Category: Uncategorized

From Fox via Facebook, Senator Mike Rounds notes that President Trump should be considered for the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts in securing peace in the Middle East:

SEPTEMBER 29 – OCTOBER 5, 2025

Welcome back to another Weekly Round[s] Up. As you know, this past week, we entered a government shutdown, otherwise known as the Schumer Shutdown. Democrats chose to shut down the government by refusing to pass a clean, 7-week continuing resolution (CR). This legislation received bipartisan support in the House and would keep government open and funded through November 21. Instead, Senate Democrats are following their leader of Chuck Schumer and using the American people as leverage, attempting to unwind provisions from the reconciliation bill. One issue that will need to be addressed is whether to extend the enhanced ACA tax credits before they expire at the end of the year. Republicans will work with Democrats on this issue, but not until we get government reopened again.

While Republicans control the Senate, we still have a filibuster in place which requires about 10 Democrats to join us to end this Schumer Shutdown. Nobody wins in a government shutdown, especially essential personnel such as military members and law enforcement officers who are working without receiving pay. This is unacceptable and fully avoidable. We will continue to bring the clean, nonpartisan CR up for a vote in the hopes that cooler heads will prevail.

Despite the Schumer Shutdown, all five of my offices remain open and working for South Dakota. This past week, we continued our regular business of working to confirm President Trump’s team and meeting with South Dakotans who were in Washington, D.C. More on the rest of my week in my Weekly Round[s] Up:

South Dakota groups I visited with: South Dakotans with American Optometric Association, Basin Electric Cooperative and South Dakota Rural Electric Association and Truckload Carriers Association.

Met with South Dakotans from: Rapid City, Madison, Brandon, Pierre and Sioux Falls.

Other meetings this past week: Brandon Pugh, Principal Cyber Advisor for the Department of the Army; James Caggy, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Mission Capabilities nominee; and Mark Uyeda, Commissioner for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Briefings: I attended four briefings including a CIA briefing, a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence Closed Briefing, a Senate Armed Servies Committee (SASC) briefing on the Golden Dome for America and one classified SASC briefing.

Votes taken: 13 – As mentioned above, I voted to fund the government three times, and Democrats continued to oppose, placing us in a government shutdown. We will remain in the shutdown until Democrats decide to end the Schumer Shutdown. We also voted to confirm 108 of President Trump’s nominees for positions within his administration.

Legislation introduced: This past week I introduced “Kamisha’s Law”, legislation to eliminate the statute of limitations (SOL) for certain murder charges on federal and tribal lands. The law will remove the SOL for non-capital homicide offenses including second-degree murder as well as murder of federal officers. Read more on it here.

My staff in South Dakota visited: Keystone, Aberdeen, Bristol, Brookings, Hartford and Dallas.

Steps taken: 51,103 steps or 22.28 miles.

Video of the Week: Last week I joined Newsmax to discuss the government shutdown, click below to watch.

After today, we remain in a Schumer shutdown. There is a path forward, and that begins with passing the clean CR and ending the shutdown. pic.twitter.com/KQoOS1fW55

— Senator Mike Rounds (@SenatorRounds) October 4, 2025

Emmett Reistroffer Announces Campaign for South Dakota House District 35

RAPID CITY, SD — Local business and public policy professional Emmett Reistroffer today announced his campaign for the South Dakota House of Representatives, District 35, running in the Republican Primary on June 2nd.

Reistroffer promises straightforward, no-bull leadership that puts the people of District 35 first, prioritizing real taxpayer relief, public safety and long-term reforms to ensure fiscal responsibility and bring accountability and transparency to Pierre.

“District 35 is full of brave men and women who’ve served our country and hardworking families just trying to make ends meet. I’m running for them,” said Reistroffer.

A Vision for South Dakota’s Future

Reistroffer’s platform is built on freedom, accountability, and innovation, including:

• Free People: Protect freedoms and family values
• Free Markets: Support sustainable, long-term economic growth without government handouts
• Safer Neighborhoods: Fix our broken justice system and back first responders
• Smaller Government: Cut red tape and wasteful spending, enact long-term reforms
• Transparency & Accountability: Demand transparency and accountability across every level of government, in every department, agency and office—if taxpayers fund it— taxpayers deserve to see it
• Educating Future Leaders: Equip the next generation with knowledge, work skills and ethics to be successful in an evolving world
• Support Military & Veterans: Honor our heroes and fight for them with urgency
• Ethical Government: Expose corruption and stop it before it starts
• Responsible Innovation: Embrace technology to serve, not replace, people

Putting Taxpayers First

Reistroffer is proposing a Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) to cap government growth, require voter approval for new taxes, and mandate automatic refunds when revenues exceed limits.

“No more slush funds or luxury perks for politicians,” said Reistroffer. “Politicians always talk about cutting waste and spending, but it’s just talk, no action. I want to impose caps by law, like speeding limits for spending, that will trigger automatic refunds to taxpayers before the politicians can spend our hard-earned money on whatever they want. If the state collects more money than it should, give it back, period.”

He’s preparing draft legislation and a visual model showing how much could have been returned in the past decade, and how much could be returned in future scenarios – under a TABOR framework.

Reistroffer also points to the costly new prison project as proof of failed leadership:

“We didn’t have a choice but to build it, but let’s be honest, it’s the price of ignoring a broken system for decades. I welcome Governor Rhoden’s new task force, but I won’t forget Governor Daugaard’s task force in 2014, because we know how well that worked out.”

 About Emmett Reistroffer

A (mostly) lifelong South Dakotan, Reistroffer built his career in public policy, entrepreneurship, leading organizations and community advocacy by always focusing on getting results.

He helped build Genesis Farms, South Dakota’s largest state-licensed medical cannabis company, employing nearly 150 people in Box Elder and across the state. A conservative and pragmatic leader, Reistroffer has supported responsible regulations for his industry by being a voice of reason during legislative and rule-making debates – and he isn’t just another “pro-pot” activist, he opposed previous legalization ballot measures because he believed they were poorly written. Emmett has gone on record multiple times in support of law enforcement to stop illegal marijuana sellers in various communities across the state.

He’s active in the community through the Box Elder Chamber of Commerce, Mt. Rushmore Masonic Lodge #220, and Young Republicans — and regularly joins police ride-alongs to stay informed of street-level issues.

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You can find out more at www.EmmettforSD.org

Gov. Rhoden Rescinds 151 Old Executive Orders

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden signed Executive Order 2025-08, which cleans up 151 old executive orders that are no longer necessary to remain on the books.

“Our nation was founded on the principle that power comes from the consent of the governed,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Executive orders should be used carefully and with purpose. By reviewing and updating existing orders and cutting red tape, we’re ensuring government remains efficient and true to the vision of our Founding Fathers. Our state is freest when the government gets out of the way, and I am keeping that commitment by rescinding old, obsolete executive orders.”

Many past executive orders, by virtue of their own terms, fail to expire on a certain date and remain in effect until modified, amended, rescinded, or superseded by the governor.

Governor Rhoden rescinded executive orders that were:

• No longer essential to the organization or operation of the executive branch;
• Permanently codified and no longer require the sanctions of an executive order; or
• Used to establish task forces, committees, councils, commissions, or other groups or entities that are no longer active.

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Per Facebook…

Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Seven

“Why Democrats think that threatening health care in rural America is a winning proposition is beyond me.”

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor.

Attorney General Jackley Praises President Trump’s Nomination Of DCI Director Dan Satterlee as next SD U.S Marshal

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley praises President Trump’s nomination of Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Director Dan Satterlee as South Dakota’s next U.S. Marshal.

“Dan is a strong law enforcement officer, and he was my choice as DCI director when I became Attorney General in 2023,” said Attorney General Jackley. “He has been an excellent leader for DCI, and he will do the same as U.S. Marshal. I look forward to continuing our working relationship in his new position.”

Attorney General Jackley recommended Director Satterlee for the position and was supported by South Dakota Senators Thune and Rounds. President Trump then accepted that nomination.

“President Trump, Senate Leader Thune, and Senator Rounds are strong advocates of law enforcement and public safety, and this nomination reaffirms that,” said Attorney General Jackley.

Director Satterlee’s nomination has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee for consideration. If approved there, the nomination would go to the full Senate.

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From Facebook:

Gov. Rhoden Announces Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force Members

PIERRE, S.D. –  Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the membership of the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force, which will determine the best path forward for expanding rehabilitation services as the state plans for the new prison.

“Securing a new prison was a major win for our state. Pairing our new facility with strong programming will lead to the best outcomes for inmates and result in safer communities for generations to come. This task force will prioritize reducing recidivism and getting offenders back to work,” said Governor Larry Rhoden.

This task force was established through Executive Order 2025-07 following the passage and signing of SB 2, which provides for a new prison in Sioux Falls. Both SB 2 and EO 2025-07 were signed at the conclusion of the special session on September 23.

The Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force will assess the programming needs of the inmate population, understand options for faith-based and Native American-focused programs, study best practices for re-entry models, and make recommendations on how to best use the expanded space of the new facility.

“I am a strong believer in bringing voices from broad perspectives to the table. The task force’s diverse membership will ensure sound programming for our inmate population,” continued Governor Rhoden.

The members of the Correctional Rehabilitation Task Force are:

• Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen, Chair;
• Mayor of Sioux Falls Paul TenHaken;
• Judge Pat Pardy, Third Judicial Circuit;
• Senate President Pro Tempore Chris Karr, R-District 11;
• Senator Tamara Grove, R-District 26;
• Senator Joy Hohn, R-District 9;
• Senator Paul Miskimins, R-District 20;
• Senator Ernie Otten, R-District 6;
• Senator Sue Peterson, R-District 13;
• Senator Jamie Smith, D-District 15;
• Representative John Hughes, R-District 13;
• Representative Greg Jamison, R-District 12;
• Representative Chris Kassin, R-District 17;
• Representative Brian Mulder, R-District 11;
• Representative Tim Reisch, R-District 8;
• Representative Tesa Schwans, R-District 9;
• Representative Eric Emery, D-District 26A;
• Representative Kadyn Wittman, D-District 15;
• Minnehaha County State’s Attorney Danial Haggar;
• Pennington County Sheriff Brian Mueller;
• Southeast Tech President Cory Clasemann;
• Minnehaha County Jail Warden Mike Mattson;
• State Court Administrator Greg Sattizahn;
• Sioux Falls City Council member Rich Merkouris;
• Founder of I.Am.Legacy Erik Brings White;
• CEO of Great Plains Tribal Leader’s Health Board Jerilyn Church;
• Executive Director of SD Council of Mental Health Centers Terry Dosch;
• Sioux Falls School Board Member Dawn Marie Johnson;
• Secretary of Labor and Regulation Marcia Hultman; and
• Department of Corrections Deputy Secretary Brent Fluke.

The task force will begin its work later this month.

Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day Six

“[F]or the sake of the American people, I hope at least a few more Democrats will join us to pass this clean, nonpartisan CR and let the Senate get back to work.”

Click here to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor: