Category: Uncategorized

Out-of-State, Dark Money Group Drafted Amendment V

Fort Pierre, SD – October 11, 2016 — Amendment V, the constitutional amendment that would hide party labels from South Dakota voters, was drafted by big money interests from out-of-state.

Rick Weiland, Chairman of Yes on V Ballot Committee and longtime Democratic Party Boss, admitted in a recent interview that his “national partners” wrote parts of the ballot measures he is pushing. 

“Not only are outside, dark money groups trying to buy South Dakota elections, but Mr. Weiland has invited them in to re-write our Constitution,” said Will Mortenson, Chair of South Dakotans Against V. 

In a recent Rapid City Journal interview with reporter Seth Tupper, Mr. Weiland remarked that not only did out-of-state groups pay for the petition drives to get the measures on the ballot, but they lent the “expertise to help write what we ended up submitting.”  

The out-of-state group affiliated with Amendment V is Open Primaries, a dark money organization headquartered in New York, NY.  Open Primaries accounts for more than 70% of the total contributions to Yes on V and was recently caught violating a campaign finance law by using Amendment V to raise money.  Open Primaries has since taken down the website used in the violation.

“South Dakotans should be governing South Dakota.  Amendment V was drafted by out-of-staters, funded by out-of-staters, and puts California’s election system in our constitution.  Let’s vote No and send this bad idea back out of our state,” Mortenson added. 

Yes on V has raised 76% of its funds from out-of-state and 92% of its funds come from dark money organizations that do not disclose their donors.

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If you watched the debate yesterday at the Sioux Falls Rotary between Republican Congresswoman Kristi Noem and Democrat sacrificial lamb Paula Hawks, the one think that struck me was that this has not been the Paula Hawks we’ve seen elsewhere.

In fact, she seems to be deceptively steering to the right.

Hawks seemed to be taking a page from Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, and tried to tell people not to worry about supporting a Democrat. The only nods she made towards her party’s positions seemed to be expressing the need to keep Obamacare…. but also going out of her way to admit it needed to be fixed.

Kristi Noem led the discussion, and Hawks followed with predictable “me-too-ism,” trying to look as Republican as possible, while still expressing support for Hillary Clinton.

The question is whether anyone bought it.

Last night’s presidential debate had Donald Trump delivering a much more forceful performance than his previous outing against Hillary Clinton. Some have declared it a decisive victory by the Republican nominee. 

Would you say his performance was able to “turn it around” enough to blunt the damage from the release of the decade old audio which scored a major hit on his campaign?

Celebrating Time-Honored Traditions and Cultures
By Sen. John Thune

South Dakotans celebrate Native American Day every second Monday in October as a way to recognize and pay tribute to the unique and traditional cultures of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations. It is an honor to live in a state that is home to some of the greatest warriors of all time: Chief Sitting Bull and Chief Crazy Horse, just to name a few. People from around the world are familiar with these great warriors and travel thousands of miles to visit their homelands. This is why I’m glad my bill, the NATIVE Act, was recently signed into law. This common-sense bill creates an opportunity for tribes to drive their own tourism efforts and share their culture, traditions, and history.  

While South Dakota is home to many of the great Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota chiefs and other Native American leaders, it’s also home to the one of the greatest leaders on the track: Olympian Billy Mills. Mills, who is a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, grew up on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and life was not easy for him. Growing up, Mills faced adversities and was orphaned by age 12. Motivated by the wisdom and teachings of his Lakota people, he became one of the greatest long distance runners of all time.

During the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games, Mills made his name and his heritage known to the world when he became the first South Dakotan to win an Olympic gold medal. To date, he’s the only American to ever win gold in the 10,000 meter run. I’m amazed every time I see the clip of Mills sprinting into that final stretch, speeding past one runner after another to capture the medal. It’s one of those iconic athletic moments you never forget.

Like Mills, Chief Sitting Bull, and Chief Crazy Horse, countless Native Americans have been making contributions to South Dakota’s history and identity for centuries. Whether it’s the food we eat or the names of cities and towns we drive through, the Native American footprint continues to leave a positive and long-lasting impression throughout the state.

So, as South Dakotans prepare to celebrate this year, I want to recognize all of our tribal citizens who have made and will continue to make a difference in communities across the state. To the staff at tribal schools who encourage students to rise above and fight adversity, to the tribal leaders who advocate on behalf of their people, and to the first responders and medical professionals who work tirelessly to provide safety to their communities, thank you. You are all warriors to the people you serve and for the way of life that you protect. I’m humbled and blessed to live in a state where we benefit from the culture, traditions, achievements, and contributions of Native American people every day of the year. 

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National Newspaper Week
By Senator Mike Rounds 

Local newspapers are the beating heart of our communities. Along with the local coffee shop, they’re often the best way to learn about the local news or receive an update on the latest sporting events. Today, there are more than 120 newspapers throughout South Dakota, with circulations running from just a few hundred to tens of thousands for the Sunday edition. The 76th Annual National Newspaper Week was celebrated October 2nd through the 8th to recognize the impact of newspapers big and small, and the vital role they play in keeping citizens informed.

For hundreds of years, newspapers and journalists have played an important role in educating the American public. When we read a newspaper article, we may learn something we didn’t know before, or we may be able to look at certain issues in a different light. At a time when the internet and social media feeds are full of personal opinions rather than researched facts, it can be refreshing to read a well-written, factual newspaper article.

Additionally, newspapers are often better equipped than other news sources to provide in-depth analysis and devote extra time to local, concentrated issues. While television, online and national news publications provide important information on a macro level, often they have little time or resources to report deeper, more intricate stories on some of the most pressing issues of the day. Newspapers become a de-facto historical document to be kept and read over and over. 

In South Dakota, the vast majority of our newspapers are weekly publications that focus solely on one specific community or region. While print media as a whole has seen a decline in recent years, our newspapers continue to thrive because they focus on what is important: the people, news and events in their towns. No birthday or celebration is too small to get coverage. It keeps us connected to our neighbors and our friends. It also keeps those who have moved away connected to their hometowns. Even though we live in Fort Pierre now, Jean still enjoys reading her hometown paper, the Lake Preston Times, which allows her to stay in touch with friends and family in the town where she grew up and where her parents still live. Such interconnectivity cannot be overstated. 

As we celebrate National Newspaper Week, I’d like to thank everyone who works in the newspaper industry in South Dakota. You know, care and understand the communities you serve better than anyone else out there. By sharing that information with the public, you provide an invaluable service to our citizens, which helps keep our communities vibrant and strong.

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Honoring Native American Day
By Rep. Kristi Noem 

I have had the honor of receiving a Star Quilt from tribes in South Dakota on a few occasions. Each time one has been presented, I’m humbled by the gesture and yet reminded of all there is to do in Indian Country.

To me, one of the greatest things we have to offer is more opportunity. That’s one of the reasons I helped champion the NATIVE Act, which was signed into law this September and aims to create more tourism opportunities in tribal areas. The tribes we worked with on this legislation are hopeful these new provisions will help boost struggling economies.

As part of the 2014 Farm Bill, we were also able to create a permanent Office of Tribal Relations within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I’m hopeful this will help ensure tribal communities always have a seat at the table when it comes to identifying ag-related opportunities in Indian Country.

To make sure the help offered to tribal families creates as much opportunity as possible, I also helped advance the Tribal General Welfare Exclusion Act, which became law in 2014. This legislation ensures those who receive support, like school supplies, from tribal governments are treated the same as those receiving similar state and federal benefits. In many cases, this would exempt struggling families from paying extra taxes on these much-needed benefits.

But more must be done. Work continues on legislation I’ve long supported to protect tribal sovereignty by keeping an onerous federal regulatory agency from imposing its authority on tribal businesses. As is true in all communities, the last thing needed when trying to improve economic opportunities is a federal bureaucracy meddling with local efforts. This proposal would hold at least one agency back.

We also continue our work to address the tribal healthcare crisis. The level of care being delivered to these communities is equivalent to that of a third-world country. It’s not enough to say it needs to change, because our success or failure is a matter of life or death. That’s why I’ve written and introduced extensive legislation to address this crisis. We’re now in the process of collecting input from the medical and tribal communities to be sure this legislation has its intended effect. I’m hopeful we’ll see further action before the end of the year. 

Additionally, with suicide impacting so many Native American families in recent years, we’ve been able to reinstate the Sweetgrass Initiative (a suicide prevention program on Pine Ridge) and pressure the Indian Health Service to reprogram $1.8 million in funding for suicide prevention.  New resources for Indian Country were also included in a House-passed mental health bill after I brought the legislation’s author West River to see the challenges we face.  But this legislation still needs the Senate’s approval and the president’s signature.

All of this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to creating new opportunities in Indian Country.

Every October in South Dakota, we celebrate Native American Day. I like to use the day to consider the journey that’s laid before us. The challenges ahead are undeniable, but I’m confident even the most daunting hurdles will be overcome.

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Envisioning Spearfish Canyon State Park
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard: 

Earlier this month I had the opportunity to enjoy a few quiet days in the Black Hills. After the Buffalo Roundup my family and I spent the weekend in Custer State Park, soaking up the beautiful weather and experiencing the leaves changing into their remarkable fall colors.

Our family has spent a great deal of time in Custer State Park, with our kids and grandkids experiencing the wonder and beauty of one of the most incredible natural areas in the country. I’m proud that our state park system has preserved natural wonders like Sylvan Lake and the Needles for nearly a century.  We’ve been to many of South Dakota’s 63 other state parks and recreation areas. I have firsthand knowledge of how the Department of Game, Fish and Parks preserves our natural areas while making them accessible to the public.

Spearfish Canyon is another jewel of the Black Hills – a natural wonder that rivals those of Custer State Park. That’s why I’m excited about the possibility of establishing Spearfish Canyon State Park in the upper portion of the canyon.

South Dakota already has significant holdings in the area, thanks in part to the generosity of the Spearfish Canyon Foundation. Over the last few years, South Dakota has acquired parcels of land in and around Little Spearfish Canyon, including Roughlock Falls and Spearfish Falls. These areas can form the nucleus of a great state park, and now we are hoping that a land swap with the federal government will better enhance the Spearfish Canyon experience.

The land swap will create larger, contiguous land tracts for both the U.S. Forest Service and the state, allowing South Dakota to establish a state park and enabling the Forest Service to more efficiently manage its holdings.

The proposed Spearfish Canyon State Park would be 1,600 acres and include the Roughlock and Spearfish falls, parts of Spearfish and Little Spearfish creeks, Savoy fishing pond, and land from Spearfish Falls to the Little Spearfish trailhead. It would not include the bulk of Spearfish Canyon north of Savoy.

Visitors passing through Spearfish Canyon on US Highway 14 will continue to do so at no cost. South Dakotans can expect to see improved camping, hiking, fishing and sightseeing opportunities there, as well as upgraded restrooms, shower facilities and roads. Improved access would also be attentive to protecting the ecology and plants in these areas.

We’ve had numerous conversations with citizens, business leaders, elected officials and the Forest Service about this proposal, and if Congress approves the proposed land swap, we will continue to seek public input through a comprehensive master planning process. I especially appreciate the efforts of our congressional delegation – Sen. Thune, Sen. Rounds and Rep. Noem – to make this a reality.

Many South Dakotans have enjoyed our unrivaled state park system and experienced the thrill of our state’s majestic natural areas. Spearfish Canyon State Park would offer another opportunity for our citizens to experience this beauty and grandeur. I hope establishing this park ensures that my grandkids and their grandkids can share that authentic experience.

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A legislator just sent me yet another poll request they received from an anonymous source.

Where the one from last week came from “[email protected]” this new one comes from “[email protected].”  So, it’s completely a different person. Yep. Not the same person at all.

The request for information does forewarn candidates that the results of the survey “will be provided to all of SD’s TV & radio stations, all interested blogs, all of South Dakotas numerous newspapers, etc.” Because as you know, most newspaper, tv, and radio stations regularly broadcast polling results from unnamed people representing unknown, anonymous groups. 

What are they polling people on? Important issues, such as:

Legislation to make it legal for you to have horses and cows in your backyard in town, and the ever important issue of “omnibus bills.”  Important issues for all of South Dakota (said no one ever).

So, once again, we’re left with someone who seems focused silliness, or has an axe to grind.

And unfortunately for the Senate candidates, it appears he may have their e-mail addresses. The only question is whether anyone is foolish enough to respond.

 

I think the latest Donald Trump bombshell was just one too many for some of those in the SDGOP Leadership.

From the Rapid City Journal:

The two top state Republicans made their views known in posts on Twitter on Saturday, calling for Trump to end his presidential bid a month before the election after crude remarks by Trump a decade ago surfaced in a video on Friday.

“Donald Trump should withdraw and Mike Pence should be our nominee effective immediately,” Thune said on Twitter.

And…

Also Saturday, Daugaard re-tweeted Thune’s statement, and added his own Tweet calling for Trump to step aside in favor of Vice Presidential Candidate Mike Pence.

“Enough is enough. Donald Trump should withdraw in favor of Governor Mike Pence. This election is too important,” Daugaard tweeted, according to KELO.

Read it all here.

For those who had been planning to vote for him, did Trump’s recent comments disqualify him in your mind?

From facebook: