Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Commonsense Accountability

noem press header kristi noem headshot May 21 2014Commonsense Accountability
By Rep. Kristi Noem

With Tax Day only a week or so behind us, the amount of personal information we send in with our tax return is still fresh in our minds: Social Security numbers; our annual salary; in some cases, the routing number for our bank account!  That’s the kind of information we wouldn’t share with just anyone, so it begs the question: whose hands does this information fall into once it arrives at the IRS?

Before we get too far in, I want to say that I’ve met with some incredible folks in South Dakota who do some of this work and do it with integrity.  But the IRS is a nationwide agency.  Not everyone lives up to South Dakota’s standards, including many decision-makers within the IRS.

In the past few years alone, the agency has targeted groups based on their political beliefs.  They’ve let criminal acts pass by the wayside, sending out billions of dollars in improper payments.  They’ve let calls from taxpayers go unanswered, picking up just 15.6 percent of calls during the height of tax-filing season this year.  Thousands of employees have neglected to pay their own taxes.  And all the while, the agency has handed out about $6 million worth of bonuses.

With all of this as background, it may come as no surprise that the IRS also knowingly hired hundreds of former employees who had previously been fired for misconduct. Some of these people had been fired from the IRS for filing false documents.  Some accessed sensitive taxpayer information without permission.  Some just didn’t show up to work for what totaled about 8 weeks’ worth of work, leading to a stamp on their personnel file saying: “Do Not Rehire.”  Incredibly, all of these people were rehired.

Nearly one in five of the rehired employees had new performance issues when they returned to the IRS, according to a federal report.  This defies commonsense.

What’s more, the IRS has shown a complete disregard for changing the practice and insists that prior conduct or performance issues do not play a significant role in deciding the candidates they choose to hire.  I couldn’t let this policy stand.

I introduced legislation to prohibit the IRS from hiring employees they had already fired once for misconduct.  It earned bipartisan support, and on April 21, the House of Representatives gave the legislation its stamp of approval.  The Senate has already started its work on this legislation.  I’m hopeful they can sign off on this bill soon and put this commonsense reform on the President’s desk.

In addition to the bill I introduced, the House passed legislation that ended bonuses to IRS employees until the agency starts to fix its terrible customer service record.  We also passed a bill to get rid of an unaccountable IRS slush fund, giving taxpayers a greater say over how fees the IRS collects are used.  Finally, we passed legislation to stop the IRS from hiring any new employees until they can certify that no employees are delinquent on their own taxes.  These are commonsense, if you are out there to protect hardworking taxpayers.

These bills are only a snippet of what must be done to correct a broken system.  Nonetheless, as we work toward a fairer, flatter and simpler tax code, I’ll be looking for more opportunities to make the IRS more accountable to you.

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Governor Daugaard’s Weekly Column: Celebrating Agriculture’s Leadership in Conservation

daugaardheader DaugaardCelebrating Agriculture’s Leadership in Conservation
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

Our dedicated farming and ranching families, many of whom have been on the land for generations, know how important it is to take care of the land because their livelihoods depend on it. As we celebrate our natural resources on Earth Day, we should applaud stewards of working lands for protecting our land and water.

Each year, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, the South Dakota Grassland Coalition and the Sand County Foundation bestow the Leopold Conservation Award® on a farming or ranching family who demonstrates outstanding conservation leadership, and is dedicated to land and wildlife conservation. The award is named for renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold.

This year’s Leopold Conservation Award recipients, Cronin Farms, have been committed to keeping land health and livestock welfare at the forefront of their management technique. They attribute their continued success on the land to efforts which mimic the natural environment as much as possible.

Monty and Mike Cronin, with their long-time farm manager Dan Forgey, manage a mixed livestock and crop farm that shares a sizable border with the Oahe Reservoir on the Missouri River. This location draws a significant amount of wildlife to their land. Their diverse enterprise provides an excellent example of how outstanding land stewardship and economic resilience go hand in hand.

Congratulations to Cronin Farms and all landowners across South Dakota who care for the natural resources we all depend on. Their commitment to a healthy environment ensures that our natural resources will be here for our future generations.

For information on Cronin Farms, Inc. and the many conservation practices farmers and ranchers use, visit LeopoldConservationAward.org.

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Guest Editorial by Richard Mounce, Candidate for District 30 House

(This OP ed was submitted by Richard Mounce, Candidate for District 30 House to several media outlets including the SDWC, so I offer it here for your reading pleasure.  Guest pieces are always welcome at the SDWC, and are published at my discretion – PP)

mounceI am a Republican running to be your State Representative in District 30 because I want our children and young families to stay and raise their families here in South Dakota. We can achieve this by growing our economy and providing our K-12 students a world class education—two pillars of a thriving community. I am optimistic for our future and what we can achieve together.

The Black Hills are a very special place. As I walk in the district daily, I meet the silent majority of salt-of-the-earth South Dakotans who would give the shirt off their backs to their neighbors and who live with faith and determination.

Unfortunately, by contrast, a small and vocal group uses outright lies, fear-mongering and manipulation to smear and intimidate candidates whom they do not like.  Aside from malicious gossip, they send outrageous, and anonymous, post cards at election time.  Such negative tactics are not consistent with South Dakota values and may ultimately discourage good people from running for office.  These hateful character assassinations do not represent the best of who we are as a community and stand in stark contrast to the true South Dakota we know and love.

Winston Churchill said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.”  This letter was written to put “the pants of truth” on about my campaign and me as there have been many negative attacks directed at my wife Laura and I.  No doubt these attacks will increase as June 7th approaches. In one sense these attacks can be viewed as a tribute to the strength of my campaign.  It means my message is resonating with the silent majority and threatens the noisy cynics.

One rumor being spread is that Laura and I have “Oregon Values” because we moved to South Dakota from Oregon several years ago.  In fact, Laura is a 4th generation South Dakotan and absolutely steadfast in her support of my candidacy. We chose to leave Oregon and move to South Dakota, in part, because Christians and Conservatives in Portland are an endangered species.

The Oregon values I learned as a child are love of God, patriotism, service to the community, honesty and the value of hard work.  While things may have changed in Oregon, in South Dakota these values are still the bedrock of life and are values Laura and I share and live daily.

The issue boils down to trust. The voters have every right to expect honesty and integrity from their elected representatives. Relationships of all kinds are built on trust. As a doctor and businessman, I am successful because I deliver what I promise.  I mean what I say and say what I mean. If I promise to support accountable, limited and common-sense government policies based on Reagan-esque conservative principles, I’ll do everything in my power to deliver results honestly and transparently.

I will not compromise to be an insider or forget who elected me in Pierre.  I will not compromise my conservative values. I will not compromise my faith and integrity.  As your representative I will always do what is right in the present, without regard to being re-elected in the future. You have my word on it.

Together, collectively lets say “NO” to the fear, lies and negativity. Let’s say “YES” to optimism, integrity and improving our state. Saying “Yes” will help our young families build a brighter future here. If you want to know where I stand on any issue, or if you hear something other than what is written here, call me. Respectfully, I ask for your vote on June 7th.

Richard Mounce, SD House Candidate District 30, MounceSDHouse30.com

Attorney General Jackley to Host National Association of Attorneys General Summit

jackley-logo Marty JackleyAttorney General Jackley to Host National Association of Attorneys General Summit

PIERRE, S.D. –   Attorney General Marty Jackley as President of the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) announces the upcoming 2016 Attorneys General Presidential Summit to be held in Deadwood, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse on May 2-3, 2016. This is the first opportunity for South Dakota to both Chair and to host our nation’s top law enforcement officer summit.

“The Presidential Initiative Summit is an opportunity for the Attorneys General to find solutions for important challenges that affect our States and the safety of our citizens. The State Attorneys General are strong leaders working to strengthen the public’s trust and to make our communities safer,” said Jackley.

Each year NAAG organizes a Summit to allow State Attorneys General throughout the country to discuss the latest approaches and solutions to improving public safety. This year’s Presidential Initiative is “To Protect and Serve with 21st Century Policing”.

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Encourage Greater Competition & Innovation in DOD Cyber Procurement

Rounds Logo 2016 MikeRounds official SenateRounds, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Encourage Greater Competition & Innovation in DOD Cyber Procurement

Bipartisan, bicameral legislation reforms procurement process to maximize performance and long-term value for the taxpayer

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), along with U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), today introduced S. 2826, the bipartisan Promoting Value Based Defense Procurement Act. The legislation would make sure that the Department of Defense (DOD) seeks the best long-term value for the taxpayers during the procurement process for complex information technology and engineering services by providing greater clarity on DOD’s existing Lowest Price, Technically Acceptable (LPTA) evaluation criteria.

“The Department of Defense has a responsibility to provide our Armed Forces with high quality, advanced equipment while remaining a responsible steward of taxpayers’ dollars,” said Rounds. “This bill will help make sure that DOD is using LPTA in an appropriate manner while avoiding its use in determining source selection for complex, innovative technology and engineering services, where the least expensive option is often not the best long-term value. This is in the best interests of our war fighters and our taxpayers.”

Through the LPTA process, all proposals meeting a defined set of minimum technical requirements are considered and the contract is awarded to the lowest-price bidder. However, in cases of more complex and knowledge-based procurements, such as IT services, technical requirements are often harder for DOD to fully define and articulate, and the least expensive option may not be the best overall value if it doesn’t encourage participation by private-sector partners providing innovative products and services and the most talented people.

The Promoting Value Based Defense Procurement Act would make sure that DOD is using LPTA in the most effective and appropriate manner.  The bill directs DOD to avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, LPTA criteria when the procurement is for information technology, systems engineering and technical assistance, or other knowledge-based professional services.

Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Reps. Don Beyer (D-Va.) and Rob Wittman (R-Va.).

Full text of the bill can be found here.

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Rounds Offers Amendment to Energy & Water Appropriations Bill

Rounds Logo 2016 MikeRounds official SenateRounds Offers Amendment to Energy & Water Appropriations Bill

Amendment would provide funds for Army Corps to implement flood and drought monitoring system on the Missouri River

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today offered an amendment to the Energy and Water appropriations bill that would authorize the use of up to $2 million within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) existing budget to implement Upper Missouri River Basin flood and drought monitoring systems. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) is a cosponsor.

“South Dakotans deserve certainty that the federal government has taken steps to prevent another catastrophic event similar to the 2011 flood that forced more than 4,000 families out of their homes, resulted in five deaths and caused more than $2 billion in damage to infrastructure, businesses and fertile ag land,” said Rounds. “That begins with proper tools to monitor water levels as instructed in a 2014 water resources law. During my field hearing in North Sioux City last month, Army Corps officials told me they didn’t have proper funding to implement the soil moisture and snowpack monitoring system that would help prevent a future major flood event along the Missouri River. By making these funds available, the Corps will have all the tools they need to implement the monitoring system.”

Last month, Rounds chaired an Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Management and Oversight field hearing in North Sioux City to focus on the USACE management of the Missouri River following the flood of 2011. At the time of the hearing, USACE noted that it does not have the funding to improve its soil moisture and snowpack monitoring system, nor has it made an appropriations request to Congress to take such action. You can read more about his field hearing HERE.

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Thune Welcomes Sioux Falls Diocese Bishop as U.S. Senate’s “Chaplain for a Day”

thuneheadernewThune Welcomes Sioux Falls Diocese Bishop as U.S. Senate’s “Chaplain for a Day”

“Mr. President, today we in the United States Senate are giving praise for Bishop Swain’s unwavering devotion to the word of the Lord and to the service of his people.”

WASHINGTON — Bishop Paul J. Swain, eighth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, today served as the U.S. Senate’s “Chaplain for a Day.” U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) nominated Bishop Swain for this honor.

“He is a pillar of our community and a spiritual leader to over 100,000 Catholics in East River South Dakota,” said Thune. “Bishop Swain’s episcopal motto is ‘Give Praise to the Lord.’ Mr. President, today we in the United States Senate are giving praise for Bishop Swain’s unwavering devotion to the word of the Lord and to the service of his people. I thank the Bishop for joining us today.”

Click here for Bishop Swain’s full biography.

House Passes Noem’s IRS Workforce Integrity Bill

knoemHouse Passes Noem’s IRS Workforce Integrity Bill


WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today led the House in passing her Ensuring Integrity in the IRS Workforce Act (H.R.3724), which would prohibit the IRS from rehiring an employee who has been fired for certain forms of misconduct.  The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support by a margin of 345-78.

“The IRS has rehired hundreds of people who had already been fired once for misconduct.  This practice needs to end and that’s exactly what my bill does.  It’s just commonsense,” said Noem.  “Much more must be done to correct our broken tax system.  Nonetheless, as we work toward a fairer, flatter, and simpler tax code, I’ll be looking for more opportunities to make the IRS more accountable to you.”

In February 2015, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) publicly released a new report explaining it had “identified hundreds of former employees with prior substantiated conduct or performance issues ranging from tax issues, unauthorized access to taxpayer information, leave abuse, falsification of official forms, unacceptable performance, misuse of IRS property, and off-duty misconduct.”

The agency went on to say that nearly one in five of the rehired employees with a record of prior misconduct had performance issues when they returned to the IRS.  For more information on TIGTA’s findings, click here.

Fred Deutsch in Politico on gender-specific bathrooms

Outgoing State Rep Fred Deutsch was at the crux of the culture wars this past year, and was asked to weigh in by Politico on pressure by big business for legislatures to reject gender-specific bathroom laws in an article out this evening:

Before North Carolina, there was South Dakota. Last month, Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard vetoed his own state Legislature’s bill to mandate that kids in public schools use the bathroom and locker room corresponding to their biological gender after hearing from local business groups and banks.

“I don’t think it’s the place of Big Business to tell a state how it should run particularly its social legislation,” said state Rep. Fred Deutsch, who sponsored the bill, in an interview with POLITICO. “I would encourage CEOs to run for the Legislature if they want to participate in social engineering, or send their lobbyists to testify against bills while they’re in committee. But don’t threaten us with leaving the state, especially when we’re extending tax incentives for them to be in our state.”

The United States Chamber of Commerce declined to comment for this story, saying it doesn’t weigh in on “social issues.”

Lt. Gov Matt Michels hasn’t ruled out a run. But, that’s a lot of campaign to put together

From the Yankton Press and Dakotan, Yankton resident and Lt. Governor Matt Michels actually IS thinking about a run for the big chair. But even he admits the clock is running out on getting in:

michels bookerWhen it comes to his political future, Lt. Gov. Matt Michels finds himself racing against the clock.

The Yankton attorney says he must decide soon whether to run for governor in 2018, even though more than two years remain on his term.

“I need to make a decision in two months, maybe within a month,” he told the Press & Dakotan. “I don’t like making a decision 2 1/2 years ahead of the election, but that’s just the way it is.”

Michels cited two major factors forcing an early decision: the process of organizing a campaign, and other candidates already positioning themselves for a gubernatorial run.

“You just need a lot of time to put an organization together,” he said. “And we still have to get through another legislative session (in 2017).”

Read that all here.

And as Matt Michels realizes, there’s a finite number of resources available to put a winning campaign together, as well as a finite number of competent people available to assemble into a winning organization.

There are volunteers, donors and staffers coalescing around Marty Jackley and Mark Mickelson already. Congresswoman Kristi Noem would come in with a team battle hardened and ready to go from having to do it all over again every two years.

Matt’s challenge would be to start building that nucleus and put together a team when many possible people in his current Daugaard heavy universe would already be gravitating towards Mark Mickelson, given the status of Linda Mickelson Graham as the Governor’s campaign treasurer.

If he was looking to party regulars, Marty Jackley already has a strong relationship with party maven and political regular Jason Glodt, as well as many others who Jackley has cultivated relationships with.

Lacking a staff of seasoned campaign veterans can happen. This last election cycle, US Senate Candidate Stace Nelson lamented to one seasoned political veteran who he had tried to recruit (but turned him down) that “all of the good ones are taken,” leaving him to try to assemble a campaign team without the benefit of anyone with statewide experience. Which showed in several campaign missteps.

I suspect that the Lt Governor would ultimately be able to find people to join his cause, simply for the reason that the affable Michels is one of the nicest people you’d ever want to know. He’s a good guy in a profession that has many practitioners with very sharp elbows.

And sometimes, that’s enough.