Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Navigating the Federal Government

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noem press header kristi noem headshot May 21 2014Navigating the Federal Government
By Rep. Kristi Noem|
August 14, 2015

Every day, South Dakotans need to interact directly with dozens of federal agencies.  Maybe you receive health care through the Veterans Administration or Medicare.  Perhaps your family is looking to grow through an international adoption, which requires coordination with the U.S. State Department. Maybe you receive benefits from the Social Security Administration or operate your family business with a loan from the Small Business Administration or have a CRP contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At some point or another, most of us will have to deal with a government agency.  While we hope it goes smoothly and that they serve you with the respect you deserve, we know it unfortunately doesn’t always turn out that way.

The federal government can be a very difficult, complicated, and confusing organization to navigate.  But that’s where my office can help.  We call it “casework” and I believe it’s one of the most important functions of a congressional office.

Many times, we can help you with a single phone call.  Perhaps you’re simply not sure which agency or division you should contact.  We can help you figure that out quickly. We can also help you find exactly who to talk to within an agency to save you time and frustration.

Sometimes, the cases can be more complicated than that, however, and we are here to help you in those scenarios as well.  If you can’t get an answer from a federal agency or if you feel you’ve been treated unfairly, we can make a formal inquiry or request information on your behalf.  While we cannot guarantee a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help ensure you receive a fair and timely response.  This is our way of ensuring the federal government remembers who it is accountable to – and that’s you.

Last year alone, we helped more than 500 constituents navigate federal agencies through our casework.  Please know our door is always open to help.  If you need immediate assistance, please visit my website at noem.house.gov or call my office at 605-878-2868.

I’m incredibly grateful to be able to serve you in this way, so please don’t hesitate to contact my office if you need help.

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Governor Dennis Daugaard’s Weekly Column: The Value Of Dual Credit Courses

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daugaardheader DaugaardThe Value Of Dual Credit Courses
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

Like other young South Dakotans, Kelcie Hauf of Dell Rapids is getting ready to head back to school. As a high school senior, Kelcie is trying to decide which field to study when she graduates. Rather than wait until she gets to college to explore career options, Kelcie is participating in the dual credit program. Because she is considering a career in counseling, Kelcie took a dual credit introductory speech course last spring. This fall she will be utilizing the dual credit program to take Psychology 101 to explore that career path further.

Dual credit courses allow students like Kelcie to simultaneously earn high school and college credit. At only $40 per credit hour, these courses provide students and their families significant cost savings. These are the cheapest university or technical school credits a student will ever take, and they can save hundreds of dollars by taking just one course. Last year, South Dakota students saved more than $2.5 million by using this program – averaging more than $1000 per student in savings.

At a time when the cost of college is a great concern, dual credit courses are a great way to save money. They also save time, making it more likely that students will graduate on time. Every dual credit course taken in high school is a course that need not be taken in college.

In its first year, this program has been a tremendous success. Last year, 1,946 public, private, Bureau of Indian Education, tribal and homeschool students participated, with a pass rate of 92.76 percent. Thirty-nine districts had at least one quarter of their juniors and seniors complete courses.

Many students take dual credit courses online, which provides greater flexibility in scheduling.  These courses also make dual credit available to students who are not near a university or technical institute.

Just as Kelcie is doing, students can explore their interests with dual credit.  A student who might want to study robotics or medical lab technology after high school could take an introductory course from one of the state’s technical institutes to try out the program before making a final decision. If the student then decides to pursue that career, he or she has a jump start on a degree. Or perhaps a student wants to take a college algebra course not available at the local district. He or she could take that course from a state university.

With dual credit, students take college-level courses while still having the support of their local high school educators who can help them develop the skills they will need, like stronger time management and study skills. In fact, data shows that students who take dual credit do better when they go on to college or a technical institute – even after adjusting for grade point average, ACT scores and other performance indicators.

Today, more than ever before, it’s important for young people to continue their education beyond high school. The escalating number of people earning degrees and the increasingly competitive global economy require today’s workforce to have greater skill sets and more education. Dual credit can help prepare our students for that next step.

Visit sdmylife.com to learn more.

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Lora Hubbel removed from precinct office, so Jim Bradford must be a convicted felon. ….Wait, what? (UPDATED)

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I don’t go looking for this stuff, but like many of us, for me sometimes crazy just pops up in my facebook feed.

Today’s cognitive dissonance has us swinging wildly from complaints from Lora Hubbel’s (very proper) removal from precinct office when she decided to run as a candidate on a ticket against the Republican candidates for Governor & Lt. Governor…. and somehow morphs that into Republican approval of Democrat legislator Jim Bradford… with the article alleging Bradford has multiple felony convictions on his record, including armed robbery

Here’s the facebook post by Lora Hubbel who couldn’t wait to give creedence to the wild accusation, followed by the linked article:

the-lora-arm-of-the-law

Why is Donald Trump America’s Hero? In South Dakota his numbers are running high, especially among women who have found it nearly impossible to get some footing in the state when it comes to political leadership unless of course you follow the current leadership’s directives. Last year, Lora Hubbel ran for Precinct Captain in Minnehaha County and won by more than 73% of the vote – votes by the GOP electorate in the county. Three months later, the state GOP leadership under the direction of Craig Lawrence, the state GOP Chair, changed the bylaws and made them retroactive, stating no member may hold a GOP office if they ran under another party.

and..

Patty Shiery ran for State Senate for the Pine Ridge, SD seat. Shiery is part Native American and Pine Ridge houses the second largest Native American population, a population who is dying. The infant mortality rate is as much as 300% higher than the national average and unemployment is 80% during parts of the year. OF AMERICA’S TOP 11 POOREST COUNTIES, 6 ARE LOCATED IN SOUTH DAKOTA – MORE THAN HALF! The seat Shiery hoped to occupy for her people was tightly coveted by State Representative James Bradford. He challenged Shiery’s petitions and the Secretary of State upheld the challenge without telling Shiery what was upheld and why she was denied a place on the ballot.

and…

When I went to pull up Shirlee Bradford’s case file, James Bradford had an entry as well:

Who is South Dakota Senator James Bradford?

Who the hell is Ralph Woody? Same person? You tell me because Ralph Woody has been in and out of federal prisons nearly his whole life:

Missouri State Pen #48087 P.G. to stealing in Stoddard & Cape Girardeau Counties, served 09/12/1983 to 06/09/1987
Missouri State Pen #15365 P.G. to receiving stolen property in Pemiscot, served 05/17/1968 to 04/27/1971
Missouri State Pen #09916 T.C. assault with intent to maim in Scott, served 03/13/1965 to
11/09/1967
Missouri State Pen #73239 = P.G. to armed robbery & jail break in Madison, served 01/03/1958 to 12/10/1960
Also #8410-1509 USM Sioux Falls, SD
#19965-175 USP Leavenworth, KS
#90065-132 USP Leavenworth, KS

Who is South Dakota Senator James Bradford?

Same guy? Is this the man who taught school to children? The man the state opened a case for in 2003 when he was teaching and when he was a State Rep of South Dakota at the time and said nothing?

I don’t know what agency has to come and arrest the entire administration of South Dakota, but they better get there soon! Where’s Donald Trump!

Read all of this craziness here.

This seems to be the only article originating from “MediaAgnostic,” and I suspect it’s for good reason.  I find it difficult to believe someone exhibiting this kind of disjointed train of thought has the mental capacity to lift a hand and flop it around a keyboard accurately enough to form words. Because they aren’t forming anything coherent.

I really doubt Jim Bradford would have been in a penitentiary in Missouri from 1983-1987, and the state would have not noticed it in issuing a teacher’s certificate. Nevermind the fact he obtained a degree from Sinte Gleski in 1987.

And the accusation has nothing to do with Lora Hubbel at all. Aside from it being utterly off the wall.

I’m not sure who the author “MediaAgnostic” is, but obviously they have a beef with Bradford to accuse him of being a multiple felon.

And whatever they’re smoking? They had better stop RIGHT NOW. They can’t afford to lose anymore brain cells.

**Update**

I notice I hit a couple of nerves with this story.

First, under the comment section for the post, it appears that former State Representative Patty Shiery pattyshiery(or someone claiming her e-mail address) is trying to push the claim that Representative Jim Bradford is actually a convicted felon who committed armed robbery, etc.

Hint to those trying to do ridiculous BS under my comment section which could prove libelous…. Yes, I’m going to look up your e-mail that you provided, so you can take responsibility for it.

Which just happens to be the e-mail used by Patty Shiery elsewhere on the internet.

Coincidentally, about the same time I pointed this out, the author of the original article posted a screed against me, and doubled down on Representative Jim Bradford, claiming that he is a convicted felon by the name of Ralph Woody, who killed a jailer trying to escape in 1968.

There’s no evidence at the moment of the identity of “MediaAgnostic” at the moment, but I’d try three guesses as to who it is. And I’m not thinking I’d need guess #2 or #3.  But, that’s just speculation on my part.

5 questions with…… Lisa Furlong, Chair of South Dakotan’s for Fair Lending

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lisa_and_pat

You won’t find this at KELOLAND or in the Argus Leader. This is the interview you’ve been waiting for. I had the opportunity yesterday to sit down and spend some time with Lisa Furlong, chair of South Dakotan’s for Fair Lending.

And as opposed to the type of person her opponents are making her out to be, guess what? She’s sweet, unassuming, and as nice as she could be. In other words, she’s your mom.

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH SOUTH DAKOTANS FOR FAIR LENDING CHAIR LISA FURLONG

I understand that this is the first time you’ve ever personally gotten involved in an effort like this. What made you decide to do this and is it what you expected it to be?

Well, this type of involvement is pretty new to me. I’m no politician or professional at this sort of thing. I just want to do what’s right for South Dakota.

I am a single mother of two teenagers, I work hard to provide for them. We attend church every week. I believe that everyone has a right to be treated fairly. People should have some sort of an expectation that there will be safeguards in place to protect them from unfair lending practices. At the same time though, there are those of us that might need somewhere to turn…you know…to cover things when times get tough – a kid’s broken arm or a car repair, for example. I don’t see why there can’t be some sort of compromise here. As a single mom I understand financial difficulties. I would hate to have families in a pinch have less options to help find a way to climb their way out.

What would your proposed measure do and how is it different from other payday lending measures being proposed?

Our measure strikes the right balance in protecting people from predatory lending and preserving free market principles to ensure their access to credit. In fact, many would say our measure goes even further than that of the proposed 36% cap. This is a constitutional amendment, so it will be harder for politicians to change down the road. It is also an 18% cap, which is half of what the other proposal is asking for. I think it is very important to point out that the 36% cap proposal is a change in state statutes, which the legislature can overturn. However, our measure places greater protections for borrowers in South Dakota by putting an 18% cap on interest rates right in the constitution – making it much more difficult for special interests and politicians to undermine or weaken it. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the 36% cap.

Is this a “phony” or “fake” petition as has been suggested by those pushing competing measures, as well as some in the press?

Frankly, I think that is offensive. Our measure is thoughtful, reasoned, and just as real, if not more so, than any others out there. I’m not an Obama operative or a politician like the ringleaders of the other effort. I’m just a working mom. We have as much right under our state constitution to put our ballot measure before the people of South Dakota as anyone else. For anyone to say otherwise is somewhat arrogant and just plain wrong. I have not questioned the motives of others circulating competing measures. It is the South Dakota way to stand up for yourself and I think that’s what I am doing here.

There have been news stories recently about a man, “Deacon Pete,” or also known as “Floyd Pickett.” Leaders of a similar measure to yours have made claims that this man has been sent in from out of state to disrupt the business of those seeking to cap payday loans. What are your thoughts on this situation and has Mr. Pickett attempted to interfere with the efforts of your group at all?

You know, I have seen news reports on all that…and if what they are saying is true I…I think it is very unfortunate. I think it is very important that South Dakotans make the decisions here, not folks from out of state. I don’t know much more than what’s been on tv, but I’ve watched the same circus that everyone else has. And I do know that our supporters have been heckled and made to feel intimidated when they were trying to collect signatures at the fair, but I have no idea if that was by the same people as this guy…Pickett or Pete or whatever…or even supporters of other committees. I really don’t think it is clear who is behind it all or what the point of it is, but the whole thing seems like a big distraction. A big…unfortunate…distraction.

I know that you have put out quite a few statements as issues have come up, I know this because I am on the press list and receive your statements as I assume the rest of the media in the state do, but it seems that you don’t get the same level of coverage or deference as the competing ballot committee does. Do you agree with this assessment and, if so, why do you think this is?

Look, I get it. The mainstream media wants to sensationalize this story because a good fight sells. It’s certainly a bit frustrating to see so many of the news organizations take the side of one loud voice and report it as fact, often times without even mentioning that there’s another side or a different view. I think we are all used to the liberal media bias that exists these days. I guess it’s just part of what comes with this sort of thing nowadays and is what it is.

I certainly appreciate you for giving us a chance to talk about this effort though, Pat!

And Thank you for the interview Lisa. And for those of you who would like to take a look at the measure that started circulation today – you can read below – PP:

18_paydayloan.pdf

As a state legislator, I call upon my magical state legislator powers, and banish thee…

@SoDakCampaigns

The short term lending campaign is getting a bit silly at this point:

Hickey does not expect this kind of commotion to die down any time soon, but says these alleged efforts will not stop his goal of capping payday loan interest rates.

“As a state legislator, I call for North American Title Loan Company to leave the state of South Dakota,” Hickey said.

Read it here.

Is that like Kathy Tyler using her authority as a legislator to overturn the decision of a court?

How exactly does a state legislator call for a company to leave the state of South Dakota? Could it be magical state legislator powers that supersede time, space, the rules of evidence, South Dakota State Translation: Property of the Legislative Research Council. Law and the US Constitution?

I’m guessing it didn’t work since he’s resigning. (Steve must not have turned his magic ring back in to LRC, and thought it would still work.)

Businesses preparing for the perpetually-increasing minimum wage

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Are businesses preparing for the impact of the perpetually-increasing minimum wage? Absolutely.  From the Argus Leader:

Sioux Falls McDonald’s customers will soon be able to order and pay for their meals from an app on their cell phone.

The technology will virtually eliminate the odds of some 16-year-old behind the counter messing up your order, checking “ketchup” when you wanted “mustard.”

As for that 16-year old, will their job be the next thing to go away?

Local restaurant owners insist the answer is no, but experts elsewhere predict a radical transformation is on the horizon for retail and restaurant workers as artificial intelligence, robots and other automation takes over many of the tasks humans perform today.

Read it all here.

Sorry local restaurant owners. If you disagree, you’re either kidding yourselves, or the article writer isn’t talking to many of them.  When it becomes cost neutral to install an automated system versus using a live employee, guess which one the employer is going to pick?

And as we experience the perpetually-increasing minimum wage for jobs that aren’t worth $10 or $15 an hour, that trend is only going to accelerate.

Ginning up the outrage because Businesses are there to lose money and go bankrupt.

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I just caught this on facebook, and thought it brought up a few items worthy of discussion, especially taking a contrarian viewpoint just for the sake of it.

There’s been a bit of hullabaloo over the group, and as you might notice by Steve Hickey’s comment below, some demonizing/dehumanizing (see “the industry is slime comment) going on.  But, are their actions worthy of the coverage that former Obama Campaign manager Steve Hildebrand is trying to whip up by calling his buddies in the media to cover?

Noting the post:

saltandlight

First, regarding Steve Hickey’s comment implying there’s something wrong that the group is “in front of Target today collecting signatures and their petitions haven’t been approved by the Secretary of State.”  I think my reply would be “so what?”

There are lots of groups who informally gather names on petitions, with some trying to gauge support on an issue so as to determine whether or not there is support for the change. And I mean lots. If there weren’t, then I suspect change.org wouldn’t exist.

From a political organization standpoint, if you’ve got a group of people hired, and are waiting for the AG and Secretary of State to complete their process, do you really want them sitting on their butts getting paid for doing nothing?  Why not send them out to get signatures of interested people that you can easily go back to.  The people who signed before are clearly identified supporters who signed a preliminary petition of support. It should be child’s play to send people back to them to get a signature on a real petition.

It’s not like they can use them otherwise. They’re signed and dated.

And then, there’s the other part where the Reverend Hickey tries to “raise” the level of discourse – “The industry is slime, and they don’t care about anything but staying in business.”

Pardon me, but how dare they try to stay in business!  Businesses: Steve Hickey believes you are now there to lose money and go bankrupt.  How dare you invest money, build buildings to house your company, hire and pay staff, and think you are allowed to earn a profit off of your efforts. What in the hell do you think this is, a society based on capitalism? We changed to socialism a long time ago, dammit!

And that’s the point. In our allegedly free society, you should be free to choose to patronize a legal business, and do business with them, Or, you’re free not to. No one is holding a gun to your head.

You know, there’s lots of things to get outraged about. Let’s save the shock and outrage for things such as a drug using parent (allegedly) killing their child. Or a government holding a pipeline project hostage for 7 years.

But someone signing up like minded people to support their cause? Or *gasp* thinking that the free enterprise system is alive and well in these United States?

I just can’t gin up the same level of umbrage that others with more time on their hands are able to.

AG Posts Explanations for Slick Rick Weiland’s attempt to rewrite election laws to hide the D label.

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Attorney General Explanation Released for Initiated Constitutional Amendment Establishing Nonpartisan Elections

Marty JackleyPIERRE –South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today an Attorney General Explanation for a proposed Constitutional Amendment has been filed with the Secretary of State. This statement will appear on petitions that will be circulated by the sponsor of the proposed amendment. If the sponsor obtains a sufficient number of signatures on the petitions by November 9, 2015, as certified by the Secretary of State, the measure will be placed on the ballot for the November 2016 general election. This is a measure to change the Constitution, as opposed to changing state statutes (which requires 13,871), therefore the sponsor will need 27,741 signatures.

1. An initiated amendment to the South Dakota Constitution establishing nonpartisan elections
2. An initiated amendment to the South Dakota Constitution establishing nonpartisan elections and requiring secret ballot elections for certain legislative officers

Under South Dakota law, the Attorney General is responsible for preparing explanations for proposed initiated measures, referred laws, and South Dakota Constitutional Amendments. Specifically, the explanation includes a title, an objective, clear and simple summary of the purpose and effect of the proposed measure and a description of the legal consequences.

To view the Attorney General Explanation for the measure, as well as the final form of the measure submitted to this office, please click on the links:

http://atg.sd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=4iP1eFfktCk%3d&tabid=442
http://atg.sd.gov/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=lnmHEaGmj7k%3d&tabid=442

Slick Rick Election Rewrite

South Dakota Conservatives Lunch tomorrow in Sioux Falls

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(I can’t make it, because I have a different luncheon to attend, but if you’re in Sioux Falls, and are seeking some great conservative camaraderie tomorrow, check out the SD Conservatives Lunch at the W 41st St Pizza Ranch in Sioux Falls. – PP)

South-Dakota-State-Flag

You are invited to attend the
South Dakota Conservatives Lunch
on the second Thursday of each month
from 12:00 to 1:00 P.M.
at the Pizza Ranch located at
2717 West 41st Street in Sioux Falls.

Please come share your opinions, voice your concerns, meet fellow conservatives, and learn about the efforts and events of various conservative organizations in South Dakota.

The cost of the buffet lunch and drink is $9.99. For more information, please contact Chad Krier
at (605) 370-2778.