Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Thune Responds to President Biden’s Joint Session Address

“For the sake of South Dakota and the United States, I sincerely hope the president reverses course. The challenges we face as a nation are too great to go it alone.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement in response to President Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress:

“The past year has challenged Americans as our country continues to battle the coronavirus pandemic and recover from the economic crisis it caused. I believe our brightest days lie ahead – but only if we work together.

“President Biden tonight echoed themes of bipartisanship and unity from his inaugural address, but South Dakotans can clearly see the difference between talk and action. While the president is quick to talk about bipartisanship, he has yet to meaningfully work with Republicans and has given cover to the far-left wing of his party as it works to undermine the Supreme Court, the Second Amendment, and even the very nature of the Senate designed by our Founding Fathers. One of his first acts as president was caving to the extremist left wing of his party at South Dakota’s expense by cancelling the Keystone XL pipeline and killing thousands of good-paying jobs.

“With a 50-50 split in the Senate and one of the slimmest majorities in the House of Representatives in modern history, the president must realize he does not have a mandate for his partisan, big-spending policies. If President Biden sincerely wants to work with congressional Republicans to fix our nation’s infrastructure and create a greater quality of life for every American, he will not find a more willing partner than me. But if the president continues to pursue a costly and one-sided agenda, he can expect fierce opposition from Republicans in Congress.

“On the eve of his 100th day in office, it’s time for President Biden to choose whether the rest of his presidency will be defined by the rank partisanship seen in his first 100 days or if he will live by the words of his inaugural address.

“For the sake of South Dakota and the United States, I sincerely hope the president reverses course. The challenges we face as a nation are too great to go it alone.”

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Johnson Statement Following Biden’s Address to Congress

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) issued a statement following President Biden’s first joint address to the U.S. Congress:

“Tonight, President Biden said: ‘We can’t be so busy competing with one another that we forget the competition we have with the rest of the world.’ He went on to introduce proposals that will cost the American taxpayer trillions. Investment in our children and infrastructure don’t need to be partisan. President Biden, if you’re serious about working together, if you’re serious about passing bipartisan legislation, your proposals can’t all start with a “T.” Let’s get serious on prescription drug pricing, infrastructure, and job creation.”

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Thune: President Biden’s Actions Speak Louder Than Words

“What matters the most is not what the president will say tonight, but what he will do in the days and weeks to come.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today expressed his strong disappointment in the lack of bipartisan cooperation in the first 100 days of the Biden administration ahead of President Biden’s address to a joint session of Congress this evening. Thune stressed that what matters most is not what the president says tonight, but his actions in the days and weeks to come.

Thune, Rounds Condemn Biden Administration’s Radical 30 by 30 Directive

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland to express concern with the directive in President Biden’s climate change executive order to conserve 30 percent of land and waters by 2030 (30 by 30). The senators strongly urged the secretaries to consider farmers and ranchers as they develop environmental policy.

“We urge the administration to refrain from using the 30 by 30 directive as a means to pursue additional federal land acquisitions,” the senators wrote. “In addition, the 30 by 30 directive should not be used to advance undue restrictions on the use of private land. A multiple-use approach to the management of our public lands benefits agriculture, outdoor recreational sports, wildlife enthusiasts, and natural resource development. This approach also plays an important role in creating jobs and supporting local economies.”

Full text of the letter below:

Dear Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Haaland,

We write to express concern with the directive in President Biden’s January 27, 2021, climate change executive order (E.O. 14008) to identify strategies to conserve at least 30 percent of our land and waters by 2030, commonly referred to as 30 by 30.

The federal government already possesses approximately 640 million acres of the land in the United States.  Unfortunately, there is a significant maintenance backlog on this federal land.  Given this reality, acquiring additional federal land would be concerning to us and many of our constituents.  With relatively few details about how this proposal would be achieved, additional concerns have been raised about the potential for onerous regulations and land use restrictions as a possible strategy.  Such a proposal would have a devastating effect on private landowners.

We urge the administration to refrain from using the 30 by 30 directive as a means to pursue additional federal land acquisitions.  In addition, the 30 by 30 directive should not be used to advance undue restrictions on the use of private land.  A multiple-use approach to the management of our public lands benefits agriculture, outdoor recreational sports, wildlife enthusiasts, and natural resource development.  This approach also plays an important role in creating jobs and supporting local economies.

Farmers and ranchers work every day to be good stewards of their land.  Instead of pursuing federal land acquisitions and burdensome regulations, the administration should prioritize the targeted implementation of existing voluntary conservation programs, like the Conservation Reserve Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, and Conservation Stewardship Program, to help address natural resource concerns.  These programs play a critical role in improving wildlife habitat and water quality, building soil health, and sequestering carbon.

As you work to provide recommendations on climate focused initiatives, we would urge you to keep rural America and farmers at the front of your mind.  Our policy should help, not hinder, those who feed the world.  Thank you for your prompt consideration of this request.

Sincerely,

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Thune: Democrats’ Tax Hikes Would Crush Economic Recovery and Punish Working Americans  

“These tax hikes may help Democrats usher in aspects of the socialist fantasy they’ve been envisioning. But they will do nothing to help American families gain financial stability and secure good jobs and lasting, rewarding careers.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke out against President Biden’s proposed tax hikes, which would be detrimental to the American economy as it continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Thune warned that Democrats’ tax increases would cause working Americans to suffer the most and put American businesses at a disadvantage on the world stage.

It’s been a slow couple of days in South Dakota politics, so I can take a moment and ask if you remember a week or so ago back when the goofballs who run the “Primary John Thune in 2022” facebook page claimed they had a big announcement?

Of course you didn’t remember. And it appears they’ve forgotten as well, because ever since their members have spent most of their time posting memes.

But there were big things afoot! We did get one of the candidates in their stable posting an overly long bio about spending time overseas…

And the group did make the ‘big’ announcement of another facebook forum with their other candidate, Bruce Whalen, to be held in their private group:

Try to contain your excitement for those big announcements.

I did notice on one of the alternative social media forums (Gab) that the Anti-Thune-ers do bring up an important point for those wanting to participate in the primary process:

“In order to vote in the Primary for the Republican candidates… you have to be in the party” Now if someone would pass the same advice along to their candidates who want to run (as captured yesterday from the Secretary of State’s website, and re-confirmed a minute ago):

Maybe someone should mention to the anti-Thune looney tunes that their “Republican primary candidate” is a registered Independent who continues to be ineligible to actually run in the Republican primary.

Details.. details..

Keep your hats on – Just a little more than 13 months until the primary!

Partisanship Is Not the Solution
By Sen. John Thune

Democrats want the Senate to take up infrastructure legislation in the near future – a goal Republicans fully support. What we don’t support is Democrats’ threat to shove through another massive, partisan bill – this time on infrastructure – using reconciliation rules (a parliamentary procedure to expedite legislation with only a simple majority) to ensure Republicans don’t have a voice in the legislation.

The Senate was designed to promote moderation and consensus. It was intended to be a check on the more partisan – or, as the Founders would put it, factious – House of Representatives. And the Senate fulfills its constitutional role best when it engages in serious bipartisan consideration and negotiation – and ensures that members of both parties are heard. This is the framework we should adopt for any major piece of legislation.

Unfortunately, Democrats seem determined to push through a far-left agenda. Most recently, the House passed a bill to make D.C. the 51st state, trampling on the intention of our Founding Fathers: our capital’s independence from any one state. This, along with their bill to expand the Supreme Court from nine justices to 13 and their attempt to eliminate the legislative filibuster, is yet another example of a Democrat power grab.

Democrats from both the House and the Senate also recently introduced their “Green New Deal,” a left-wing smorgasbord of government-knows-best policies that, if enacted, would have a massively negative effect on the U.S. economy and hit family budgets across the country. For American families, it would essentially mean higher taxes and higher energy costs.

And now Democrats are threatening to go it alone to pass a $2.2 trillion liberal wish list masquerading as an infrastructure bill.

Congress has a history of bipartisan collaboration on infrastructure legislation. Our last major infrastructure bill, the FAST Act, went through regular order in several committees, including the Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, which I led. It was supported by both Democrats and Republicans, and it was a remarkably successful bill. Not long thereafter, our committee spearheaded enactment of the longest reauthorization of the FAA since the early 1980s – including critical programs to improve airport infrastructure. And last Congress, the Environment and Public Works Committee developed bipartisan infrastructure legislation. There is no good reason that we shouldn’t reach bipartisan agreement on another substantial piece of infrastructure legislation. But that will require a willingness from Democrats to actually engage in bipartisan collaboration.

Our Founders established a democratic republic, instead of a pure democracy, because they wanted to balance majority rule with protection for the rights of the minority. They knew that majorities could be tyrants, and so they wove protections for minority rights into our system of government. The Senate was one of those protections.

That’s why we should be preserving rules like the filibuster, which ensures that the minority party – and the many Americans it represents – has a real voice in legislation.

If one thing is for sure, it’s that a 50-50 Senate is not a mandate for one side to force through its agenda unchecked. It is absurd for Senate Democrats – or House Democrats – to pretend they have a mandate for a partisan revolution. And yet much of the legislation they have been pushing since taking office appears to have been drafted by members of the extreme left wing of their party.

In his inauguration address, President Biden appeared to recognize the importance of bipartisanship and his obligation to work with members of both parties and promote unity in the country. Unfortunately, to date his administration has not delivered on that promise of bipartisan leadership.

We can pass a substantial, bipartisan infrastructure bill together, or Democrats can continue down the extremely partisan path they’ve been pursuing. For the sake of our country, I hope they will choose bipartisanship.

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Joe Biden’s First 100 Days – Disunity and Partisanship
By: Governor Kristi Noem
April 23, 2021

When Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 2021, he declared that “my whole soul is in this: bringing America together . . . and uniting our nation.” He pledged to be a President for all Americans.

Now almost 100 days into his Presidency, Joe Biden has failed in that pledge.

He has signed (as of this writing) an astonishing forty Executive Orders. These actions have infringed on Americans’ second amendment rights by implementing gun control measures. He has revoked a number of President Trump’s actions that strengthened our economy and supported businesses. He has mandated mask use on federal property. He has expanded welfare programs, weakened our voting process, and made it easier for illegal immigrants to enter the United States.

Most recently, he has created a commission to review the size of the Supreme Court, with the clear intention of expanding the number of Justices. The United States Supreme Court has had nine Justices since 1869 – more than 150 years. The President once called this court-packing effort a “bonehead idea,” but now supports it so he can continue to implement his radical agenda.

His misguided policies on immigration have led to a situation that seemingly grows worse by the day. Our nation is less safe as a result, as terrorists have been apprehended crossing the border.

His energy policies have resulted in the elimination of thousands of jobs across the country, including many right here in South Dakota. It’s no coincidence that gas prices are skyrocketing as a result.

In March, President Biden signed an unprecedented $1.9 trillion federal spending package, more than the federal government’s discretionary budget for an entire year. This irresponsible bill received zero Republican support in Congress, only passing because Vice President Kamala Harris cast the deciding vote to begin Senate debate. This stark partisanship is telling, because all previous COVID-related measures received bipartisan support.

President Biden is also proposing more than $2 trillion in new spending on a broad swath of programs he’s calling the “care economy.” This astonishingly large package is being marketed as an infrastructure bill, but it includes billions of dollars in expanded social programs. Massive tax increases over the next 15 years would cover only a portion of this wasteful proposal and it would dramatically drive up our existing $28 trillion national debt.

And on top of all this new spending, President Biden is also proposing to increase the “regular” federal discretionary budget by an additional 8 percent.

It’s no wonder that the President has reversed course yet again and urged the elimination of the filibuster in the Senate – an important part of our democracy that ensures a measure of bipartisanship in Congress – because political gamesmanship is the only way he can pass these huge spending increases.

After 100 days, Joe Biden’s partisanship has sewn disunity and made it clear that he is not a President for all Americans.

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Governor Noem Joins Lawsuit against President Biden over ‘Social Cost of Carbon’

PIERRE, SD – Yesterday, Governor Kristi Noem joined Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and 8 other state attorneys general in suing to prevent the Biden Administration from establishing a damages value to the “social cost of greenhouse gases,” which would kill thousands of American jobs and impose more burdens and harms to the American people.

“After a year of misguided lockdowns in response to the COVID pandemic, the last thing that America needs is more burdensome regulation that will cripple our economy,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “President Biden’s attempt to implement a ‘social cost of greenhouse gases’ value will result in government sticking their hands into virtually every aspect of our day-to-day lives. With this lawsuit, we are committed to fighting off such unconstitutional overreach.”

In a recent Executive Order, President Biden established a “working group” to establish a damages value based upon global environmental damages from climate changes. This value would be called the “social cost of carbon,” as well as methane and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are by-products of everyday activities in America, because they are among the most common and prevalent by-products of human economic activity. The President further required federal agencies to immediately begin applying such value in regulatory actions and other decision-making.

The Biden executive fiat has wide-ranging impacts on decisions made by virtually every federal agency, including the Departments of Interior, Commerce, Energy, Transportation, Environmental Protection, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury. These values have the ability to fundamentally transform the entire regulatory structure of the federal government, which would have devastating impacts on the lives of everyday Americans.

In addition to Louisiana and South Dakota – the following states joined in the lawsuit filed this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

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