Author: Pat Powers

   
 
Congresswoman Kristi Noem is early on in the parade, walking the entire route with members of her family.

  
Was that Noem State Director Beth Hollatz in the car? 

The 103rd annual Hobo day parade at SDSU will be starting here in a little bit, and my crew is ready for the festivities!

  
Stay tuned!

South Dakota Attorney General Jackley to Challenge EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Emission Standards

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the rule establishing performance standards for greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing fossil fuel fired power plants.

“We all recognize the importance of protecting our environment and developing energy efficiency, but I am concerned the EPA has once again exceeded its authority granted by Congress and reduced the decision-making authority of our State. The EPA’s actions will directly affect energy costs and potential energy availability to South Dakota consumers. I intend to work with other State Attorneys General to protect our State decision-making authority and our consumers who heavily depend on energy in their everyday lives,” said Jackley.

In 2014, several states submitted extensive comments on the Proposed Rule, explaining the Proposed Rule was unlawful. In addition, they also noted the EPA’s failure to comply with notice and comment requirements. Now over a year later, these comments and related concerns have not been addressed as the EPA moves forward with the implementation of the rule.

Participating states include: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

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President Holding Defense Hostage, Says Noem

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Kristi Noem today strongly denounced President Obama’s veto of H.R.1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  The NDAA is an annual legislative item that sets the nation’s defense priorities.  Since an NDAA was first passed more than 50 years ago, the legislation has been vetoed only four times; today marks the fifth.

“Taking our national defense hostage and using that as leverage to increase government spending is a dangerous and unprecedented move to make,” said Noem.  “Every other NDAA veto has been issued over defense policy decisions.  This is the first time a Commander in Chief has chosen to sacrifice national security for other reasons.  The decision is unacceptable.”

The 2016 NDAA passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 15 by a margin of 269-151, with broadly bipartisan support.  The legislation includes a 1.3 percent pay raise for troops, improves access to mental health care for veterans, offers greater protections against sexual assault, and provides necessary resources in the fight against ISIL, Russian aggression, and cyber threats.

“The NDAA gives our troops the resources and authorizations they need to keep this country safe,” said Noem.  “More specifically, this legislation increases pay for our troops and their families.  It enhances the military retirement system and makes much-needed improvements to the way mental health care is handled for veterans.  It strengthens our cyber defenses, reinforces our mission to defeat ISIL, and enables us to counter Russian aggression.  The NDAA accomplishes all of this while reflecting Congress’s balanced budget plan.  It’s a strong and broadly bipartisan piece of legislation.  I will work to gain the votes necessary to override this dangerous veto.”

The House of Representatives is currently scheduled to vote on a veto override on November 5.

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‎ Thune Statement on President’s NDAA Veto

“At a time of numerous threats to our nation, a presidential veto of this critical legislation is unconscionable.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today released the following statement after President Obama vetoed the bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“Today the president demonstrated he is willing to put politics ahead of the security of our nation by vetoing this bipartisan bill. This veto jeopardizes funding for the Long Range Strike Bomber and readiness for the B-1B bombers based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, as well as additional funding that our military needs to protect our country. At a time of numerous threats to our nation, a presidential veto of this critical legislation is unconscionable. Members of Congress must now work together to override this dangerous veto and provide our troops the support they need.”

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Rounds: Obama NDAA Veto a Slap in the Face to our Troops 

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after President Obama vetoed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“Having just returned from the Middle East where I met with government and military officials, it is evident the need to provide a stable and clear path forward in our military endeavors. It is very disappointing that the President would veto this military authorization bill, simply because he wants to spend more money on agencies like the IRS and EPA. Holding our military men and women as hostages for this political agenda is not acceptable.”

President Obama vetoed the bill even though it met the funding levels he had requested. It now heads back to the House and Senate, where a 2/3 majority in each chamber will be required to override the veto.

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Thune Expresses Concern Regarding the
Future of Agriculture Biotechnology

“I am greatly concerned that just like many other areas of regulatory overreach, future regulation of our biotech crops … could become much more cumbersome and complicated and send the wrong message to our trading partners overseas.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today expressed his concern with the Obama administration’s overreach of federal regulation of agriculture biotechnology to a panel of witnesses during a Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry hearing entitled, “Agriculture Biotechnology: A Look at Federal Regulation and Stakeholder Perspectives.”

During his questioning, Thune received confirmation from Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drug Administration, and U.S. Department of Agriculture witnesses that as a result of their research, foods produced from genetically modified (GM) plants are just as safe as foods produced from non-GM plants.

Opening statement (as prepared for delivery):

“Biotechnology has provided my home state of South Dakota and its number one industry, agriculture, with dramatic yield increases, drought tolerant crops, sustainability, and economic benefits that far exceed the expectations of just 10 or 20 years ago.

“Farmers in South Dakota and across the United States take great pride in not only the amount of the crops they produce and the number of people they feed, but most importantly the safety of the food supply they provide not only for U.S. and global populations, but also for their own families.

“Based on the testimony provided for today’s hearing, I am greatly concerned that just like many other areas of regulatory overreach, future regulation of our biotech crops, especially regarding the approval process, could become much more cumbersome and complicated and send the wrong message to our trading partners overseas – which could be very detrimental to my home state, as it depends heavily on export markets.

“Additionally, the uncertainty created by states individually passing mandatory GMO labeling laws would be devastating to producers as our supply chains are much too complex to meet the needs of 50 states.”

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Rounds Chairs Hearing on EPA Regulations

 WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, today conducted a hearing to analyze the process by which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conducts Regulatory Impact Analyses (RIAs) on the new regulations it imposes on the American people. The hearing, entitled Oversight of Regulatory Impact Analyses for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regulations, is in response to studies that show EPA has used incomplete, inaccurate and faulty data when analyzing the economic impact its rules will have on citizens and businesses. This has led to more than 3,300 final regulations being published by the EPA since President Obama took office and more than $42 billion in regulatory costs last year alone.

 “Everybody desires clean air and clean water, but we have to ask whether there is a better way to achieve it without imposing burdensome regulations in which the costs outweigh the benefits,” said Rounds during his opening statement. “Due to the EPA’s failure to clearly and accurately quantify the costs and benefits of regulations, agencies are unable to make well-informed decisions. Even more troubling, the public, American businesses and state and local governments are prevented from understanding the real impact of the regulation and meaningfully participating in the rulemaking process.”

Video of Rounds’ Opening Statement

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In this latest commercial from the Bush Campaign, Jeb Bush’s Campaign takes aim at Donald Trump’s knowledge of foreign policy. Or lack thereof.