Author: @SoDakCampaigns

South Dakota National Guard to Support Monument Health in COVID Testing Efforts

PIERRE, S.D. – This week, nine soldiers with the South Dakota National Guard were activated to support Monument Health in their COVID-19 testing efforts. The soldiers were activated to Belle Fourche, Custer, Rapid City, Spearfish, and Sturgis.

“Since the start of the pandemic, the State of South Dakota has worked with our hospital systems to manage hospital capacity so that we can help those who need elevated levels of care. Testing efforts help us to identify and isolate cases to slow the spread of the virus,” said Governor Noem. “This past week, I had conversations with all three South Dakota hospital systems and asked them what they needed as cases start to rise again. Monument asked for the National Guard to assist them in their testing efforts, and we are happy to help.”

The soldiers are activated under FEMA Title 32, meaning that their efforts will be federally funded.

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COVID discussion remains on the tip of everyone’s tongues with rates spiking in the state, and it’s no different in the Republican contest for US Senate. And if you take a look at the candidates and their statements, there’s a definite range of views between the three.

A few weeks after Republican candidate for US Senate Bruce Whalen admitted that he picked up COVID at a rally in Sioux Falls he’s up front and telling people to treat it with Ivermectin, a sheep dewormer..

All I have to say about that is “For crying out loud, it’s an anti-worming medicine for animals. Quit reading crazy things off of facebook!“

In comparison, fellow fringe US Senate Candidate isn’t recommending sheep-medicine, but he’s happy to spread his knowledge. And COVID. He will probably be spreading COVID, as according to a recent podcast claiming to be the “America First” podcast, Mowry noted…

Mowry is giving us paranoia, and is actually saying that he does not advocate for any of the vaccines.  That’s just great.

That might be a signal of who NOT to stand next to at the Republican dinners. Assuming Mowry lasts that long, given that currently most hospitalizations and deaths are coming from those who are not vaccinated.

Compare that to current US Senator John Thune, who early on back in March was advocating that people should go take care of themselves:

For more information about COVID-19 vaccines, including answers to common questions and a state-by-state guide to vaccinations in your area, click HERE to find out more.

You can read that here.

Sheep dewormer, anti-vaxxer, or encouraging people to take care of their health and get vaccinated.  Which of the three candidates do you think aligns with what former President Trump is telling people?

Actually, given that the COVID vaccine development was initiated under the previous administration, it’s US Senator John Thune who’s recommendations align with those of the former President, as President Trump himself is recommending the vaccine.

Former President Donald Trump urged his supporters to get vaccinated against Covid-19, noting many of them have been reluctant to do so.

“I would recommend it and I would recommend it to a lot of people that don’t want to get it, and a lot of those people voted for me, frankly,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday night on Fox News.

People have the freedom to choose, he said, adding, “It’s a great vaccine. It’s a safe vaccine and it’s something that works.”

Read it here.

Food for thought.  And the US Senate race rolls on.

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Americans For Prosperity – South Dakota (AFP-SD) recently released its legislative scorecard, a way to track the votes of legislators on key issues for South Dakotans.

This year, the key votes centered on AFP-SD’s major priorities: improving accessibility to quality health care in South Dakota, improving our education system, and creating more economic opportunity for all South Dakotans. This was a remarkably successful year that saw the passage of several bills that make tangible improvements to the lives of South Dakotans. To learn more about the reforms passed this year in South Dakota, click HERE.

AFP Regional Director Don Haggar discussed the legislative session and the successes achieved this year in South Dakota. That discussion can be found HERE.

AFP Regional Director Don Haggar released the following statement on this year’s scorecard and the legislative session:

“This year’s scorecard is reflective of the incredible efforts of activists and legislative leaders across South Dakota. We made great strides to secure meaningful reforms for South Dakota families, and we would like to thank the activists, legislators, and leaders who made it possible to create these positive changes during this legislative session.”

COVID-19 – Do We Have the Whole Story?
By State Rep. Trish Ladner

The media tracks and reports on COVID-19 statistics. They list the number of active cases and total number of deaths. They go even further updating the number of vaccines received; how many received their first dose and how many have received their second dose of the vaccine. All good information, but I am constantly amazed that there is very little information if any, in the media about “natural immunity” for those of us (38+ million Americans), who have had COVID-19 and survived. Earlier this month, the World Health Organization (WHO), released a scientific update stating that, “most people who have recovered from COVID-19 develop a strong protective immune response. Within 4 weeks following infection, 90-99% of individuals infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus develop detectable neutralizing antibodies. Available scientific data suggests that in most people immune responses remain robust and protective against reinfection for at least 6-8 months after being infected with the virus.” Emory Vaccine Center at Emery University supports this information. They looked at 254 patients with mostly mild to moderate symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection over a period for more than eight months (250 days) and found that their immune response to the virus remained durable and strong. It appears that recovered COVID-19 patients retain broad and effective longer-term immunity to the disease.

On a personal note, I am living proof that natural immunity to COVID exists. Last December my husband and I were both diagnosed with COVID.  Each day we could feel our health slipping away so we called our doctor. She told us that because we were in a “Free” state (thank you Governor Noem), she could prescribe a new artificial antibody infusion. It basically provided synthetic antibodies to fight the virus while our bodies produced our own.  It was like someone flipped the switch and every day we were 100% better than the day before!  A month later we were tested for antibodies and we were positive and good to go. Natural Immunity!!  We just passed our eighth month mark since contracting the virus and decided to get retested for antibodies. I am happy to report that our antibodies are still present and going strong.  Our doctor has asked us to retest again in 4 to 5 months and we will gladly do the follow-up test. Talk to your doctor and see what the best choice is for you.

I am not an “anti-vaxer,” but I have to ask the question …. why would those of us who have survived COVID and developed natural antibodies and have immunity to the virus be mandated to take the vaccine? Why aren’t the number of survivors with immunity tracked in the statistics? Doesn’t make sense to me!

With vaccine mandates being issued by states requiring proof of vaccinations to return to work or school, we need to take a serious look at what we, as Americans will agree to comply with. There are states who are mandating that all students, athletes, coaches, janitors, teachers, and staff get the vaccine. If they don’t “comply,” they run the risk of being fired without the right to apply for unemployment benefits. They are not acknowledging those with natural immunity or being given the option to mask up, modify their workplace or take precautions. I am beginning to believe that the mandates are more dangerous to the wellbeing of our freedoms than COVID is to our health!

In an article by Austin Goss from KOTA, Governor Noem was quoted as saying, “requiring vaccine passports could ultimately lead to improper disclosure of private health information.” Currently legislators are calling for a special session to address the COVID vaccine mandates and the violation they may pose to our medical information confidentiality rights (HIPPA),  Undoubtedly there will also be new bills introduced during our next legislation session and a great many debates, and I welcome them!!

Rep. Trish Ladner
District 30

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(Editor’s note: I’ve had COVID, the antibody infusion, and I still sought out the vaccine.  The issue gets to be with those who don’t get vaccinated and then get sick, the greater the chance for new variants of the virus to start rolling through communities that can affect the people who were previously immune. i,e, Delta, Eta, Iota, Kappa, and Lambda variants.    Best advice – listen to your physician, not the Internet.  -PP) 

From the Argus Leader, US Senator Mike Rounds was recently telling a group that History shows us that the next President might not have even started campaigning yet:

“I’m not sure that the eventual nominee for the presidency from the Republican side has even been recognized yet,” he said. “I think it’s entirely possible, as in many years, you get individuals who will step forward and challenge the status quo.”

To his point, Trump was not seen as a serious contender in the 2016 primary contest until after he formally entered the race earlier in the year, let alone three years ahead of the election.

Read the entire story here.

As the State Legislature’s redistricting committee meetings start today, don’t forget to take a look at Senate President Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck’s excellent column on the topic of redistricting, along with a proposed map.  Well worth a read.

The Eyes of the World are Watching
By Sen. John Thune

The eyes of the world were on the United States and our leaders nearly 20 years ago to the day as we experienced one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in history. Nearly 3,000 innocent lives were lost at the World Trade Center in New York City, at the Pentagon in our nation’s capital, and in a field in Pennsylvania on September 11, 2001, and our country was forever changed.

At the time, a terrorist attack of this magnitude on American soil was unthinkable. It was a chaotic, uncertain time, but one thing was clear: America would not waiver in the pursuit of justice, and it would never hesitate to defend our nation, our people, and our ideals – at home or abroad.

True to a relentless American spirit, men and women from all walks of life answered the call to duty and signed up to serve in our armed forces. This generation of service members, including many from Ellsworth Air Force Base and the South Dakota National Guard, deployed around the globe to fight terror and defend freedom. Some of those same men and women are still serving today.

In the decades since 9/11, members of our all-volunteer military have taken action to bring the fight to terrorists around the globe and protect our nation. These men and women have dismantled terrorist safe havens, disrupted terror groups, thwarted attacks, hunted down and delivered justice to Osama bin Laden, and put their own lives at risk to make our world a safer place.

Twenty years later, the eyes of the world are again closely watching the United States and our leaders during the drawdown of our presence in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, under this administration’s watch, the withdrawal of U.S. forces has rapidly devolved from bad to worse to what can now only be described as an all-out crisis.

Everything we’ve witnessed over the last few weeks has been a stunning end to the United States’ effort in Afghanistan. For many, the unraveling of the country and the ensuing humanitarian crisis is personal, and I understand.

Prior to the Biden administration’s reduction of American troops in Afghanistan, reasonable people could disagree on the merits of keeping a sustained military presence in the country. Military experts and members of Congress, including myself, repeatedly warned the president about the dangers of withdrawing troops based on an arbitrary timeline rather than the security situation on the ground. President Biden did not heed this advice.

The Afghanistan crisis is a direct result of the shortsighted actions of this administration. The intelligence did not fail. The president did. Instead of taking decisive action to improve the situation on the ground, President Biden doubled down on his strategy by maintaining an arbitrary deadline for concluding our efforts to evacuate Americans and our allies. President Biden has effectively ceded all leverage to the Taliban. While a heroic effort is underway by our military, the administration’s actions continue to risk leaving an unknown number of American citizens and others in Afghanistan at the mercy of the Taliban.

Unfortunately, this crisis will likely have long-lasting consequences. The rushed exit left a significant amount of U.S. military equipment behind, including modern arms that are now in the hands of the Taliban. ISIS-K, a resurgent branch of the Islamic State, has tragically – and, given the ongoing chaos, not surprisingly – attacked the evacuation effort, killing several U.S. service members and civilians. There’s also a growing risk of a Taliban-led Afghanistan again serving as a safe haven for terrorist groups like al-Qaeda.

The world is watching as harrowing and unnecessary scenes continue to unfold across Afghanistan. People are also watching inspiring moments of humanity – our troops maintaining order in challenging conditions, comforting scared kids and parents, soothing babies, and handing out supplies.

To those American heroes, past and present, let me be crystal clear: The crisis we see today in no way diminishes the selfless service and significant sacrifice you and your families have made over the last 20 years. We are forever grateful for everything you’ve done for our country and for the years spent away from your families in far-flung corners of the world. There is no question that you made a difference.

It’s because of our troops’ service, sacrifice, and commitment that I’m so bitterly disappointed in the president and his administration for the dangerous decisions they’ve made over the past few weeks. I’m angry. I know many fellow South Dakotans are, too. But what was true 20 years ago is still true today: We should be undaunted in the pursuit of justice and in protecting our people. We can leave no American or ally behind in the hands of the Taliban.

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You know, I read stories like this, and I can’t help ask “what kind of idiot does this kind of thing?:”

Buthe, 41, served as the county’s highway superintendent for 10 years through 2020. Prior to that, he had been a project manager with the city of Sioux Falls. In March of this year, the city of Brookings hired him as its public works director.

According to the indictment, Buthe is accused of embezzling funds from the South Dakota Association of County Highway Superintendents between 2013 and 2021. Buthe served as the association’s secretary, according to Nelson’s announcement.

Read the entire story here.

It’s usually someone trusted who has command of the checkbook without a lot of oversight. And in their arrogance they *think* they can do it, and either get away with it, or put the money back. Which of course they never do.

I’ve worked for a bank, where they once tracked when a teller issued a money order to herself for less than $100 that was unaccounted for, and in my personal life I pulled together the evidence for law enforcement when my dad had a trusted employee who embezzled over $100,000 from him. There is always, always a paper trail.

Conservative Principles Restrain Government, Not Expand Its Powers.
by Governor Kristi Noem
Fri, Aug 27, 2021

You can’t be a constitutional conservative only when it suits you.

We are now seeing a battle in the Republican Party between the populist wing and traditional limited government conservatism. So-called conservatives want to regulate businesses to prevent them from requiring a Covid vaccine as a condition of employment, but my beliefs do not allow me to waive the constitution because I disagree with a private business.

It is human nature to want to wield power, and a crisis adds to that impulse. As an emergency unfolds, many will insist that “somebody should do something” and governments, eager to pass laws and hire people with weapons to enforce them, step in. It’s up to pro-liberty conservatives to stand on principle and to stand up to government mandates.

To be clear, I don’t think businesses should require a Covid vaccine as a condition of employment. I also believe that government is too big, and mandates are not a conservative tool in forcing the behavior of its citizens. Since when did the Republican Party become the party of big government and social engineering using the power of government to force behavior? Once we, as a people, open the door to increased government power to put mandates on businesses, expect a Pandora’s Box of liberal mandates to hit in the future that touch on faith, the right to keep and bear arms, and the expanding list of genders the left has invented.

William F. Buckley once referred to the growth of government as “creeping socialism.” We are seeing a version today with both Republicans and Democrats calling on the government to mandate behavior they find acceptable. Even if I agree with a mandate, a mandate both limits freedom and sets a precedent for even more mandates, taxes, spending, and expansion of government into the daily lives of average Americans who just want to be left alone.

Since March of 2020, we’ve seen governors from California to New York declare that they have sweeping powers to ban activities, close businesses, and strongarm sick people into nursing homes. These “leaders” must have temporarily forgotten the principle that the proper powers of government are limited, even (and especially) during a crisis.

On the federal level, power is granted and specifically limited by the Constitution. On the state and local level, power is limited by state constitutions and, frankly, common sense.

For example, as governor last year, I refused to issue lockdowns or mask mandates. I did not shut down any business, nor did I close one church. I follow a principle: I am a limited government conservative in the mold of Ronald Reagan. The government may have the brute force to declare a business “essential,” yet that is not a proper role of any government, federal or state.

Now, as a new Covid variant is spreading, some state legislatures and governors are trying to mandate that, in order to work in a private business, a person must provide proof of vaccination. This is a bad idea because no government has that power over the private decisions of small businesses.

In South Dakota, I used my valid power as governor to prevent the state from issuing Vax Passports. That means you won’t see a government-run vaccine passport system in South Dakota –under my watch, South Dakota will have a limited government.

Our policy allows individuals to make decisions and limits the decisions forced upon them by the government. Freedom cuts both ways, and the government doesn’t have the power to weigh in on either side of this. I’m going to make certain that we respect the limits of the state government. Small businesses won’t be forced to cede management decisions to a bureaucrat or politician.

I don’t believe that a business should require proof of vaccination to work there, and as a former business owner, I would not have imposed such a requirement on my employees. But my personal beliefs are irrelevant when it comes to the role of the state in what a business may or may not choose to do.  Government should not exercise its power to force a small business to agree with me.

Conservatives see that liberals are trying to use this crisis to expand the size and scope of government at every level. On everything from mandates to spending, the left wants more government. Conservatives must stand on principle and oppose big government in all its forms.

The Coronavirus pandemic has tested how far politicians will go to use heavy-handed tactics to get their way. One reason why South Dakota is considered a great place to live, work, raise a family, and do business is because we have a tradition of governance that respects individual rights and because we respect the limits of government power. These principles will allow us to overcome Covid, and to build the country we all want to live in.

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