Thune: Senate to Prioritize Budget Reconciliation, Nominations, Repealing Burdensome Biden Regulations
“As I’ve said before, we can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:
Sioux Falls Business Journal has the announcement that’s been lurking out there for the last few weeks; that Micah Aberson has bought out and taken over the Lawrence & Schiller Ad agency:
Micah Aberson, who began as an intern at L&S, is now the advertising and marketing agency’s new CEO.
Aberson began the role today, marking a return to the firm almost one decade to the month since he left for a role at Sanford Health, where he ultimately served as executive vice president.
He then went on to serve as president of Mammoth Sports Construction and most recently as president of Cambria.
In addition to Aberson’s new role, longtime L&S leader Laura Mitchell has been promoted to president and chief operating officer — a new role for the firm. She too began as an intern before being hired after graduation from South Dakota State University in 2006 as an account coordinator.
and..
The leadership team remains in place:
- Ryan Budmayr, vice president of public relations and business development.
- Ryan Gardner, vice president of finance.
- Jamie Hegge, vice president of client service.
- Kristy Laue, vice president of creative.
In 2026, L&S will mark 50 years since its founding by Lawrence’s brother Craig and Paul Schiller.
Looks like Brian Bengs, who US Senate Majority Leader and Senator John Thune dispatched in 2022, is coming back to the woodshed for another whipping; this time against US Senator Mike Rounds:
Bengs for South Dakota F1N FEC by Pat Powers on Scribd
In 2022, Democrat Bengs was defeated in a 3-way general election contest against Senator Thune and Libertarian Tamara Lesnar on a vote of 69.6% – 26.1% – 4.2%.
Bengs’ challenge in this new contest is that I’m not sure people know him anymore than they did 4 years ago.
PLUS, as a former Democrat running as an independent, he will face a Democrat already in the race with Julian Beaudion having filed to be in the contest. Beaudion will absorb a large portion of the automatic party votes Bengs had received in 2022.
It will be interesting to see how he will run differently to get past the margin he received in the election this last time. Because I’m not sure the electoral math is there for him with little changed from 4 years ago, except his party.
SD News Watch is releasing results of a poll they did with the Chiesman Center. And it looks like the race for Governor has two leading competitors:
Of course, there’s 13 months to go in the contest. But it looks like a couple of people need to be working on things.
As I had noted in the below post, late this last week through this weekend was busy with candidate activity. Lots of things going on, including word that Attorney General Marty Jackley might be hinting about his political future at the Brookings/Lake/Moody County Lincoln Day dinner this last Friday night.
When it came down to brass tacks, Attorney General Marty Jackley did drop this item.. which might have been a hint, or it might have been a clever segue into the next speaker:
Lol. I’ll leave it up to you to decide what Marty’s future plans might be, but either way, I wish him well, as he’s truly a good guy.
Speaking of the Brookings/Lake/Moody Dinner, aside from it being notable for it’s reported length (I’m told 4 HOURS!?) it was notable for who wasn’t there – the newly announced candidate for Governor, Jon Hansen skipped the event sponsored in part by a county in his own District 25. Where was Hansen?
The Brookings LDD apparently overlapped with an event sponsored by his paymaster Leslee Unruh. So, Republicans versus the money? He went with the money and was featured at the Alpha Center annual gala, where this cringeworthy video comes from:
As one person sending the clip noted to me “At least Bill Clintons saxophone was fun! He sounds like a whiney Walmart John Mayer.” Ouch.
Toby “dumpster-fire” Doeden was at the Brookings County Lincoln Day dinner with his own introduction from the podium:
Apparently his introduction is now “running for something.” That coincides with a rumor I heard where people are campaign-shipping him to be completely slaughtered by Mike Rounds in the US Senate race, versus running for Governor. Why do I think those rumors might be coming loudest from Hansen/Lems people?
But speaking of Dumpster-fire Doeden, aside from his introduction as candidate for something, apparently he went to church this weekend …without spontaneously combusting once he crossed the threshold. So he has that.
The bigger question of his church attendance is not whether he went – but how exactly did Doeden have a photographer on hand to take pictures of him in church? Or does the church provides this photography service?
Do you come in with a donation envelope and check if you want just the Jesus part of church, or Jesus with a photo session, which for an extra fee, you can also get a pulpit souvenir photo? Just asking, as last I knew, Influencer photo facilitation isn’t available in my church.
I’m also kind of guessing Toby skipped over this verse:
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.“
– Matthew 6:5
Stay tuned for more!
340B Reform Will Put South Dakota Patients First
By Eldon Nygaard
The 340B federal drug program was created in 1992 with a clear mission: to help vulnerable patients access life-saving medications at lower costs. The program allows hospitals and clinics to purchase medicines at highly discounted rates with the expectation that those savings would be used to support uninsured and low-income patients. However, in states like South Dakota, concerns are being raised over whether or not these savings are actually reaching rural and underserved communities as intended.
The 340B hospital markup program has strayed from its original intent over time. Instead of serving as a critical patient safety net, it has become a moneymaking scheme for large hospitals, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), and significant for-profit pharmacy chains. Patients rarely see savings, as their copays are based on the medication’s full price, not the hospital’s discounted price.
These bad actors have been buying medicines at deep discounts for years while charging patients whatever they see fit. PBMs drive up medication costs even further by pocketing rebates and manipulating drug pricing. This unchecked markup inflates costs for everyone, making it difficult for South Dakotans to afford the medications that could be the difference between life and death for them. Without access or transparency, there is no guarantee that the billions in savings generated through 340B are actually being used to help South Dakotans.
The 340B program does not clarify how these hospitals and PBMs can use this revenue. While drug costs have continued to rise, hospitals, PBM middlemen, and for-profit pharmacies have pocketed the difference. The lack of 340B transparency has allowed these actors to play this reverse Robin Hood game for years.
A 2021 study found no evidence that hospitals joining the 340B program provided more care to underserved populations than those not in the program. 340B hospitals are growing in wealthier areas across South Dakota and nationwide by acquiring clinics, allowing these actors to maximize their profits more by serving well-insured patients living in these areas.
South Dakota is working towards a more equitable and transparent 340B program. In 2023, Governor Kristi Noem signed a bill to enhance transparency in prescription drug pricing. In 2024, 20 states enacted 33 laws regulating PBMs, specifically putting tighter restrictions around the 340B program. South Dakota was one of those states, as Governor Noem approved additional legislation to refine drug pricing regulations further and restrict certain PBM practices. Such restrictions included discrimination against 340B contract pharmacies and granting 340B entities the right to sue PBMs for discriminatory conduct.
While recent PBM reforms in the state are a big step forward, more work must be done to ensure the 340B program effectively serves its intended purpose. South Dakota is a predominantly rural state, with many small, underserved towns and farmland stretching across its landscape. Many South Dakotans rely on the 340B program to access everything from daily medications to lifesaving treatments, which is why it’s so critical for this program to operate as intended.
Congress must prioritize reforms to this program to increase transparency and hold hospitals accountable for these disingenuous acts. 340B needs to be transparent and sustainable in South Dakota to ensure patients have access to the healthcare they need. Without it, South Dakotans risk losing the affordable treatment options they expect and rely on.
Some participants are proposing a 340B rebate model. Under this approach, providers are required to show that a properly eligible 340B entity purchased and dispensed the drugs receiving the substantial 340B discount before they are reimbursed. This is a first step towards providing the transparency necessary to ensure the billions in 340B profits are actually being used for patients. However, members of Congress have not taken any action to allow for the operation of this model, and so the program still hangs in limbo.
Leader Thune is in a unique position to restore South Dakota’s healthcare industry. Through his hard work, Leader Thune has been elected by his colleagues to lead the U.S. Senate. As the Majority Leader, he is empowered to ensure that certain bills are up for a vote and can sway his colleagues to prioritize reforms. I encourage South Dakotans to let Leader Thune know that South Dakota is counting on him. He can do it!
—
Eldon Nygaard is a former State Senator, Veteran and retired professor.
Sorry for the light posting this weekend – I’ve been on the road since last Thursday going to see the much neglected Mrs. Dakotawarcollege. It was my turn to head west, and we turned it into an antiquing trip.
Great buys at the shop in Hot Springs, and I was very happy with what I bought at St. Joes Antique Mall. Although, at the Flea Market/Craft show at the Monument, Julie Frye-Awful and her husband were there. I didn’t know if I should have looked for a breastfeeding/vaccination counseling booth.
It was reported to me that House Majority Leader Scott Odenbach was in Brookings at the Lincoln Day Dinner at the same time I had traveled to Spearfish. Not sure if I should read anything into that or not. I will get to the events of the weekend in short order, so stay tuned.
In the meantime, I did catch this a few moments ago in the Jon Hansen announcement video that’s finally out there 4-5 days after it actually happened:
As Arch Beal would say – WHOA WHOA WHOA! What on earth is that supposed to be? They had to have AI to “create” a picture of the South Dakota State Capitol Building?!? Because that’s not the South Dakota State Capitol.
If they’re using AI to generate a picture of the South Dakota State Capitol, what else is faked and altered in the announcement video?
Kind of thinking they should swap their latest slogan..
For a new hobby lobby sign…
Just a suggestion.
*update*
Apparently, they also had to include AI combines that don’t exist.
South Dakota Searchlight has a new article this weekend on how former 32 year Democrat, now SDGOP chairman, Jim Eschenbaum is demanding blind obedience from Republican legislators, instead of supporting leadership and representing their constituents well:
For those who pay attention to such things, the dust-ups between traditional Republicans and the new breed have been fun to watch. Eschenbaum seems intent on draining away that enjoyment. It looks like he wants what the Old Guard once had: everyone in the party voting in lockstep with leadership.
And..
To make sure lawmakers are toeing the party line, Eschenbaum has proposed a South Dakota GOP scorecard to keep track of how legislators vote. “I don’t know if the state central committee will decide to do it,” Eschenbaum said, “but it would be based on those three principles, the two constitutions and the party platform.”
And..
Others may think it’s refreshing when lawmakers have the courage to vote their conscience rather than toe the party line. It’s obvious that the new chairman of the Republican Party doesn’t see it that way.
Sen. Mike Rounds to Attend Pope Francis’ Funeral as Part of U.S. Delegation
By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) will join a bipartisan delegation of lawmakers traveling to Rome this Saturday for Pope Francis’s funeral.
Rounds is one of four U.S. senators in a group led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). The Senate delegation also includes Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ed Markey (D-MA), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO). A separate House delegation led by Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) will also attend, bringing the total number of U.S. lawmakers to 15.
Pope Francis died at age 88 on Easter Monday after a stroke. Tens of thousands of mourners have lined up to view his body lying in state inside St. Peter’s Basilica ahead of Saturday’s service. Francis was the first pontiff to address a joint session of Congress in 2015, an event Rounds attended.
In an interview with Dakota News Now, Rounds reflected on Pope Francis’ legacy, describing him as “very, very humble” and “a great example for people around the world about what it means to be a Christian.” Rounds also noted the Pope’s habit of responding to prayer requests by saying, “Please pray for me.”
Rounds is a lifelong Catholic and a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre, and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Catholics in South Dakota
According to the 2010 U.S. Religion Census, there were 148,883 Catholics in South Dakota, making Catholicism the largest single religious denomination in the state at that time. Recent estimates suggest Catholics remain one of the state’s largest faith groups.
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Gov. Rhoden Appoints David Wheeler to 3rd Judicial Circuit Court
Seeks Public Input to Fill District 22 Senate Seat
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced that he appointed David Wheeler to be a circuit judge in the Third Circuit, a vacancy that will be open upon the retirement of Presiding Judge Greg Stoltenburg. Wheeler resigned from his seat in the South Dakota State Senate yesterday.
“I’ve gotten to know David through the last several years as a senator when I was President of the Senate,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “He believes in our institutions and in upholding the rule of law as written, not as one may think it should be written. I am confident David will represent the judicial branch with the same integrity, work ethic, and passion that he did in the Senate.”
David Wheeler grew up in Huron, SD. He obtained his undergraduate degree, masters, and juris doctorate from the University of South Dakota. David entered private practice and is currently a partner at the Blue, Wheeler and Banks LLP. David has served many roles, including prosecuting and public defense. He was elected in 2020 as a state senator and was serving his third term for District 22 prior to his resignation.
“Public service is very important to me. It has been my honor to serve the people of South Dakota as a state senator,” said David Wheeler. “I am incredibly grateful to Governor Rhoden for the opportunity to serve the people in this new role as a circuit court judge. As a judge, it will be my job to apply the law fairly and equally without regard for politics or personal beliefs.”
David is married to Kristin Wheeler, who is a high school counselor, and they live in Huron with their three children. A photo of David Wheeler can be found here.
The Third Circuit consists of the counties of Beadle, Brookings, Clark, Codington, Deuel, Grant, Hamlin, Hand, Jerauld, Kingsbury, Lake, Miner, Moody, and Sanborn.
The appointment leaves an open seat in the state Senate. Governor Rhoden requests public input on filling the District 22 opening. Those wishing to be considered for the vacancy in the state Senate, or to offer nominations, should email ryan.brunner@state.sd.us. Nominations should include the candidate’s name, current physical address, resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation. All nomination materials must be submitted by May 16, 2025.
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