From Twitter:
I have heard for years how difficult it is to become an appraiser in South Dakota, making it harder for South Dakotans to purchase a home. I have been working for years to fix that process, and I signed legislation to that effect this past session. (2/2)
— Governor Kristi Noem (@govkristinoem) September 29, 2021
I’m hearing word from multiple sources that former House Majority Leader Lee Qualm was transported to the hospital in Sioux Falls last night quite ill.
Please keep Lee and the Qualm family in your prayers.
Thune Discusses Need For Big Tech Algorithm Transparency and Platform Accountability
“Billions of people are being fed content on internet platforms that is basically selected for them by opaque algorithms designed to keep consumers engaged on the platform.”
Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, questioned witnesses about the need for more algorithm transparency during a Commerce Committee hearing, titled “Protecting Consumer Privacy.” Thune highlighted the algorithmic practices used by big tech companies to analyze consumer data. Earlier this year, Thunereintroduced the bipartisan Filter Bubble Transparency Act that would require large-scale internet platforms that collect data from more than 1 million users and gross more than $50 million per year to provide greater transparency for consumers and allow users to view content that has not been curated by a secret algorithm.
Thune: Biden Ignored Top Military Commanders and Endangered Americans, Created Catastrophic Withdrawal From Afghanistan
“President Biden made an ill-considered and disastrous decision when he chose to withdraw our troops on an arbitrary timetable.”
Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke on the Senate floor in response to yesterday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on President Biden’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. Thune discussed the revelation that President Biden’s decision to remove troops from Afghanistan on an arbitrary deadline went directly against the advice he received from his top military commanders, and he highlighted the urgent need for members of the administration to be held accountable.
Rounds, Colleagues Introduce the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight and Accountability Act
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Jim Risch and others introduced the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight and Accountability Act, legislation to address the outstanding issues related to the administration’s rushed and disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan.
“The refusal to listen to commanders on the ground, failure to provide sufficient resources to execute visa processing requirements and groupthink among senior Biden administration advisors caused the withdrawal from Afghanistan to be chaotic and deadly. Congress has an opportunity to act and address the many consequences of the president’s botched withdrawal. Our legislation prioritizes the safe evacuation of Americans and Afghan partners still stranded in Afghanistan while holding the Taliban accountable for their terrorist acts and human rights abuses. I will work with my colleagues to keep Americans safe and terrorism at bay,” said Rounds.
“I’ve asked the administration for a plan and while they say they have one, they have not revealed any details of a plan. My office is still working with Special Immigrant Visa applicants who supported America’s effort in Afghanistan. Now families, including children, of these Afghans are in danger of execution. We have a responsibility to get them out. Congress has an obligation to engage in oversight of these activities. I hope the administration would work with us in passing this essential legislation in an expedient, bipartisan manner,” added Rounds.
In addition to Rounds, other cosponsors of this bill include Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Todd Young (R-Ind.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.).
This legislation:
Text of the legislation can be found here.
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Keloland News follows last night’s story from KOTA-TV/Dakota News Now with their own story that a settlement has been reached between parties representing Jason Ravnsborg and the wife of Joe Boever:
Said Tysdal, “In response to your inquiry, I am confirming that the case has been settled and the terms of the settlement are confidential. The parties will not have further comment and Mrs. Boever requests that her privacy be respected going forward.”
Johnson, Phillips: Get It Done Act Forces Lawmakers to Avoid Shutdowns and Address Spending
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Dean Phillips (D-MN-03) introduced the GET IT DONE Act, a bipartisan bill to implement sequestration to avoid a government shutdown should Congress fail to pass a complete appropriations bill.
“When political leaders can’t reach an agreement, we need a system that holds them accountable rather than punishing millions of everyday Americans,” said Johnson.
“Government shutdowns are the worst negotiation tactic in our political system. The human toll is irresponsible and inexcusable,” Phillips said. “The only people who should suffer financial hardship when elected leaders can’t govern are the elected leaders themselves. I am proud to join Rep. Dusty Johnson, my fellow member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, to lead this endeavor.”
Both Johnson and Phillips were sworn into office during the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. During the 2019 government shutdown, a reported 4,400 federal employees in South Dakota did not receive a paycheck, while Members of Congress continued to get paid. The government has shut down on three separate occasions for a total of 54 days in the past eight years.
If by the first day of a fiscal year a regular appropriations bill has not been enacted, the bill would:
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Noem Administration Submits Permit Application for 2022 Mount Rushmore Fireworks
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, on behalf of Governor Kristi Noem, the South Dakota Department of Tourism submitted its application for a special use permit for the 2022 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration. The application was submitted to the National Parks Service (NPS).
“There truly is no better place to celebrate America’s birthday than Mount Rushmore, our nation’s enduring Shrine to Democracy,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Despite their arbitrary decision to cancel the 2021 Fireworks Celebration, the Biden Administration has an opportunity to work with us to celebrate next year and for the years to come.”
Under Governor Noem’s leadership, the Fireworks Celebration was returned to Mount Rushmore in 2020 after being canceled for more than a decade. Unfortunately, NPS rejected the permit application for the 2021 celebration, and Governor Noem is currently in litigation with NPS over that rejection. The name of that lawsuit is Noem v. Haaland.
The Fireworks Celebration would occur in conjunction with the Memorandum of Agreement signed on May 6, 2019, between the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Governor Noem.
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Breaking from KOTA-TV comes reports of the resolution of the civil portion of last September’s tragic accident by Highmore:
South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg has reached a settlement agreement with Jenny Boever, the widow of Joe Boever, just over a year after Ravnsborg struck and killed Joe Boever outside of Highmore.
From Sanford Health: