Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Helping Small Businesses Weather This Storm
By Sen. John Thune 

The COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating consequences for small businesses. Small business layoffs soared by 1,000 percent in March, with roughly 2 million employees losing their jobs, and that number is rising. Some businesses have closed, while others have been forced to cut employee hours drastically to stay afloat.

To help small businesses weather this storm, Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program as part of the coronavirus response bill we passed at the end of March. And I’m pleased to report that the Senate led the way to make approximately $300 billion in additional funding available for the program.

The Paycheck Protection Program is simple. It provides low-interest loans to small businesses to help them retain workers during this difficult time. Seventy-five percent of the loans must be used for worker salaries and benefits, while the remaining amount can be used for other expenses such as mortgage interest, rent, and utilities. The portion of the loan spent on salaries and other qualifying expenses can be forgiven completely, again, as long as at least 75 of the loan is used to cover payroll obligations.

A majority of businesses will likely not have to pay back any of their loan. I like to remind business owners to document how they spend their loans to ensure they can maximize the forgiveness.

We’ve already seen tremendous use of this program. More than 1.6 million small businesses, including thousands throughout South Dakota, immediately took advantage of these loans — so many, in fact, that the $349 billion originally appropriated for the program ran out completely. Republicans quickly moved to appropriate additional money, but Democrats dragged their heels, forcing the program to go without funding for a week. But Democrats finally agreed to a deal, and the president signed legislation appropriating approximately $300 billion in additional funding. This has already enabled nearly 1 million additional small businesses to take advantage of the Paycheck Protection Program.

The application process for the loans is simple: Businesses just need to fill out a Paycheck Protection Program borrower form, which can be found at www.sba.gov, and submit it to a lender — likely the bank or credit union they already use. A list of Small Business Administration-approved lenders is also available at www.sba.gov. Approval for the loan usually takes just a few days, and businesses should see the funds within 10 days. For small businesses that don’t qualify for the Paycheck Protection Program, or who would prefer another option, there are multiple other relief measures available.

The same legislation that created the Paycheck Protection Program also created the Employee Retention Credit, a refundable tax credit that helps COVID-affected businesses keep employees on the books by reimbursing employers for part of the qualified wages they pay employees, up to $5,000 per employee. Congress also implemented an employment tax deferral, which allows employers to postpone payment of certain payroll taxes for the remainder of the year. Half of these deferred payroll taxes would be due in December 2021, and the other half would be due in December 2022.

Finally, small businesses can take advantage of the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program, which provides low-interest loans to small businesses that have suffered economic injury as the result of a disaster. The legislation the president signed included funding to replenish this program, which also recently ran out of funding as a result of the pandemic. Small business owners can search “Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program advance” at www.sba.gov for more information on how to apply.

If you have trouble locating information for any of the assistance programs I’ve outlined, please contact one of my offices for additional guidance or visit www.thune.senate.gov/COVID19.

The past few weeks have been a time of unprecedented difficulty for small businesses. Hopefully, the loans and tax relief Congress has made available will provide a lifeline during this challenging period. Small businesses are key to the American economy, creating a substantial number of the new jobs in this country. Before the coronavirus pandemic, small businesses around the country were thriving — and my Republican colleagues and I are committed to ensuring that they thrive once again. We will continue to look for ways to help small businesses weather the rest of the pandemic and get back to doing what they do best — growing and creating jobs.

**Note to editors: A similar version of this op-ed first appeared in the Washington Examiner on April 28, 2020.

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Keeping Food Supply Chain Running during COVID-19 Pandemic is Critical
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

Maintaining a steady, stable supply of food at the grocery stores is an important part of our nation’s supply chain that can be easy to take for granted. Because agriculture is South Dakota’s number one industry, we are more closely aware of some of the struggles in the food supply chain – particularly for our farmers and ranchers – that can occur. The past several years of low commodity prices, trade disputes and market disparity are prime examples. Despite this, most of us do not question there will be a steady supply of meat, produce and other food stocked on our grocery shelves at all times. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, creating new and unprecedented challenges for all sectors of our economy, including our food supply chain.

Because of COVID-19 outbreaks, many meat processing facilities have closed down. The Smithfield pork processing plant in Sioux Falls received national attention after a severe COVID-19 outbreak infected hundreds of employees and caused the plant to shut down. And there are examples just like this across the country. As of May 1, approximately 25 percent of our nation’s beef packing capacity and 40 percent of our nation’s pork packing capacity is idle, with a risk of getting worse. The supply of market-ready cattle, hogs and poultry on farms and ranches has been rapidly building to a breaking point. Producers are doing everything they can to manage the animals in their care during this emergency. They are changing feed rations to slow growth, they are moving animals to other lots and barns and they are slowing the breeding of new livestock, but the clock has run out. As livestock continues to grow, producers are facing a difficult decision of what to do with them if processing facilities are not operating, and unfortunately some of these animals will have to be euthanized.

Fortunately, some action has been taken to help keep the meat supply chain moving. Following a letter I sent to President Trump, the president invoked the Defense Production Act (DPA) to declare meat processing plants as critical infrastructure. Under the Executive Order, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is directed to make certain America’s meat and poultry processors continue operations uninterrupted to the maximum extent possible. This means that the industry will be able to reengage employees, working closely with the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to make sure these processing plants can be opened safely and efficiently. This should help our farmers and ranchers by eliminating a chokepoint in the food supply system.

I’ve also been working with administration officials to address the on-farm and on-ranch crisis for producers who are unable to process all of their livestock. On April 26, I wrote to Vice President Mike Pence, who is leading the administration’s COVID-19 response, urging him to implement an incident command structure to allow for safe and efficient euthanization of excess livestock.

Our agriculture sector is feeling the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic just like the rest of our economy. They need help, and we’ve got to continue to work closely with the entire food processing chain to make certain we can continue to put food on the table for American families. I’ll continue to work with the administration and stakeholders to protect the health of our food processing workers, and get idle plants up and running as quickly as possible. And I’ll continue working to develop a plan to help livestock producers address the crisis on their farms and ranches.

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Thank you to the Moms
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

Mother’s Day will look differently this year. Families will have their Sunday brunch at home and our kids won’t be bringing back handmade crafts orchestrated by their gracious teachers who have saved many a dad throughout the years. Friendly reminder dads – Mother’s Day is a few days out.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t highlight a special mother in my life, my wife Jacquelyn. Those of us with young children have had to take on the role of teacher as schools have been forced to close across the country because of COVID-19. The school’s doors may be closed, but the learning hasn’t stopped.

Jacquelyn is my hero. She’s balanced running a business while taking on the load of homeschooling our three young boys. I help too, of course, but I would be lying if I tried to take half the credit.

Parenting has always been a full-time job, but in the stay-home era of COVID-19, it’s a 24/7 deal. No play dates, no school hours, and no babysitters. I’m so grateful for South Dakota’s moms – they continue to step up to the plate, especially during times of crisis.

Our moms wear many hats – with many of these moms on the front lines of this pandemic. They’re doctors, nurses, bankers, farmers, reporters, grocery clerks – and governors. South Dakota’s moms are more than a three-letter word, they are our leaders.

As we look ahead to Mother’s Day, I want to say thank you. Thank you to the moms working full-time and teaching their kids at home, to the moms watching kids who aren’t their own, and to the frontline mothers putting their own safety at risk to help others. Our state couldn’t get through this without you.

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Getting Back to Normal
By Governor Kristi Noem 

I know everyone is eager to get back to their daily routines and dive back into what they love doing. But it’s important to remember that some people will never get to return to normal. I lost my Dad at a very young age. That experience greatly changed the path that I was on. Similarly, this COVID-19 pandemic has greatly changed the path so many South Dakotans were on as well.

We knew this virus would be deadly, no matter what we did. But that doesn’t change the fact that COVID-19 stole husbands, wives, sons, daughters, and friends from their families and loved ones. These people and their families will never be the same. My heart breaks for them, and Bryon and I will continue to lift them up in our prayers.

What has also been stolen from so many is perhaps our most precious commodity – time. For weeks, the most vulnerable, moms and dads, brothers and sisters, grandparents have been in isolation – separated from friends and loved ones.

Then there are students. Though the vast majority of schools and teachers have been doing well, we also know that there are kids who have totally lost contact with their teachers and schools.

My point is that in addition to the health costs, the social costs of this virus are historic in the worst way.

Since day one, I have pledged to let the science, the facts, and the data on the ground in South Dakota drive all my decision-making. I have been very clear that our people need to take their responsibility for health and safety seriously – that they should be practicing good public hygiene and social distancing.  The people of South Dakota have done a tremendous job.

Our initial projections on March 10 showed our hospitalization capacity at an unmanageable place. We took specific, targeted steps to alter our path. We pushed our peak off into the future. We cut it by more than 75%. And today, our hospital capacity greatly exceeds our needs.

In South Dakota, an unprecedented situation like this revealed publicly a principle we hold dear: It’s our people that make us great, not our government.

Our state motto is a beautiful one: “Under God, the people rule.” That is what our system of government is all about – the people of South Dakota are the source of the power and legitimacy of our government – not the media, not politicians and not political parties.  That’s a healthy perspective for any elected official to keep in mind.

If you’ve not read it yet, our “Back to Normal” plan doesn’t include new government programs, more red tape, proscriptive phases, tight controls, or anything of the like. That’s not South Dakota.

Rather, our plan continues to put the power of decision-making into the hands of the people – where it belongs. I trust South Dakotan’s to continue to exercise common sense, reasonableness, innovation and a commitment to themselves, their families, and – in turn – their communities.

We’re not out of the woods yet, but there’s a path to get Back to Normal, together. To read the full plan, visit COVID.sd.gov.

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I think I’ve seen this Aaron Aylward postcard before, including the same small caps font. And the awful logo.

Those star logos where you use the star as the main part of the logo and make the message you’re supposed to be advertising (the candidate) the smallest part?  Yeah. Don’t do that. It’s awful.

For the candidate’s sake, I hope that vector graphics package was on sale.

President Trump Announces He Will Join Us at Mt. Rushmore for Fireworks

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, President Donald J. Trump announced he plans to join Governor Kristi Noem on July 3rd for the fireworks at Mount Rushmore in honor of Independence Day.

“This year, after more than a year of diligent efforts, we’re finally bringing fireworks back to Mount Rushmore,” said Governor Noem. “There’s truly no better place to celebrate America’s birthday. We’re excited that President Trump is coming to enjoy the show with us. He and the Department of Interior have been great partners in bringing this celebration back to our great state and the entire nation.”

The Obama-administration National Park Service shut down the fireworks celebration following the 2009 Independence Day holiday. On December 13, 2018, then Governor-elect Noem first raised the idea of the fireworks celebration with President Trump at a meeting in the Cabinet Room. On May 7, 2019, Governor Noem, in partnership with the Department of Interior, announced an agreement to bring the fireworks back; President Trump tweeted his excitement about the fireworks that same day. The National Parks Service announced the official return of the fireworks in a news release on April 28^th. President Trump announced his planned visit today onThe Dan Bongino Show.

For more information on the Mount Rushmore fireworks display, visit TravelSouthDakota.com.

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Governor Noem Signs Executive Order to Give Updated Guidance for State Employees

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed an executive order to give updated guidance to state employees and agencies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive Order 2020-22 lays out how Governor Noem’s “Back to Normal” plan will apply to state government. The EO provides cabinet secretaries and bureau commissioners the authority to have all employees come back to the office. The EO still allows admin leave for employees who cannot come in and cannot work remotely. It also allows for approved out-of-state work-related travel. This executive order rescinds Executive Order 2020-09 and is effective through May 31, 2020.

To learn more about executive orders to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit COVID.sd.gov.

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The president is returning on July 3rd for the Independence Day Mount Rushmore celebration! From facebook:

From District 34 State House candidate Mike Derby comes a facebook post noting his endorsement from former Governor Dennis Daugaard:

Just had this sent to me from today’s mailboxes over on the western side of the state. In District 35, Republican candidate Kevin Quick is apparently out trying to make some headway in the race for State Senate:

Yeah…  I mean, I’m not sure what more to say about it, other than we’ve seen this design before. Not to mention the weird off-center photo pasting job on the back side.

But the part that caught my attention was the catch phrase at end of the message:

Did Kevin Quick really tell voters?   “I‘m quick to the fight, and I’ll fight for you.”

Well, I’d venture that he’s somewhat accurate. At least half-way correct, according to his criminal records from the South Dakota Unified Judicial System.:

Was that three felony counts of Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon, that he eventually pled down to misdemeanor simple assault, and found himself sentenced to a year in jail (61 days served)?

Kevin Quick might be able to claim he’s quick to the fight, but his track record indicates that it might not be fight for you as much as fight with you. That definitely is to date this years’ most regrettable campaign slogan.

One that Quick might find he’s..well, quick to regret.

And the campaign rolls on.