Author: @SoDakCampaigns

It’s on.

South Dakota’s senior US Senator, John Thune, filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission yesterday declaring his candidacy for the US Senate seat he currently holds for the 2022 election:

This comes at about the same time that former GOP Congressional Candidate Bruce Whalen, who has taken up the mantle to try to gin up a primary challenge against Thune via facebook, is declaring that his group is bigger than the South Dakota Republican Party.

“We greatly outnumber the State GOP and can use our vast human potential to defeat Thune and hold the seat for any conservative candidate.” – Bruce W. Whalen.

I’m not sure what to say to that. Other than Ha ha hah ha ha ha ha.

He’s actually trying to base a challenge campaign for US Senate on Facebook likes.

Well, good luck with that one Bruce. You’re going to need it.

Thune Leads Colleagues in Reintroducing Bicameral Legislation to Permanently Repeal the Death Tax 

“Agriculture is our state’s top industry, which is why I remain committed to removing roadblocks for these family businesses, and we can start by repealing the death tax once and for all.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, joined Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, and dozens of his Senate colleagues in reintroducing legislation to permanently repeal the federal estate tax, more commonly known as the death tax. Thune’s bill, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2021, would finally end this purely punitive tax that has the potential to hit family-run farms, ranches, and businesses as the result of the owner’s death.

“I’ve fought hard to repeal the onerous and unfair death tax since I came to Washington, including by leading the effort in 2017 to protect more farm and ranch families from it,” said Thune. “Family-owned farms and ranches, like those in South Dakota, can bear the brunt of this tax, which oftentimes makes it difficult and costly to pass these businesses down to future generations. Agriculture is our state’s top industry, which is why I remain committed to removing roadblocks for these family businesses, and we can start by repealing the death tax once and for all.”

“Kentucky farm families and small businesses have enough to deal with during this pandemic. They shouldn’t also have to worry about an unfair death tax when they pass their livelihoods down to the next generation,” said Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. “Republicans’ historic tax reform helped unleash the best American economy in 50 years, including exempting many Kentuckians from the death tax. Unfortunately, Washington Democrats want to double down on the federal government’s final insult and force more grieving families to visit the undertaker and the IRS on the same day. I’m proud to join Senator Thune to permanently end the death tax and support opportunity for rural families and communities.”

“The estate tax may be the most unfair tax on the books,” said Finance Committee Ranking Member Mike Crapo. “High federal taxes should not prevent a family farmer, rancher or other business owner from passing the business they built onto their children. This unfair tax must be permanently repealed.”

“Typically, farming and ranching operations have large holdings of assets but generate low amounts of cash return,” said Eric Jennings, president of South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association. “A loss of a loved one often results in large estates that do not generate enough income to pay the estate tax without selling part of the operation. It is heartbreaking to see a family have to sell off so much of their parent’s farm or ranch that they are unable to continue the operation they have worked into with the intention of continuing their family’s legacy. Eliminating the estate tax will help insure the survival of family farms and ranches.”

Thune led the Senate’s effort to repeal the death tax while Congress considered the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) in 2017. Although the final version of the TCJA did not repeal the death tax, the law doubled the individual estate and gift tax exclusion to $10 million ($11.7 million in 2021 dollars) through 2025, which will prevent more families from being affected by this tax.

In addition to Thune, McConnell, and Crapo, the bill is cosponsored by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Inhofe (R-Okla.), John Kennedy (R-La.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (F-Fla.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).

Thune’s bill is supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, NFIB, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Family Business Coalition, the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, the Policy and Taxation Group, the Associated General Contractors of America, the National Taxpayers Union, and many others.

Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House Representatives by Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.).

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Governor Noem Signs Telehealth Flexibilities into Law
Also Signs SB 83

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed Senate Bill 96 into law, which increases access to healthcare by allowing South Dakotans to utilize telehealth flexibilities.

“COVID-19 challenged us in new, unforeseen ways, and those challenges provided us an opportunity to adapt and find innovative ways to deliver healthcare in South Dakota,” saidGovernor Kristi Noem. “We greatly expanded telehealth in 2020. Going forward, we will build on these technological advancements and continue to find ways to remove government red tape in healthcare.”

SB 96 is a permanent extension of portions of both Executive Order 2020-07 and Executive Order 2020-16, which Governor Noem signed last year to increase flexibility in the state’s response to COVID-19. Pictures of the bill signing can be found here.

Governor Noem also signed SB 83 into law, which requires the provision of information regarding perinatal hospice. Pictures of that bill signing can be found here.

Governor Noem has signed 123 bills into law this legislative session.

Johnson, Spanberger Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Broadband Internet Speeds, Close Digital Divide 

The Speedy Updates Act Would Require a Report on How Best to Update Speed Thresholds Used to Determine High-Speed Internet Connectivity in South Dakota 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA-07) today introduced legislation to ensure that new broadband networks are built to provide rural internet customers with sufficient upload and download speeds.

Since 2015, the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC’s) broadband mapping data has relied on the same speed threshold to define whether an area can be said to have adequate broadband service. However, this threshold is already outdated due to new and emerging internet technologies — meaning rural residents who technically meet the current threshold could still lack the ability to connect to cutting-edge internet services.

To address this challenge, the bipartisan Speedy Updates Act would help update broadband internet speed thresholds. Specifically, the Spanberger-Johnson legislation would require the Government Accountability Office to conduct an evaluation and write a report on the efficacy of the FCC’s existing process for establishing, reviewing, and updating its speed thresholds for broadband service.

“As Congress makes record investments in broadband connectivity, we need to ensure our programs promote speeds that keep pace with today and tomorrow’s business speeds,” said Johnson. “The Speedy Updates Act will make sure the FCC prioritizes speed in rural America.”

“As we focus on making historic investments in internet connectivity, we need to ensure the infrastructure we build will reflect the growing need for faster downloads and uploads. Even in areas of Virginia with existing broadband internet access, many homes and businesses are experiencing lags in their service when using the latest apps and programs — simply because technology is rapidly advancing,” said Spanberger. “Our bipartisan legislation would review the FCC’s process for updating speed thresholds and help make future recommendations about how to keep up with these changes. With this additional information, we can make sure Central Virginia’s rural communities can both increase local internet access and take advantage of this progress for years to come.”

Click here to read the full legislation.

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Thune, Rounds Join Colleagues in Calling on USDA to Assist Biofuels Industry

Senators urge USDA to make biofuels producers eligible for existing CCC funding

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and eight of their Senate colleagues this week sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging the department to assist biofuel producers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter was led by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

“We have been advocating for targeted relief for the biofuels industry since last spring when we were first made aware of the demand collapse for ethanol and other renewable fuels due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As you know, additional funding was added to the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Stabilization (CARES) Act. However, the previous administration argued that congressional intent was not clear with regard to support for biofuels and did not use its discretionary authority to assist biofuels producers through available CCC funding,” the senators wrote.

“As the Department prepares a proposal for providing assistance to the agriculture industry using CCC and other resources, we ask that you use this explicit authority to aid the nation’s biofuels industry… We have been encouraged by your recent statements at your confirmation hearing that you will fully utilize USDA resources to get biofuel producers back on track and will aid the Biden Administration in restoring the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard,” the senators concluded.

“We’re grateful to Senator Grassley and all our Senate biofuels champions for their bipartisan efforts in asking USDA to provide the biofuels industry with COVID-19 relief assistance. Biofuel producers, farmers, and others throughout the biofuels supply chain have been hit hard financially over the course of the pandemic and securing much-needed financial assistance would bring relief and certainty as they look ahead to a brighter year and build back what was lost. We look forward to working with USDA on a solution,” Emily Skor, CEO, Growth Energy said.

“The U.S. ethanol industry has experienced billions of dollars in lost sales due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and at one point in 2020 more than half of the industry’s production capacity was shut down,” Geoff Cooper, President & CEO of Renewable Fuels Association said. “A year after the initial collapse of the fuel market, ethanol production still remains well below pre-pandemic levels. We thank Senators Grassley, Klobuchar and other biofuel supporters in the Senate for encouraging USDA to immediately utilize its authority to provide emergency relief to our industry, which has been severely harmed by this terrible pandemic.”

“Like all Americans and many other critical infrastructure industries, biodiesel and renewable diesel producers – particularly small, innovative companies – are facing unique, unanticipated challenges from the ongoing COVID-19 emergency. As Secretary Vilsack and USDA weigh how to apply relief funds, we appreciate Senator Grassley and Senator Klobuchar’s strong advocacy and ongoing attention to ensure access for U.S. biodiesel producers who need it,” Kurt Kovarik, Vice President, Federal Affairs at National Biodiesel Board said.

This letter is also signed by Sens. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), and Mike Braun (R-Ind.).

Full text of the letter can be found here.

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If you hadn’t noticed, we have new advertisers popping up who should be with us for a while.

First, Marty Jackley is returning to advertiser’s row and publicizing his entrance into the Attorney General’s race in 2022.

And Jordan Youngberg, who is running for the office of School & Public Lands, is also actively on the campaign trail and building up his digital presence.

Please take a moment to check both of them out, and please also take a moment to visit our other advertisers, such as Americans for Prosperity – South Dakota, Governor Kristi Noem, US Senator John Thune, Dusty Johnson for US Congress, and of course our friends at the South Dakota Republican Party, who are going to be gearing up for another big election in 2022.

Remember – SDWC has limited advertising opportunities available for reaching South Dakota’s opinion leaders as we move past the 2021 Legislative Session, including our top 2 advertising positions.

If someone is making laws, keeping up on the issues or what’s happening in campaigns, or promoting legislation, they’re stopping here to check South Dakota’s political climate. South Dakota War College provides candidates, companies, and organizations a unique opportunity to direct a targeted message at South Dakota’s politically active elected officials, and community opinion leaders.

Advertising on the Dakotwarcollege.com website is based on a first come, first serve basis for available positions.  Advertising slots may be either static image, animated .gif, or other, as long as the file size is within acceptable file parameters, does not impede the loading of the website, or interfere with existing code.  All ads run through-site, and are not rotated in their positions.

Information on ad prices, ad positions, and ad commitments may be directed to the webmaster by clicking here, and by dropping me a note today!

Former State Senator Lynne DiSanto pled No Contest in court today to allegations of falsely reporting a crime against her ex-husband. But it sounds like the prosecution is getting a “sorry-not sorry” vibe, and thinks it might be a good idea if the self-styled life coach would take a class:

“I don’t believe Ms. DiSanto understands the gravity” of what it means to falsely accuse someone of a Class 3 felony like aggravated assault, prosecutor Adam Shiffermiller said at the change-of-plea and sentencing hearing at the Pennington County court.

and…

Shiffermiller said the class would help her understand the seriousness of her actions while “working on herself and her future relationships.” He said another option would be Moral Reconation Therapy, which helps people make better decisions through enhanced reasoning.

Read the entire story here.

Governor Noem Appoints Judge to Fifth Circuit Court

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced today that she will appoint Gregg Magera to serve as judge for the Fifth Judicial Circuit.

“Gregg has spent his life in the pursuit of justice, first in private practice and then as a magistrate judge,” said Governor Noem. “I appreciate his willingness to serve the public and I know he will be an excellent circuit judge.”

“I am humbled and honored for the opportunity to serve as a Circuit Court Judge,” said Judge Magera.

Magera currently serves as a magistrate judge in the Fifth Circuit. A Yankton native, Magera earned his bachelor’s degree and his law degree from the University of South Dakota. Following service as a law clerk, he joined Siegel, Barnett & Schultz in Aberdeen in 1991, where he became a partner and practiced until his appointment as magistrate judge in 2019.

Magera enjoys tennis, hunting, fishing, and playing violin in the Aberdeen University Civic Symphony. He and his wife, Barbara, have two daughters, Katie and Emily.

The Fifth Judicial Circuit Court is served by four circuit judges and one magistrate and covers Brown, Campbell, Day, Edmunds, Faulk, Marshall, McPherson, Roberts, Spink, and Walworth counties. Magera will succeed Scott P. Myren, who Governor Noem appointed to the South Dakota Supreme Court in January.

A photo of Judge Magera can be downloaded here.

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Governor Noem Signs Bills into Law

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed sixteen bills into law:

• SB 4 revises certain provisions regarding the health professionals assistance program.
• SB 10 revises the composition of the state trunk highway system.
• SB 31 provides for the release of adult abuse case information to certain parties to assist in the provision of adult protective services.
• SB 55 authorizes certain innovative insurance products and services through insurance innovation waivers.
• SB 59 revises the allocation of fees collected by the obligation recovery center and revises certain venue, jurisdiction, and collection efforts regarding the co-owners of titled motor vehicles, motorcycles, and boats.
• SB 72 revises notification requirements for listing and delisting species on the threatened and endangered species list.
• SB 134 limits the required application of green building standards.
• HB 1007 revises certain provisions regarding checks or bid bonds for publica improvements.
• HB 1008 revises technical errors in statutory cross references relating to the Department of Executive Management.
• HB 1055 authorizes certain children who are subject to a military relocation to be eligible for registration with a state-approved distance learning provider.
• HB 1057 establishes resident tuition requirements for veterans and armed forces personnel and family members.
• HB 1074 limits the liability regarding authorized boiler inspections.
• HB 1098 authorizes the shipment of cigars to persons in this state under certain conditions.
• HB 1113 revises certain reference to the International Building Code.
• HB 1119 revises certain references to secondary elections.
• HB 1125 defines adjournment for the counting of ballots.

Governor Noem has signed 121 bills into law this legislative session.

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Senator John Thune was recently on Fox News’ “Your World With Neil Cavuto,”  and you can’t help but to give him a “hell yeah” for his earlier comments about the election:

“It’s a free country, Neil, and he’s an individual that has a big following out there, obviously, politically, and continues to be a major force in the politics of our country. But, you know, I will do what I have to do in South Dakota. If getting primaried is the price for standing up, and speaking the truth, and standing up for the rule of law and the Constitution, then so be it,” Thune responded.

He went on to say the “main thing” going into the 2022 midterm elections is that Trump and Republicans in Congress “are going to be united” in working to win majorities in the House and Senate. He added that, in his view, the country is “heading into a left ditch” because “the Democratic Party is controlled by the Bernie Sanders wing of the party.”

Read it all here.

It’s interesting because there had been this cabal of people who read too many facebook memes clucking about Thune accepting the results of the election as somehow being wrong.

Guess what? The cluckers are even more unorganized, still reading facebook memes, while Senator Thune is getting ready for the next election.

Could a primary happen? Sure. It could in the best of times.

But Thune stands strong, the entire delegation including Governor Noem stands behind him, and nothing is going to change that.