Rounds Cosponsors Legislation to Increase Veterans’ Benefits
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today joined Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) and other senators in introducing legislation to increase veterans’ disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 (S.1493) would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, and the clothing allowance for veterans based on rising costs of living.
“Our nation’s veterans sacrifice everything to protect and defend our country,” said Rounds. “With costs rising on everything from groceries to healthcare, our vets and their families deserve to have their compensation and benefits adjusted accordingly.”
This cost-of-living adjustment, which is equal to the amount of the adjustment given to Social Security recipients, is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index on a yearly basis. The cost-of-living adjustment for veterans would go into effect on December 1, 2015.
Other original cosponsors of the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 include the ranking Democrat on the Senate VA committee, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., Sens. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., John Boozman, R-Ark., Dean Heller, R-Nev., Bill Cassidy, R-La., Thom Tillis, R-N.C., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, Patty Murray, D-Wash., Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, Jon Tester, D-Mont., Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii and Joe Manchin, D-W.V.
Currently unaffiliated with a party, Wendel Hiland notes on his facebook that he’s running as an independent.
On his page, Hiland also lays out his platform for office, noting:
My pledge as South Dakota Governor will be to the constitutional rights of the individual rather than the perceived privilege of government to abuse those rights. I will run on demanding Government accountability with an emphasis on the individual rights of its citizens. When a Government agency abuses those rights, they will be held accountable. I will fight to put parental rights back into the hands of parents. I will demand South Dakota remove all unconstitutional Check points and strive to rebuild the communities trust in government.
I will also live stream every moment possible in regards to my official duties as Governor and will demand transparency thru out our State Government. I will require other government agencies to also be live streamed so as to give WE THE PEOPLE a clear view as to the goings on in OUR State Government.
I will systematically abolish the “good ole boys” club and return control back to the “good ole people”.
To do this I need the support of the individuals that make up South Dakota.
Hiland also discusses other points of government such as martial law:
Regarding Marshal law.
Constitutionally Government does not have the right to suspend our God given, constitutionally affirmed rights.
Our rights are not given to us by Government and therefore Government has no authority over them. This being said, with our willingness over many years to allow the Government to overstep it constitutional boundaries, anything is possible. It is our duty as a free peoples to push back these tides of tyranny less we are swept away in bondage. This is our duty to those who have fallen and for future generations who’s freedoms now rest on our shoulders.
But, Howie & Waldron might have to stand in line, because the Attorney General already has a pending petition matter on his plate. No, not Annette Bosworth. That one is almost done. I’m referring to her husband, Chad Haber.
If you recall what I wrote about it back in August of 2014:
Part of what Annette Bosworth is being prosecuted for is attesting on several petitions that she witnessed people signing them in South Dakota while she was halfway across on the other side of the planet, in the Philippines. In other words, she signed off that she circulated nominating petitions during a time when she and Chad were in the Philippines from January 5 through the 15th.
In the batch of petitions for Annette Bosworth, there were several signed off on as having been circulated by her husband, now candidate Chad Haber.
And one of the petitions attested to as being circulated by Haber seems to have the same air of impossibility as those that have his wife in dutch:
If you look on the petition, Chad signed off, under oath, that he “circulated the above petition,” and “that each signer personally signed this petition in his presence….”
Yet the date that the voters signed is marked as January 7, 2014, a date when he was said to be across the world. The exact same thing his wife is currently in trouble for.
Long before the Attorney General should even consider looking into the claims that the Bosworth people are ginning up against State Representative Steve Hickey, they have an already pending petition matter to finish.
I’m sure they have most of the evidence already in hand, so that should be an easy one.
And frankly, I suspect that the people of South Dakota are happy to have our Attorney General out prosecuting murderers and rapists first before they devote an inordinate amount of time to petition prosecutions. I’m sure they’ll get to looking at them all eventually.
But as Howie presses for more attention to be devoted to a petition matters on a retaliatory basis, he should remember who’s first in the queue.
Rounds Criticizes EPA Proposal to Radically Alter Ozone Standards
“EPA’s ozone plan could be the largest regulatory burden in history.”
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), today at a hearing questioned Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal that would dramatically alter ozone standards in the U.S.
“This hearing was especially important to understand the impacts of what could be the most costly regulation ever imposed on the American people,” said Rounds. “These regulations could force South Dakotans to pay to control ozone emissions that could have originated thousands of miles away overseas or are naturally occurring in our environment. It could impact the ability of businesses to expand and construction projects to continue, without achieving any tangible health benefits beyond the current standard. It’s not based in common sense.
“Once again, EPA proves why it’s necessary to pass my RESTORE resolution, which would bring much-needed congressional oversight to the sweeping, costly regulations being imposed by federal agencies. As a member of the Senate EPW Committee, I will continue efforts to prevent these dramatic, costly new ozone standards from taking effect.”
Under current law, the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for Ground-Level Ozone is to be reviewed every five years. The current standard is 75 parts per billion, set in 2008. Under EPA’s current proposal, the standard would be lowered to 65-70 parts per billion. These new standards could be the most expensive regulations in history, with projected costs of $1.7 trillion and 1.4 million in lost jobs. EPA is expected to issue a final ruling in October 2015.
Thune Introduces CASE Act at EPW Committee Hearing
“This bipartisan bill is a reasonable way forward to prioritize smog in the most polluted areas while not imposing undue costs on the American economy and workforce.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today at a hearing before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) introduced the Clean Air, Strong Economies (CASE) Act, a bipartisan bill that will balance economic growth and environmental progress by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to focus on the most polluted areas that are in non-attainment with its current smog standard before it can implement a lower one.
Thune’s statement (as prepared for delivery) is below, and video is available here or by clicking on the image above.
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Boxer, for giving me the opportunity to speak in front of the committee this morning and I want to thank all the members for giving me the chance to talk about a bill that I’ve introduced called the CASE Act.
“It’s a bipartisan bill–introduced with Senator Manchin, that would prevent the staggering blow that a lower ozone standard would deliver to the economy at a time when many of our industries are seeking to turn the corner.
“After an area is deemed in non-attainment with the smog standard, communities face stiff federal penalties, increased business costs, restrictions on infrastructure investment, and lost highway dollars.
“When businesses are restrained by regulatory overreach, they can’t expand, jobs are put at risk, and innovation is stifled.
“Areas in non-attainment, or even those in marginal attainment, will face steep challenges in promoting economic development or attracting new businesses.
“In fact, it was for these exact reasons—‘regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty’—that the Obama administration withdrew a similar proposal in 2011.
“The cost of a lower smog standard has hardly lessened, and the hit this could have on manufacturing and other economic sectors nationwide would be unprecedented.
“The bipartisan CASE Act strikes a balance between economic growth and environmental progress by requiring the EPA to first focus on the most polluted areas that are in non-attainment with the current standard before it can implement a lower one.
“We have made great progress in cleaning up our air, and pollution levels are at an all-time low.
“However, 40 percent of Americans live in the 227 counties that have not yet met the 75 ppb standard that was set in 2008.
“The CASE Act would require 85 percent of these counties to achieve compliance with the existing 75 ppb standard before the EPA can impose a stricter regulation like the one proposed in November.
“The EPA needs to focus its efforts on areas already struggling with attainment, where smog remains a consistent problem.
“We should first tackle smog where it is the worst, in places like Los Angeles, not go after regions like the Great Plains, where there clearly is not a smog problem.
“The EPA contends that a lower standard will benefit public health, yet most of these benefits will come from the reductions of other criteria pollutants, like particulate matter, which are already subject to their own regulations.
“Moreover, the EPA would be well-served to acknowledge that it has not yet sufficiently implemented the existing 2008 standard and prioritize its efforts to combat smog in the most polluted areas.
“The CASE Act would also require the EPA to consider the cost and feasibility of a lower standard, which it currently does not consider.
“At a standard of 65 ppb, approximately 75 percent of the projected costs are attributed to unknown controls, or technologies and emission reduction strategies that have yet to be developed.
“Hinging a regulation of this magnitude on unknown controls could hamper economic growth with staggering costs for years to come.
“I want to thank you for the opportunity to come before this committee and introduce the CASE Act today.
“I hope you will agree that this bipartisan bill is a reasonable way forward to prioritize smog in the most polluted areas while not imposing undue costs on the American economy and workforce.
“Mr. Chairman I appreciate the opportunity to present this legislation and I encourage its consideration.
Candidates – There’s a great article that just came out from Campaigns and Elections that it’s worth taking 5 minutes to read that won’t only benefit you in fundraising, but in campaigning as a whole. It’s about Making Fundraising Personal:
Rarely do they volunteer the information that a contributor wants to know: Can you win and how will you win? Candidates often mask their discomfort with asking for money. They enjoy talking to constituents, going to meetings and being part of events, but put off whenever possible doing fundraising. Fundraising doesn’t have to be a negative experience — and it won’t be, if you make it personal.
Sure, asking for money doesn’t come easy to most people. To ask, you need to be ready to answer the question: Why should I give you money? And responding to the question requires a candidate to talk about his or her qualities. Most people have a difficult time talking about their qualities.
But if a candidate gets comfortable talking about himself or herself, fundraising will be a much easier and more pleasant task. Moreover, once that comfort level is achieved, here are some ways candidates can help grow their fundraising hauls.
Delegation Urges USDA to Take Responsibility for Pautre Fire
Twenty-Six Months Have Elapsed Since Out-of-Control Fire Consumed 10,000 Acres of Land
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 the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (FS), and Office of General Counsel (OGC) to finally take responsibility for the Pautre fire that beginning on April 3, 2013, consumed standing grass on more than 10,000 acres of public and private pasture land, and damaged and destroyed fences, bales of forage, buildings, and trees.
“We strongly urge you to recognize and quickly take responsibility for the negligence that resulted in this out-of-control fire and ensuing damages, and that you timely resolve and approve all reasonable claims,” the delegation wrote. “Twenty-six months is ample time for USDA, FS, and OGC to investigate and make necessary determinations.”
Full text of the letter can be found below:
Secretary Tom Vilsack
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, D.C. 20250
Dear Secretary Vilsack:
On April 3, 2013, the U.S. Forest Service (FS) conducted a prescribed burn located southeast of Hettinger, North Dakota on the Grand River Ranger District of the Dakota Prairie Grassland. This prescribed burn was intended to cover 130 acres of dead crested wheatgrass; however, due to the unsafe hot, dry, and windy conditions present at the time of ignition the fire (known as the Pautre Fire) quickly escalated out of control and consumed more than 10,000 acres of FS land, grazing association controlled land, and private land.
Along with the grass and rangeland destroyed, fences, bales of forage, buildings, and trees were also damaged and destroyed by this fire; and cattle confined to the smoke created by this fire suffered respiratory damage.
As you are aware the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) provides claimants two years from the date of an incident to submit claims against the government. The FTCA generally holds the federal government liable when federal employees commit acts of negligence in the course of their employment.
Twenty-six months have elapsed since date of the Pautre Fire, yet to our knowledge no action has been taken by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), FS, or Office of General Counsel (OGC) to accept liability and process claims.
We strongly urge you to recognize and quickly take responsibility for the negligence that resulted in this out-of-control fire and ensuing damages, and that you timely resolve and approve all reasonable claims. Twenty-six months is ample time for USDA, FS, and OGC to investigate and make necessary determinations.
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today joined Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-Ga) and other senators in introducing legislation to increase veterans’ disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Hiland also lays out his platform for office, noting:
