Hang on if the site isn’t loading for you, or other weirdness. I’m doing some housecleaning, back end upgrades, etc.
I had a couple of errors that were generating some HUGE error logs. and getting rid of 2 gigabyte error files helped pep things up considerably. While I’m at it, I’m doing some more housecleaning, installing a few things I was having trouble with, and starting work on updating to a more dynamic header.
Rounds Statement on NLRB’s “Ambush Election” Rule
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today supported a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, which he cosponsored, against the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) recent rule on “ambush elections,” The rule is scheduled to take effect on April 14, 2015.
“With this rule, the NLRB isn’t looking out for workers or employers—it’s looking to protect big unions,” said Rounds. “By dramatically cutting the time between a union petition to a representation election, it not only limits the rights of employers, it pushes employees to make a hurried decision about organizing. Three unelected bureaucrats never should have made this decision in the first place.”
In December 2014, the NLRB issued a final rule making drastic changes to union representation election procedures, known as “ambush elections.” The rule makes an end run around employers by cutting the time between a union petition and a representation election from approximately 38 days to as few as 11. Additionally, it would require employers to give unions personal information about employees, including personal cell phone numbers and personal email addresses.
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After getting back from down South, I’ve been spending a bit of my time lately working on Senate Bill 190, specifically with mind to amending the measure which was written by insurance companies. We had phenomenal coverage in the Argus Leader this morning, with an above the fold, top of the page story.
The bill had huge problems, because as the measure was written by insurers, only 2 people in the entire state could provide reimbursable services to the over 850 estimated kids with Autism, and it capped those services at levels lower than what was recommended by the legislature’s own study. (The bill also has other problems, but sometimes you need to pick your battles).
There was good testimony from parents, including my better half. And testimony from insurers which ranged from some that I thought as productive and good to utterly contemptible.
But in the end, legislators cut to the quick, and recognized that limiting services to 2 people in the state was not very productive, and they went for the limits recommended by the study. They asked good questions, and generally had a genuine concern for the bill doing as it should – helping disabled kids.
In other words, sometimes these guys representing us in Pierre can get it right.
And House State Affairs did a commendable job this morning, as they passed an amended Senate Bill 190 on a near unanimous basis, and sent it to the House floor.
Is that Gordon Howie talking about 2nd tier candidates today?
After his last performance, it’s good that Gordon has something to aspire to.
I see this morning that the SD Blogosphere’s raging liberal Cory Heidelberger has given up on his blog, Error on line 433 Madville Times, and went with a new one, completely rebranding.
So I went and took a look. Did I say rebranding? GAAH! Awful font work, Eye Injuries ensue.
Apparently, someone learned about how you can integrate Google fonts into your blog.
Noem to Introduce Legislation Offering More Flexibility for Local School Meal Programs
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today announced plans for legislation that reduces federal mandates on school meal standards, including the more stringent whole grain requirements that went into effect in July 2014 and the Target 2 sodium requirements set to be implemented in the coming years.
“Current school lunch standards create a one-size-fits-all model that doesn’t work for our kids and places costly and senseless burdens on school districts – especially smaller school districts,” said Noem. “We all want our kids to be healthier, but we need to give our schools flexibility at the local level to ensure the standards work for the students it’s intended to serve. As a mom, I want to make sure the school meal program my kids participate in is rooted in science-based nutrition plans and includes food that they’re actually going to eat. After all, my kids don’t get the nutrients if it’s left on the plate.”
Rep. Noem introduced her initial Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act in December 2013. This updated version of the bill includes new provisions to address concerns with the Target 2 sodium levels and whole grain requirements.
“It’s essential that kids get nutritious and filling meals while at school, but new standards have taken a step too far, resulting in many students choosing unhealthy alternatives outside the school lunch program,” said Sandi Kramer, Child Nutrition Director of the Yankton School District in South Dakota. “We are proud to support Rep. Noem’s Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act. As a mother whose kids go to school in a very small school district, she understands the challenges schools will face in serving healthy and appetizing options to students under these new requirements. With her bill, nutrition remains a priority, but it’s done in a way that’s going to work in the real world.”
The Reducing Federal Mandates on School Lunch Act will be introduced in the coming weeks. The legislation would:
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Rounds Statement on Netanyahu Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress:
“I thank Prime Minister Netanyahu for taking the time to address us today on our shared goal of stopping Iran from its nuclear ambitions. Our relationship with Israel transcends both time and political theater, and we must continue to work together to defeat our enemies which seek to destroy us. A nuclear Iran threatens the entire world and cannot be allowed to get nuclear weapons. I encourage the President to carefully consider the Prime Minister’s remarks today as he moves forward with his Iranian policy.”
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Yes, I’ve been somewhat quiet on original writing over the last couple of weeks as I’ve held down the homefront while my wife dealt with her Dad’s passing, and we both traveled for the funeral in Arkansas this last week. But in case you’re wondering, yes, that’s me in an article at ArgusLeader.com today.
No, I’m not in the accident reports, court reports, Argus 911, scolding political silliness or Democrats. I’m actually working with a great group of parents who are trying to ensure that a measure in the legislature being promoted as helping children with Autism actually does that, and doesn’t put families in a worse position than there were in before:
Parents of children afflicted with autism hope a bill moving through the legislature can be amended to help parents get insurance coverage for the most effective treatment plan.
and…
In 2014, insurers in the state began to deny the intensive and expensive treatment protocols used in Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA), which involve hours of therapy each week and can cost between $50,000 and $120,000 a year. A bill to require all plans to cover ABA died last year in Pierre and was replaced with a bill that called for a study group. Senate Bill 190 was offered by insurance providers in response to the study.
and…
Stanley and other parents, including Pat and Michelle Powers of Brookings, say the bill would put those whose children were grandfathered into coverage in a more difficult position than they are now.
Michelle Powers told KSOO radio’s Rick Knobe on Monday that recognizing ABA coverage as effective and worthy while cutting coverage for the hourslong workaday therapy involved leaves previously-covered parents with less than they have now.
Without amendments, Pat Powers said, the bill recognizes ABA but ignores the tiered delivery system that makes it possible.
“It also places stricter limitations on coverage levels than those recommended by the legislative report in 2014,” he wrote in an email.
If you care about kids with disabilities getting services to help them live up to their potential, and give them a chance to become productive taxpaying citizens, as opposed to wards of the state, it’s an important bill to watch. And with a couple of minor tweaks, it can be a good bill, as opposed to a bad one that hurts families.
(And while we’re at it, I’m also helping with publicity for the Brookings Area Special Olympics Polar 5k run taking place on March 27th. The Polar 5k is one of the fastest growing 5k events in the state, and rivals the Hobo Day 5k in size. Sign up today.)
AFP SD Director Ben Lee Discusses Stealth Tax Increase on KELO Radio
One Penny Sales Tax Proposal Would Result In More Than $150 Million In New Taxes
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Americans for Prosperity South Dakota Director Ben Lee appeared on KELO Radio to discuss a bill that could increase sales taxes in South Dakota by $150 million. AFP South Dakota has been engaging its network of activists, encouraging them to reach out to their legislatior and urge them to vote NO on this dangerous legislation.
Excerpt from the interview: “South Dakota’s economic advantage is our low tax structure…Any time we consider significant tax increases we’re threatening that and we’re threatening our economic advantage…If every city chose to take take advantage of the ability to add an additional 1 penny sales tax, that would result in more than $150 million in new taxes, which would be far and away the largest tax increase in South Dakota history… This bill has been under the radar and we don’t think enough folks have been talking about it. So we wanted to shine a light on it and talk about how we don’t believe this is good tax policy for South Dakota.”
You can listen to the full interview here.