Author: @SoDakCampaigns

The Sanctity of Human Life
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

Right now in the Senate, we are spending many hours each day listening to arguments about the impeachment of President Trump. It’s a historic time in our country. Once the trial is finished, I plan to write a weekly column sharing my thoughts on the impeachment process. It’s a responsibility I take very seriously. The impeachment trial begins every day (except Sundays) at 1 p.m., so I have had some time in the mornings to focus on my other Senate duties. This includes meeting with South Dakotans who are visiting Washington. We recently welcomed a number of South Dakotans who came to participate in the March for Life.

The March for Life is held each year on the national mall, and it coincides with the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, that legalized abortion. Tens of thousands of participants come from all over the country to share their pro-life views with their legislators. As a supporter of the pro-life movement, it is inspiring to see so many Americans who, like me, are working to change peoples’ hearts and minds on the issue of abortion. From conception to natural death, life is a gift that should be treated with dignity.

In the Senate, I have cosponsored dozens of bills aimed at protecting innocent lives. The tide is beginning to turn, and more people are starting to understand the importance of protecting life, at all stages. After all, most people, regardless of their political beliefs, believe in the sanctity of life. I really think it’s in our DNA as humans. You hear stories all the time of people doing extraordinary things to save the lives of others. All life is precious, and it is not up to us to decide whether life should continue. Only God can make that decision.

My views on abortion have been shaped by events in my own family, specifically my Grandma Georgiana. When Georgiana’s mother was pregnant with her, she was kicked by a horse. As a result, no one thought Georgiana would survive past birth. She was born with only one eye, was deaf in one ear, had heart problems and no feeling in part of her face. Yet, not only did she survive but she lived to age 85. If she were born to a different family, with today’s attitudes about abortion, she might not have been given the chance to live. At this point in the story, I should also tell you that Georgiana wasn’t my biological grandmother.

My dad, Grandpa Don, was one of ten children born to Mary and Marion “Butch” Rounds. Sadly, Mary passed away when my dad was very young. Butch didn’t have the money or ability to care for ten kids, so the younger kids were sent to live among family and friends. My dad was taken in by the Kauth family who lived in a nearby town. He was raised by Georgiana Kauth and her brother John. They were incredibly loving and supportive caretakers to my dad.

It’s been nearly two years since dad passed away, and not a day goes by that I don’t think about him and the legacy he left behind. He was raised with a deep faith in the Lord, a strong work ethic and a servant-minded heart. Looking back, I think about the many different paths dad’s life could have taken had Grandma Georgiana and her family not taken him into their home with loving arms. Or had Grandma Georgiana not instilled strong moral values in him from such a young age. Or, if Grandma Georgiana, who everyone thought would not survive past birth, had been discarded before she even had a chance to live, as is all too common in America today. Grandma Georgiana is a beautiful reminder of how precious all life is.

Each life is precious and each life has value. The sanctity of human life is something we should all work to protect. God has a plan for all of us, and even when we’re facing difficulties, we have to trust in his guidance. To me, pro-life means choosing family, and I’ll always fight for that cause.

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Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo
By Rep. Dusty Johnson

At the end of this month, the 62^nd annual Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo will be taking place in Rapid City. An estimated 331,000 people from all over the country will descend on Western South Dakota, making it the second largest annual event in South Dakota.

It all started when members of the Rapid City Chamber Ag Committee hatched an idea to bring the rural lifestyle to the Rapid City community. They had the foresight to realize that as more and more people migrated to the bigger cities, the way of life in rural America could be lost, so they set forth a plan to preserve their Western heritage. Here we are sixty-two years later enjoying stock shows all over the state.

The first “winter show”, as it was called then, was small and showcased only three different breeds of cattle. Today it showcases some of the best cattle from almost every breed raised right here in South Dakota. The event continued to grow and evolve into what we know today, the Black Hills Stock Show. There is something for all to be found at this winter event including horse and livestock sales, over 300 vendors, entertainment, and art shows.

It’s also a great opportunity for kids like mine who weren’t raised on a ranch to experience some dirt on their boots and the smell of cattle stalls. And there’s ample opportunity for them to check out the petting zoo, practice their roping skills, or meet a rodeo clown.

To top off the festivities, a family from South Dakota produces several Professional Rodeo Cowboy Association (PRCA) rodeos including a night of extreme bull riding. The Black Hills Stock Show and Rodeo is a way for hard working producers to take a breather and catch up with friends and family, as well as for locals to be exposed to the rural way of life. It’s something I look forward to every year.

Agriculture and the Western way of life is something I’m fighting to protect on the Agriculture Committee in Washington. Our cattle producers are some of the hardest working people I know, which is why I will continue to strongly support them in Congress. One, for example – the Farm and Ranch to School Act – provides schools and ranchers greater flexibility to serve local meat in the cafeteria.

Congress and the administration are hard at work to allow ranchers to do what’s best for their operation while being good stewards of the land. Working with Congress, we’ve repealed the Obama-era WOTUS land grab and replaced it with clear, predictable guidance. This week I attended the Sioux Falls Stock Show and I am eager to head to West River at the end of the month to visit with folks from across the state.  I hope to see you there!

Connecting South Dakota
By Governor Kristi Noem 

In America’s early days, our Founding Fathers recognized the importance of communication. They saw that it was so vital to the business of the people that they even included a provision in the Constitution to allow for the government to establish post roads.

Today’s business – and day-to-day life – is often done by a different kind of post road: the internet. Unfortunately, in some areas of South Dakota, people are being forced to choose between living in their rural community or having access to high-speed internet. This should not be.

Last year, I outlined a plan to connect more South Dakotans than ever before to high-speed internet.

In March, I worked with the legislature to allocate $5 million to be used as matching funds for broadband improvement. The Connect South Dakota program, which launched in May, brought in a total of $12.2 million.

Additionally, because the state now has a plan in place, South Dakota companies have been awarded additional points on their applications for USDA Reconnect grants. In December, this federal program awarded another $9.5 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve connectivity for more than 1,750 homes in rural South Dakota.

Combined, that means our $5 million has resulted in a $25 million investment in unserved or underserved areas – connecting 6,500 homes and nearly 150 businesses to high-speed internet.

These aren’t just numbers. These are businesses and families that now have expanded online opportunities.

Take the Lindermans, for example. John and Patty own the only grocery store in Timber Lake, on the Cheyenne River Reservation. Because they didn’t have high-speed internet, it meant they couldn’t provide their customers with credit card, debit card, or WIC and EBT payment options. They even had to do all their orders for the store somewhere else. As you can guess, they lost a lot of business. But for Patty and John, they were most heartbroken about sending away moms who wanted to buy food for their kids.

Because of the good work of our Connect South Dakota program, the Linderman business is now connected to high-speed internet.

The great news is that there are about 150 businesses and 6,500 families that have been connected through this program.

But more work needs to be done. This legislative session, I will be working with your district senators and representatives to allocate another $5 million to address more of our connectivity needs.

Bringing our communities into the 21st century ensures that every person in our state has access to online opportunity no matter where they live. I hope you’ll join me in my efforts to preserve our state’s rural way of life.

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With her apparent entrance into the Congressional race, former State Representative Liz May, a former leader of the Conservative Republican Caucus would appear to be positioning herself to run to the right of incumbent Congressman Dusty Johnson.  But a cursory look at her legislative record would seem to give a different impression of the self-labeled conservative.

The last bill May was a prime sponsor of, 2018’s House Bill 1310, seems to have been anything but what many South Dakotans would consider conservative.

SD 2018 Legislative Session – HB1310P by Pat Powers on Scribd

Withdrawn by May before it could get a first hearing, Liz May’s final bill – House Bill 1310 – proposed to raise legislative salaries starting in 2019 from $6000 annually to 1/5 the median household income for South Dakotans:

2-4-2. The salary of each member of the Legislature is six thousand dollars equal to one-fifth of the most recent median household income in the state as published by the United States Census Bureau for every the regular legislative session in 2019. The salary shall be increased or decreased annually in accordance with the consumer price index for the preceding year as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor. No increase in salary under this section may be in excess of three percent.

In 2018, that figure was somewhere in the neighborhood of $56,499, giving legislators under May’s proposal an increase to $11,299.80 annually, or a massive bump of $5299.80 – nearly doubling legislative salaries, along with an annual escalator built in based on the consumer price index, up to 3% annually.

There’s no information immediately available to note why May found a doubling of legislative salaries was to be justified, and no explanation had to be given, as the measure was withdrawn by May before it could be heard in the House State Affairs committee.

In the months that came after, May ran again for the legislature and lost her seat, coming in 4^th out of the 4 House candidates in the race in a largely Democrat leaning district.

With her upcoming entrance into the race against incumbent Republican Congressman Dusty Johnson, Liz May might be expecting as part of her effort in the race to challenge Johnson’s record. But in joining the race, she also places her own legislative record under scrutiny.

And when the final bill she offered was to double her legislative salary, as part of her preparation for running for Congress she probably needs to be ready to explain to voters why.

There have been a number of dubious happenings at the Silver Spur lounge in Ft. Pierre over the years. But nothing quite so politically dubious at the former gentlemen’s club as a secret meeting called for 2:30pm today with State Legislators.

And it sounds like there are plans that are in motion.

For a couple of weeks now, there has been talk that Neal Tapio – who had been ‘exploring’ a run for Congress amidst his attacks on other Republicans – has been cooling on the idea, leaving South Dakota’s very popular Congressman Dusty Johnson a clear run to November.

Unfortunately, some of the rabble rousers in the party could not let that go.

The rumors started to bubble to the surface a few days ago, and an odd name started to emerge as Tapio’s replacement. Former State Representative Liz May.

Liz May of the self-annointed Conservative Caucus?  Liz May of “Common core standardized tests cause suicides?” Liz May of the “fight Governor Noem on her pick for Lt. Governor?”  Yes. All that and Liz May who came in 4th of 4 candidates for District 27 State House in the last election.  Nevermind she resides in one of the least populated areas in the state. The rumor was out that Liz May would be announcing in February that she was going to run for Congress.

Fast forward to today. What I’m hearing is that Liz had suddenly called a number of conservative legislators together for a meeting for 2:30 PM this afternoon at the Silver Spur Lounge in Ft. Pierre.   And then the winds – and the rumors – shifted.  Word is she had petitions in hand and was circulating them. And  I had a call late today informing me that what is going to happen is that – allegedly – Liz May will be announcing her candidacy for Congress at the Black Hills Stock Show.

And curiously, I found this on the Internet in doing a search of web domains.

(Screenshot today from lizmayforcongress.com/GoDaddy.com)

LizMayforCongress.com. Don’t know if it’s her. But it seems to fit together with the rumors flying around a little too closely.

So if Liz May calls a press conference at the Black Hills Stock Show, no shocker, you already know what it’s going to be about. Because it’s already out that she’s going to announce she’s getting into the race for Congress.

Of course, she’s doing so a month after Congressman Dusty Johnson – the guy who won the last Republican Primary and General election in landslides – started his campaign effort, and has his team out scouring the countryside and pushing hard to make it happen.

So, the person who placed 4th out of 4 in her own race in her home area plans on taking on the incumbent. Who happens to be universally accepted as the hardest campaigner in state politics?

All I can say to Liz is *good luck with that.*

You’re going to need it.

Today’s State Legislative filings are among the most interesting to date, as two former members file to return to the House of Representatives:

D24 State Senator Jeff Monroe is setting up a 4 way primary as he jumps in the House race in his District after being termed out of office with Will Mortenson (R), Mike Weisgram (R), Bob Lowery (R)  and of course himself in the contest. 

District 18 sees Mike Stevens filing to return to the House after sitting out a term, which allowed Ryan Cwach (D) to take his vacated seat. But watch out – with Stevens back in the race, anticipating that Jean Hunhoff (R) is returning (as expected), this puts a house seat the GOP lost back in a pickup position with two very strong candidates.

Stay tuned.

This was just posted in the Sioux Falls Politics Facebook group:

Former Democratic Socialist Congressional wannabe Ellee Spawn has posted an endorsement for Whitney Raver?  I guess that’s what can happen after Ellee finally took care of the warrants that have been out for her arrest for months on end.

Nevermind those other things.  Shhh…

(I think that’s one of those endorsements I’d slip to the bottom of my website…)

After House Bill 1057 came out of the gate with over 40 sponsors, on Friday the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce joined the ACLU in opposing the bill which would outlaw elective transgender surgeries and hormonal therapies for minors:

The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced Friday that it will oppose a bill that makes it a felony for doctors to provide gender confirmation surgeries and services to minors.

and…

“South Dakota is home to a growing number of national and international businesses, including banks, research firms, manufacturers and health care systems, that believe workplaces and communities need to be inclusive and use the talents of everyone,” said David Owen, the chamber’s president. “When South Dakota considers draconian rules that affect a limited number of people, we run the risk of triggering economic consequences that include the loss of conventions, tournaments, top-level entertainment and business investment from outside industries.”

Read the entire story here.

The Chamber’s position echoes their stance on past bills regulating mixed gender use of bathrooms and locker rooms last session.  The business group’s opposition is based on the “risk of triggering economic consequences,” and a stated belief that “workplaces and communities need to be inclusive.”

Interestingly, the group does not seem to be aligning with the views of major insurers, many of whom consider reaching the age of majority as a requirement for the gender reassignment surgeries being medically necessary and eligible for coverage.

Blue Cross/Blue Shield (of Tennessee), notes in part:

MEDICAL APPROPRIATENESS

• Gender reassignment surgery or gender reassignment surgery reversal is considered medically appropriate if ALL of the following are met:
• • Individual is 18 years or older
  • Individual has the capacity to make a fully informed consent to treatment

Read that here.

Aetna has a similar guideline for coverage under their policy:

Requirements for gonadectomy (hysterectomy and oophorectomy in female-to-male and orchiectomy in male-to-female):

1. Two referral letters from qualified mental health professionals, one in a purely evaluative role (see appendix); and
2. Persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria (see Appendix); and
3. Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment; and
4. Age of majority (18 years or older); and

Read that here.

Anthem/Unicare limits sex-reassignment surgery based on reaching the age of majority, Cigna does as well, as does Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

And interestingly, as recently as 2017, available materials note that Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield – One of South Dakota’s most prominent health insurance carriers noted to plan subscribers:

Policy: 

Qualifications for all gender reassignment treatments:

• Single letter of referral from a qualified mental health professional; and
• Persistent, well-documented gender dysphoria (per DSM V criteria below); and
• Capacity to make a fully informed decision and to consent for treatment; and
• 18 years of age or older; and 
• If significant medical or mental health concerns are present, they must be reasonably well controlled.

Read that here.

In fact, a cursory search reveals many if not most insurers when issuing guidelines for coverage for surgical procedures being considered medically necessary restrict gender reassignment surgery for those who have not reached the age of majority.

The fact that nearly all insurers ban coverage for gender reassignment surgery until the insured is 18 years of age or older may paint the battle for House Bill 1057 in a far different light than the prior dispute over who can use who’s locker room. Because a precedent already appears to exist among insurance companies nationwide.

The question is whether that business decision will be allowed to take form as a matter of public policy when it comes up for discussion before the legislature as a whole.

Several members of the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women attended a rally in Sioux City this week with the Women For Trump Bus Tour featuring Lara Trump, Mercedes Schlapp and Kayleigh McEnany which was in Iowa to energize women across the state.

The even in Sioux City didn’t escape President Trump’s attention, either as he was retweeting it on his Twitter account:

Check out all the details on the South Dakota Federation of Republican women’s facebook page!

SOUTH DAKOTA ATTORNEY GENERAL HELPS ASSEMBLE BI-PARTISAN COALITION TO ARGUE AGAINST FAITHLESS ELECTORS BEFORE US SUPREME COURT

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg today announced that the Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to review a decision from the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals last year.

The decision of Colorado Department of State vs Baca would allow a state elector to cast their presidential electoral college vote for whomever they choose and not follow the majority elected candidate from their particular state.

Ravnsborg agreed to assist Colorado in seeking an appeal and has, to date, assembled a bipartisan coalition of 21 state attorneys general signing on as well.

“It is important to know the rules when determining any contest and this is especially important when determining the presidency of the United States,” said Ravnsborg. “If this decision is not overturned it is possible that 538 electors could determine the  leader of the free world while ignoring the votes of the rest of the country.

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