can hay or graze their CRP acres during weather-related disasters without a reduction in their CRP payments. My legislation would extend that provision to cover pandemics, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

I also introduced the Paycheck Protection for Producers Act, which will help more farmers and ranchers benefit from the Paycheck Protection Program. The coronavirus relief legislation we passed in late March established the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable loans to small businesses to help them keep their employees on their payroll during this crisis. Self-employed Americans, which describes many farmers and ranchers, are eligible for these loans. But in practice, the program’s guidelines have excluded a lot of agriculture producers.

Low commodity prices and a challenging planting season meant that many farmers and ranchers had a negative net income in 2019. And right now the program’s guidelines exclude farmers or ranchers without employees with a negative net income for last year. My legislation would allow more farmers to access the Paycheck Protection Program by allowing them to use their 2019 gross income instead of their 2019 net income when applying for a loan.

In addition to direct relief, another thing we can do to support our nation’s agriculture producers is to support the ethanol industry, which has stepped up to help during the coronavirus crisis by providing ethanol, or alcohol, for hand sanitizer. I imagine there are few Americans who haven’t significantly stepped up their purchase of hand sanitizer during the current crisis. To help us meet this need, I introduced the Hand Sanitizer Guidance Extension Act of 2020. Put simply, my bill will extend the Food and Drug Administration’s temporary ethanol-based hand sanitizer guidance for at least two years. This will give ethanol producers that have made investments or changes in operations to meet the need for hand sanitizer a longer time to recoup those costs.

To further improve the bottom line of ethanol operators, I also introduced bipartisan legislation to override Environmental Protection Agency inaction that has blocked producers from using their investments at scale to make cellulosic biofuel. Advancing corn kernel fiber registrations, for example, will add value to the corn crop and help increase margins until fuel demand is restored and our economy rebounds.

The coronavirus crisis has highlighted just how much we rely on our nation’s agriculture producers. I am grateful every day for their work. And advocating for them will continue to be one of my top priorities. I am committed to helping our farmers and ranchers through the challenges they’re facing and seeing our nation’s agriculture economy thrive.

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We Need Dads
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

I knew becoming a parent would be an incredible moment, but I’m not sure one can ever be fully prepared to become a father. There are responsibilities not only to help with homework and make sure kids get to their ball games, but the more important responsibilities – like raising great men and women.

I’m far from a perfect father. I lose my temper too often. I can be preoccupied with work. I embarrass my sons with my old-fashioned jokes and behavior. But, for all my weaknesses as a father, I am still present in the lives of my sons. That makes a big difference.

According to a 2019 Census report, 20.2% of American dads, or approximately 7 million, are “absent” dads – meaning these men play no significant role in the lives of their minor children. This leaves nearly 20 million children without dads in the home.

Data shows these kids, through no fault of their own, are 400% more likely to live in poverty and they are 200% more likely to drop out of high school. We all know the statistics. Dropping out of high school means that individual will earn, on average, half of a what a technical school or college graduate earns.

I know there are many issues that can complicate the efforts of fathers to be involved in the lives of their children. Sometimes courts, the other parent, substance abuse, or behavioral health issues make it difficult or perhaps impossible. But fathers matter, and the data makes it clear that we need to do better.

So what can we do to fix this systemic problem? We need to expect more from fathers, and we should encourage them to be active in the lives of their children, and in the workplace. We should require able-bodied men on welfare to have a job or participate in educational and training opportunities to receive benefits. We should make sure we are rallying around our friends and family who may find themselves with an unplanned pregnancy. We can step in and help fill the role of fathers, as best as we can, for children who have been targets of domestic abuse or violence. We can participate in mentorship programs in our communities. We can also celebrate the great fathers in our lives and remember the fathers who are no longer with us – because it certainly isn’t an easy job.

Thinking about my young sons becoming fathers later in life makes my responsibility of raising them to be good humans even greater – and Father’s Day serves as a good reminder. I hope you and your families enjoy this Father’s Day and use the day to remember the roles each one of us play in helping shape the next generation of fathers.

I’m not convinced electric cars will be running well in Jan/Feb in Brookings when it’s 40 or 50 degrees below zero. But, their use in town was just made a little bit easier with the opening of the first electric car charging station in town:

In case you wanted to read the direct source of the story discussing State Rep. Tom Pischke arguing against Juneteenth and Native American day, Lisa Kaczke of the Argus Leader has screen shots of them on Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/eGXfveJnSh

— Lisa Kaczke (@LisaKaczke) June 18, 2020

Here’s something very interesting though.. When I went back to screen clip it myself… Representative Pischke’s quip about Native American Day?

…it no longer appears… and seems to have mysteriously “vanished” from the original facebook discussion.

South Dakota prides itself on Freedom. Today, we commemorate #JuneteenthDay to remind ourselves that there was a time in our history that not all Americans were free. Let’s celebrate this important milestone toward achieving the American ideal: “all men are created equal.”

— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) June 19, 2020

Upholding a Fair, Unbiased Judicial System
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

A fair and independent judiciary is a cornerstone of our democracy. Filling vacancies in our nation’s courts with men and women who apply the law as written, rather than based on their own political ideologies, has been a priority in the Senate. According to the Constitution, it’s the role of the president to nominate individuals to the federal bench, and the Senate has the role of “advice and consent.” After a thorough confirmation process, the Senate votes to confirm the nomination. The Senate will soon confirm the 200th judge nominated by President Trump. This number includes two Supreme Court justices.

This record-breaking number of confirmations is especially notable since the judges we’ve confirmed will serve lifetime appointments to the federal judiciary. The court decisions they make can have a lasting impact on the direction of our country. As a co-equal branch of government, the judiciary must remain impartial and non-political in order to do its job. The judges that President Trump has nominated, and the Senate has confirmed, understand this. It is not the role of the courts to create legislation—it is their role to interpret the laws passed by Congress. The judges that have been confirmed over the past three years provide balance to the courts so they can continue to provide due process of law to all Americans.

We’re also focused on confirming judges who understand the separation of powers doctrine, especially as it comes to executive overreach. Under the previous administration, we saw an unprecedented expansion of the administrative state. Overreach by executive agencies leads to regulatory expansion that results in the federal government involving itself in nearly every facet of our lives today. This expansion has been permitted, in part, to U.S. courts relying on the flawed Chevron doctrine to show great deference to agency interpretation of the laws passed by Congress. As a result, agencies have been able to broadly interpret laws in a way that has allowed them to expand their regulatory authority far beyond what Congress ever intended.

Fortunately, U.S. judges are beginning to question the Chevron doctrine and its impact on the separation of powers doctrine relied on by our Founding Fathers and affirmed in the U.S. Constitution. This includes many of the judges we have confirmed over the past three-and-a-half years.

When writing the Constitution, our Founding Fathers envisioned a judicial system that is fair and impartial. The decisions made by federal judges are long-lasting—they should not be influenced by personal feelings or loyalty to a political party. With the Constitution as our guide, we’ve confirmed judges who we believe fit the mold described by our nation’s founders.

As our country continues to face immediate concerns like COVID-19 and calls for police reform, the Senate will work toward solutions that make us a stronger, more unified nation. We’ll also continue to focus on what we want our country to look like for future generations. A major part of that vision is making sure our courts provide impartiality and fairness so that any American who finds themselves in front of a federal judge knows that decisions are not being made based on personal beliefs or politics.

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Thune Introduces Bill to Advance Rural Broadband Services

“It is critical that South Dakotans in every corner of our state have reliable broadband services.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today introduced the Rural Connectivity Advancement Program (RCAP) Act of 2020, legislationthat would capture a portion of the proceeds from spectrum auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through September 30, 2022, for the buildout of broadband networks. The FCC would be able to utilize the funds to support broadband deployment in rural America.

“It is critical that South Dakotans in every corner of our state have reliable broadband services,” said Thune. “The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the need to ensure that we provide rural areas, not just in South Dakota, but throughout the entire United States, with reliable broadband connectivity. My bill would take an important step toward the goal of closing the digital divide and does so in a responsible manner.”

“NTCA wholeheartedly endorses this legislation and thanks Senator Thune for his leadership on this bill. For years, he has been one of the strongest proponents in Washington for ensuring that every American has access to the communications services necessary for online commerce, remote education, telehealth, and civic engagement in today’s world,” said Shirley Bloomfield, CEO of NTCA. “The legislation introduced today represents yet another measure of that leadership and a reaffirmed commitment to achieving the goal of universal service. The Rural Connectivity Advancement Program Act would leverage efforts that have already proven effective in tackling connectivity challenges in rural America, and provide much-needed resources to help the FCC build upon the successes thus far of these existing programs to close the remaining digital divide.

“We thank Senator Thune for introducing the Rural Connectivity Advancement Program Act, which recognizes the importance of ensuring all Americans have access to broadband, especially those in rural areas, and seeks to provide the necessary resources to close the digital divide,” said Kelly Cole, senior vice president of government affairs of CTIA.

“Senator Thune understands the value of 21^st century connectivity and the power and promise of broadband – especially for unserved parts of rural America,” Jonathan Spalter, president and CEO of USTelecom. “This bill recognizes the essential public-private partnership necessary to deploy high-speed broadband to every corner of the country and narrow the digital divide.”

“Today more than ever, broadband connectivity is a necessity — not a luxury,” said Lisa Youngers, president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. “The Fiber Broadband Association and its members support the Rural Connectivity Advancement Program Act and appreciate this effort to bring unconnected rural communities into the 21st century with high-speed access. By establishing a permanent funding source for rural broadband that will supplement current resources and utilize existing programs, this bill has the potential to deliver rapid results for rural Americans in more communities across our country. We are thankful to Senator Thune for his forward-looking leadership and remain committed to working with Congress to bridge the digital divide and connect all Americans, both rural and urban, with high-speed fiber broadband.”

“NATE commends Sen. John Thune for his continued strong leadership on communications issues that benefit citizens, companies, and industries throughout the United States,” said Todd Schlekeway, president and CEO of NATE: The Communications Infrastructure Contractors Association. “We are particularly pleased to endorse the ‘Rural Connectivity Advancement Program Act of 2020,’ legislation he is introducing today. This bill will help to promote broadband services in rural America by providing funding for communications infrastructure expansion.”

Specifically, RCAP would:

• Set-aside 10 percent of the net proceeds from spectrum auctions for the buildout of broadband networks;
• Require the FCC to utilize the funds provided by RCAP to address gaps that remain in broadband internet access service coverage in high-cost rural areas;
• Allow the FCC to use the funds provided by RCAP in a technology-neutral manner to address shortfalls in sufficient funding of existing USF High-Cost Programs for the buildout of broadband services;
•  Require the FCC to consider the broadband internet access service needs of residents of tribal lands; and
• Require the FCC to produce an annual report on the distribution of funds established under this act.

Lynn Schneider Nominated for State Representative

At a joint meeting of the Beadle County and Kingsbury County Republican Central Committees held Wednesday, State Representative Lynn Schneider of Huron was unanimously nominated to be on the general election ballot for State Representative for District 22, filling the vacancy on the ballot left by the death of Representative Bob Glanzer.  Governor Kristi Noem previously appointed Schneider as state representative to fill out the remainder of the current term.  State law permits county parties to fill spots on the ballot after the death of a candidate.

“I am grateful for being selected to run on the Republican ticket for District 22 House of Representatives,” said Schneider.  “My brother-in-law Bob Glanzer was a longtime friend and mentor to me in many ways.  I feel this is a special way for me to honor his legacy and to recognize the confidence that District 22 voters had in Bob’s service in the House of Representatives.”

He and his wife, Gloria (Glanzer), are lifelong residents of Beadle County and have been married for 51 years.  He graduated 8th grade from a one room country school in Grant Township, and graduated from Huron High School in 1965 and from Huron College in 1969.

After his marriage he was drafted and inducted into the U.S. Army, serving in 1970 and 1971.  As a Vietnam Era Veteran he achieved the rank of E-5 and received an Honorable Discharge

Schneider’s banking and ag business career was spent in Huron, except for the first two years in Mitchell.  After a 46-year career he retired in 2017.  During that time he led F&M Marquette Bank for 14 years and then American Bank & Trust for 15 years as CEO, during which he was responsible for 130 employees, acquiring four banks and directing a branch start up in Sioux Falls.

His community volunteer service includes two terms as a member of the Huron School Board and nine years on the James Valley Christian School Board.  He also chaired the boards of Huron Regional Medical Center when the new hospital was built in 1994, the Griffith Foundation, and Greater Huron Development Corporation during the successful recruitment of the Trussbilt company to Huron in 1989.  He served on the Board of Trustees of Huron College and the South Dakota State University Foundation.  From 2006 to 2012 he served as an advisory board member to the Huron Housing & Redevelopment Commission, during which time he assisted with financial counsel in their construction of the 40-unit Lampe Apartment complex in north Huron.

His regional and national service experience includes serving as a director of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines covering North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri.  In the 1990s he served as President of the South Dakota Bankers Association.  He is also a director and past chair of the Mennonite Brethren Foundation.

“I have been privileged to serve with these and numerous other local Huron area organizations including Huron Area United Way, Lions Club, Bethesda Church, AWANA Clubs, and the Huron Chamber Ag Committee,” Schneider said.  “Working and serving to help my hometown community has been a lifelong part of who I am.  Now seems like a good time to offer my leadership experience for service to the District 22 residents in the State House of Representatives.”

The general election is scheduled for November 3.

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Gov. Noem Proclaims June 19^th “Juneteenth Day” in South Dakota 

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem proclaimed June 19^th, 2020, as “Juneteenth Day,” in South Dakota in memory of the 155^th anniversary of the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation, which is recognized as the end of slavery in the United States.

“South Dakota prides itself on Freedom,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “We commemorate this important day to remind ourselves that there was a time in our history that not all Americans were free and to celebrate an important milestone toward achieving the American ideal: ‘all men are created equal.’”

Governor Noem’s official proclamation, signed on June 16^th, 2020, can be found here.

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