Mickelson takes the helm of the State House
A legislator was nice enough to send this to me today.
This afternoon, House Speaker Pro Tempore George Mark Mickelson took the helm of the State House for the first time.
Author: @SoDakCampaigns
Light posting almost done…
Parts are installed, and I’m in the process of adding programs back to my computer, so I think the worst is over at the SDWC’s great computer crash of 2015.
I had a very enjoyable evening last night with South Dakota Realtors, Homebuilders, School Administrators and Legislators. And after sitting at the Ramkota watching them all Karaoke, I think most need to take voice lessons.
I did sit down with Corey Brown, Billie Sutton and Troy Heinert at the Ramkota last night. (Do Heinert & Sutton constitute sitting down with half of the Democratic Caucus? I kid.. I kid…) We all had a nice discussion, although I’m not sure Sutton & Heinert took my suggestion to switch parties seriously.
Otherwise, keep watching this space for more stuff. We’re just about back on the air.
Thune, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Simplify Income Tax Collection for Individuals Working in Multiple States
Thune, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Simplify Income Tax Collection for Individuals Working in Multiple States
-Bill would ease reporting burdens for employees and employers-
WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), members of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee, today introduced the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, legislation that would simplify and standardize state income tax collection for employees who travel outside of their home state for temporary work assignments. The bill would also help employers who must file withholdings and reporting requirements. Currently, individuals and employers face up to 41 different state income tax reporting requirements that vary based on length of stay, income earned, or both.
“Our increasingly mobile workforce has created opportunities for businesses to grow and expand throughout the nation, but complex state tax reporting requirements place costly and time-consuming burdens on businesses with employees that work in multiple states,” said Thune. “Our legislation would establish a clear 30-day threshold test for state income tax purposes, preventing individuals from having to sort through complicated tax reporting burdens from the multiple states where they travel for work. This legislation will greatly simplify state income tax filings, is fairer to those residents in states without an income tax, and should help to encourage tax compliance.”
“This common-sense legislation will help simplify and standardize tax filing for employees and employers that conduct business in multiple states,” Brown said. “This is a great example of government working to reduce burdensome and confusing barriers to help ease the cost of doing business for employers and their workers.”
“Retailers welcome the introduction of this bill,” said National Retail Federation Vice President and Tax Counsel Rachelle Bernstein. “The current morass of state laws dealing with state income tax burdens for workers on business travel outside their home states creates confusion and undue compliance burdens for both employees and employers. This burden can be particularly onerous for the retail industry. Buyers for both large and small retailers frequently travel out of state to visit vendors or attend trade or fashion shows. Federal law to provide uniform rules for when these employees must file income tax returns in another state would greatly simplify this burden.”
“The current system is especially harmful to residents of states like South Dakota with no personal income tax, as these workers are forced to pay an out-of-pocket tax with no ability to obtain a home state credit or offset,” said Laura Coome, Executive Director of the South Dakota CPA Society. “This legislation would enhance compliance with state personal income tax laws and greatly simplify the onerous burdens placed on employees who travel outside of their resident states for temporary periods and on employers who have corresponding withholding and reporting requirements.”
“CPAs are extremely grateful to Senator Brown and Senator Thune for introducing Mobile Workforce legislation again in this Congress,” said Scott D. Wiley, CAE, president and CEO, The Ohio Society of CPAs. “It provides much-needed relief to businesses across the United States from the current web of inconsistent state income tax and withholding rules weighing down our nation’s employers and employees. This bill is an important step forward and extends the benefits businesses will see through a similar municipal income tax reform legislation passed in Ohio.”
While some states require state income tax filing for as little as one day of work in the state, the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act would establish a common-sense, 30-day threshold to help ensure that an equitable tax is paid to the state and local jurisdiction where the work is being performed while alleviating employees and employers from burdensome tax requirements.
The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act is supported by over 250 organizations and business groups.
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Am I the only one not buying it?
So, I’m looking at Ann Tornberg’s late campaign finance report.
In the year end report – from 2 weeks before the election through January 1, she is claiming she received two – as in 2 – itemized donations totaling $800.
BUT… She claims she received $15,348.11 In unitemized donations during the same period?
Er, yeah. Sorry, but I’m going to call Bull$h|t on that one. I’m pretty sure that defies the laws of fundraising. She claims to have received over 150 donations around $100 in the last two weeks… At the same time she shuffles 15k off to the Democratic Party?
Sorry, but that doesn’t happen. At all.
If we are going to bother to enforce campaign finance reporting laws at all, it’s worthy of an investigation and a spot audit by the Secretary of State.
Otherwise, why do we bother to report, versus eliminating the reporting requirement.
I’m told I’m in the middle of blog gold…
Steve Hickey tells me in in the middle of Blog Gold tonight… So here it is.
Busy today hanging out with a great group of educators.
A couple of legislators were on the floor of the house this morning haranguing me because I wasn’t posting enough today for them to fully get their SDWC fix.
But this morning wasn’t about me – It was for my wife, who over the noon hour, was recognized as South Dakota’s Special Education Administrator of the year, along with several other remarkable school administrators from across South Dakota.
Representative Jacqueline Sly addressed the group, along with others including Secretary of Education Melody Schopp. After they were feted at the Luncheon, the administrators also went up to the Capitol where they were recognized by the Governor and both chambers of the Legislature.
(Yes, that’s Mrs PP with the Governor)
Several others were recognized as exemplary administrators, at the principal, business manager, curriculum director and superintendent levels.
We all want good teachers for our children. And administrators play a significant role in that process. Congrats to all who were recognized today.
Rounds Cosponsors Balanced Budget Amendment Legislation
Rounds Cosponsors Balanced Budget Amendment Legislation
Washington—Today, Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined every Republican Senator in introducing a Balanced Budget Amendment, requiring the federal government to balance its books.
“Washington spends too much money, plain and simple.” said Rounds. “In South Dakota, we understand the importance of spending taxpayer dollars wisely and we don’t spend what we don’t have. Washington ought to do the same.”
“Taking significant steps to rein in spending, as the Balanced Budget Amendment would do, would send a strong signal to job creators that we are serious about growing our economy for the long haul. It would give them the confidence to invest and hire again.”
Sen. Rounds’ weekly column on our debt and Balanced Budget Amendment is available HERE.
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About that OTHER US Senate Candidate facing a felony prosecution…
We haven’t heard much about a certain US Senate candidate who faces a felony prosecution for petition issues.
No, not Annette Bosworth. From her we’ve heard far too much.
I’m talking about Clayton Walker:
A former South Dakota U.S. Senate Candidate was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, as he battles and indictments charging him with nine felonies for election law violations and threatening state employees.
Clayton Walker, who tried to run for U.S. Senate as an independent in the 2014 mid-term election, had successfully fought to keep his third lawyer in the case, Timothy Rensch, when Circuit Judge John Brown ordered the evaluation.
Rensch had filed a motion to withdraw as council Jan. 29. Brown said he “simply can’t just keep appointing attorneys”, for Walker when he denied the motion and ordered Rensch to keep Walker as a client.
And..
Walker’s trial date was not been set, Brown said, because he want to wait for the results of Walker’s evaluation and hold a competency hearing.
So, who are the pokey puppies?
Secretary of State Shantel Krebs issued a list today of those campaigns and organizations who have filed late, or not at all.
If you see your name here, you may want to call the office…
ANN TORNBERG FOR DISTRICT 16 SENATE filed 02/03/15
BARTLETT4HOUSE
BEHLINGS FOR SD HOUSE
BILL LAIRD FOR SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE
BRULE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
BURG FOR SENATE
CANTON POOL PAC
CAPITOL COMMITTEE
CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICANS
CONSERVATIVE ACTION TODAY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
CORSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
DAVID L. ALLEN FOR STATE SENATE
DENNERT FOR SENATE
DEUEL COUNTY DEMOCRATS
DISTRICT 9 FUTURE PAC
DONNA JO HAUSMAN
ELEPHANTS ON PATROL
ELLEE FOR 12
ENERGY EMPLOYEES PAC
FRIENDS OF DARRELL RASCHKE filed 02/03/15
FRIENDS OF EDUCATION
FRIENDS OF NORBERT BARRIE
FRIENDS OF REYNOLD NESIBA
FRIENDS OF TAMMY BASEL
GREGORY KNIFFEN FOR HOUSE
HABER FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
HAMLIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HAMLIN COUNTY REPUBLICANS
HAND COUNTY DEMOCRATS
HAND COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
HARGENS FOR HOUSE
HAUSMAN FOR HOUSE
INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS OF SOUTH DAKOTA PAC
JIM SHEEHAN
JOHN KOSKAN
KAY WILDS FOR SOUTH DAKOTA
LAKE COUNTY DEMOCRATS
LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
MCPHERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATS
MEADE COUNTY DEMOCRATS
MERCHANT FOR SENATE
MICHAEL O’CONNOR
MICHELLE MALONEY FOR STATE SENATE filed 02/03/15
MINNEHAHA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY filed 02/03/15
NO ON 16
NORTHERN HILLS TOURISM PAC
PEGGY SCHUELKE FOR DISTRICT 4
PIERSON FOR STATE TREASURER
PLUMBERS & FITTERS LOCAL 300 PAC
ROBERTS COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
SD ASSOCIATION OF VIDEO LOTTERY ESTABLISHMENTS
SIOUX FALLS POLICE OFFICERS / SERGEANTS PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA COMPASSION PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA DEMOCRATIC PARTY filed 02/03/15
SOUTH DAKOTA PEOPLE’S PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA ROOTS filed 02/03/15
SOUTH DAKOTA TELECOMMUNICATIONS PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA YOUNG DEMOCRATS
STACEY FOR SENATE
STEVE HICKEY FOR STATE HOUSE filed 02/03/15
STUDER FOR SENATE
SUSAN CHESHIER FOR STATE SENATE
SVARSTADPAC
THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT LANCE RUSSELL STATE REPRESENTATIVES filed 02/02/15 at 5:13 pm
THE MAJORITY PROJECT filed 02/03/15
TOM NELSON CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
TRIPP COUNTY REPUBLICANS
TURNER COUNTY DEMOCRAT PARTY
VOTE ROBIN PAGE FOR SD HOUSE
WALWORTH COUNTY DEMOCRATS
WANDA BLAIR FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WOMENRUN! SOUTH DAKOTA filed 02/03/15
ZELMER FOR SENATE
ZIEBACH COUNTY REPUBLICANS
Secretary Krebs also issued a list of those who have issues with their report that need to be resolved.
Thune Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Clay Hunt SAV Act
Thune Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Clay Hunt SAV Act
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act:
“While we’ve made strides in recognizing the needs of America’s veterans, it’s an outrage our heroes still don’t have all of the mental health resources they need when they return home from the battlefield. There is still much to be done to treat the invisible wounds of war, and this bill, in conjunction with the efforts taken by Congress last year, will help us to further repay the tremendous debt of gratitude we owe the men and women who have answered the call to serve.”
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