One of my correspondents offered the following observation on Bernie Sanders going to Pine Ridge this week:
So, Bernie Sanders is going to visit Pine Ridge. He is going to the shining example of how socialism does not work to illustrate why we should vote for his government expansion of socialist ideas. Go figure.
Kind of hard to argue with that.
Noem’s Rapid City Office Moves to Main Street
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today announced her Rapid City office has moved locations to 2525 West Main Street, Suite 310.
“I couldn’t do my job without input from South Dakotans,” said Noem. “Whether looking to offer perspective on federal issues or in need of help interacting with a government agency, I’m hopeful this new office location will give constituents even better access to our office and my West River team.”
The new office location is now open.
NEW RAPID CITY OFFICE ADDRESS
Office of Rep. Kristi Noem
2525 West Main Street, Suite 310
Rapid City, SD 57702
Phone: 605-791-4673
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Rounds Statement on Meeting Between U.S. Army and Tribal Representatives to Discuss Bringing Remains of Native Youth Home
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement after representatives from his office participated in a meeting with Army representatives and tribal representatives in Rosebud, South Dakota. The meeting was to discuss returning the remains of Native American children buried at Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to their rightful home on their tribal land:
“During the 19th and early 20th centuries, nearly 830,000 Native American children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to boarding schools—like Carlisle—to assimilate them into what was considered ‘modern society.’ It is past time that the remains of the children who are buried at Carlisle Indian School be returned to their rightful home.”
“I thank the Army representatives for working with tribal leaders to begin the formal process of bringing the children home to their relatives. Today’s meeting was – by all accounts – a success. My office will remain engaged throughout the process and stands ready to assist in any way possible.”
The Carlisle Indian School, founded in 1879, was one of many boarding schools across the country whose goal was to assimilate Native American youth by removing them from their families, cultures and traditions. Faculty cut students hair short, enforced a strict dress code and confiscated sacred objects that students may have brought with them from home in an effort to introduce them to ‘modern’ American culture. Today’s meeting included representatives from the Rosebud Sioux, Oglala Sioux, Northern Arapaho, Cheyenne River Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, Standing Rock Sioux and Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, whose members are among those buried at the Carlisle Indian School. The Defending Childhood Initiative Sicangu Youth Council and the Tokala Inajinyo Suicide Prevention Peer Mentors, two groups of middle and high school students from the Rosebud Sioux tribe, also participated in today’s meeting. After a trip to Carlisle last year, they have been very active in working to bring their relatives home.
Rounds recently sent a letter to the Army requesting the transfer of tribal remains from the cemetery at Carlisle Barracks to South Dakota. At today’s meeting, the Army representatives confirmed they intend to use their resources to return the remains home.
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You are invited to attend the
South Dakota Conservatives Breakfast
on the second Thursday of each month
from 7:30 to 8:30 A.M.
at the Original Pancake House located at
2713 West 41st Street in Sioux Falls.
Please come share your opinions, voice your concerns, meet fellow conservatives, and learn about the efforts and events of various conservative organizations in South Dakota.
For more information, please contact Chad Krier
at (605) 370-2778.
US Senator John Thune is taking action over accusations regarding the Facebook organization manipulating news to eliminate conservative topics over liberal ones.
A top Senate Republican is pressing Facebook to explain how it curates news for its Trending Topics feature in response to a report that the company’s employees may have suppressed stories related to conservatives.
The leader of the chamber’s Commerce Committee, Sen. John Thune, said in a statement the social network “must answer these serious allegations,” first reported by Gizmodo, “and hold those responsible to account if there has been political bias in the dissemination of trending news.”
“Any attempt by a neutral and inclusive social media platform to censor or manipulate political discussion is an abuse of trust and inconsistent with the values of an open Internet,” Thune said.
Grand Jury Issues Indictment Charging Bollen with Unauthorized Disposal of Personal Property Subject to Security Interest
PIERRE, S.D.- Attorney General Marty Jackley confirms that on Friday, May 6, 2016, a Brown County grand jury issued an indictment charging Joop Bollen, 52, Aberdeen.
Bollen was originally charged by complaint on March 31, 2016, for his role in the financial misconduct case relating to EB5 and SDRC Inc. Bollen has now been indicted by the grand jury on 5 counts of unauthorized disposal of personal property subject to security interest, class 6 felony, punishable by up to 2 years imprisonment in the state penitentiary and/or $4,000 fine.
The case is being investigated by the Division of Criminal Investigation and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s Office. Bollen is presumed innocent until such time as proven guilty.
Pursuant to a state request, Bollen has been summoned to appear at the Brown County Courthouse on May 17, 2016 at 1:15 p.m. to be arraigned on the charges.
Interesting.
I was just polled by a national firm and given a somewhat extensive poll about my reaction if Ted Cruz un-suspended his campaign.
Someone thinks it’s an idea worth exploring. At least, enough to run a poll on.
Something for Everyone in South Dakota
By Sen. John Thune
Every May, we recognize tourism in the United States and celebrate the many unique opportunities that are available for travelers from coast to coast. While my job sometimes requires me to spend time in Washington, D.C., away from the beauty of South Dakota, it does give me the chance to encourage people who have never been to our state to make their way to the heartland. I often hear, “South Dakota — I’ve never been, but I hear it is beautiful” or “That’s the state with the faces, right?” People not familiar with our state probably don’t realize that while Mount Rushmore is awe-inspiring and something that everyone should experience, our state has so much more to offer.
South Dakota has an incredibly diverse array of natural wonders and fascinating sites that offers something for everyone, from a large group getting ready for a family vacation to a couple retreating on their honeymoon to the lone traveler looking for adventure.
One of the easiest ways to get a taste of the state is to start your trip in Sioux Falls, travel along I-90, and end up in Rapid City. Sioux Falls is South Dakota’s largest city and is growing rapidly, but many agree that it has maintained its small-town feel. Must-dos include the falls, sculpture walk, and bike trails.
As you head west, you will be tempted to stop at almost every town and exit, as each place offers new and different charms. Whatever you do, you won’t want to miss the World’s Only Corn Palace in Mitchell. Check out the basketball court, corn murals, and don’t forget to grab a popcorn ball — they’re delicious.
As you cross the river from Chamberlain to Oacoma, you will catch one of the most beautiful views in the state. After taking in the beauty of the “Mighty Mo” as you cross the American Legion Memorial Bridge, you’ll see several billboards for Al’s Oasis telling you to stop and try the pie — and you should.
There are so many sights to see in western South Dakota as well. If the hundreds of signs advertising free ice water and 5-cent coffee don’t convince you to stop at Wall Drug, the giant dinosaur to the right of the interstate might.
The Badlands, Needles Highway, Sylvan Lake, Harney Peak, Bear Butte. Where do I even begin? The natural beauty of the western side of the state is unmatched. I recommend checking out as many of those places as you can.
And of course — Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore. Enormous, breathtaking sculptures captured for eternity in giant rock walls. Sights unlike any other. Crazy Horse, which pays tribute to the renowned Lakota leader, will be the world’s largest sculpture when completed. Meanwhile, Mount Rushmore pays tribute to four of our nation’s presidents.
I haven’t even mentioned one of the most important parts of South Dakota’s tourism— our Native American culture. The Senate recently passed my legislation, the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, which integrates tribally driven tourism plans nationally that will ultimately help grow local economies and encourage visits to Indian Country. The culture of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations is unique and rich, and everyone should take the opportunity to experience it.
To my fellow South Dakotans, you should all be proud of what makes our state the greatest in the nation. I hope you spend some time this year exploring parts of our state that you haven’t yet visited, or revisiting some of your favorite sites. You’ll be glad you did.
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Fact vs. Fiction: Congressional Pensions
By Senator Mike Rounds
I often have South Dakotans ask me if Members of Congress get special retirement benefits that other citizens don’t receive. This is largely due to myths and misinformation distributed over the Internet, which greatly distorts the truth about these benefits. Specifically, they ask if senators and representatives are exempt from Social Security and can retire after serving just a few years and receive their full paycheck for the rest of their life. The answer, simply, is no.
The first myth that Members of Congress don’t have to pay into Social Security is false. While it is true that prior to 1984 they didn’t pay Social Security taxes, they also weren’t eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Today all senators and representatives are required to pay them. The Social Security tax rate for 2015 was 6.2 percent of the first $118,000 of one’s salary, which is taken directly out of the paychecks of all Americans, including senators and representatives. Members of Congress are also subject to the same benefit eligibility and payment formulas as all other Social Security recipients across the country.
Another myth I hear is that when Members of Congress leave office, they continue to receive their same pay for the rest of their lives. This is also false. When Members lose an election, retire or resign from office, they no longer receive a salary, period. However, if they are eligible, they may receive benefits under the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). FERS is the retirement plan offered to all federal employees in the United States and is made up of three components: a defined benefit plan, mandatory participation in Social Security and a defined contribution plan similar to a 401(k). The benefits offered through FERS are comparable to the retirement plans South Dakotans receive in the private sector.
Legislation passed by Congress in 2012 made additional changes to FERS for Members of Congress. According to the non-partisan Congressional Research Service, the legislation decreased the benefit accrual rate for Members of Congress covered under FERS to make it equal to the accrual rate for all other federal employees. The previous pension plan was designed to provide a larger benefit for each year of service to Members of Congress—more than regular federal employees. Second, it required all Members, including myself, who pay into FERS to increase their contributions to 4.4 percent of their total pay.
So what does all of this mean in actual numbers? Today, for example, under the FERS retirement program, a rank-and-file 60-year-old Member of Congress retiring this year after 10 years of service, earning a $174,000 annual wage during his or her three consecutive highest earning years, would receive an annual pension of approximately $29,580. This doesn’t include deductions for federal or income taxes, but it may periodically include a cost-of-living adjustment, a common tool used to protect against inflation.
I hope this helps set the record straight for those who continue to hear myths about lavish retirement plans for Members of Congress. The truth is, our retirement plan is not much different from the retirement plans of other South Dakotans. And that is how it should be.
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Fostering Family
By Rep. Kristi Noem
When I was growing up, my parents did something pretty incredible – they opened our home and our family’s heart to a young child in need of a loving support system. As much as we became a foster family to help change the life of a child, he also made an unmistakable impact on our lives. From this experience, I learned about a different kind of compassion, understanding and resilience that I don’t know if I would have otherwise understood – especially from such a young age. Still today, those lessons help inform how I raise my kids and how I serve South Dakota.
May is National Foster Care Month – a time to recognize the unique experiences of those who have been in foster care and to raise awareness about their needs. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the thousands of dedicated foster families, social workers, and service providers who support these young people each and every day.
At any given time, around 400,000 children live in foster care. Each carries with them a unique experience and background – and a much-deserved need for a caring family to support them.
Sadly, life within the foster care system is difficult for many. More than half of foster children experienced at least seven school changes while in the child welfare system. The instability has a tremendous impact on their education, health, and outlook. It also puts these young people at a greater risk of falling into the hands of human traffickers.
Traffickers prey on children who are defenseless, vulnerable, and looking for love and a sense of belonging. In 2015, recognizing that children within the foster care system carry many of the characteristics that traffickers target, we passed legislation to help protect vulnerable young people. We gave states more resources and flexibility when it comes to developing and expanding comprehensive child trafficking deterrence programs. We also provided more resources to train law enforcement officers and social workers on risk factors and intervention tactics. It’s a start.
After transitioning out of foster care, not every child has the tools they need to be successful either. In 2013, more than 23,000 young people “aged out” of the foster care system without a permanent family, and sadly, studies show these young people are much more likely to end up homeless, become involved in crime, or suffer from mental health challenges.
Every child deserves a safe, supportive and permanent family, so we must continue to work toward finding lasting homes for foster youth – either through reunification, kinship care, guardianship, or adoption. That’s at least one of the reasons why I’ve sponsored legislation to help make adoption more affordable for families by ensuring every family can fully benefit from the adoption tax credit.
What’s really incredible to me is that despite the tough lives many children within the foster care system lead, their optimism and their resilience shine strong. In fact, 70 percent of teens in foster care want to attend college. Many have been through so much and still, they have dreams and hopes for the future.
Please keep these resilient young people in your prayers this month, and if you’re interested in becoming more involved, I encourage you to visit www.fosteronesd.org.
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