Author: Pat Powers

Watch for more on this… big news for Hot Springs from the hard work of our Washington Delegation & Governor Kristi Noem!

Defending the Defenseless
By Sen. John Thune

The Senate recently voted on two commonsense bills that would have gone a long way to help defend the rights of the defenseless. Unfortunately, the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act were both defeated, largely on party lines. All Senate Republicans joined a handful of Democrats in supporting the born-alive bill, but we came just four votes shy of what we needed to move this important legislation forward. It was a short-term defeat in a never-ending pro-life mission that I’m deeply committed to pursuing.

Both of these bills should have been uncontroversial. No matter where you stand on abortion, every one of us ought to be able to agree that infants who are born alive during an abortion procedure should receive the same care that a baby born alive in a hospital would receive. Similarly, every one of us ought to agree that, at the very least, we should not be aborting babies after the point that they can feel pain.

While we shouldn’t even need the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act or Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, the sad reality is that we do.

It should be obvious that any baby born alive, wherever he or she is born, ought to receive care. It’s become clear, though, that we need to underscore that being born alive in an abortion clinic instead of a hospital doesn’t eliminate a baby’s right to medical care. And we should all have the courage to say that abortions beginning in the sixth month of pregnancy – a point at which science has clearly demonstrated that the unborn child is able to feel pain – is wrong. 

Every year, in the United States alone, hundreds of thousands of irreplaceable human beings are killed by abortion. That’s not some number the pro-life movement has cooked up. That’s straight from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, formerly affiliated with Planned Parenthood, which reports, “Approximately 862,320 abortions were performed in 2017.” Most of us can’t even fathom what a number that big looks like. But to put it in perspective, 862,000 is roughly equivalent to the population of the entire state of South Dakota.

Americans are better than this. Our country was founded to safeguard human rights, not to take them away. And while we haven’t always lived up to that promise, we’ve never stopped trying.

It’s time. It’s time for us as a country to stand up and start protecting the rights of unborn human beings. It’s time for us to join the vast majority of the global community in prohibiting elective abortions past 20 weeks. And it’s time for us to make it clear that no matter what some may say, Americans believe that all children, whether born alive in a hospital or in an abortion clinic, deserve protection and basic medical care. Our fight is far from over.

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Maintaining the Integrity of Our Election Process
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

Our system of government in the United States is founded on free and fair elections. With the 2020 election already underway, protecting the integrity of our election process remains a priority of mine. As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee, I’ve worked to make certain the Department of Defense (DOD) can fulfill its role for election security.

While I’ve been working with senior DOD officials, the responsibility to keep our elections secure crosses many agencies.  The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently unveiled to the public the steps they are taking to secure this year’s elections. The DHS plan focuses on four main points: protect election infrastructure, assist political campaigns with closing security gaps, increase public awareness about foreign intrusion and help to share information on vulnerabilities and potential threats between the public and private sectors.

While each of these four areas is important, I’d like to focus on one that has received a lot of attention since the 2016 election: foreign intrusion. As we know, Russia used misinformation – largely through social media channels – to attempt to influence the 2016 election. They also tried to get into at least 21 of our state election systems. Fortunately, they weren’t successful in changing the outcome. But these tactics aren’t news. Russia has long used propaganda to influence elections. Before social media, it was spread through newspaper articles, pamphlets and manifestos. Now, it’s on the apps we check on our phones throughout the day: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and more are all used by those who wish to spread “fake news” and sow discord in American politics.

Since then, we’ve taken steps to improve our cybersecurity protocols. Through our work on the Cybersecurity Subcommittee, I can tell you that it was no accident that the 2018 midterm election was free from outside interference. Changes in our public policy allowing us to respond with offensive and defensive capabilities outside of a declared war zone were critical in our success.

More recently, the delayed result of the 2020 Democrat caucus in Iowa gained national attention and raised new concerns about our election system. It’s important to note that the caucuses were not the target of a cyberattack, but rather the new app they attempted to use to count delegates wasn’t able to function correctly. While what happened in Iowa demonstrates the importance of using proven, tested methods for determining election outcomes, we should not be worried that this type of mishap will happen on a larger scale. This is because each state is responsible for administering its own elections.

Recently, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have been trying to bypass regular Senate procedure to pass legislation they claim will make our elections more secure. The reality is that the bills they’re pushing would take control of elections away from the states and give more power to the federal government. Such a move could be disastrous—imagine if the federal government ran voting systems and they were hacked. All of the results would be put into question. If that were to happen to an individual state, the results would have to be recounted but it would be less disruptive than if it happened on a nationwide basis.

We’ve made good strides in making sure our election systems are protected in the wake of emerging technologies and tactics. I’ll continue to work on commonsense policies to strengthen our election integrity and punish bad actors who attempt to interfere. We must make it very clear to Russia and others that attempts to meddle in our elections will be met with swift and severe punishments.

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Staying Informed on the Coronavirus
By Rep. Dusty Johnson 

If you’ve turned on the news in the last month or so you’ve probably heard this word over and over: Coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19.

This week, the president addressed the nation regarding the U.S. response to the outbreak. So far, officials have determined more than 80,000 cases globally – the majority of them in China.

There’s a lot of information flying around because this illness is so unknown and spreading rapidly. Unfortunately, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has said it’s not a matter of if – but when – Coronavirus will increase in prevalence in the U.S.

In the meantime, it’s important to make sure you’re staying prepared and informed by accurate sources. For now, the main point experts are driving home is: do not panic. Currently, the U.S. only has a small number of known cases of the Coronavirus – most of these folks have recovered and no deaths have been reported.

The CDC is working around the clock to combat this illness and you can visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov for the most up-to-date information and best practices. While the U.S. looks for a vaccine, the CDC has recommended the following best practices:

– Avoid close contact with people who are sick. 

– Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue and immediately throw the tissue away. 

– Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surface areas. 

– Wash your hands often with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, especially after using the restroom – but hopefully that was a give in. 

While the president was quick to act on specific travel restrictions and early containment, Congress is still working on a final funding number to prepare for an outbreak. The president has asked for $2.5 billion, Democrat leadership is asking for $8.5 billion, and Republican leadership is deliberating a number somewhere in-between the two.

As Coronavirus impacts financial markets, individuals, and countries – stay vigilant. Cybercriminals have begun exploiting unsuspecting individuals with phishing emails. If you get an email with information about the coronavirus and it didn’t come from a .gov address – don’t open it. Scammers are attempting to steal email login information and request donations for a cure. The CDC does not solicit donations.

Outbreaks often cause panic – understandably so – but the best course of action is to be prepared and be proactive. Most importantly, be wary of bad information. Sanitize your surroundings and wash your hands. Establish an “in case of emergency plan” with your family. And if you’re able, go to the doctor if you’re experiencing flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, shortness of breath). According to the CDC, symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 14 days after exposure.

The U.S. is undergoing extensive preparation efforts, but the American people have a responsibility to dust off their emergency preparedness plans and work together to combat Coronavirus in the best way possible.

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Paving a Path for Economic Progress
By Governor Kristi Noem 

In the race for Sioux Falls’s At Large City Council position, this week incumbent City Councilperson Theresa Stehly has finally filed a campaign finance report, which claims she’s raised nothing and spent nothing.  (It’s unclear what period this is for, since she missed the checkbox explaining what the report was for).

2 28 2020 Citizens for Stehly Campaign Finance Disclosure Report Theresa Stehly by Pat Powers on Scribd

The report is noted as being a report of receipts and expenditures under Stehly’s name, forgoing the organization of any committee.

So Stehly is claiming that she raised nothing and spent nothing.  Ok.. But.

But, what about the easter weekend robocalls she directed this last year to the public against the hiring of an employee to the rest of the Sioux Falls City Council?  Robocalls aren’t free.

“While many families were celebrating Easter, they were interrupted by an unsolicited and misleading phone call,” read the joint statement issued by Neitzert and fellow councilors Christine Erickson, Marshall Selberg and Rick Kiley.

and…

Stehly wouldn’t address whether she had an opportunity to review and interview candidates for the internal audit manager gig, but she defended the call as a public service for citizens “who had four days notification” of Nelson’s nomination.

“The only way I thought to alert the public was to put out a robocall at my own cost,” Stehly said.

Read that here.

Clearly Theresa spent money on an advocacy robocall to try to convince the city council to vote a specific way.  Is she trying to claim she doesn’t have to disclose that?

And what about Theresa’s newsletter “the Stehly Report?”  In her last newsletter, she claimed that ..

“There is a “BIG MONEY” SPECIAL INTEREST effort to take my seat on the Council,” (specifically noting my seat as if she has some ownership right over the elected position, as if it’s some sort of divine-right imparted monarchy.)

Anyway, in her multi-page newsletter, she offers the following disclaimer:

If Theresa is filing a committee-less campaign finance form for herself as above, and has paid for all of this political advertising herself, why is her campaign finance report for herself silent as to any expenditures?

Neither her robocalls nor her newsletters are listed under advertising. In fact, they’re not even listed as items she donated to herself…

Interestingly, in Sioux Falls, you have a councilperson questioning the ethics of Councilmen making fully-disclosed campaign donations to candidates for city council.

But nobody is saying boo about the ethics of Theresa Stehly making political expenditures for her own benefit, and failing to disclose ANYTHING about the number, nature and cost.   Especially for a report she’s named after herself.

(UPDATE: After I wrote this, I notice I left out the paid columns she places in the SF Shopper paper also titled The Stehly Report that all say “paid for by Theresa Stehly.”  She didn’t disclose those, either.)

The Sioux Falls City Council race rolls on.  And will continue to get wilder.

Johnson Questions Brazilian Beef Imports 

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) recently urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address safety concerns following the USDA decision to lift a ban on Brazilian beef into the U.S. The U.S. suspended imports in 2017 following several public health concerns.

“Consumers purchase beef without reservation. That confidence is vital to sustain domestic beef demand,” said Johnson. “While we must honor trade agreements based on sound-science, I feel compelled to question Brazil’s ability to maintain the food safety standards equivalent to USDA FSIS that ensure consumer confidence at the meat case.”

Full text of the letter below:

The Honorable Mindy M. Brashears
Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety
U.S. Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250

Dear Deputy Under Secretary Brashears:

As you know, South Dakota ranchers pride themselves on their product and the consumer confidence in the safety of beef in the meat case. Further, cattlemen in South Dakota know they produce a high-quality beef product that can compete in any foreign or domestic market. However, consumers must be confident that any fresh beef purchased in the U.S. is safe to eat. As such, producers welcomed Secretary Perdue’s June 22, 2017, announcement that U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) would be halting imports of fresh beef from Brazil to the U.S.

In the announcement, USDA noted that although 100% of the imported beef from Brazil was inspected, their rejection rate was substantially higher than the rest of the world. In the same announcement, USDA also cited public health concerns, sanitary conditions, and animal health issues as problematic factors that influenced USDA’s decision to halt Brazilian beef imports. Consumers purchase beef without reservation. That confidence is vital to sustain domestic beef demand.

While we must honor trade agreements based on sound-science, I feel compelled to question Brazil’s ability to maintain the food safety standards equivalent to USDA FSIS that ensure consumer confidence at the meat case. Additionally, I am concerned about the long-term enforcement and oversight of their processes. I respectfully request answers to the following questions about the decision to lift the Brazilian beef ban:

• As you know, industry views foreign fresh beef as a risk to accidental introduction of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), as well as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD). How did FSIS coordinate with the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to consider the health of the domestic cattle industry with respect to this decision?
• Following USDA FSIS’s on-site audit of the US-Brazil equivalency agreement, what commitments has Brazil made to improve its food safety inspection protocols and how will USDA FSIS conduct rigorous oversight of Brazil’s beef exports?
• Does USDA FSIS plan to inspect 100% of Brazil’s beef imports? If so, for how long?
• If Brazil fails to uphold its commitments to maintain food safety, what mechanisms, if any, does USDA FSIS possess to quickly halt imports to ensure consumer safety in the U.S.?

I appreciate your commitment to providing U.S. consumers the safest and most abundant food supply in the world and appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

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Noem Signs Legislation to Reduce Regulations, Make Business Easier for South Dakotans

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem this week signed five bills into law that reduce regulations and make business easier for South Dakotans.

Gov. Noem is joined by representatives from state agencies, the Cosmetology Commission, and the Board of Barber Examiners to announce the signing of bills that reduce regulations

“In order to grow businesses and strengthen communities in South Dakota, we’re putting people over paperwork and eliminating unnecessary regulations,” said Noem. “This week, I signed five bills that ease professional licensing requirements. By streamlining these processes and eliminating barriers, we’re able to roll out the red carpet and cut through red tape.”

“Thank you, Governor Noem, for your leadership and support on the issue of smart regulation,” said Dawn Dovre, Deputy Secretary for the South Dakota Department of Labor and Regulation.“These bills help real people go to work, fulfill their careers, and make a living. These efforts cut red tape, help people make a living, and allow people to stay and work right here in South Dakota.”

In 2019, Noem directed the Department of Labor and Regulation to do a comprehensive review of South Dakota’s licensing boards and commissions. The Departments of Labor and Regulation, Health, Social Services, Agriculture, and the Governor’s Office began this review process in June 2019, which resulted in recommendations for improvements and advancements in professional and occupational licensing reform.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made to ease licensing burdens on businesses, but we’re not stopping there. In the next year, we’ll be looking at additional steps toward the goal of smart regulation. We’ll work to repeal required licenses that serve no real public protection purpose, improve access to a one-stop online website for applications and renewals, and identify opportunities to allow reciprocity from states sharing similar licensing requirements. Our state is open for business, and we’ll continue to work toward ways we can make economic progress in our communities possible for many years to come,” Noem concluded.

The five bills are:

• SB10 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding cosmetology licensees.
• SB11 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding third party insurance plan administrators.
• SB12 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding comity licensure in the technical professions.
• SB13 – An Act to revise certain educational requirements for the practice of barbering.
• SB23 – An Act to repeal the high school graduation or equivalent requirement for certain licensed professional.

In addition, the Governor also signed the following pieces of legislation this week:

• HB1006 – An Act to authorize the secretary of revenue to contract with certain entities for purposes of creating or maintaining a database to determine agricultural income value and to specify the mandatory and permissive data of the database.
• HB1010 – An Act to revise provisions regarding testimony of qualified mental health professionals at involuntary commitment hearings.
• HB1019 – An Act to revise certain references to the Internal Revenue Code.
• HB1021 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding the South Dakota Lottery Commission.
• HB1022 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding dealer licenses for motor vehicle, snowmobile, and boat sales.
• HB1028 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding pesticide registration and application.
• HB1031 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding school district fiduciary funds.
• HB1037 – An Act to update the adoption of certain American Society for Testing and Materials and National Institute of Standards and Technology standards and certain federal regulations.
• HB1038 – An act to revise certain provisions regarding manufactured home construction and safety standards.
• HB1053 – An Act to revise certain provisions regarding the submission process for ballot measures.
• SB30 – An act to update references to certain federal motor carrier regulations.

Click here to download audio of Noem’s announcement.

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From the “Pennington County Republicans 2020 calendar,” today’s leap year appears to be providing us with an extra day of Phil Jensen.

You didn’t know there was a Pennington County Republicans 2020 calendar? Well, now you do, and it goes to March 2021 featuring nobody, because District 35 Senate was open at the time of publication.

I’ll warn you fans up front that you have to wait until June for Senator Lance Russell. But sorry, no swimsuit. He’s also wearing a coat & tie in his picture, which might be more suited for colder months.

Rounds Joins Thune, Colleagues in Letter to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to Share Concerns with Brazilian Beef Imports

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today joined Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) and 13 other senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to express their concerns with the administration’s decision to lift the U.S. ban on Brazilian raw beef imports. In 2017, USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) blocked imports of Brazilian beef due to public health concerns, poor sanitary conditions and animal health issues.

“Given that the United States halted Brazilian raw beef imports less than one year after Brazil was granted access in 2016, we have serious concerns about Brazil’s ability to maintain adequate food safety standards over the long run,” wrote the senators in the letter.

“We recognize that the January 2020 FSIS audit found that Brazil’s Central Competent Authority had implemented corrective actions to address the deficiencies identified in the June 2019 FSIS audit,” the senators continued. “However, considering Brazil’s multiple failed attempts to uphold equivalent food safety standards, we believe a complete verification process of certified Brazilian facilities may be warranted.”

In addition to Rounds and Thune, the letter was signed by U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Steve Daines (D-Mont.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).