Category: Uncategorized

Matt Michels Elected As National Lieutenant Governors Association Chair

PIERRE, S.D. – Lt. Gov. Matt Michels today was selected by his peers to serve as chair of the National Lieutenant Governors Association. The election took place at the lieutenant governors’ annual meeting in Nashville, Tennessee.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to serve NLGA in this capacity,” said Lt. Gov. Michels. “Being a part this organization has been a valuable experience and as I continue in this position of leadership, I look forward to sharing South Dakota’s point of view with NLGA and learning about other states’ initiatives.”

NLGA is a national bipartisan association for the lieutenant governors of all 50 states and U.S. territories. Lt. Gov. Michels previously served the organization as treasurer and chair of the policy resolutions committee.

“Lt. Gov. Michels has been consistently selected, bi-partisanly, by his peers from every region of the nation as a trusted leader, and they have now elected him chair,” said NLGA Director Julia Hurst.

As chair, Lt. Gov. Michels has selected the organization’s initiative for the year to focus on connecting veterans with opportunities in the arts.

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Congressional candidate Dusty Johnson takes on the rattlesnakes at TAR camp.

(The campers had sent this earlier, but my coverage ans ability to pull the code necessary to post it during my vacation is a bit spotty)

As I was born in 1960, I came of age during the Vietnam War. It was the lead story every night on the news and we watched the news before sitting down for supper. Except for family, in my youth, there was probably nobody we prayed more for than the POW’s. Similar to how people say regarding the plane crash “George Mickelson seven others,” we said “Leo Thorsness* and the POW’s.”

These men were the heroes of my childhood. I met three of these heroes.
• I shook the hand of Leo Thorsness during his Senate campaign outside the Ben Franklin in Pierre.
• Because I dated a staffer of Senator Jeremiah Denton, his office was directly one floor above Senator Abdnor and we often saw each other at Mass during Lent and other Holy Days (took the elevator down, walked to and from Mass, sat together, and elevator again just the two of us once), I got to know Senator Denton personally which gave me some level of insight in what being a POW does to a person and their family. When I heard of his death a few years ago, I actually teared up.
• John McCain was elected to the US House and on two occasions I had the privilege to shake his hand. Like Thorsness, no real conversation but thrilling just the same.

With that background, I need to give some other background. Senator Abdnor had two “mads.” One was his “let me tell you something friend” mad which wasn’t good because you sensed he wanted to tear your head off but wasn’t going to because you were his friend. The other is hard to describe but he would pull his lips close to his teeth and almost seeth when he was talking. This was really, really bad.

Anyway, Senator Abdnor was on the House side “doing business” and I was the staffer trailing him and taking notes. One of the people he spoke to was Congressman McCain. The conversation was private so I couldn’t hear but I could see. It was heated and before it ended I could see the “seething mad.”

Later, when I had a chance, I asked Abdnor what happened with McCain that caused him to get so mad. Jim looked at me with as an ashamed look as I ever saw him have and he said, “John McCain is a hero and didn’t deserve what I said.” That was it. I don’t even know the subject much less what was said.

When I got the news text Senator McCain (with Collins, Murkowski, and 100% of the Democratic Caucus) had voted against any reform of Obamacare, I seethed. I wanted to strike out. But, I’m trying to be like Jim Abdnor. John McCain is dying and he is a hero. I’ve prayed for him both in my youth and as an adult.

I know I can never be the man Jim Abdnor was but every now and then I have my moments where I step up. But it is really hard right now. Really hard.

*Leo Thorsness was from Minnesota, graduated from SDSU, married a SD girl, and I faintly remember somehow our family knew him or someone close to him. My guess is that is why we said his name and not the others.

GOAC chairwoman State Senator Deb Peters (who happens to be president of the National Conference of State Legislatures) testified before Congress this week. And of course, State Senator Stace Nelson must have thought, “it’s a great opportunity to attack her.” And the results are on Twitter.

And it continues downhill from there with Nelson attacking Peters, claiming corruption and complaining about procedure, and Peters telling him if he’s got evidence, to provide it.

Rounds Statement on Health Care Reform Legislation Vote

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today made the following statement after the Senate voted against passing a bill to repeal parts of Obamacare:

“The fight to relieve American families from our current failing health care system is far from over. I will continue working with my colleagues to stabilize the insurance markets and prevent premiums from continuing to skyrocket. The American people deserve better than the failing Obamacare disaster that has forced millions off the health care plans they enjoyed, driven up the cost of health care – 124 percent for South Dakotans in just the past four years – and caused insurance companies to leave the marketplace in droves.”

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Thune Welcomes Additional Sanctions on Iran, Russia, North Korea

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement regarding passage of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (H.R. 3364), legislation that gives the Trump administration an essential tool for deterring threats from Iran and North Korea and expands current U.S. sanctions on Russia.“

The continued hostile behavior of Iran and North Korea must be met with action. By imposing tough sanctions on Iran for its continued support for terrorism, prohibited arms transfers, and ballistic missile testing, this legislation sends a powerful message that our nation stands firm against Iranian aggression. This legislation also shows North Korea that its unrelenting efforts to develop a nuclear missile that can threaten America and our allies, as well their continued human rights offenses, will not be tolerated.

“By expanding sanctions against the government of Russia, Congress is taking necessary action to check Russia’s continued aggression in Syria and occupation of Crimea, its brazen cyberattacks and interference in elections, and its alarming suppression of human rights. I look forward to the president signing this significant piece of bipartisan legislation.” 

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Noem Seeks to Bring Greater Integrity to IRS Hiring with New Legislation

NEW REPORT: IRS rehired 200+ former employees who had been previously terminated for misconduct 

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem, a member of the House Ways & Means Committee, today introduced the Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act, which would prohibit the IRS from rehiring an employee who has been fired for certain forms of misconduct. The legislation comes in the wake of a Treasury Department report released this week that shows the IRS rehired more than 200 former employees between January 2015 and March 2016 that had previously been terminated for misconduct or performance issues.

“This is about having a basic respect for hardworking taxpayers,” said Noem. “An agency with access to our most sensitive financial data has repeatedly rehired employees who had already been fired for things like accessing taxpayer information without authorization, threatening their coworkers, or repeatedly falsifying documents. If the IRS won’t instill commonsense hiring practices within the agency, we will work to write them into law.”

The Treasury Department report found “former employees were selected for rehire without fully considering prior conduct and performance issues.” The report went on to detail examples of the misconduct that was overlooked:

“Two rehired employees had repetitively falsified employment forms by omitting prior convictions or terminations.”

“Two rehired employees were previously terminated for failure to maintain a successful level of performance in multiple critical job elements as tax examining technicians. However, both of these employees were rehired as tax examining technicians less than six months later.”

“One rehired employee had several misdemeanors for theft and a felony for possession of a forgery device.”

“Another rehired employee had threatened his or her co-workers.”

“Three rehired employees had ‘excessive’ absence without leave for more than 270, 150, and 140 hours respectively.”

Moreover, around 7 percent of those rehired faced new conduct or performance issues within one year. 

Noem first introduced the Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act in the 114th Congress. While the legislation was passed with broad bipartisan consensus in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2016, the legislation did not receive a vote in the U.S. Senate before the 114th Congress gaveled to a close.

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Noem, House Pass Bill to Build Border Wall, Invest in Military, Support Vets, Stop WOTUS

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today joined the U.S. House of Representatives in passing H.R.3219, the Make America Secure Appropriations Act. Among other initiatives, the legislation fully funds President Trump’s request for a wall along the southern border. It also offers service members a 2.4 percent pay raise (the largest increase in eight years); strengthens support for the Department of Defense, making investments into updating equipment and weapons; and bolsters the VA’s ability to care for veterans. Additionally, the bill authorizes the EPA to withdraw the controversial Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. 

“Today’s legislation supports some of the federal government’s most fundamental responsibilities: our common defense, our national security, and our veterans,” said Noem. “We offer the resources necessary to build a strong border wall, invest in our military, and support those who have served. At the same time, by authorizing the EPA to ditch the WOTUS rule, we take yet another step toward eliminating the harmful, regressive, Obama-era regulations that have shackled small businesses, farmers, and ranchers for far too long.”

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Hiley goes on to say-“It is not only because of the contemptuous sound, suggestive of “squit.” It is also clearly a diminutive.”

Yesterday, GOP got the slimmest of a majority (51 votes including a tie-breaking vote by the Bice President) to open debate on amending Obamacare, with amendments limited to taxes or spending and items directly related spending or taxes. Under Senate rules, a full repeal requires 60 votes, which would require support from over 20% of the Democrat caucus.

A subsequent vote of the most broadly possible amendment of Obamacare as allowed under Senate rules failed 43-57. Any other possible changes will be less robust because of the Senate rules. Thus, we have on the record a definitive list of Obamacare Republicans.

Senators Susan Collins, Bob Corker, Tom Cotton, Lindsey Graham, Dean Heller, Mike Lee, Jerry Moran, Lisa Murkowski and Rand Paul.

These Obamacare Republicans betrayed the most central GOP position advocated in the past four elections and their stature will never be the same. They are Quislings. In addition to 9 Democrat Senators in states carried by Trump, the GOP must primary Corker and Heller. No Quislings allowed in caucus.

Update: Today, the following Senators voted against “skinny repeal” (what is possible with a simple majority) without a specific replacement: Sens. Shelley Moore Capito, Susan Collins, Dick Heller, John McCain, Rob Portman, Lamar Alexander, and Lisa Murkowski. Only Collins voted against the 2015 measure which passed both houses and was vetoed by President Obama.

Today, this adds Capito, McCain, Portman, and Alexander to the Obamacare Republican list.

Positive Feedback From South Dakota Farmer,
Other Panelists on Thune’s 2018 Farm Bill Proposals

Thune questions panel in Agriculture Committee hearing on the effectiveness of his SHIPP and commodity title improvement proposals 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a longtime member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today received important feedback on his 2018 farm bill proposals, including his bill tomodernize and target commodity assistance and his Soil Health Improvement Protection Program (SHIPP), a short-term acreage conserving use program.

“I especially want to thank Kevin Scott for being here, representing the American Soybean Association,” said Thune. “[He’s] a multi-generation South Dakota farmer, going back to 1885, I think the family operation has roots. He always provides great council and insight and advice to me and my staff and to all of South Dakota when it comes to the issues that are important to agriculture and to our country, I might add.”

The panel, which included Valley Springs, South Dakota, farmer Kevin Scott, agreed that commodity title payments should be calculated using a farm’s physical location instead of according to administrative county, which Thune’s commodity title proposal would enforce. The panel also agreed that a short-term conservation easement program, like SHIPP, would be an effective means of using conservation to improve soil health and offset low commodity prices.

To read more about Thune’s 2018 farm bill proposals, click here.

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