Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Flags Flown Half-Staff at the State Capitol to Honor Former Attorney General Mark Meierhenry

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem ordered that flags at the South Dakota State Capitol be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sundown on Wednesday, August 5, 2020, in honor of former Attorney General Mark Meierhenry.

Meierhenry was South Dakota’s 26^th Attorney General, serving from 1979-1987; he had previously served as deputy attorney general in the office of Attorney General William J. Janklow. Following his departure from public office, Meierhenry had a long and distinguished career in the private practice of law.

Meierhenry passed away on July 29, 2020. He is survived by his wife, retired Supreme Court Justice Judith Meierhenry.

WHAT: Gov. Noem orders that flags be flown at half-staff at the South Dakota State Capitol in honor of former Attorney General Mark Meierhenry.

WHEN: Wednesday, August 5, 2020, from sunrise until sundown.

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Governor Noem Announces Chris Young Coming to Sioux Falls for Inaugural Sportsmen’s Showcase and Concert

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced that award-winning country music superstar Chris Young will headline the concert at this year’s inaugural Governor Noem’s Sportsmen’s Showcase and Concert. The Showcase and Concert will be part of the annual Governor’s Hunt, a long-standing part of South Dakota’s pheasant hunting tradition.

“South Dakota is home to the best pheasant hunting in America,” said Governor Noem. “This year, we’re moving the annual Governor’s Hunt to Sioux Falls, and we’re adding the Sportsmen’s Showcase and Concert to make this event bigger and better than ever before. We’re excited to welcome Chris Young back to South Dakota to headline the concert. I hope folks from across the state can join us for the event and help us celebrate the things that make South Dakota such a special place.”

Tickets to the Chris Young concert will go on sale via Ticketmaster or at the KELOLAND box office at the Denny Sanford PREMIER Center on Friday, August 7, 2020 at 10:00 am CT. Sanford Health will be sponsoring the concert.

“This event is all about showcasing everything our great state has to offer to help drive continued economic growth,” said Paul Hanson, president and CEO of Sanford Health, Sioux Falls region. “We’re honored to play a role in supporting this longstanding South Dakota tradition.”

The Sportsmen’s Showcase will take place on Friday, October 23, 2020 from 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm and on Saturday, October 24, 2020 from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm. The Chris Young concert will take place on Saturday, October 24, 2020 at 8:00 pm CT.

Governor Noem’s Sportsmen’s Showcase is a family-friendly trade show specializing in all things outdoors, including hunting, fishing, recreation, and more. With room for nearly 100 exhibitors, the Sioux Falls Convention Center & Arena provides the perfect location for exhibitors and visitors alike.

Further information about Governor Noem’s Sportsmen’s Showcase can be found at www.southdakotashowcase.com.

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Governor Noem apparently lost one of her most valued advisors today, as Kennedy Noem spent her last day at the State Capital, announced this evening that she’s moving to Tennessee in a few weeks to pursue her MBA:

Congratulations to Kennedy!

I know it’s rude to stare at a car accident before it has been cleaned up. But when you see a weird one, you look, you shake your head and go “what on earth were they thinking?”  Which reminds me of District 7 Democrat House Candidate Louise Snodgrass’ campaign so far.

To date we’ve been treated to tiktok videos where Snodgrass advocates defunding the police and replacing them with social workers, advocates decriminalizing drugs, and says “South Dakota is backwards,” and “she hates living here,” etc.

How does Snodgrass move her campaign forward as we wind our way through the doldrums of the summer portion of the 2020 campaign season?  We get more bizarre videos on the chinese government connected tiktok platform:

My first suggestion for this Democrat candidate? First off, if a candidate is going to put out material attacking the Gov, do a little proofing.  For gosh’s sake, spell “governor” correctly.  Nevermind Snodgrass’ complaints about COVID relief funds going in part towards Law Enforcement, and Kristi Noem “refusing to enact strict covid restrictions/shut downs because of ‘personal freedoms.'”

Those darn personal freedoms!  What was the Governor thinking?  (Possibly the oath she took to uphold the US and State Constitution.)

Stay tuned. The campaign is barely started. I’m sure we’ll be treated to more cringe-worthy stuff.

Thune: Digital Consumers Deserve and Expect Adequate Online Control and Protection

“I believe the PACT Act strikes the right balance and I am committed to achieving a meaningful, bipartisan approach to Section 230 reform that can be enacted into law sooner rather than later.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune’s speech.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today led a hearing titled, “The PACT Act and Section 230: The Impact of the Law that Helped Create the Internet and an Examination of Proposed Reforms for Today’s Online World,” to examine online platforms’ content moderation practices and to discuss what legislative measures can be taken to ensure consumers are protected and empowered while on the internet. During the hearing, Thune questioned experts on transparency requirements that could be used to protect consumers online.

“The reality is that the platforms have a strong incentive to exercise control over the content each of us sees, because if they can present us with content that will keep us engaged on the platform, we will stay on the platform longer,” saidThune. “Moderation is an important function that platforms must provide in order to deliver a valuable experience to their users. Unfortunately, it’s hard for users to get good information about how content is moderated. The Internet has evolved significantly since Section 230 was enacted. Long gone are the days of the online bulletin boards. Today, internet platforms have sophisticated content moderation tools, algorithms, and recommendation engines to promote content and connect users, all optimized toward keeping every user engaged on the platform. The platforms have monetized these systems through targeted advertising and related businesses and have consequently become some of the largest companies in the world. Moreover, these platforms have become essential to our daily lives, as many Americans live, work, and communicate increasingly online.”

On June 24, 2020, Thune joined Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), ranking member of the subcommittee, in introducingthe Platform Accountability and Consumer Transparency (PACT) Act, bipartisan legislation to update Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. The PACT Act would strengthen transparency in the process online platforms use to moderate content and hold those companies accountable for content that violates their own policies or is illegal.

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce TRUST Act for Inclusion in COVID-19 Relief Legislation

Bipartisan, bicameral legislation would rescue endangered federal trust funds and rein in national debt 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and 13 other colleagues to introduce the Time to Rescue United States’ Trusts (TRUST) Act of 2020, bipartisan and bicameral legislation which would create a process to rescue the endangered federal trust funds and rein in the national debt. The TRUST Act of 2020 is an updated version of the TRUST Act, which Rounds cosponsored last year.

“I strongly support efforts to manage the 70 percent of the budget that we don’t currently vote on,” said Rounds. “This is the biggest driver of our debt. This legislation creates congressional committees specifically tasked to develop legislation to restore and strengthen endangered federal trust funds.  Without legislative action, the government’s trust funds—Highway, Medicare Hospital Insurance, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance—will be exhausted in the next thirteen years. It is irresponsible for Congress to continue ignoring this preventable crisis. If we establish a process now in which we can actually manage these trusts, we will be able to get a better handle on our debt. This effort prevents these vital programs from becoming insolvent and protects the citizens these programs are intended to benefit.”

In addition to Rounds and Romney, the TRUST Act of 2020 is cosponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Todd Young (R-Ind.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Doug Jones (D-Ala.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Angus King (I-Maine), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.), David Perdue (R-Ga.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Martha McSally (R-Ariz.) and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). U.S. Representatives Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.), Ed Case (D-Hawaii), William Timmons (R-S.C.), Ben McAdams (D-Utah) and Scott Peters (D-Calif.) previously introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Recently, 60 House members – evenly split between Republicans and Democrats – wrote a letter urging their leadership to include the TRUST Act in the next relief package.

HOW THE TRUST ACT OF 2020 WORKS:

• At the beginning of January 2021, the Treasury would have to deliver to Congress a report of the government’s major, endangered federal trust funds.
• Congressional leaders would appoint members to serve on “Rescue Committees”—one per trust fund—with the mandate to draft legislation that restores solvency and otherwise improves each trust fund program.
• Rescue Committees would make sure bipartisan consensus is reached by requiring at least two members of each party to report legislation.
• If a Rescue Committee reports a qualifying bill for its trust fund program, it would receive expedited consideration in both chambers.

A one pager of the legislation is available here and text of the legislation is available here.

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Universal Broadband Necessary for Rural Health by Dr. Bill Cohen

For 21 years, I have been the proud owner and Medical Director of the American Pain Relief Institute. I treat many people who live in rural areas at my practice, where I provide patients with pain management care as an anesthesiologist. Due to COVID-19 precautions, I have had limited interactions with patients and have become increasingly aware of the vital importance of a successful transition to telehealth practices.

I am a strong supporter of telehealth and the benefits it has to the medical community and the patients I serve. I would like to see changes implemented through greater connectivity and broadband services. In rural parts of southern South Dakota there is a great need for affordable, reliable broadband services. My patients would benefit tremendously from greater connectivity.

Dr. Nirav V. Kamdar and other anesthesiologists at UCLA have been exploring areas where telehealth may be implemented into their practice, such as by using smart screen tools that are able to triage patients through virtual preoperative visits to “optimize care in the OR.” The group has completed 250 preoperative evaluations where patients use a smart device to log in to their electronic medical records, where they are able to submit an evaluation that includes an examination of neck mobility and airways.

From there, anesthesiologists are able to photograph the patient’s airways and store them in their online medical record. Of these evaluations, 97 percent of patients reported that they were satisfied with the telehealth experience, and 87 percent preferred the online consultation to an in-person one. Dr. Kadmar states that not only is saving time a “huge correlation to the patient experience,” but that telehealth visits will “make a huge difference in people’s lives”.

I believe that this application of telemedicine in the practice of anesthesiology will be revolutionary for the medical field, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this practice is useless without a resilient broadband network. The lack of connectivity in rural parts of America is threatening the health of many of our citizens. By providing rural Americans with greater connectivity, we can improve health care and reduce costs for patients.

I have been a leading advocate for expanding rural broadband in South Dakota, of which I have supported U.S. Senator John Thune and his initiative to bring connectivity to rural areas like mine. Senator Thune has shown excellent leadership with his piece of legislation, the Rural Connectivity Advancement Program (RCAP) Act of 2020. This would set aside 10 percent of net proceeds from spectrum auctions conducted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) through September 30, 2022, to build out broadband networks in rural parts of America. These rural parts would also include tribal lands and high-cost areas.

By having stronger broadband connectivity, it would be much easier to meet patients’ needs and keep up with medical best. If patients are unable to receive immediate and virtual care, their health—and even their lives—could be at stake. We are at a time where telehealth is not just an interesting possibility, but an immediate necessity. And without broadband, it is impossible.  Broadband services must be implemented in rural parts of America to continue the practice of social distancing and remote care. The time to act is now.

Defending Those Who Defend America
By Sen. John Thune

The Senate recently completed consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – annual legislation to authorize funding for our military and national defense. Like the last two NDAAs, this year’s bill focuses on restoring military readiness and ensuring that our nation is prepared to meet threats posed by major powers like Russia and China.

A lot of people tend to take it for granted that we have the strongest military in the world. But the truth is, years of underfunding and budgetary uncertainty, combined with heavy operational demands, left our military under-equipped, under-manned, and under-prepared to meet the threats of the 21^st century.

In November 2018, the bipartisan National Defense Strategy Commission released a report warning that our readiness had eroded to the point where we might struggle to win a war against a major power like Russia or China. And the commission noted that we would be especially vulnerable if we were ever called on to fight a war on two fronts. Over the past two years, we’ve made real progress on restoring military readiness. But we still have more work to do.

This year’s NDAA continues our investment in ensuring that our military is prepared to meet current and future threats – in any domain. In particular, it focuses on implementing the National Defense Strategy by building on the work we’ve done to ensure our country is prepared to counter the threat posed by great powers. Most notably, the bill establishes the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, which will act as a check on Chinese aggression in the Pacific region. It will help ensure that American troops are better prepared to meet threats in that area of the world. And it will send a clear message to China that America is committed to the security of our allies in the Pacific and keeping global waterways open and free.

No matter what weapons or ships or technology we have, our greatest resource will always be the men and women of the United States military. And we have an obligation to them – and to their families – to ensure that they have all the resources they need to meet the threats we ask them to face. We also need to make sure that we are supporting a high quality of life for our military members and their families.

This year’s NDAA supports a 3 percent pay raise for our troops. It also builds on previous measures to improve military health care and housing. And it contains measures to support families in areas like child care and professional development for military spouses. Recognizing that our obligation to the men and women in uniform continues beyond their service, it also expands presumptive coverage for Agent Orange exposure.

The NDAA is one of the most important pieces of legislation we pass every year, a sentiment underscored by the fact that our adversaries have been making significant investments in their militaries – making their goals clear to not only challenge the United States and our allies, but intimidate their neighbors and expand their spheres of influence. Alarmingly, we have seen such aggressive activity include attempting to steal medical data and coronavirus vaccine research, threats that necessitate the expanded investment in cyber capabilities provided in the NDAA.

This NDAA likewise continues our military modernization efforts. I’m honored to represent Ellsworth Air Force Base in the U.S. Senate, and as we look forward with great anticipation to the future B-21 bomber mission, I am committed to helping the base prepare for their arrival. This will not only include investments in base infrastructure, but also working to optimize the Powder River Training Complex airspace to ensure adequate space for realistic combat training.

While the Senate has passed its bill, we have more work ahead of us, and I look forward to working with my colleagues of both parties to advance this NDAA and get our military men and women the resources they need to defend our nation.

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Making Sure the U.S. Military Remains the Best in the World
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

This year marks the 60th consecutive year that the U.S. Senate has passed a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act—or NDAA. The NDAA is one of the most important pieces of legislation we pass each year, as it authorizes funding for the Department of Defense. The bill we recently passed authorizes funding to support our armed forces and their families throughout fiscal year 2021. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and chairman of that committee’s Cybersecurity Subcommittee, I’ve been working with my colleagues on this legislation to make sure it provides the resources necessary to keep our troops safe, strengthen our national security and support military families. This is especially important as our adversaries, especially China, seek to gain strategic dominance over the United States as they grow their militaries in quality and quantity.

Of all our near-peer competitors, China is continuing to strengthen its powerful grip on its own people as well as expand its influence across the globe. This year, we’ve seen China perform an ethnic cleansing of Uighur Muslims, many of whom are being held against their will in concentration camps. While imposing this abuse of Uighur Muslims, the Chinese Communist Party, which governs China, has meanwhile issued a new law on Hong Kong that would strictly punish anyone who opposes the Chinese government, in effect the Chinese Communist Party. These profound violations of human rights are painted by the Party’s state-run news service in the best light possible while hiding and distorting the truth from its citizens.

On an international level, China has unlawfully claimed most of the South China Sea—a major shipping channel—as its own sovereign territory. This, despite the fact that many of our Southeast Asian allies have legitimate claims to islands and areas in the South China Sea. We’ve recently seen an escalation of aggressive actions by China’s maritime forces against U.S. ships in the South China Sea, which are there to maintain freedom of navigation and make sure free trade can continue within this critical artery for international commerce. This type of aggression is a prime example of why our armed forces need to remain the strongest in the world. We can fulfill that requirement by giving our armed forces all they need through the NDAA that we have passed every year for over half a century.

The fiscal year 2021 NDAA that we just passed was designed to support 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. As our near-peer competitors like China and Russia continue to advance their own weapon systems and strategies, we must make sure our armed forces have the tools and capabilities to deter aggression by these adversaries against the United States, our allies and partners. We never want our service men and women to go into a fair fight—U.S. troops must always have the advantage.

The B-21 Raider bombers coming to Ellsworth Air Force Base in the near future will be a critical part of maintaining that deterrent. The B-21s will play a crucial role in neutralizing China’s threat because the long-range strike bomber will put them at risk if they choose to act out.

International threats against U.S. interests will continue to grow, but we have the best military in the world. It isn’t just weapons systems that make our armed forces strong, though they are indispensable—it’s the men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform. At the end of the day, the NDAA is about making sure they have everything they need to do their job, keep us safe and protect freedom. I’m glad we were able to pass this important legislation and show that, in Congress, we can work together when we share a common interest.

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Politicians are People, Too
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

Politicians are people, too. Unfortunately, in today’s highly partisan environment that can be hard to remember. Cable news fosters the idea that officeholders, especially those in the other party, are worthy of our derision, rather than our respect or empathy.

Two incidents of the last week have reminded me of the fragility of the human experience. These tragedies have impacted human beings, human beings who happen to be involved in politics.

John Lewis was a colleague of mine in the U.S. House. He was a civil rights legend and, along with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the “Big Six” leaders who guided the peaceful civil rights movement of the 1960s. John and I often disagreed on policy, but I greatly respected his rejection of both violence and toxic political rhetoric.

Late last year John was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He battled for more than six months. During that time, his trips to the House floor grew less common, but when he was present he was beset by questions and well-wishes from colleagues on both sides of the aisle – men and women who had grown to care for John, regardless of their political differences.

Closer to home, Billie and Kelsea Sutton have been involved in their community and in statewide politics. They have an adorable son Liam. Earlier this month they welcomed daughter Lenore Antonia into the world. A week later, Lenore passed.

I got to know Billie in Pierre when we both served in state government. When I read the news about his daughter, my heart ached. It still aches. I can’t imagine the pain he and Kelsea must be feeling.

The scope of their tragedy isn’t changed because of how Billie might have voted on a bill five years ago. Their mourning is real regardless of what bumper stickers they have on their cars.

Modern politics has plenty of hate and anger. This week I’m trying to remember that John Lewis’s family and Billie, Kelsea and Liam Sutton are real people, worthy of our condolences and empathy.

Politicians are people, too.