Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Thune Statement on Passing of Former South Dakota Gov. Walter Dale Miller

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the passing of former South Dakota Gov. Walter Dale Miller:

“Kimberley’s and my thoughts and prayers are with former Gov. Miller’s family and friends. Gov. Miller served during a difficult time in our state’s history, but thanks to his service, South Dakota is a better place. I consider it an honor and a privilege to have called him my friend during his long tenure of service to our state.”

Miller was the 29^th governor of South Dakota. He served from 1993-1995.

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Rounds Statement on Passing of Former Governor Walter Dale Miller

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on the passing of former Governor Walter Dale Miller:

“Jean and I send our deepest sympathies to Pat and the Miller family as they deal with this tragic loss,” said Rounds. “Walt was a longtime friend and mentor who led our state through a difficult time. His love of South Dakota and legacy of public service is one we can all admire. Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with the Millers.”

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From Marty Jackley:

More than Our Governor

PIERRE, S.D – On April 19, 1993, Walter Dale Miller became South Dakota’s 29th Governor. His service as Lieutenant Governor (1987-1993) along with his experience in the State House of Representatives (1967-1986), which included positions of Majority Leader and Speaker had prepared him to lead our State in our time of need. South Dakotans knew they had a strong and passionate leader beyond his elected positions. His years as a Meade County Rancher and loss of his first wife Mary Randall had taught him to overcome life’s challenges. He had raised four wonderful children, Randy Miller, Renee Johansen, Karey Albers, and Nancy Burma. His marriage to Pat Caldwell gained South Dakota a first Lady that made us all proud, and completed his family by including his two step children Cade Caldwell and Rebecca Bauer.

Governor Miller guided us through the tragic state airplane crash, the flood of 1993, and times of prosperity in which he improved our State’s education and the Rural Development Telecommunications Network. In South Dakota there is hardly a day that passes where we do not benefit from the laws he forged during his lengthy service in the legislature and as Governor. “I have lost more than my Governor and home town legislator, as have so many South Dakotans I have lost a true friend,” stated Attorney General Jackley.

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Former Gov. Miller Passes Away; Gov. Daugaard Requests Flags At Half-Staff

PIERRE, S.D. – Walter Dale Miller, the 29th Governor of South Dakota, passed away last night. Miller, 89, served as governor from 1993 to 1995.

“Gov. Miller was a friend and I will miss him,” said Gov. Daugaard. “Walter Dale Miller assumed the governorship at a time of tragedy and sorrow. He provided a steady hand as our state mourned the loss of Gov. Mickelson. Through his long career in public office, Walt worked hard and put South Dakota first. Linda and I express our deepest sympathies to Pat and the entire Miller family.”

Miller was born Oct. 5, 1925, near Viewfield, South Dakota, and spent his life on his family’s ranch. He served for 20 years in the South Dakota House of Representatives, and is the only person in state history to serve as speaker of the house, speaker pro tempore, majority leader, assistant majority leader and majority whip.

Miller was elected lieutenant governor in 1986 and was South Dakota’s first full-time lieutenant governor. He succeeded to the governorship in 1993 after the tragic loss of Gov. George S. Mickelson and seven others in a plane crash. As governor, Miller ended a riot at the state penitentiary without loss of life, responded to historic flooding on the Missouri River and its tributaries, and imposed emergency budget cuts after a court ruling shut down video lottery in the state. He left office in 1995.

Gov. Daugaard requests that all flags in South Dakota fly at half-staff, effective immediately, and continuing until Gov. Miller’s interment.

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There’s an ode to the Buffalo (or American Bison if you will) in today’s Rapid City Journal:

How do we officially recognize an insect (honey bee), a dessert (kuchen), a fossil (triceratops) and a soil (houdek) but not throw some legislative love to the bison? South Dakota is routinely rated as the No. 1 bison state in the nation with more than 30,000 head roaming our vast ranges. The animal’s popularity was evident again on Friday when more than 20,000 people from across the nation and state traveled to Custer State Park to witness the 50th annual buffalo roundup, one of our Wild West traditions.

Read it here.

It caught my attention, as during yesterday’s 100 Eyes  – the Argus Leader’s political vodcast – newer Argus political reporter Dana Ferguson brought up a humorous point after attending the Democrat’s declared “first annual Buffalo Round-up dinner.”   This dinner was held in Rapid City (not in any proximity to the Buffalo Round-Up in Custer State Park).

Ferguson note that the dinner didn’t actually serve Buffalo as any part of the meal. Nope.

So, not near the round-up. Not serving buffalo. But, to their credit, they did project a picture of one on the screen. Because pretending makes it “all buffalo-y.”

At the same dinner, they talked about running people in the next election against John Thune. They might have talked about it, but didn’t actually have anyone. Just like the buffalo round-up theme, they pretended they could.   So, in their minds pretending their dinner had something to do with buffalos was just like pretending that they can come up with a viable candidate against Thune.

It was just a matter of imagination. Of pretending.

And now we can watch them continue pretending that Democrats are still are a viable political organization in South Dakota.

From the Argus, it looks like all the Democrats left on that side of the state got together to kvetch about Republicans trouncing them badly. Because it has absolutely nothing to do with not running candidates for office. Nope. Nothing at all:

Dozens of South Dakota Democrats gathered in the dining room of a historic hotel Saturday night to rally and air grievances against the majority party.

and…

Both Lowe and party chairwoman Ann Tornberg called on the attendees to challenge Republicans and to rally behind Democrats in 2016 and 2018 elections.

and…

But with just more than 13 months until the 2016 election, the Democrats still haven’t found a candidate to challenge Thune. And none was immediately recommended Saturday.

State Rep. Paula Hawks, D-Hartford, has announced she’ll challenge U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem, R-South Dakota, for her House seat in 2016.

And the Democrats recognized that state voter registration numbers don’t fall in their favor. According to the most recent numbers published by the South Dakota secretary of state’s office, registered Republican voters far outnumber Democrats.

Read it all here.

Dems are down to eight months from the primary election, and a year out from the general election. And they still lack decent candidates for the top of the ticket. (But, by gosh, they’re circulating petitions.)

They say you shall reap what you sow. And for Democrats, they’re going to reap people who can become professional petition circulators, but no one who can run for office.

Pope Francis’ Inspiring Message
September 24, 2015
By Senator Mike Rounds

Washington, D.C., recently hosted Pope Francis during his first visit to the United States. Not just Catholics, but citizens across the country have been preparing for his much-anticipated trip to our capital city. Tens of thousands flocked to the city to attend a special Mass, catch a glimpse of the pope-mobile or watch the pope’s address to Congress on the West Lawn of the Capitol. As lifelong members of the Catholic Church, it has been a truly special experience for Jean and me to participate in the week’s events. The pope’s message of optimism and compassion is one we can all relate to.

On Wednesday, we were invited to attend a special White House ceremony welcoming the pope. Later in the day, we attended a canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Northeast Washington, D.C. On Thursday, we watched from the House of Representatives chamber as Pope Francis gave an impassioned, spiritual message to a Joint Session of Congress.

The pope’s message to us was one of hope and encouragement. It was not partisan or political. He reminded us that as members of Congress, our responsibility is to help our nation thrive and grow.  As Congress continues to tackle pressing and important issues, I was energized by Pope Francis’ call for a “renewal of that spirit of cooperation, which has accomplished so much good throughout the history of the United States.”  Despite the partisan politics that often makes headlines, our similarities are far greater than our differences. His message challenges all of us to reflect on how we can better serve one another.

The pope also reminded us of our responsibility to pursue the common good and to protect the most vulnerable among us—the very young, the very old, the sick and the poor.

Pope Francis has an ability to inspire and connect with people regardless of their politics or their faith. Many who came to Capitol Hill to watch his address on big-screen TVs were not Catholic, and some were not religious at all. But they all wanted to catch a glimpse of His Holiness. They wanted to hear his message of hope, optimism, compassion and love that resonates with all of us. I thank him for his encouraging words throughout his visit and for continuing to lead and inspire people throughout the globe. As the pope said to tens of thousands of onlookers who greeted him on the West Lawn of the Capitol, “God Bless America.”

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Rapid Recovery
By Rep. Kristi Noem
September 25, 2015

It took five years to build the Hoover Dam; four years to erect the Golden Gate Bridge; 13 months to construct the Empire State Building; but in some cases, more than a decade to get a building permit approved by the federal government.  This is outrageous.

According to a 2010 study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, 351 energy projects were stalled nationwide that would have had a total economic value of $1 trillion and represented 1.9 million American jobs.  Even in South Dakota, the impacts are being felt.  The same study found that delays pushed $500 million of economic output and 2,600 jobs down the road in South Dakota specifically.

It’s no secret that the Keystone XL Pipeline was one of the projects the federal government has been working hard to delay.  This pipeline has been on the list for a number of years.  In fact, while the builders first submitted permit applications in September 2008, it took until 2014 for the U.S. State Department to issue its final Environmental Impact Statement, which is just one step in the federal permitting process.

This is a system that is broken – and it’s costing families and local communities jobs, economic opportunities, and money.  On September 25, I helped move forward H.R.348 – also known as the RAPID Act.  This bipartisan legislation streamlines the environmental permitting and approval process to be sure builders, developers, and others get an answer from federal bureaucrats in a timely and efficient manner.

We do this by improving coordination between federal agencies, allowing for simultaneous reviews, avoiding duplication of state and federal efforts, and putting the federal government on a timeline that better serves the people.  Moreover, to help eliminate frivolous lawsuits, we reduce the statute of limitations to challenge a final Environmental Impact Statement or Environmental Assessment from six years to six months.

It’s unacceptable that federal agencies manipulate the system to slow down critical energy projects that could bring cost savings – and in some cases, greater security – to the American people.  The RAPID Act would help to remedy that.

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Environmental Regs: Finding Some Consolation In State Government
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

In recent years, the EPA has proposed a number of new rules having potential to affect our daily lives. I know South Dakotans are concerned about some of these pending proposals and I share their concerns.

One prominent proposal imposes new regulations on coal-fired power plants, and will require states to rework their power grids. Another rule broadens a key definition describing bodies of water, to give the federal government authority to regulate small bodies of water on private land. A third rule would create a new standard for ozone.  Depending upon the new standard chosen, it may be difficult for any state to comply.

At this point, it is unclear to what extent these regulations will really help the environment. But here is what is clear: if these new rules are implemented, South Dakotans will be left with higher costs.

So what can be done? South Dakota’s delegation in Washington, D.C., has been working to roll back some of these proposed regulations through congressional efforts. At the state level, Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined with other states to challenge some of these proposals. We’re also doing what we can in state government to keep our own environmental regulations appropriate and reasonable.

The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is responsible for implementing and enforcing EPA regulations at the state level. The agency regulates things like air quality, drinking water and waste management. It also protects surface and ground waters of the state. It is this agency’s job to issue water permits without depleting water resources. The agency also regulates mining activities, petroleum storage tanks and your community’s water and wastewater infrastructure.

Though DENR must assume the burden of implementing EPA regulations in our state, it strives to use whatever flexibility is available to make the federal regulations fit South Dakota. One example is the department’s Feedlot Permit Program, which regulates concentrated animal feeding operations in a manner to protect the surface and ground waters in South Dakota. DENR is upholding its mission to protect public health and the environment without placing unnecessary hurdles in front of South Dakotans and those who want to do business here.

DENR has also excelled in open government efforts. Secretary Steve Pirner’s initiatives have provided more information online than ever before. For example, DENR’s One-Stop Public Notice webpage publishes all of the department’s active public notices.  Their One-Stop Interactive GIS Maps allow the public to locate and access information about dry draw location notices, spill site files, storage tank files, oil and gas well files, recycling businesses and more. DENR’s One-Stop Permitting Guide leads industries through each environmental permitting process administered by South Dakota. The department also recently launched a new website. Check it out at denr.sd.gov.

I know South Dakotans are frustrated with government’s increasing tendency to become involved with small details of our daily lives. I know business owners are trying to create jobs, farmers and ranchers are trying to stay in operation, and families are trying to make ends meet. I know it’s hard to achieve these things when a government proposes rules without regard for the cost of those rules and the burden of ever-expanding red tape.

Still, I hope South Dakotans here will find some consolation in their state government. Our state agencies are doing what we can to fight burdensome federal regulations and make our own rules as reasonable as possible.

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