Author: @SoDakCampaigns

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem, in partnership with the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the South Dakota Retailers Association, today called on businesses to register for the South Dakota Week of Work April 20-24, 2020.

“As I talk to business owners and employers across the state, I hear the same thing over and over: they’d like to expand, but they can’t find skilled workers to fill openings,” said Noem. “Our Week of Work will create industry awareness and provide work-based learning opportunities for students. We want to show them the good-paying careers and opportunities available to them right here in South Dakota.”

“In order to make this week a success, though, we need businesses to get on board,” Noem continued. “By connecting businesses to students who are interested in a particular field, businesses can help develop the needed skills for future leaders in their industry, and students can get exposure to careers where they could excel. Please consider signing up today.”

Through South Dakota’s Week of Work program, 10th grade students will experience job shadows, industry tours, and other business-classroom connections. The goal is to expose youth to career opportunities available in their own backyards.

Businesses are now being recruited to participate in this program and can register at SDWeekofWork.com through Feb. 14, 2020. In the spring, participating schools will match students with activities based on career interests.

“Any business that has experienced the frustration of looking for employees, especially skilled workers, needs to take advantage of the Week of Work program,” said David Owen, State Chamber of Commerce and Industry President. “Students may not decide until much later what they are interested in, but they can’t include your business in that decision until they know what they could do.”

“The Week of Work provides an incredible, win-win opportunity for students and retailers,” said South Dakota Retailers Association Executive Director Nathan Sanderson. “We’re encouraging all South Dakota businesses to participate.”

Businesses can refer to the guide, tip sheet, and timeline on the website to help create and facilitate activities for students, parents, and teachers. Activities do not need to last the entire week.

Other partners in the South Dakota Week of Work include the Department of Education and Department of Labor and Regulation.

Thune Statement on Senate Passage of USMCA

“[USMCA] will boost almost every sector of the American economy — creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and increasing wages for workers.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate passed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“The U.S. economy continues to do well, including the most recent jobs report announcing more than 140,000 new jobs were created in December. But one industry that remains behind is agriculture. We must be able to expand our economic growth to the farmers and ranchers who need it most. This trade agreement will boost almost every sector of the American economy — creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and increasing wages for workers. By getting USMCA across the finish line, we are delivering on one of the issues that matters most to American families across the country.”

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Rounds Votes to Pass USMCA
Trade Agreement Received Widespread, Bipartisan Support in the Senate

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today voted in favor of ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).

“I voted in favor of the USMCA trade deal, which will expand trade opportunities for South Dakota’s farmers, ranchers and manufacturers,” said Rounds. “Mexico and Canada are two of our most valued trading partners. Passing the USMCA further solidifies our trade partnerships with them, and it upholds President Trump’s commitment to making better, fairer trade deals for our producers and manufacturers.”

Rounds serves on the Environment and Public Works Committee, which votedearlier this week to advance the USMCA.

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Rounds, Colleagues Celebrate Religious Freedom Day
Introduce Resolution Celebrating 234th Anniversary of Virginia Statute’s for Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined a number of his Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution designating January 16th as Religious Freedom Day. This Resolution also commemorates the Virginia Statute’s for Religious Freedom’s 234th anniversary, a statute that laid the foundations for the First Amendment.  

“Freedom to practice religion without the fear of persecution is a fundamental human right and a pillar of our form of government in the United States,” Rounds said. “The U.S. Constitution protects the rights of all Americans to worship freely. Sadly, not all countries share our views on religious freedom, and religious minorities around the world are punished for their beliefs. Americans must continue fighting to protect religious freedom until it is recognized as a basic human right everywhere.”

Joining Rounds in introducing the Religious Freedom Day Resolution are Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), James Risch (R-Idaho), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.)

Text of the Resolution can be found HERE. 

Thomas Jefferson wrote the Virginia Statute’s for Religious Freedom, which passed the Virginia General Assembly on January 16, 1786. Many historians credit the language of Jefferson’s Statute for inspiring the groundwork for the First Amendment.

Every year since 1992, January 16th has been designated as Religious Freedom Day.

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It’s a short list for the 1/15 update on the State Legislative Candidates who have filed petitions to run for office in 2020. But it’s a very “Judicially” themed one.

Retired Judge Art Rusch and retired Judge Johns have both filed for the Senate in their respective Districts (17 and 31).

Otherwise, pretty quiet today (on the 16th), but we’ll bring an update if we hear anything!

NFIB Urges South Dakota Lawmakers to Think Small Business in 2020

The South Dakota legislature will start their regular session on January 14^th. As lawmakers return to Pierre, NFIB State Director Lindsey Riter-Rapp is reminding our elected officials to once again keep small business in mind this year. Small business owners create jobs and keep South Dakota’s economy running. “Here in South Dakota, as it is nationwide, small business optimism is at an all-time high. Small business owners in our state are keeping the economy strong and creating jobs,” says NFIB State Director Lindsey Riter-Rapp. “I look forward to working with lawmakers to enact positive measures to keep small business thriving in South Dakota.”

The NFIB Small Business Optimism Index rose more than 2 points in November to 104.7, which is the largest month to month gain since May 2018. The number of small business owners reporting that now is a good time for them to expand increased, as well as the number of small business owners expecting better business conditions. However, the NFIB Uncertainty Index took a dive in November to 72, which is the lowest reading since May 2018. “Owners are more closely focused on issues that directly impact their business, including the significant tax relief they were given two years ago, and they’re anxious to see that relief made permanent,” says Riter-Rapp.

While South Dakota’s Congressional delegation works on that issue in Washington D.C., there are also issues at the state level small business is keeping an eye on. The past few years,  there have been efforts in the legislature to impose mandates on small business owners under a one-size fits all plan. NFIB is reminding lawmakers that small business owners are already burdened with the high cost of health care and warn that the cost of implementing more burdens on small business would result in job losses across South Dakota. An NFIB analysis on recent mandatory sick leave legislation found that across the country, 570,000 jobs would be lost, with nearly half of them coming from small businesses.

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So, I spent yesterday in Pierre hanging out and working with a project I’m going to assisting with. And there were a number of state legislative candidates who turned in petitions as they rolled into town. Here’s the official list:

State Senator	Jack Kolbeck	REP	1/13/20	District 13
State Senator	Joshua Klumb	REP	1/13/20	District 20
State Representative	Hugh M. Bartels	REP	1/13/20	District 05
State Representative	Ernie Otten Jr	REP	1/13/20	District 06
State Representative	Randy Gross	REP	1/13/20	District 08
State Representative	Rebecca L Reimer	REP	1/13/20	District 26B
State Representative	Dayle D. Hammock	REP	1/13/20	District 31
State Representative	Mary Fitzgerald	REP	1/13/20	District 31

I was also catching that some races are getting more interesting.  I heard that current District 24 State Senator Jeff Monroe, who is precluded from seeking another term as a result of term limits, intends to run in the District 24 House race, expanding that primary to 4, possibly 5 people.

I heard that several races in Sioux Falls were possibly fluid.. and there will be more to come on that.

Had the opportunity to meet new District 19 State Representative Marty Overweg. Very nice guy, and in speaking with him, he’s getting up to speed, and is looking forward to the legislative session.

On non-legislative business, I spoke with an elected official who told a fairly concerning experience which underlined the need for an increased security protocol for the State Capitol.  Having gone through the new security screen on my way in, it’s less than a minor inconvenience, and less than what you have to go through to attend a major league ball game.

Keep on reading.. more legislative coverage to come.

State of the State Preview – Governor Kristi Noem: “South Dakota is OPEN for Business”

PIERRE, S.D. – On Tuesday, Governor Kristi Noem will deliver the annual State of the State Address. Among other topics, Noem will outline why South Dakota is the best state in the country to own and operate a business.

Excerpts from remarks, as prepared for delivery:

“…I grew up with a Dad who dreamed of all four of his kids being able to stay on the family ranch if they wanted to. My vision for South Dakota is the same. We must ensure that every South Dakotan can build their life here and make a good living, so they can provide for their families and maintain our traditions and way of life. This is why I am committed to four pillars of protection for South Dakotans: keeping taxes low, limiting government spending, fighting government intrusion, and keeping government open and honest. 

“With a year under our belt, I’m proud to stand before you and say we accomplished a lot in 2019, and we did it all without raising taxes and without spending more than we took in.

“And to all the business prospects we’ve been recruiting, I’d like to make the case here and now about why you should join us in South Dakota:

1. Our people – their work ethic and values are second to none. 
2. There’s no corporate income tax.
3. There’s no personal income tax.
4. There’s no personal property tax.
5. The taxes that we do have to fund state government are stable and predictable.
6. Government in South Dakota lives within its means. We balance our budget without accounting gimmicks and tricks.
7. We have a AAA credit rating and our state pension plan is fully funded. 
8. We believe in smart regulation. We roll out the red carpet, not the red tape.
9. Our part-time legislature is a true citizen legislature.
10. Our outdoor opportunities are second to none. 

“I have traveled all across this country and around the world, there is no better place to operate a business and raise a family than in South Dakota.

“For employers and employees alike… South Dakota is THE PLACE to do business. Whether you’ve owned and operated a business for four generations, or you’re looking to start or even relocate your current operation, I want my message to be crystal clear: South Dakota is OPEN for business.”

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From KOTA TV, Pennington County Sheriff Kevin Thom and State Senator Helene Duhamel are speaking out agains the Pot legalization measures that are going to be on the November ballot:

Thom estimates that 95% of the people in the system have a drug or alcohol problem and he and Duhamel think legalizing more drugs would only increase their problems.

“We have a huge drug problem in Pennington County and I look at marijuana as a gateway drug for many people,” said Duhamel. “We are fighting methamphetamine on all fronts and I just can’t imagine throwing more into the mix.”

Read the entire story here.

Thune: USMCA One Step Closer to Final Approval by Senate

“Yesterday’s Finance Committee vote was a long time coming for South Dakota farmers and ranchers.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune’s speech.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over trade policy, today discussed the committee’s recent bipartisan passage of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which moves the bill one step closer to final approval by the full Senate.