Author: Pat Powers

Did I mention yet that I am involved in a primary this year?

I am running for precinct committeeman, and for the third or fourth election in a row, I have an opponent. Same guy always files for the same office as I do, for the privilege of representing our precinct at the South Dakota Republican Party state convention.

Which really makes the argument against down ticket statewide officials not standing for primary elections kind of fall flat for me. Why is the office of precinct committeeman  – always dead last on the ballot – worthy of a primary in front of the voters for my chunk of the city of Brookings, but Attorney General or Secretary of State is not deserving of similar scrutiny by the voters at large?

Senate Bill 13, an act to revise the process for nominating candidates for the offices of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and Secretary of State is up for debate on the Senate floor tomorrow, after passing unanimously 9-0 out of the Senate State Affairs committee this last week

While it seems that we’ve heard this a couple of times in the legislature already this year, and this is the second time the Senate has had the opportunity to debate and discuss the measure, that being said, it is a measure that deserves far more serious consideration than it may have received over the course of the legislative session.

In its prior incarnations, the proposals to change how South Dakota political parties select a couple of the offices that are currently chosen at party conventions have been subjected to conjecture and scare tactics which are utter nonsense as some try to preserve the current way of doing things.

Currently there are 301,869 registered Republicans in South Dakota. So, at least 301,000 are disenfranchised from selecting the primary candidates for their party for most state offices under the current system.

The arguments against it absolutely crumble under their own weight.

Some are naïve enough to declare that the group of delegates who gather at political conventions are performing some vital vetting process that the poor uneducated voters of South Dakota are incapable of doing on their own.

As an active participant, I could tell you that’s a ridiculous, and kind of insulting, notion. Convention delegates are just versed in how to fill out a piece of paper, and we like to participate in state politics, and go to the convention.

The act of putting an address on, filling out the precinct number, and signing a one page form does not grant us any greater insight or wisdom than the public at large has.

Another argument that opponents like to throw out, is that big money interests would somehow be able to sway the elections for nefarious ends. Sometimes they even bring up George Soros as a bogeyman.

I can’t help but roll my eyes at this. If this was the case, then, why are these bad actors only discussed in terms of the primary election? I would think that they would find more fertile ground in the general election. But where are they? They never seem to appear.

It might have something to do with the fact that these offices don’t really have people throwing out cash left and right to elect constitutional offices.

If there were all these dark monied special interests ready to pounce on our down ticket races, I suspect our current Secretary of State, Monae Johnson, would be reporting more than $324 in her campaign account after she loaned it $1500, as I posted about recently.

Ultimately, it comes down to a question of whether we trust the voters of our political parties or not.

301,869 Republicans and 145,449 Democrats, do we trust them to select the candidates who will represent their parties in the fall elections? I do. And I think we’ve gone past the time to think that individuals don’t have an interest in selecting the candidates who will represent their party.

As I tried to communicate in my testimony to the Senate state affairs committee on Senate Bill 13: Don’t be afraid of the voters! Don’t patronize them by pretending that a group of a few hundred people are smarter than a group of 300,000.

Voters as a group are smart people and acting together they make good decisions. If voters at large can choose their coroner, their county auditor, legislators and governor in a primary they are capable of choosing their Attorney General and Secretary of State the same way as well.

Unless we want to continue insulting voters.

From my mailbox:

I want to start out by thanking you for your support, encouragement, and engagement. You were one of my earliest supporters who believed in me, invested in my first race, or have kept up with me since. That’s why I’m coming to you first with some exciting news.

I’m excited to share that I’m running for re-election to the House of Representatives in District 14! I’ve learned a lot in my first term and am proud of my track record and legislative success. More importantly, the continued encouragement and support from my family and friends makes serving the people of southeast Sioux Falls possible. It’s not easy being away from my wife and my two growing boys for the nine-week legislative session, but they’re also a big part of the “why” I choose to serve. Keeping our state strong for our next generation guides me and the decisions I make.

When I first announced for the legislature I promised to keep our people as my number one priority. I also told you I’d focus on promoting a vibrant economy along with building up strong communities and healthy families. In keeping with that promise, as a freshman legislator I carried five bills last year and all five were signed into law. These efforts included strengthening our elections, fixing outdated regulations, and a signature “workforce freedom” legislation to recognize professional and occupational licenses to assist in our workforce shortage. I was honored to be recognized by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) as one of the top 50 Under 50 lawmakers in the nation promoting conservative policies at the state level, and earlier this year was named a Legislative Champion by the Foundation for Government Accountability. The Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce also named me one of their Community Champions for 2023 for maintaining a 100% voting record.

Last summer, I was selected for a National Conference on State Legislatures (NCSL) fellowship on youth homelessness which spurred legislation I’m moving through the process this year. This session I’m also championing legislation that would address child food insecurity, improve our process of electing statewide offices, and a bill to recognize some of our nation’s biggest heroes. In short, you sent me to Pierre to work hard, respect the people, and get results. In my first term I’ve done just that, but there’s still more work to be done.

I am looking forward to getting back out and earning the vote of my neighbors again and hope I can count on your continued support and encouragement so we can run a successful campaign for re-election. If given the opportunity to keep serving, I promise to do more of the same. Help kill the bad bills and do all I can to pass the good ones. Keeping the focus on South Dakota families, our next generation and addressing real problems.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or just want to catch up, give me a call at (605) 610-8884 or shoot me a message at [email protected]anytime. I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your friendship and continued support!

Sincerely,

Tyler Tordsen

Delivering Wins for Agriculture

MADISON–The Legislature is nearing the end of session and we remain focused on working to find resolution on some of the major policy issues in the state and finalizing a balanced budget for the state’s next fiscal year.

The future success of ethanol, corn markets in South Dakota and carbon dioxide sequestration have been major topics of debate in the Capitol last year and again this year.  House Majority Leader Will Mortenson and I introduced SB 201 to find a path forward for South Dakota in what has been an emotional issue related to private property rights and the proposed carbon pipeline.  SB 201 is a comprehensive solution that protects landowner rights and establishes clear infrastructure guardrails. 

When South Dakota farmers succeed, all of South Dakota succeeds, and that cuts both ways. When South Dakota farmers have limited access to national and global markets, our whole state suffers. A rising tide lifts all boats, and that’s why I am committed to legislation like SB 201 that fosters a brighter future for all of South Dakota.

I want South Dakota to have some of the strongest landowner protections in the nation, and that’s why we’re working on a compromise package. What SB 201 does is set standards in state law for linear utility projects to abide by, specifically CO2 pipelines. It allows counties to levy a surcharge on CO2 pipelines that could equate to $3.5 million each year for counties hosting the proposed pipeline. It also requires land agents to be South Dakota based, CO2 pipeline operators to repair drain tile, and establishes penalties for safety failures for operators.

SB 201 also clarifies state law where federal preemption voids any state or local safety standards or setbacks. South Dakota is open for business, which means we don’t set up roadblocks for projects through regulation, red tape, excessive fees, and indefinite timelines. We provide fairness and certainty in the process for landowners and businesses. State law should reflect federal standards and remove uncertainty for counties on actions that would result in lawsuits that will cost taxpayers money. Our farmers and communities deserve better than sham lawsuits that drag out projects and cost taxpayers legal fees. Let’s put money in the pockets of farmers, not lawyers.

Related to ethanol, I joined Gov. Noem, farmers and ethanol producers for the bill signing ceremony of SB 78. This bill helps incentivize gas stations to offer E15 and bolster our ag industry. Ethanol plants buy 64% of the corn grown in the state, supporting 11,00 family farms and 30,000 jobs. I want to see more homegrown fuel sold and used in South Dakota. It’s good for farmers and consumers.

Earlier this week, I was proud to support HCR 6008 discouraging voters from adopting the radical pro-abortion ballot measure paid for by out-of-state special interest groups. South Dakota is a state that values the life of the unborn. Alternating the state’s constitution to allow late-term abortions, remove parental awareness and override existing conscience protections that were enacted for healthcare providers is extreme and frankly, it’s immoral. 

The Senate and House enjoyed the service of pages from District 8–Chester, Arlington and two from Howard. These four have bright futures and we are grateful for their help in the Capitol. If you know a high schooler interested in government and public service, encourage them to apply to page in a future year.

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Attorney General Jackley Joins Coalition Supporting Trump’s Presidential Immunity Stay Request to U.S. Supreme Court

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley has joined 21 Attorneys General in filing an amicus brief that supports former President Donald Trump’s stay request regarding presidential immunity to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Former President Trump has asked the Supreme Court to stay a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit which said Trump could not invoke presidential immunity as a defense against criminal charges related to the 2020 presidential election and the Jan. 6, 2021 incident at the U.S. Capitol.

The special prosecutor in the case is also seeking a quick decision by the U.S. Supreme Court on Trump’s stay request so the trial can start this year. The initial trial set was set for this March.

“These are serious charges, and a defendant, even one who is a candidate for President, deserves a right to have time to prepare an adequate defense,” said Attorney General Jackley. “The Attorneys General do not believe that speeding up the legal process for political reasons would be appropriate.”

Attorneys Generals also have signed on from the states of Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

The brief can be read here:

Heard a rumor that is rocketing around among politicos this weekend with regards to the really unusual event of Steve Haugaard headlining the Butte County Lincoln Day Dinner on March 2.

Aside from the fact that the speaking engagement isn’t going to draw anyone but the furthest right of the far right, a rumor keeps going around that an announcement will be made in Butte County that – and again, this is just rumor at this point, but the claim is Haugaard is supposedly using the occasion to announce the start of a run for Attorney General in 2026.

I’m not sure how a person can really assess that water cooler chatter.

Is this supposedly coming off of Haugaard’s representation of Julie Frye Mueller? Because I don’t think that went too well for them. Would it be seeking a bounce from his previous effort(s) to run for statewide office? Again, something that didn’t end so well.

I talked to one politico who had heard it from three different sources today so I don’t know if it’s just circulating that quickly secondhand through the winter inhabitants of the state capital, or there is actual substance to it.

Put me down as a doubting Thomas, because I think the notion of Steve Haugaard running for AG is pretty silly. It would be like R. Shawn Tornow announcing he was running because you don’t have to be an attorney to be attorney general.

But given what’s happening with some members of the GOP lately, I can’t discount anything.

This morning while haunting the halls of the State Capital, I was given challenge coins by Senators Stalzer and Schoenbeck, and they are pretty darned nice!

Especially since I’ve been dealing with people lately who are challenged by those with an opinion.

Senators, thank you very much, it’s very appreciated.

Pierre, SD – Governor Kristi Noem will be sharing a “big announcement” as keynote speaker of the Hughes County/Stanley County/CENKOTA Republican Party’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner on February 20 at the Ramkota in Pierre.

“Not only are we thrilled to have our governor speak at our event, but we are especially excited to have our governor making her big announcement at our Lincoln Day Dinner” said Hughes County GOP Chair Jason Williams.  “It’s an event no one will want to miss.”

Noem’s keynote will be the grand finale to an all-star line-up of speakers who include Senator Mike Rounds and other Constitutional Officers.

Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m. with dinner starting at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $35 per person or $280 for a table.  Anyone interested in attending may purchase tickets at the door or contact a member of the Hughes County Republican Central Committee.

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While up at the South Dakota State Capitol today, I had the opportunity to listen to a presentation on Senate Bill 13, a measure that was amended by Senator Schoenbeck to have the party candidates for Attorney General and Secretary of State chosen as part of the primary process.

While listening, I decided to offer my 2 cents worth. Here is (roughly) my testimony in favor of the measure:

Good morning – Mr. Chair and committee members.

Pat Powers, Brookings resident and 35 year volunteer and political activist.

Through legislation, the political parties have been granted great latitude and franchise to choose many of their statewide candidates on their own for the general election.. It has changed over the years within those guidelines, and I would offer some history as a participant.

In 1988 , when I first started working in politics, the down ticket candidates for the Republican Party were chosen by a little over 100 people at my first convention.

In 1990, the system was changed, because the GOP chair decided he needed more campaign workers for precinct level poll-watching, to cross names off of green bar sheets for each precinct and so it was opened up to 800-1000 people.

Over time, technology has rendered those precinct level jobs obsolete. So now it’s a group of people who just show up and vote, and that’s about it. They have no special qualifications other than signing a piece of paper. I’m a precinct person – one of the first ones who filled out the form this year. And trust me, the people at the precinct level positions do not go door to door or otherwise poll or ask the voters in their precincts for their opinions. They show up to convention and just make their own call.

This measure proposes increasing the number of people who choose to the electorate at large for two offices. I would ask the members of the committee – don’t be afraid of the voters. More so than smaller groups of unrepresentative people acting on their own, the voters as a group are smart people and acting together they make good decisions.

If voters at large can choose their coroner, their county auditor, legislators and governor in a primary, they can choose their Attorney General and Secretary of State the same way as well.

Thank you for your yes vote on Senate Bill 13 as amended.

The measure passed committee unanimously, and is now headed to the Senate floor.

Stopped up in the Senate Gallery today to get some photos, noting the seats of a couple of my favorite legislators to write about.

.. I notice they currently have as much substance as when the chairs are filled.

Gov. Noem Launches “33 in a 65” Ad for Freedom Works Here

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem launched the “33 in a 65”ad as part of the Freedom Works Here nationwide workforce recruitment campaign. The ad features Governor Noem as a state trooper to recruit more law enforcement officers to South Dakota.

 “South Dakota is the Freest state in America,” said Governor Noem. “Now we’re making it the safest by putting more police on our streets. So I’m on the road until we can hire more.”

In the ad, Governor Noem pulls over Congressman Dusty Johnson for driving too slow – “33 in a 65.”

“We respect law enforcement because they protect our Freedoms,” continued Governor Noem. “We have no state income tax and the fastest growing incomes.”

Governor Noem launched Freedom Works Here in June to tell South Dakota’s story and recruit more Freedom-loving Americans to the state. It has been the most successful workforce recruitment campaign in state history. More than 8,800 people have expressed interest in moving to South Dakota, and 2,230 of those have connected with our team to begin their move – some have already moved here! The ads have been viewed over 950 million times.

These numbers represent those working directly through the “Freedom Works Here” program. Even more people are finding jobs and moving to South Dakota of their own accord after seeing the ads.

You can read about some Freedom Works Here success stories here and here. More information about the Freedom Works Here campaign can be found at FreedomWorksHere.com.

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