Author: Pat Powers

Johnson Votes in Favor of Coronavirus Funding

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7.8 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to assist the response to COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus:

“The U.S. must continue to act swiftly to combat the Coronavirus,” said Johnson. “America needs a vaccine and treatments, and our clinics need test kits. This emergency funding will allow the U.S. continue to prepare expediently. I’m thankful Congress put politics aside to deal with this public health crisis.”

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Remember when the “Theresa Stehly blocks people on Facebook” story broke a few months back? And just when it had moved through the news cycle, she couldn’t resist throwing some gasoline on the issue, so it would hang around another couple of days.

Of course, Sioux Falls City Councilor Stehly is back throwing gasoline on an issue again.

After I wrote a post questioning why multiple paid advertisements she did were not part of her campaign finance disclosure statement, the Argus Leader did a story on it.

As part of that story, Stehly had to begrudgingly concede there were some website expenses she didn’t disclose, and indicated she would be amending her erroneous report to add the omission.  But not for any of the paid advertisements or mailers she sent (or the attack robocall), because she claimed they “were intended to keep her constituents apprised of city happenings, not to better position herself for reelection.”

Ok… So that’s her position, and she was going to stick to it, despite Sioux Falls City ordinance noting (emphasis added):

§ 38.005 PERSONS AND ENTITIES REQUIRED TO SUBMIT CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURES; TIME FOR SUBMISSION.
(a) A campaign finance disclosure whose contents are specified by state law shall be signed and submitted to the city clerk’s office by the treasurer of every municipal candidate or candidate campaign committee, municipal or nonmunicipal political action committee, municipal ballot question committee, and municipal public office holder pertaining to city elections. Any statement pursuant to this section shall be consecutive and shall cover contributions and expenditures since the last statement submitted.

And nevermind the statement in her most recent newsletter talking about the election…

Nope. Nevermind… Her newsletters have nothing to do with running for office at all. nothing at all....

So, Theresa took the position she certainly doesn’t have to report anything to the public on all that folderol. And that was that…

But then a funny thing just happened today..  Theresa figuratively went out to her shed and got the old gas can, so once again, she could fire that flame that had died down back up into a roaring blaze:

However, City Clerk Tom Greco and City Attorney Stacy Kooistra have declined to clear up the matter by offering their interpretations of campaign finance rules as it relates to political communications for office holders and candidates. Instead, it’s the Sioux Falls Board of Ethics that would need to provide a ruling under city charter, Kooistra said.

and…

That’s the same answer Stehly got. But rather than wait for someone to file a formal complaint, Stehly is asking for an advisory opinion instead.

Read it all here.

So, not only has Councilwoman Stehly thrown gasoline on the story to extend it an extra few days, she’s putting it to the Sioux Falls City ethics board to ask the question as to whether she should have disclosed the hundreds if not thousands of dollars she’s spent on “the Stehly Report” showing up in shopping news paid advertisements, and 4-page tabloids distributed to the public.

And she’ll manage once again be able to inject a few more days into that story’s life.

BTW, with Stehly’s request for an opinion on all that spending do I dare mention another Sioux Falls Ordinance?

35.057  ADVISORY OPINIONS; ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES.

…The “self-reporting” on past incidents shall not act as a bar against possible sanctions for that conduct, but may be considered in mitigation of any possible penalties otherwise imposed.

Probably not.

Thune Previews Legislation to Protect U.S. From Digital Infrastructure Corruption   

“Unfair trade practices of communications equipment suppliers owned or controlled by a foreign government should not be tolerated. Period.” 

Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune’s remarks.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today previewed new legislation to ensure U.S. communications infrastructure security is a clear negotiating objective of our country’s trade policy. During a Commerce Committee hearing on 5G supply chain security, Thune questioned a panel of experts on additional steps the United States should take to effectively secure our communications network, particularly as we begin nationwide deployment of 5G infrastructure.

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Access to Respirators  

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to introduce legislation to help make sure manufacturers and distributors can produce respirators during health crises, such as the current COVID-19 epidemic. Respirators are masks worn over the mouth and nose to prevent the inhalation of noxious substances, including viruses and diseases that can spread through the air.

“As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rises in the U.S., making sure South Dakota communities have access to reliable equipment is vitally important,” said Rounds. “These respirators will help keep South Dakotans and all Americans healthy and safe should we need them.”

Background:

Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a declaration granting limited liability protection to manufacturers and distributors of certain countermeasures against diseases—which includes respirators—when the government calls up that equipment to be used in the event of an outbreak or epidemic. However, respirators which are overseen by NIOSH—an office within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—are not currently eligible for that protection.

This legislation would amend current law to make certain that all NIOSH-certified respirators are eligible for the same federal liability protections as other medical products vaccines, and drugs.

Representatives Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), and Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), introduced corresponding legislation in the House of Representatives.

Aberdeen, South Dakota, is home to one of two facilities owned by 3M, the world’s leading manufacturer of respirators.

Click here to view the text of the bill.

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In December, District 24 Republican Mike Weisgram had announced he was intending to run for the State House of Representatives, noting as part of his qualifications his experience in local government.

What qualifications do you bring? The candidates seeking this office all have unique characteristics and qualities that are their own. I like and respect all of them; the electorate has very good people to choose from.

And..

In working for the state of South Dakota, there will be give-and-take, and I am very familiar with that reality. Christian business principles and local government experience are my qualifications.

Read that here.

In a news report I’m reading just today, it appears Weisgram is not just a House candidate, but has also filed petitions to extend that city government experience and again run for Ft. Pierre City Council at the same time he’s running for the legislature.

Challenging LaRoche are Carl Rathbun and Scott Deal. Rathbun has previously served on the Fort Pierre City Council. Deal has previous time spent as a Stanley County Commissioner, resigning in 2017 to become manager of the Stanley County Fairgrounds. The terms of Council members Larry Cronin, Mike Weisgram and Mayor Gloria Hanson were also up this year. All three submitted petitions and will retain their terms as no one turned in petitions to challenge those spots on the Council. The Fort Pierre City Council election will be April 14th.

Read that here.

Technically, its legal under the law, as per prior Attorney General opinion city council is not incompatible with holding a state office such as the House of Representatives. However, there could be potential conflicts where he would have to recuse himself.

The larger question is really up to the voters of District 24; as to whether the voters of the District think there are so many offices available for public service that someone needs to double up.

SJR 501 is on the agenda of the State House of Representatives today, after session convenes at 2pm.  The Joint Senate Resolution notes that it is “Proposing and submitting to the voters an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, providing for wagering on sporting events and to revise provisions regarding certain municipal proceeds of gaming revenues.”

So far, it has rolled through the Senate with little opposition (5-2 in committee, and 24-10 on the Senate floor), and passed through House Committee on a 7-5 vote yesterday:

It’s hard to guess how this is going to fall out on the floor. Both the Speaker of the House and House Majority Leader opposed it in committee along with two majority whips… yet the Speaker Pro Tempore, Assistant Majority Leader, and another Majority Whip voted yes, as did the House Minority Leader.

Looking at the breakdown overall, I believe it’s going to be a close vote in the House.  But if I were a betting man I, I would wager it’s going to squeak through, and we’ll be seeing it on the ballot this fall.

What are your thoughts?

Update – Argus is reporting that I was correct…

Senate Joint Resolution 501, which called for putting the question on the ballot, received it’s final approval with the House’s 36-27 vote on Tuesday.

Read that story here.

The Long Game in Public Safety
By Mayor Paul TenHaken

People will occasionally ask me if Sioux Falls is still a safe community, and the answer is always “yes.” Year after year, Sioux Falls’ population has grown steadily as more and more people are drawn to Sioux Falls for career opportunities and our incredible quality of life. During this past year, our crime rate has maintained a low rate—especially when compared to other large cities.

While we remain a safe city, illegal drug use continues to be the primary driver of criminal activity. Sioux Falls is in the midst of a serious battle against meth and other drug use. As a community, the more we impact addiction challenges, the greater our impact is in deterring crime in our city, lifting families out of poverty, and preventing child neglect.

At the City, we continue to make efforts to crack down on criminal activity, but we are also addressing the underlying issues that lead to criminal activity. Our goal is to turn people’s lives around with a hope of deterring crime for today as well as the decades ahead of us. This means we are tackling drugs with more enforcement on distribution, and with improved treatment for those battling addiction.

Since I took office, we have expanded our team of police officers investigating drug dealers by adding an additional narcotics sergeant as well as a new Narcotics Crime Unit. These officers are focused on crime tips from members of the public to help put drug dealers out of business.

We continue to make strides toward opening the area’s first triage center to provide an alternative treatment path than jail or hospitals for addicts in the midst of a crisis. Just recently we also dedicated an officer with a social work background to work with those struggling with mental illness to help them in times of need. This is a vulnerable population we want to protect from doing harm to themselves as well as others.

Recently, a collaboration in the city called Sioux 52 was also launched to mentor the youth and adults of the Sioux Falls region. Sioux 52 is recruiting more mentors to participate in existing programs. You can become a mentor/guide and help someone stay on a positive path in their life.

Since 2016, 21 additional officers have been added to the police force, and an additional $7 million has been added to their budget. Much of the money has been used for training so our police force is at the forefront of new techniques and best practices. This year we will also make a major investment in training with the construction of a new Public Safety Training Center for our police and fire personnel.

Thanks to the hard work and dedication of Chief Matt Burns and our entire police force, we are here to serve and protect everyone as part of One Sioux Falls. We live in a great community, and we are working hard to make it better and safer each and every day.

If you recall yesterday, I posted on Sioux Falls City Councilwoman Theresa Stehly’s campaign finance report, which reported no income, and no expenditures.  Despite the fact Stehly had purchased advertising in the form of the robocalls, Stehly Report tabloids, and Stehly Report ads in the Sioux Falls Shopping News.

I wrote about it, because it’s highly unusual that someone with as much advertising between elections as Stehly has claimed zero in expenditures on her report. None. Nothing.

No claim of any paid advertisement. Not any in-kind advertising.. even from herself.  Despite the presence of a Sioux Falls city ordinance on campaign finance reporting that notes:

§ 38.005 PERSONS AND ENTITIES REQUIRED TO SUBMIT CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURES; TIME FOR SUBMISSION.
(a) A campaign finance disclosure whose contents are specified by state law shall be signed and submitted to the city clerk’s office by the treasurer of every municipal candidate or candidate campaign committee, municipal or nonmunicipal political action committee, municipal ballot question committee, and municipal public office holder pertaining to city elections. Any statement pursuant to this section shall be consecutive and shall cover contributions and expenditures since the last statement submitted.

If it applies as written, the existence of that ordinance would give the appearance that contributions and expenditures since her last statement should have been disclosed.

After my post, predictably, Theresa’s minions seem to be doing a lot of ad hominem attacking of messengers. But not really refuting the contention that there has been a complete lack of disclosure on Councilwoman Stehly’s part on all the paid advertising she places.

Today, I had a note from someone who pointed out there’s another recent Stehly campaign expenditure which seems to have taken place, but wasn’t mentioned on her report.   

So, it looks like Stehly fired her old campaign website back up. And interestingly, it looks to have happened a few weeks (2/11/2020) before that same financial report that claimed zero expenditures:

Granted, URL Registration and web space isn’t expensive at all.. In fact all together, it might be below $100.   But again, here’s another example of an expenditure (disclaimed on the website as Paid for by Theresa Stehly for City Council) that didn’t show up on her campaign finance report.

For someone who grouses as much as Stehly does about the propriety of donations and campaign finance, you would think she would err towards open government and disclosure.

Yet, looking at her campaign finance report versus all the paid advertising she does to put her name in the public eye, it looks as if the opposite might be true.

**Update – Looks like Joe Sneve of the Sioux Falls Argus Leader did a story on the whole situation today as well, and also caught Theresa “Non-Disclosure” Stehly failing to report the website expenditure:

Stehly, though, told the Argus Leader Monday that her 2016 campaign website was renewed on her behalf by Sioux Falls resident and political ally Bruce Danielson. She said she would file an amendment to her campaign disclosure report showing an in-kind contribution of $29.98, the price Danielson paid on Feb. 11.

But she has no intention of listing those other expenses because they weren’t related to her campaign, she said.

and…

Sioux Falls City Clerk Tom Greco declined to say whether or not Stehly is in violation of campaign finance rules, and said that it’s the territory of the City Attorney’s Office to investigate if violations are suspected.

Read that here.

From Facebook, the SDGOP offers former Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Billie Sutton condolences on Bernie Sanders’ recent loss:

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem announced today that she will name Tony Venhuizen as her new chief of staff. Venhuizen, who has been working with the Governor’s Office on a temporary basis since January, will be leaving his private law practice to rejoin state government.

“Given his tenure and wealth of historical knowledge, Tony brings a unique set of skills to my team,” Noem said. “Time after time, he has answered the call to public service in the name of the great people of South Dakota. I’m excited to have him leading my office as we head into the second year of my term.”

Venhuizen served in senior roles in the administration of Governor Dennis Daugaard, including more than four years as chief of staff, and previously served as a senior advisor to Governor Noem. He was appointed by Governor Mike Rounds to the South Dakota Board of Regents, serving for five years, and he has worked on the last three gubernatorial transitions.

“I am honored to accept this role,” said Venhuizen. “Governor Noem is an energetic and forward-thinking leader, and I’m excited to work with her, Lt. Governor Rhoden, and the many fine people on her cabinet and staff.”

Venhuizen is an Armour native.  He earned his bachelor’s degree in history and political science from South Dakota State University and his law degree from the University of South Dakota School of Law. Venhuizen and his wife, Sara, have three children and live in Sioux Falls.

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