Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Noem’s Anti-Trafficking Provisions Become Law

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Noem’s Anti-Trafficking Provisions Become Law

kristi noem headshot May 21 2014Washington, D.C. – Representative Kristi Noem today commended President Barack Obama on his signing of sweeping anti-trafficking legislation, including provisions authored by Noem that aim to help prevent trafficking and allocate additional resources to assist victims in recovery.

“We have a fundamental responsibility to protect the thousands of at-risk youth in America from ever seeing the horrors of trafficking,” said Noem.  “And when preventions efforts fail, we have no choice but to help lift survivors to safety, through recovery and toward a better life.  It is my hope the newly enacted Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act offers advocates access to meaningful resources, equips law enforcement with the tools they need to go after those who buy and sell our kids, and gives survivors some element of hope.”

The Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act (S.178) represents one of the largest anti-trafficking measures passed through Congress in a decade.  After broad bipartisan support in the House and Senate, President Obama signed the legislation on May 29.

Rep. Noem’s language that was included in S.178 was first introduced as the Human Trafficking, Prevention, Intervention and Recovery Act in 2014.  The language passed the U.S. House of Representatives in both 2014 and 2015 and the U.S. Senate in 2015. The Congresswoman’s legislation takes a three-pronged approach in combatting human trafficking:

  • Improves existing Department of Justice grants, ensuring the grants support shelters for survivors.  Currently, there are only about 200 beds available in the United States for underage victims.
  • Launches a review by the Interagency Task-Force to Monitor and Combat Traffickingthat will look into federal and state trafficking prevention activities.  The review will be done in consultation with nongovernmental organizations and will work to identify and develop best practices to prevent trafficking.
  • Requires an inventory of existing federal anti-trafficking efforts by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office to make sure all federal agencies and programs work together and that federal resources are being targeted where needed.

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Delegation Supports Gov. Daugaard’s Request for Disaster Declaration

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Delegation Supports Gov. Daugaard’s Request for Disaster Declaration

Governor’s Request Comes in Response to May 10 Storm

WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) today urged President Obama to declare a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for South Dakota counties affected by the May 10, 2015, storm and EF-2 tornado, during which nine people were injured and 57 homes were damaged – including 27 that were completely destroyed.

“We respectfully request that you declare a major disaster for the relevant areas of our state and that you instruct federal agencies to expedite the delivery of all forms of federal disaster assistance for which the state is eligible based upon that declaration,” the delegation wrote. “We would be pleased to offer any assistance that you may require in fulfilling this request.”

Full text of the letter can be found below:

The Honorable Barack Obama
President of the United States
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

 

Dear President Obama:

As members of the South Dakota Congressional delegation, we write to express our full support of Governor Dennis Daugaard’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance for the South Dakota counties of Douglas and Charles Mix. This declaration would greatly assist in recovery efforts from a severe storm and tornado event that occurred on May 10, 2015.

As the Governor’s request described, on May 10, 2015, an EF-2 tornado with a width of 400 yards and peak winds of 130 mph touched down in southeast South Dakota. The tornado’s primary point of impact was the City of Delmont, which suffered significant damage leaving 9 people injured and damaging 57 homes, of which 27 were considered completely destroyed. The local fire department was destroyed, and for two days the entire city was without power and water. Forty-one percent of the City of Delmont’s residential structures were damaged, the majority of which have major damage or are completely destroyed.

The Delmont community has a small population of 234 residents. Following this incident, 89 percent of the population was voluntarily evacuated due to hazardous power lines, leaking propane tanks, and other debris. Affected residents are still unable to return to their homes and are living in campers, renting temporary housing and staying in hotels. The nearest city capable of providing housing resources is 40 miles away, forcing displaced residents to move for long periods of time, significantly increasing commute times for work and school. These factors may eventually force citizens to relocate if the situation cannot be remedied.

The local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was opened immediately following this tornado, along with the state EOC. The Governor has taken the appropriate action under state law, directing the execution of a State Emergency Operation Plan. Affected counties have also issued disaster declarations. The South Dakota Office of Emergency Management has coordinated resources to aid local government response, the details of which are outlined in the Governor’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance.

We respectfully request that you declare a major disaster for the relevant areas of our state and that you instruct federal agencies to expedite the delivery of all forms of federal disaster assistance for which the state is eligible based upon that declaration. We would be pleased to offer any assistance that you may require in fulfilling this request.

Thank you for your prompt consideration of this important matter. Please do not hesitate to contact any of us if we can provide you with additional information.

Sincerely,

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Press Release: State PUC Commissioner Fiegen diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer

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State PUC Commissioner Fiegen diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen has been diagnosed with curable breast cancer.

indexFiegen said her annual mammogram displayed small calcium calcifications, similar to what has shown up on previous mammograms. A small mass was detected on a follow-up ultrasound. A biopsy confirmed it was cancer. The mass is a Grade 1. Fiegen’s medical team has indicated that the early detection leads to a very good prognosis.

“I am grateful to my medical providers for this early diagnosis,” Fiegen said. “My family is strong in our faith and appreciates the prayers and support of our many friends as we begin this fight.”

A team of medical providers in Sioux Falls, S.D., is working with Fiegen to develop a comprehensive treatment plan. Fiegen said she expects to fully recover and continue her dedication to South Dakota and its consumers. She plans to be active in the business of the commission throughout her treatment.

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Press Release: State Legislatures Oppose Opt-Out

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Smarter Solutions for Students
7000 Peaceful Pines Road
Black Hawk, South Dakota 57718

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

State Legislatures Oppose Opt-Out

RAPID CITY, S.D. (June 1, 2015) – With hours before the election day, four state representatives, State Senator Phil Jensen, Representatives Lance Russell, Lynne DiSanto, and Blaine “Chip” Campbell, held a press conference today, June 1, at the Rapid City Public Library to discuss their opposition to the opt-out issue on tomorrow’s ballot for election day. Over a dozen supporters stood behind the state legislators during their press conference as they elaborated on their opposition to the opt-out and their warning to voters over potential tax increases rumored to be coming next year from the state.

State Representative Russell stated his opposition to the opt-out issue is due to their concern over impending tax increases that are rumored to be coming from the state legislator’s blue ribbon task force on education. Russell stated that he felt the public has a right to know of the potential impending tax increases from the state, prior to voting on a $30 million opt-out property tax increase locally. Russell challenged Governor Daugaard to “level with the voters of Rapid City prior to such a large property tax increase,” stating that he felt the Governor was not being forthcoming in regards to resolving the state education issues.

Representative DiSanto said, in opposition to the opt-out, that the Governor’s recommendation of an opt-out as a solution to local education problems is “not going about it the right way;” but elaborated on her support for “quality education,” stating that “ first and foremost, before I am a state legislator, I am a mother with children that go to school here.”

The state legislators have recommended to Governor Daugaard to work with them in order to resolve many of the issues that is facing our educational system. Senator Phil Jensen and Representative Blaine “Chip” Campbell made similar comments that they too felt the Governor had neglected dealing with the educational issues in an appropriate manner.

Tomorrow voters will go to the polls to decide on the issue.

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Rounds Announces New Washington Office Location

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Rounds Announces New Washington Office Location

MikeRounds official SenateWASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that his Washington, D.C., office has moved to the Hart Senate Office Building. Effective, today, June 1, 2015, his new office location will be 502 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C., 20510.

The office phone and fax numbers will remain unchanged at (202) 224-5842 (phone), (844) 875-5268 (toll free phone) and (202) 224-7482 (fax). The office hours will continue to be 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. Each Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. when the Senate is in session, Rounds will continue to hold the South Dakota Sunrise Coffee for visiting groups and individuals. More information on this event can be found by calling his Washington office.

In addition to his Washington office, Rounds has four district offices in Pierre, Sioux Falls, Rapid City and Aberdeen. All office locations and contact information can be found at www.rounds.senate.gov.

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FBI closes EB-5 Investigation with no charges or prosecution.

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Apparently, everyone is in on conspiracy! The Capitol Journal reports that the EB-5 Case is closed with no charges or prosecution:

The FBI has closed its investigation into South Dakota’s investment-for-visa program and the U.S. Attorney’s office has decided not to pursue prosecution.

FBI spokesman Kyle Loven says the agency recently forwarded its findings of the state’s EB-5 program to the office of U.S. Attorney Randy Seiler. Loven says the office decided not to bring charges.

Read it here.

Is Fort Pierre being slowly absorbed by all those people across the river? If so, they can look to the schools.

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I didn’t think it would happen in my lifetime, and it probably won’t.  But, it seems like there’s a slowly occurring, inexorable and unavoidable absorption of Fort Pierre by the big town on the other side of the river. And it’s being driven by education:

Brown said he wasn’t pushing consolidation.

“But, the number of students we have going over to Pierre continues to increase,” he said, citing a jump from 95 Stanley County students open-enrolling to Pierre schools a couple years ago. “Now it’s 205,” Brown said. “Now we’ve got 120 kids left in high school.”

To avoid the push to consolidation, “we’ve got to . . . turn this thing around,” Brown said.

Read it here.

Fort Pierre has nearly twice as many kids opting out to attend school across the river in Pierre than they have children attending their own high school?!?  205 opting out for Pierre, 120 left.

Wow. That’s not a good trend.

Now, in the article much of the debate is over Stanley County’s 4 day school week, versus Pierre’s 5 day. And that might be a driving factor for many of them. But a basic fact remains that the school is shedding a lot of kids for Pierre’s system.

I’d argue that there’s a reverse effect when it comes to construction in the area. Speaking from having looked when living and working there, many Pierre residents would rather build on the Ft. Pierre side of the river than the Pierre side.  The city of Pierre is a bit landlocked in places, so you’re looking out in the county or across the river. I’d also note that some of the development areas on the Fort Pierre side are far more attractive than what you might find on the Pierre side.

But are you going to send you’re kids to school there? Having faced that question when house hunting, and with my wife being in education, honestly the answer was “no.” At one point when we were there, Pierre had all-day kindergarten in place, while their Ft. Pierre school board members kept going on about “how those little kids couldn’t take all that book-learning.”  And now a 4-day school week?

There are some very distinct cultural differences between the two communities. Fort Pierre has prided itself as not being Pierre, and is a fairly libertarian environment versus their snooty little brother across the river with all of Pierre’s rules and regulations.  People want to build homes and live there. They just have little to no interest in sending their kids to school there, whether their opposition is based on nuggets of truth or fictional opinions. Hence, a mass educational exodus.

If it keeps up, and the Stanley County school attendance numbers continue to dwindle, it’s going to be more and more unaffordable and impractical to maintain two school systems such a short distance apart. And once that happens, it’s all but done.

For decades, people have been asking why there’s two county seats, two city governments, and two school systems within a mile of each other. And most people living in Ft. Pierre work in Pierre.  If the domino of the school system in that community falls, the educational barrier to the invasion from across the river will fall. And the rest may follow in short order.

Sibby announcing intention to run for Mike Vehle’s seat in 2016

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It looks like there’s already a candidate announcing for State Senator Mike Vehle’s seat being vacated in 2016. Via Sibby Online/Mitchell Daily Republic:

That’s not just in Mitchell, Sibson said—it starts in Washington, D.C., and trickles down. That’s why Sibson said he chose to run for the one-year spot, with an eye on the Legislature next year when Sen. Mike Vehle’s term ends in the District 20 senate seat. Sibson has run for state senate twice against Vehle in 2010 and 2012, losing both times.

“It will only be natural for me to use this experience on the school board, to carry that forward to the state level,” he said. “That’s where things need to be fixed, is at the state level.”

Read it here. Or here.

Almost election day in Rapid City? Make sure you check out Sam Kooiker’s Web Site.

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SamWebAd-SDWC-Blog-300x200 Just a brief plug for our Rapid City readers – Today, please take a moment to check out the web sites for one of our advertisers, Sam Kooiker, who is out campaigning hard for re-election to the office of Mayor of Rapid City.

Like him or not, you can say many things about Sam Kooiker. First and foremost, he’s a hard worker who in campaigns keeps his eye to the grindstone, no matter what his opponents throw at him.

I’ve known Sam for many years. And in my dealings with him, I’ve always found him to be honest & a straight shooter who doesn’t treat people any differently whether they own million-dollar companies or dig ditches for a living. And for someone in an office such as he’s running to return to, that’s a good thing.

So, if you haven’t made up your mind yet, check out “StandWithSam.com” and find out more before you cast your ballot in tomorrow’s election.