Category: Uncategorized

Marty Jackley Sdcf disclosure by Pat Powers on Scribd

Noem, Schakowsky Lead House in Passing the Women, Peace and Security Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today led the House in passing H.R.5332, the Women, Peace, and Security Act.  This bipartisan legislation would require the U.S. to develop a comprehensive strategy to increase and strengthen women’s participation in peace negotiations and conflict prevention globally as well as ensure accountability to Congress.

“We live in an extremely volatile and dangerous world where peace negotiations are ongoing in multiple regions,” said Noem.  “Women have proven to be influential forces in producing lasting peace within a community, yet are often underrepresented when it comes to conflict prevention and resolution.  With this legislation in place, we can be assured that women will have a meaningful seat at the table.  I’m hopeful these reforms, as well as the long-term thinking and accountability this legislation requires, will help produce more sustainable outcomes during future conflict resolution and peace negotiation processes.” 

“When women are involved in the peace process, negotiations are more likely to end in a lasting agreement. That’s the simple and powerful idea behind this legislation,” said Schakowsky. “Across time and around the world, women have been uniquely and disproportionately affected by armed conflict. This legislation will ensure that women now have a meaningful role in peace building, conflict resolution, and conflict prevention. The United States plays a crucial role in promoting peace all over the world. By making women’s participation in the peace process a national priority, we will improve national and global security.”

Research shows that peace agreements are 35 percent more likely to last at least 15 years when women are involved.  The Women, Peace and Security Act would – for the first time – establish women’s participation as a permanent element of U.S. foreign policy under Congressional oversight.

Reps. Noem and Schakowsky introduced H.R.5332 in May 2016 alongside cosponsors House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA), and House Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY).  Sens. Mark Kirk (R-IL) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) have introduced similar legislation in the Senate.

Apparently, this is going on in front of the SD State Capitol in Pierre at the moment.

Gov. Daugaard Statement On Medicaid

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard offered the following statement about discussions surrounding Medicaid expansion:

“On Monday, I met with Vice President-elect Mike Pence and discussed the Trump Administration’s plans for repealing or reforming the Affordable Care Act. Based on that discussion, I will not recommend that South Dakota pursue Medicaid expansion in 2017.

“Over the past two years, we have been working with the federal government to reduce federal cost-shifting to the state for Native American healthcare, and those discussions led the federal government to change its policy relating to Medicaid reimbursements for Indian Health Service enrollees.

“With the national election results, the prospect of reforming Medicaid in our country is real, and I intend to work with the Trump Administration and with our congressional delegation to find a way to leverage the IHS policy change to improve access to health care through Medicaid reform. If successful, these efforts could save our state tens of millions of dollars a year.”

It sounds like at least one of the Democrat’s statewide candidates who lost dismally wants to drain the swamp at SDDP HQ, and is demanding a shake up in party leadership:

After an unsuccessful run for South Dakota’s lone U.S. House seat, Democrat Paula Hawks said she hopes her party will shake up its leadership.

The former state legislator and teacher from Hartford said the South Dakota Democratic Party needs to reorganize at the top if it wants to win campaigns moving forward.

“I think that what we’ve seen in the last year is that what we’re doing isn’t working,” she said Tuesday. “We do need a shake-up.”

and…

Hawks said she was committed to working with the party to rebuild and didn’t feel that current party leadership gave her the support she needed in running her campaign against Rep. Kristi Noem.

and..

Tornberg said the party helped Hawks as much as it could and thought the Democrat put up a strong fight against the Republican incumbent.

“I believe that the state party did everything we could to support her, but obviously it wasn’t enough,” Tornberg said.

Read it here.

Well, duh.

Rounds’ Office Offers Limited Number of Inauguration Tickets to South Dakotans

Free tickets available to South Dakota residents on first-come, first-served basis

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that his office will offer tickets to the 58th Presidential Inauguration to South Dakota residents on a first-come, first-served basis. On Friday, January 20, 2017, President-elect Donald J. Trump will be sworn in as president on the West Front Lawn of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. 

Each Congressional office receives a limited number of inauguration tickets to distribute to constituents free of charge. South Dakotans interested in attending inauguration can request a ticket by visiting www.rounds.senate.gov/inauguration-ticket-request. The deadline to submit ticket requests is Friday, December 16, 2016. South Dakotans selected to receive tickets will be contacted by Rounds’ office with detailed pick-up information.

Please note that due to the limited number of tickets available, ticket requests will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that all ticket requests will be fulfilled.

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I’d heard this earlier this AM, but was waiting for the paperwork to be posted. But Marty Jackley has formed a Jackley for Governor Committee with funds from both his AG campaign fund and his PAC:

Attorney General Marty Jackley said Tuesday that he’s forming a political committee with about $700,000 in the bank as he prepares to run for governor in 2018.

Jackley told The Associated Press that the group will include funds from his attorney general committee and a separate political action committee.

Jackley’s disclosure came a day after U.S. Rep. Kristi Noem declared her own run, first reported by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader.

Read it here.

Noem Joins Congressional Colleagues
to File Amicus Brief in WOTUS Case 

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem joined an effort of more than 80 Members of Congress, including Senators Rounds and Thune, in filing an amicus brief with the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals regarding the controversial Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule.  The Appellate Court is currently adjudicating the rule’s constitutionality and has put a temporary suspension on the rule until further determinations can be made. 

In the brief, the congressional members argue that the EPA’s rule expands federal jurisdiction over land and water beyond the restraints set by the Supreme Court in SWANCC v U.S. Army Corps, that Congress has the sole right to make law, and that the agencies involved have failed in their responsibility to “faithfully” execute the laws set by Congress. To view a copy of the brief, click here. 

“The WOTUS rule could become one of the largest federal land grabs in U.S. history,” said Noem.  “We are actively working on the legislative front to strike down WOTUS, pushing forward in the face of vetoes and continued opposition from President Obama.  Still, we are exploring all options and with this brief, we make our views very clear to the Courts: This rule goes too far and by no means follows congressional intent.  The WOTUS rule must be withdrawn.”

This is not the first time Noem has weighed into the WOTUS debate.  In January 2016, Rep. Noem joined the House in passing legislation to block the WOTUS rule.  The legislation was also passed by the Senate, but vetoed by the President. 

Additionally, in May 2014, Rep. Noem joined 231 Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle on a letter urging the EPA and the Secretary of the Army to withdraw the proposed rule.

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in the explosion of activity since Congresswoman Kristi Noem rocked the South Dakota political world, there’s been a flurry of activity behind the scenes. And among the names being brought up for Congress, is that of Neal Tapio.

So, I reached out to Neal for comment. And in reply, I’ve been promised a statement exclusively (for the #1 political news site in South Dakota.)

Will he, or won’t he? Stay Tuned.