Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Making Telehealth Permanent
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

In March, when things went from 0 to 100 at the beginning of the pandemic, our health care system was forced to adapt quickly on so many levels. With patients no longer allowed to visit hospitals in-person for regular appointments, we needed a solution – and fast.

Telehealth was the answer. The administration quickly expanded Medicare’s telehealth coverage during the pandemic, ensuring our seniors had access to their providers from the safety of their own home.

Prior to COVID-19, Senator Thune and I supported the CONNECT for Health Act, which would make the Medicare telehealth expansion permanent – I will continue to push for this bill as a long-term solution.

If you’ve utilized telehealth throughout the last several months – we probably shared a similar thought: “Why wasn’t this an option years ago?” The answer is two-fold – lack of awareness it existed and lack of coverage through programs like Medicare and other health insurance providers.

Telehealth is no longer a secret, and it’s likely more Americans are going to take advantage of it moving forward. That’s why I signed onto the KEEP Telehealth Options Act, which would require the Department of Health and Human Services to study the current state of telehealth and inform Congress about the areas that require improvement on the path to permanence.

It’s been a difficult few months, but I’m proud of our health care community for stepping up in more areas than one.

Because of the CARES Act, hospitals around the country were able to apply for funding through the Federal Communications Commission to increase state access to telehealth services. South Dakota hospitals were awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to purchase telehealth equipment, ensuring our hospitals could meet the needs of patients virtually.

South Dakota is home to providers like Avera that have led the charge on telehealth services in rural communities for decades. We still have more work to do, but one thing is for certain, telehealth needs to be a permanent option for all Americans.

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Our South Dakota Way of Life
By Governor Kristi Noem 

I came home to South Dakota after eight years serving in Congress because I love our state. I missed working with cows and horses. I missed our beautiful wide-open spaces.  But more than anything else, I missed spending time with my family and our South Dakota way of life.

Our people, with their tremendous work ethic and down-to-earth values, are second-to-none. South Dakotans appreciate freedom and the things that make our country special, and that’s something that I’ve been continuously reminded of over these past several months. When faced with difficult challenges and a once in a lifetime global pandemic, South Dakotans did not look to the government to dictate to them. Instead, they looked at all the information at their disposal and made the best decisions for themselves and their families.

These past couple weeks have given us tremendous opportunities to celebrate the things that make South Dakota such a great place to live. We showcased our state to the rest of the nation and the world when we celebrated America’s birthday with President Trump and fireworks at Mount Rushmore.

Last week, we got to showcase a different side of our state, and one that is especially dear to my heart: the cowboy side. Because South Dakota never closed, the Professional Bull Riders (PBR) decided to hold their Team Championship in Sioux Falls. To make things even better, it was the first national indoor sporting event to have fans in the stands since sports leagues closed their doors in March.

The bull riders put on quite a show, and they graciously gave me the honor of carrying Old Glory into the arena for the Star-Spangled Banner on the second night of their competition. It was a spectacular moment. South Dakotans exercised their freedom to participate in such an event, freedom that has been denied citizens of many other states. And they celebrated that freedom the way that Americans have for so long, by honoring our flag. That flag represents so much more than just our nation.  It embodies the brave men and women in uniform who have followed it into battle in conflicts around the world – conflicts that were fought to protect the freedoms and liberties that make America the greatest country ever.

It’s my hope that we will continue to celebrate the things that make South Dakota special; that we will protect our South Dakota way of life so that we can pass it on to those who come after us; and that we will share our way of life with as many people as we can.

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If you hadn’t heard yet, Lee Brown, who worked in South Dakota politics and campaigns on and off for many years passed away yesterday from cancer:

Leland (Lee) Brown, 63, Sioux Falls, SD, died on July 18, 2020 from cancer. He was born October 15, 1956, to Wallace and Betty (Phelps) Brown of Oldham, SD. He grew up on the family farm and attended the Drakola Congregational country church and the Drakola Common (one room) country school until they both closed in the late 60s and then he attended Oldham Public where he graduated from high school. He was also a graduate of the University of South Dakota with a Bachelors Degree in Political Science.

His career working in the government relations and political consulting fields began in South Dakota for many years before moving to Denver, Colorado, to live and work near the Rocky Mountains he so enjoyed.

You can read Lee’s entire obituary here.

It was just within the past few weeks that Lee had announced that he was ceasing treatment, and said his goodbyes to friends via Facebook. Lee was known by many in South Dakota politics, and universally well-liked.

Lee was a tremendously nice man, and an example for us all. Godspeed.

Randy Seiler must be getting tired of Governor Kristi Noem winning.

Nationally recognized and lauded among our Nation’s Governors for her message to “Trust your citizens” and  “don’t ‘lay down mandates.”

We have some of the lowest rates of covid in the nation and in the face of a national economic crisis, a $19.1 million dollar surplus, with most of the saved money came from executive branch agencies.

Not to mention Governor Kristi Noem’s strong approval among the state’s residents.  Which came before Governor Noem brought fireworks back to Mt. Rushmore and put South Dakota on the national stage with a visit from President Donald Trump.

How can the state’s Democrats respond in the face of Governor Noem leading? Sadly, as Randy Seiler, the man who has signed a loan to keep the Democrat Party afloat, offers the state dems are “re building” as he complains about the Governor:

The Democratic Party in South Dakota has not held a statewide office in decades, and currently, opposes a super majority in both houses of the state legislature.

and..

“Medical professionals, and scientists and the CDC are giving guidance and advising us what we have to do to combat the coronavirus not only in South Dakota, but across the country… our Governor’s approach to that is personal responsibility, my perspective is that is a lack of leadership.” Seiler said.

Read it all here.

Dems complain about Governor Noem believing in South Dakotans “personal responsibility,” and call it “a lack of leadership?”  Are they actually vetting this before they speak to the press?

When Dems attack the Governor believing in the residents of the state, they’ve already lost.

ATTORNEY GENERAL EXPLANATION RELEASED FOR PROPOSED INITIATED CONTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AND PROPOSED INITIATED MEASURE, BOTH DEALING WITH MEDICAID EXPANSION

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg announced today that Attorney General Explanations for a proposed initiated constitutional amendment and a proposed initiated measure have been filed with the Secretary of State. These explanations will appear on petitions that will be circulated by the sponsor, Rick Weiland, of the initiated constitutional amendment and the initiated measure. If the sponsor obtains a sufficient number of signatures by November 2021, as certified by the Secretary of State, the proposed amendment may be placed on the ballot for the November 2022 general election.

The initiated constitutional amendment is entitled “An initiated amendment to the South Dakota Constitution expanding Medicaid eligibility.”

The initiated measure is entitled “An initiated measure expanding Medicaid eligibility.”

Under South Dakota law, the Attorney General is responsible for preparing explanations for proposed initiated measures, referred laws, and South Dakota Constitutional Amendments. The Attorney General Explanation is not a statement either for or against the proposed amendment.

An initiated amendment to the South Dakota Constitution expanding Medicaid eligibility.

An initiated measure expanding Medicaid eligibility.

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Just got done watching Americans for Prosperity’s town hall with Dusty Johnson, and Dusty might  have had the best statement of the night in the last 10 minutes or so of the program after he was asked a question about coin shortages.

Dusty was remarking about some people writing on social media that they couldn’t be forced to use a cash card, and quipped:

“Too many of you are sharing garbage on facebook.”

I don’t think any of us can argue with that.

South Dakota Closes the 2020 Budget Year with a $19 Million Surplus
State’s Total Reserves Increase to $193 Million

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota closed the 2020 budget year on June 30 with a surplus of $19.1 million, Governor Kristi Noem announced today. Although total revenue finished $7.9 million lower than adopted estimates, the state general fund budget ended with expenditures approximately $27.2 million lower than budgeted. The state spent $74.8 million in Coronavirus Relief Funds in fiscal year 2020.

“Despite the challenges with COVID-19, South Dakota remains in a strong financial position,” said Governor Noem. “As many states closed their economies, I trusted South Dakotans to make the right decisions for themselves and their loved-ones. Our future remains bright because we kept our state open for business and we live within our means.”

Of the $27.2 million of 2020 general fund reversions, $23.9 million came from executive branch agencies, $1.8 million came from the Board of Regents, $0.9 million came from the Unified Judicial System, and $0.6 million came from the Legislature and constitutional offices. The unspent funds in fiscal year 2020 represent just 1.6 percent of the total general fund budget.

Total general fund revenue for fiscal year 2020 was lower than legislative adopted estimates in February by $7.9 million, or 0.5 percent. Sales and use tax, which is the state’s largest revenue source, finished $11.8 million below estimates but still grew 4.6 percent over the prior fiscal year. A combination of all other sources of general fund revenue finished the fiscal year $3.9 million above legislative estimates.

By law, the fiscal year 2020 surplus of $19.1 million was transferred to the budget reserve fund. The state’s budget reserve fund now has a balance of $149.4 million, and the general revenue replacement fund has a balance of $44.0 million, for a total reserve of $193.4 million.

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Americans for Prosperity are hosting a video Town Hall tonight with Congressman Dusty Johnson. How can you participate? Read on:

The title of the post says it all, as we look at the FEC Report covering 5/14/20 – 6/30/20.

Dan Ahlers’ FEC Report for July:

Dan Ahlers July Fec by Pat Powers on Scribd

US Senator Mike Rounds’ FEC Report for July:

Rounds July FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd

When it came to fundraising, Mike Rounds literally destroyed Democrat Dan Ahlers in comparison, by more than a factor of 10.

Ahlers raised $24,832.44 to Rounds’ $256,952.86. Alhers spent $18,352.14 – 74% of what he raised, leaving him with $49,556.72 in the bank. Rounds spent $222,810.98, and has $1,868,842.77 left on hand to run his fall race for US Senate.

I don’t think the outcome is in doubt.

State Representative Tim Goodwin is lamenting on his website that he has a number of questions about the third attempt at selling what used to be known as Star Academy:

So, now after 13 months since the repossession, it is going on the auction block. I have a few questions.

-Why wait 13 months to re-sell? I’m sure the School and Public Lands answer is that they needed another appraisal.

-Why does it take 13 months for an appraisal?

-What is the cost to us taxpayers for this appraisal, and the appraisal when it sold in January 2018?

-Is it true it costs the state $351,115 to maintain the facility while it sits empty? (I got that figure off of the School and Public Lands website.) This is all the more reason to have a sense of urgency and sell the property, right?

Read that here.

I guess I hadn’t realized that Rep. Goodwin went out and got his Real Estate Appraiser’s license, since he considers this a long and drawn out process. (Last time, the sale was going through too quickly.)

Never mind it’s only been about 10 months since the final deadline was exhausted for the prior owner. And since then we’ve been in the middle of the COVID mess, and there was the issue of the residential leases for families at STAR Academy until March 1. It probably took until now to get them out and to complete appraisals.

If you’re an investor who might sink the kind of money into a property of that size, due diligence requires full appraisals. Not guesstimates.

What critics don’t seem to understand, as Goodwin questioned above, yes – it does cost the state $351,115 to maintain the facility while it sits empty. It’s not a lake cabin that you put into cold storage over the winter. Even lake cabins deteriorate if not occupied and maintained.

Now imagine it 100 times or more larger in size and exposure to the elements. You might be getting close to the albatross that the state would like to be rid of. And should I mention, due to its construction and age, this albatross more than likely has pipes and other parts with asbestos.

If it was bare land, selling it would be a breeze. But, it’s not bare. And to knock it down and make it bare will require an investment of millions – and that’s a cost over and above the sales price. You can cover those asbestos insulated pipes when it’s being inhabited, but when you do demolition, you can’t just knock it down, you have to account for taking that mess out.

And who is ready to buy it? Sorry. I must have misplaced my $2 Million. Mr. Local Banker – would you loan me $2 Million?  Ok… You want to see a current appraisal? And on a commercial property, you need 20% down? 

Most people don’t exactly have that laying around.  And the very small universe of people who do have that kind of cash are also looking at other properties they can choose from that are likely more profitable, closer to population centers, etcetera.

This is definitely not an easy sale. Remember when I referred to it as an albatross?  It’s an albatross located in a county of about 8500 with relatively flat population growth.

The Office of School & Public Lands is doing yeoman’s work in dealing with this boomerang property which they keep getting back. If reducing the price slightly gets it sold, then it’s a justified reduction of value.  Otherwise we – as in you and me – are going to continue to be on the hook for it.

Honestly, as a taxpayer, I think the state might consider a fire sale or a creative donation of the land if they can find someone who would agree to put the money into it to develop the property, and either pay the tremendous amount of upkeep or knock the unusable buildings down and ameliorate any hazardous conditions.

At 350K annual costs to keep the place up, based on a 2 million dollar price tag, the state could pay itself back in a little over 5 ½ years for what it would otherwise costs that taxpayers for a property that will continue to go downhill if unoccupied.

By then, whoever takes it over might be able to turn it into a property that returns taxes to public rolls instead of being a sucking black hole of expenses that the state is challenged to sell.