Author: @SoDakCampaigns

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.

South Dakota’s Future Remains Bright
By Governor Kristi Noem 

Since my time in Congress, I’ve had a good relationship with President Trump and his administration. We worked on tax reform together, he helped bring back fireworks to Mount Rushmore earlier this month, and he and his team have been instrumental in helping us secure the supplies we have needed to battle COVID-19.

In many ways, it’s fair to say that South Dakota has developed a unique relationship with the Trump administration. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to continue to develop our common bond with a visit to Washington D.C. On Wednesday, I sat down with Vice President Pence, Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar, as well as senior officials at the Department of Treasury and the Department of Justice.

Our conversations included the shared lessons that we have learned from our unique approaches to the virus, what the outlook is for further development of treatment as well as a potential vaccine in the coming months, how best we can tackle the rebuilding that will need to take place as we look overcome the challenges that COVID has left in its wake, among many other things.

This last point about rebuilding is one that we are all especially zeroed in on at this point. Even before COVID hit, I got up every day looking for ways to improve our state so it can be stronger today and for the next generation. And now in the wake of this global pandemic, whether it’s education or business growth and development or finding more ways to protect our most vulnerable, the challenges in front of us are real, and yet also very feasible. The reason I continue to be very optimistic about our future is because of our people – the finest in the nation.

Though there is still some unknown about where this year will take us, I firmly believe that our state is in the best position of any in the country. We will continue to provide all the information we have about our situation as quickly as possible to you all.  Then, we will continue to trust the people of this great state to take that information and make the best decisions for themselves, their families, and – in turn – their communities. Though we’re not out of the woods yet, I wholeheartedly believe our future is very bright.

As always, for all the latest information about COVID-19 in South Dakota, please visit COVID.SD.Gov.

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According to the Secretary of State’s office, Minnehaha County Treasurer Pam Nelson is definitely not going to be a candidate in the fall, and has withdrawn her candidacy, leaving Republican GOP MInnehaha County Chair Kris Swanson as the lone candidate in the race.

But not so fast – Nelson could be replaced on the ballot, according to the following timelines on withdrawals and replacements under South Dakota law:

• The deadline to withdraw from the 2020 November 3rd General Election is August 4, 2020 at 5:00 pm local time
  • There is no registered mail option for the withdrawal form to be received by the filing office after the deadline
  • The office where the petition was filed must receive the candidate withdrawal form before the county central committee(s) meet(s) to appoint someone to fill the vacant candidate spot.
• The deadline for the party central committee(s) to fill vacancies is August 11, 2020 at 5:00 pm local time.

And it’s not just Nelson who is off the ballot and will possibly be replaced – as we approach the deadline we’ll see more and more Democrats who took petitions out to hold a seat be replaced by someone else on the ballot, or concede the election entirely.

In District 17 State Senate, Democrat Ailee Johns took the place of Codylee Riedmann who had filed to be a placeholder in that contest. (Disclosure, yes, that’s my son-in-law, and the fall election might have been awkward).

Democrat District 18 State Senate placeholder Jay WIlliams had already withdrawn and been replaced by Jordan Foos in that contest.  Williams’ wife and fellow Democrat Carol Williams withdrew in the House contest in that same district, but has not been replaced just yet.

There are rumors of other placeholders, but they’re facing that hard deadline in 8 days to get their withdrawal form into the Secretary of State’s office, or else they’ll be on the hook all the way into the fall.

 

Lots of rumors swirling in Sioux Falls. Just got this note:

I’m told by a reliable source that Pam Nelson has filed the paperwork to remove her name as a candidate for Minnehaha County Treasurer.  This happened last night and this morning.

Stay tuned for more on this.

Update:

Also hearing County commission looking into possible appointments to fill term.. Word is that if it happens, City Councilor Pat Start is being mentioned as a dem candidate replacement on ballot.

Well, that’s the pits.

I was ready to go to Florida to be a delegate for South Dakota to the Republican National Convention… and now that’s not going to happen.

Disappointing, but in the age of coronavirus it looks like we all have to make due with virtual meetings.

Politicians are out there sharing their views today. From Congressman Dusty Johnson comes a point that people need to feel free to discuss their views more openly:

Apparently, Libertarian PUC Candidate Devin Saxon has no issue being open with his views, as he indicates that burning down federal buildings in Portland is “a step in the right direction:”

And somehow, I get the feeling in the follow up comment from Libertarian Chair Gideon Oakes, that he wishes that his PUC Candidate would not discuss his views:

From Facebook:

Thune: Next Coronavirus Relief Funding Package Prioritizes Kids, Jobs, and Health Care

“I hope my other Democrat colleagues here in the Senate are ready to look beyond partisan liberal wish lists and focus on negotiating a relief package that addresses the real priorities we’re facing – helping kids and parents, getting Americans back to work, and providing the health care resources needed to fight this virus.”

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed the next coronavirus relief funding bill that Republicans plan to introduce in the near future, which will prioritize kids, jobs, and health care. Thune emphasized the importance of targeting this relief effort and prioritizing the most prevalent needs, since every dollar of additional spending will be borrowedand need to be paid back by future generations.