Author: @SoDakCampaigns

Press Release: Attorney General Jackley and other Attorneys General Call Upon EPA to Withdraw Proposed Greenhouse Rule

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Attorney General Jackley and other Attorneys General Call Upon
EPA to Withdraw Proposed Greenhouse Rule

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley and 18 other State Attorneys General today asked the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to withdraw the Proposed Rule for the Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Emissions from New Stationary Sources, this rule provides new source performance standards for greenhouse gas emissions for new fossil-fuel fired generating units.
“Protecting the environment through reasonable regulation and enforcement is important to South Dakota. The process and unprecedented action taken by the EPA to expand its authority is unnecessarily affecting economic development and our agricultural industry in South Dakota. In the end these attempts at regulation will only work to stifle economic development, and increase energy prices upon the consumer,” said Jackley.

In 2014, several states submitted extensive comments on the Proposed Rule, explaining the Proposed Rule was unlawful. In addition, they also noted the EPA’s failure to comply with notice and comment requirements. Now over a year later, these comments and related concerns have not been addressed as the EPA moves forward with the implementation of the Proposed Rule.

GOP Passes Balanced Budget, Holds Federal Government Accountable to the American People

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GOP Passes Balanced Budget, Holds Federal Government Accountable to the American People

“This balanced budget resolution is a framework for the more efficient, effective, and accountable federal government that the American people deserve.”  

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of a balanced budget resolution:

“This balanced budget resolution is a framework for the more efficient, effective, and accountable federal government that the American people deserve. Not only does this budget balance, but it does so responsibly without raising a single dime in taxes on hardworking Americans, and it provides the Senate with a significant opportunity to finally repeal and replace ObamaCare.

“By passing a balanced budget that preserves Social Security, supports stronger economic growth, and enhances U.S. energy security, we can show the American people that we’re serious about getting Washington working again for them.”

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Rave, others sign on for Jeb Bush

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The AP has a story this morning noting former GOP Chair, and current Senate Majority Leader, Tim Rave has signed on to support Jeb Bush for President:

A South Dakota lawmaker who formed a group to back potential presidential candidate Jeb Bush is being joined by some top state legislators.

Sioux Falls Republican Rep. Steve Westra says Senate Majority Leader Tim Rave and seven others have signed on to his volunteer group.

Read it here.

(So who are the others? Nice detail, AP)

Butte County GOP Aftermath, complete with threats of a “citizens grand jury.”

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About 2 months ago, on February 1, I had written on the reformation of the Butte County Republican party organization, with the officially elected central committee members selecting county leadership with the assistance of the South Dakota GOP, and members of the Custer and Lawrence county GOP organizations were also on hand for technical advice:

After correct elections were held with the people who were legally permitted under the bylaws to make the choice for county officials, under Republican party bylaws, things had settled down for a couple of months in peace and harmony among the Republican faithful.

Or maybe not.

Yesterday, Gordon Howie follower Bob Ellis posted a missive on his web site from one of the people in attendance:

I attended the “closed” meeting of the Butte County GOP Central Committee Meeting, as an elected Precinct Captain.

The meeting was restricted to Committee members as listed in the South Dakota GOP charter, Section III, County Central Committee rules.

Read that here.

From a read of Mr. Klipp’s letter, amidst questions dangled out there by him to try to stir something up, even he had to concede the party has bylaws which govern the selection process.

If only others had followed them earlier, I suspect there would have been much less confusion on Mr. Klipp’s part.   And behind the scenes, it goes downhill from there.  I’m told that this letter had been circulated in early February, and responded to by the current GOP organization, who offered Mr. Klipp the opportunity to sit down, and play a part on the County Republican board.

And as it was related to me, the olive branch was swatted away, at the same time the old group started claiming they’ve been shut out.  Despite not being elected, or validly serving as central committee members.

Apparently, it’s getting worse than downhill for the group of people who were never elected.  I had a note from the duly elected chairman, and apparently, they have no interest in letting “bylaws be bylaws,” and those who disagree with them want to set up their own system of getting around them:

This morning [redacted] called and said I have two weeks to surrender the party to the old group or face some kind of citizens grand jury or some such nonsense.

And I’m told this group has been calling the Secretary of State, as well as the Butte County Auditor in order to be re-declared “in charge,” despite the lack of any legitimacy for the offices.  That’s just what we need. Crazy sovereign citizen types harassing public officials, and declaring themselves “the real” Republican party, and if people don’t comply, they’ll be subjected to a “Citizens Grand Jury.”

I know it’s a pain, and will probably continue to be such, but it’s good that the state and area county GOP organizations went in to make sure that proper elections were held.  In a civil society, there is such a thing as the rule of law.

And the people who ignore it; when threaten and make stuff up if they don’t get their way – they need to learn a better way.

Thune Ushers Through Final Approval of Critical Airspace Expansion

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Thune Ushers Through Final Approval of Critical Airspace Expansion

Final FAA approval of PRTC increases national security while saving taxpayers money

Following nearly nine years of collaboration between U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and the Air Force to expand the military training airspace over South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, known as the Powder River Training Complex (PRTC), Thune today praised the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) announcement that it signed off on the Air Force’s proposed expansion of PRTC. This announcement marks the final step in the expansion process, making way for use of the expanded range by year’s end.

Click here to download video of Thune’s statement on the final FAA approval of PRTC.

“This has been a very long process, but I’m proud we’re finally completing this important expansion to provide our servicemen and women with the resources they need to be successful in a combat environment—all done while saving money. Talk about a winning combination for our country and for Ellsworth Air Force Base,” said Thune. “After nearly nine years working with the Air Force on this important expansion project, we’re not only going to see savings to the tune of $23 million a year at Ellsworth, but we’re also going to offer better training opportunities to our airmen—increasing readiness across the Air Force. I’m proud of the vital role Ellsworth continues to play in protecting and preserving America’s freedom at home and abroad, and look forward to this expansion contributing to these efforts long into the future.”

“I would like to applaud Senator Thune on keeping his eye on the ball for the past nine years,” said Pat Burchill, Chairman of South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority. “The Powder River Training Complex expansion wouldn’t have been possible without the relentless efforts of Senator Thune in the face of numerous obstacles. This is great news not only for Rapid City, but certainly also for South Dakota and our national defense.”

“During the 2005 BRAC, Senator Thune played a major role in the fight to remove Ellsworth Air Force Base from the closure list, and he continues to play a large part in improving our military readiness by successfully leading the effort to expand the Powder River Training Area,” said former chairman of the Ellsworth Task Force, Bruce Rampelberg. “The FAA’s announcement of the Powder River Training Area expansion is the result of Senator Thune’s tenacity over the past nine years. This expansion will reduce training costs and provide an area that can be structured to reflect the conditions our Air Force pilots may face in different parts of the world.”

The PRTC expansion will provide Air Force pilots and personnel with expanded airspace to perform the critical training they need in conditions that more closely resemble combat missions. The expansion will also allow for large force exercises where multiple aircraft and crews can train together simulating a combat environment without live fire exercises.

The new expanded Powder River Training Complex will be divided into four quadrants spanning nearly 35,000 square miles, or four times the size of the current range. The quadrants will each be divided into low-, medium-, and high-altitude sections. With the exception of Large Force Exercises, which only comprise 10 days per year, only a few quadrants will be in use during the week, and only for a few hours each day.

The PRTC expansion not only marks the largest expansion of Special Use Airspace in America’s history, but also represents an important cost-saving initiative. The expanded airspace will save Ellsworth Air Force Base up to $23 million per year and is the first time the FAA and Air Force have worked jointly on such an effort, setting a precedent for further cost-saving cooperation down the road and addressing stakeholder concerns up front.

Ellsworth Air Force Base has a $350 million impact on South Dakota’s economy and is the state’s second largest employer.

Rounds Offers Amendment to Protect Taxpayers from Waste, Fraud and Abuse

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Rounds Offers Amendment to Protect Taxpayers
from Waste, Fraud and Abuse

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced an amendment to the budget resolution requiring Congress to include findings from Inspectors General (IG) when examining ways to reduce waste, fraud and abuse within federal agencies.

“We owe it to South Dakota taxpayers to make certain their hard-earned dollars are spent wisely in Washington,” said Rounds. “I’ve already been working with IGs in my committee work and know firsthand how valuable their reports can be in finding waste, fraud and abuse among agencies. My amendment seeks to include this valuable information when conducting important oversight work in Congress.”

The current budget resolution calls for Congressional oversight committees to examine the biennial Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) High Risk List when finding ways to seek waste, fraud and abuse within their agencies of jurisdiction. Rounds’ amendment would add Inspector General semi-annual reports and unimplemented recommendations as part of that oversight process.

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Robocall defense lawyer back in the news.

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Shawn Tornow, who defended Dan Willard in the infamous Robocall case by saying Stace Nelson could have done it, (and last we knew still represents Nelson in the civil Robocall lawsuit) now has a new gig in court: 

In a motion filed earlier this month, Rasmussen’s lawyer, Shawn Tornow, said local media coverage has “negatively reflected on my client.” Attached to the motion were several articles referring to Rasmussen as one of the “homicide players” in the LeBeau murder. 
 Tornow wrote that “nearly all of such stories” have “this young defendant in a negative light — arguably a negative and wrongful media-generate inaccurate projection of (the) defendant as some type of more calculating and/or more mature ‘Black Widow’.” 

Read it here.

Tornow is moving from misdemeanor election violation cases to drug robbery conspiracy cases?

Noem Helps Move Death Tax Repeal Forward in the House

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Noem Helps Move Death Tax Repeal Forward in the House

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today helped pass a repeal of the death tax out of the House Ways and Means Committee, enabling the legislation to be voted on by the full House later this year.  Noem, whose family farm was hit by the death tax after her father passed away, has been a vocal supporter of its repeal.

“When my father died unexpectedly, our family was hit with the death tax,” said Noem.  “We made the decision to take out a loan, so we didn’t have to sell our land and potentially lose the farm.  The decision impacted nearly every financial choice we made for a decade.  No family should have to go through something like that.  I am committed to repealing this unjust – and frankly, immoral – tax that hurts small businesses and family farms most.  Today marks a step forward toward a time where hard work is respected and death is no longer a taxable event.”

Rep. Noem joined Reps. Kevin Brady (R-TX), Sanford Bishop (D-GA) and Devin Nunes (R-CA) in introducing H.R.1105, the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, on February 26, 2015.  The bill fully repeals the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes – more commonly known as the “death tax.” With approval from the House Ways and Means Committee, of which Noem is a member, the legislation will next receive consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives.