Rounds, Thune Introduce Bill to Strengthen Military Families’ Right to Self-Protection

Rounds, Thune Introduce Bill to Strengthen Military Families’ Right to Self-Protection

MikeRounds official SenatePIERRE—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, and U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), today introduced legislation to allow military spouses to purchase handguns in the state where their husband or wife is permanently stationed for duty, or in a neighboring state if the military spouse commutes across state borders to their duty installation. The Protect Our Military Families’ 2nd Amendment Rights Act was introduced in the House of Representatives earlier this year by Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA-02).

“At a time of increased threats on military bases and to members of our Armed Forces, it is as important as ever to give military families the opportunity to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Rounds. “Our men and women in uniform – and their families – make incredible sacrifices to keep our country safe; allowing them to keep their families safe is the least we can do.”

“When our men and women in uniform answer the call of duty, sometimes at a moment’s notice, it is notJohn_Thune,_official_portrait,_111th_Congress just the servicemember who is impacted,” said Thune. “For many military families whose parent or spouse changes duty stations, the move could result in a new home, job, or school. We should be doing all we can to make life safer and easier for these military families who sacrifice a great deal for America. Our servicemembers and their families should not have to forfeit any of their rights in order to protect ours.”

Current law restricts citizens from legally purchasing a handgun in any state other than the one in which they reside. An exception to this law was made for active duty service members who are on permanent duty station orders, so that they can be considered a resident of the state in which they are assigned. Our legislation extends that exemption to their spouses as well. Other cosponsors include Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho).

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Thune, Rounds Introduce Legislation to Authorize Permanent Land Transfer for Expansion of Black Hills National Cemetery

Thune, Rounds Introduce Legislation to Authorize Permanent Land Transfer for Expansion of Black Hills National Cemetery

Similar Land Transfers Have Occurred at the Minuteman Missile Site and Wind Cave National Park

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act, legislation to facilitate a permanent land transfer of approximately 200 acres of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land to expand the Black Hills National Cemetery outside of Sturgis.

“All of the agencies that are involved in this process want to see a permanent land transfer between BLM and the Black Hills National Cemetery,” said Thune. “This transfer is neither controversial nor unprecedented, so I hope our legislation moves through the Senate swiftly so the transfer process can begin as soon as possible. This expansion will help ensure that we can continue to honor our veterans with a dignified burial in the beautiful Black Hills National Cemetery for generations to come.”

“This permanent land transfer guarantees that generations of veterans will be able to rest peacefully in the Black Hills National Cemetery,” said Rounds. “I’m hopeful that this noncontroversial proposal will move quickly through Congress.”

Under current law, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act limits transfers like this one to a lifespan of 20 years. The Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act would make this particular transfer permanent.

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Rounds Opening Statement at Oversight Hearing on “Sue and Settle”

RoundsPressHeader MikeRounds official SenateRounds Opening Statement at Oversight Hearing on “Sue and Settle”

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), chairman of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight, provided the following opening statement at today’s hearing, entitled “Oversight of Litigation at the EPA and FWS: Impacts on the U.S. Economy, States, Local Communities and the Environment.”

The purpose of the hearing is to hear testimony on litigation against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and its impact on the regulatory process and the environment as well as implications of subsequent regulations on the economy, states, and communities.

Rounds’ Opening Statement as Prepared for Delivery:

The Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management, and Regulatory Oversight is meeting today to conduct a hearing on “Oversight of Litigation at EPW and Fish and Wildlife Service: Impacts on the U.S. Economy, States, Local Communities and the Environment.”

Today, we are meeting to hear testimony on the impact environmental litigation has on the economy, states and communities.

Both the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act contain provisions allowing for citizens to file a “citizen suit” against a regulatory agency to assure an agency’s compliance with federal statutes.

While originally well-intentioned, these citizen suits are being used to perpetuate what is often referred to as a “sue and settle” process that overwhelms regulatory agencies, resulting in settlement agreements and consent decrees requiring agencies to promulgate major regulations within an arbitrarily imposed timeline.

These agreements are often negotiated behind closed doors, with little to no transparency or public input.

Although the ultimate parties responsible for the regulations are the states and regulated entities, they have been nearly completely cut out of the process and are not consulted about the practical effects of the settlement agreement.

Public comments from the states and industries regarding the feasibility or impact of these regulations are routinely ignored.

Further, these citizen suits allow Non-Government Organizations – or NGOs – and the Administration to advance their own policy agenda while circumventing the entire legislative process and Congress.

As a result, major regulations that cost billions of dollars, stifle economic growth and inhibit job creation are being made by unelected bureaucrats in Washington who think that they know what is best for everyone.

Under the Clean Air Act, citizen suits have been used to impose major regulations without any input from Congress and little to no input from the states.

A study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce found that EPA reconsideration of the 2008 Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards could cost up to $90 billion annually to comply with – making it the most expensive regulation in history.

Further, states have been so entirely shut out of the process that their opposition is rarely given serious consideration.

When the EPA promulgated sulfur dioxide regulations, every single state that commented about the regulation voiced its opposition.

But rather than working with the states to address their concerns, the EPA ignored their comments and moved forward with the regulation.

Additionally, the Fish and Wildlife Services is in the middle of potentially listing more than 250 species as endangered or threatened on the Endangered Species List.

Called one of the largest federal land grabs in modern times, this is the result of a mega-settlement between the Fish and Wildlife Service and NGO’s that intentionally overwhelmed the agency with listing petitions simply so they could sue the Fish and Wildlife Service for failing to meet statutory deadlines.

Because the Fish and Wildlife Service is now bound to court imposed deadlines to make these listing decisions, the agency is rarely inclined to engage states, industries and landowners in real conservation efforts.

As a result, these listings exemplify heavy-handed federal regulation rather than serious collaborative efforts to conserve and recover species.

The impact of these lawsuits is being especially felt in South Dakota, where our only coal plant, the Big Stone plant, is in the midst of a $400 million dollar upgrade to comply with EPA’s regional haze rule.

This project is not even completed yet, and now this plant may not even be able to operate at all in order to comply with the Administration’s Clean Power Plan.

The “sue and settle” process has resulted in regulations that stifle innovation and hurt the future of this country by crushing the can-do American spirit that founded our nation, settled the West, won two world wars and put a man on the moon.

I’d like to thank our witnesses for being with us here today and I look forward to hearing your testimony.

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South Dakota Republican Party Highlights Hawks’ Support for State Income Tax

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South Dakota Republican Party Highlights Hawks’ Support for State Income Tax

Pierre – The South Dakota Republican Party today issued the following statement in response to Paula Hawks’ candidacy for the U.S. House:

“Paula Hawks is best known for being the leading advocate for the creation of a state income tax that would dramatically raise taxes on all South Dakotans and we welcome her to the race,” said South Dakota Republican Chairwoman Pam Roberts.

Background: Watch the video available at the Argus Leader website for more on Hawks’ support for a massive tax increase: http://archive.argusleader.com/article/20130104/VOICES/301040018/School-funding-taxes-hot-topics

Questioner: “Are you in favor of an (state) income tax?”

Hawks: “Um, yeah. …”

Questioner: “Do you see a downside to an income tax?

Hawks: “It’s extremely unpopular. The unfortunate part of that is it’s unpopular because of a lack of understanding how that would affect people differently than taxes now.”

Governor’s Office Still Accepting District 9 Nominations

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Governor’s Office Still Accepting District 9 Nominations 

DaugaardPIERRE, S.D. – The Governor’s Office is still seeking nominations from the public to fill Rep. Steve Hickey’s legislative seat in District 9.

District 9 includes northwestern Minnehaha County, including the Hartford, Humboldt, Crooks and the Wall Lake area. The district also includes an area in north and northwestern Sioux Falls, encompassing Southeast Technical Institute, Hayward Elementary School and the Sioux Falls Regional Airport. A map of the district is available on the LRC website at legis.sd.gov/img/Legislative_Districts/09.pdf.

Those wishing to be considered for the appointment, or to offer nominations, should contact Grace Kessler in the Office of the Governor at 605-773-3661. Nominations should include the candidate’s name, current address, telephone number and relevant background information.

Hickey announced last month he would be vacating his legislative seat to pursue a postgraduate opportunity. Hickey’s resignation is effective Sept. 1, 2015.

Gov. Daugaard expects to name an appointee this fall.

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An up and coming South Dakota political pin. Rare Hillary Clinton pin climbing in price

It’s political button time again, as I just received this rare button in my mailbox today – and I couldn’t be happier with it at $2.50.
This political button commemorates a visit by then First Lady Hillary Clinton to the Great Plains Summit on rural health care, held in Lennox, South Dakota on Feb 18th of that year.

It didn’t mean much then, and has not been a popular pin, but as time and ambition march on, it’s becoming a bit more desire able among collectors of South Dakota political memorabilia, mainly driven by it’s presidential connection.

Among collectors of local items, this pin is now trading in the neighborhood of $20, and should only go higher if Hillary is the nominee for the Democrats as expected.

State items with a presidential nominee connection tend to increase in value over time due to rarity, and I’d guarantee they didn’t make a lot of these.

I’d only look for it to increase in value over the years. Nothing I’d base a retirement on, but give it ten years, and it might be trading at higher level than it is now.