Category: Uncategorized

Gov. Daugaard Appoints Marli Wiese To District 8 House Seat 

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today that he will appoint Marli Wiese (WEE’-zee) of Madison to the South Dakota State House of Representatives. Wiese will be sworn in as a state representative on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

“I thank Marli Wiese for agreeing, on short notice, to accept this appointment,” said Gov. Daugaard. “I know she will be an effective advocate for her district and our state.”

Wiese is a lifelong resident of the Madison area. She is a graduate of Madison High School and Nettleton Commercial College. Wiese and her husband, Reggie, have operated their family farm since 1976. The Wieses have three children and ten grandchildren.

“Representing District 8 and South Dakota is an honor,” said Wiese. “I want to Thank Gov. Daugaard for his confidence in me and look forward to beginning my duties in Pierre.”

In addition to operating their farm, Wiese works part-time as a transcriptionist and at her church, West Center Baptist Church. She serves on the board of the Madison Central School Education Foundation, is vice chair of the Lake County Republican Party and is a member of PEO.

Wiese will replace Rep. Mathew Wollman, who resigned from the State House on Monday. Like Wollman, she will represent District 8, which encompasses Lake, Miner, Moody and Sanborn counties.

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WHERE’S SLICK RICK? 

Pierre, SD – January 25, 2017 – This week, South Dakota lawmakers took the first step in repealing unconstitutional Initiated Measure 22. During the more than two hours of testimony and questioning, not one of IM22’s initial sponsors were anywhere to be seen, including Rick Weiland. Instead, IM22 hired a paid lobbyist to give testimony. 

“I think it’s ironic that not one IM22 sponsor or spokesman was in attendance yesterday, instead sending their hired lobbyist,” said South Dakota Republican Party Executive Director Ryan Budmayr. “I did see Mr. Weiland sent out a misleading press release earlier this week. It’s too bad he didn’t have the courage to attend the committee hearing and explain to everyone why he and his operative friends misled voters and put a measure on the ballot they knew in advance was unconstitutional,” added Budmayr. 

More than $1.73 million dollars was spent to pass Initiated Measure 22 last year. Of that money, 98% came from outside South Dakota and 61% came from dark money groups that don’t disclose their donors. Outside groups are now spending tens of thousands of dollars to run slanderous ads against South Dakota lawmakers.

“There’s still time for Mr. Weiland and his buddies who made a lot of money working for the out-of-state group to pass IM22 to come to Pierre and testify,” said the GOP’s Executive Director. “You’d think with all the money they’re spending on ads attacking our legislators, they could charter a plane and get to the capitol without much trouble,” added Budmayr. 

Lawmakers in Pierre have publicly committed to replacing the unconstitutional IM22 with good government legislation that addresses voter’s concerns, and several of those bills have been introduced.

Well that’s one way to show it.

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader had an article yesterday questioning Sioux Falls Mayor Mike Huether’s support for public education, as a result of a proclamation for Catholic Schools Week:

Sioux Falls public school leaders expressed disappointment Monday with Mayor Mike Huether’s decision to promote a national school choice campaign.

Huether signed a proclamation declaring this week to be “School Choice Week” in Sioux Falls. The observance coincides with National School Choice Week, a campaign largely supported by groups that advocate for taxpayer funding of private schools.

“My first reaction is that it’s unfortunate,” said Kate Parker, school board vice president, of Huether’s proclamation. “Because I do believe that we have really great choices within our own public school system.”

Read it all here.

Of course, with former Democrat Mayor Mike Huether being one of the thinnest-skinned politicians in the state, that pronouncement triggered him, and forced him to send out an odd press release where he self-declared that he is a supporter of public education:

Sioux Falls, South Dakota: Mayor Mike Huether wishes to clear up misconceptions created by a recent article published in the Argus Leader. Today’s article titled “Did Mayor Huether just take stance against public schools?” is not reflective of the Mayor’s feelings about public education, nor did the Argus Leader reporter ask this important question or other relevant questions in her email interview with the Mayor yesterday.

and..

Mayor Mike and Cindy Huether have long supported and advocated for the public school system. In fact, they were the co-chairs of the last two opt-out campaigns to increase funding for Sioux Falls public schools, along with many other leadership and stewardship roles.

In a nutshell, in response to the Argus Leader article, Huether claims that the Argus article was wrong, because he twice chaired measures for the Sioux Falls public school district to raise taxes on Sioux Falls citizens.

Er, yeah. You go with that one Mayor Mike. Good luck.

For those of you watching the GOP Chairmanship race, the State Republican Party sent this note out today from Governor Daugaard, Congresswoman Noem, and Senators Rounds and Thune.

Noem, Others Discuss Death Tax Impact

NOEM DISCUSSES DEATH TAX IMPACT ON FAMILY’S  FARM

  

ROGER SCHULLER – CLAREMONT, SOUTH DAKOTA

“To a family who has farmed the same land for a hundred years, nothing is more important than passing the business on to the next generation.  We want to hand off the land to our son and grandchildren, but paying the Estate Tax bill could force us to sell land or go into debt. Congresswoman Noem is a family farmer who understands the burden created by inheritance taxes and we are grateful that she is working to eliminate them. Getting rid of the Estate Tax will protect our livelihoods and our communities.”  [emphasis added]

 

 

132 ORGANIZATIONS SIGN LETTER SUPPORTING BILL

Family Business Coalition – View Full Letter

Palmer Schoening, Chairman of the Family Business Coalition said: “… The Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 provides much needed relief to family business owners and farmers working with the intent to pass their businesses to the next generation. … Family businesses are important pillars in the communities that they are a part of and provide the majority of jobs in the country. According to the Harvard Business Review family businesses account for 60 percent of workers and 78 percent of new jobs.” [emphasis added] 

 

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Rounds Questions SBA Nominee Linda McMahon During Confirmation Hearing

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, today questioned Linda McMahon, nominee to be administrator of the Small Business Administration (SBA), on the role the agency would take to withdraw the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. 

“Many family farms and ranches would be impacted by the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the U.S. rule,” said Rounds during the hearing. “The SBA’s Office of Advocacy sent a letter on October 1, 2014, to the EPA’s Administrator Gina McCarthy and Major General John Peabody of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers criticizing the WOTUS rule and its impact on small business. In fact, they actually recommended the entire rule be withdrawn…If you are confirmed as administrator of the SBA, would you be willing to write a similar letter recommending once again that this rule be withdrawn?”

“I would look forward to working with you and other members of the committee to make sure that we have the right regulations in place and not overly burdensome ones,” replied McMahon.

Rounds is a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, which has jurisdiction over Ms. McMahon’s confirmation hearing.

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Noem Invites Trump to South Dakota at Legislature’s Request

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today invited President Trump to visit South Dakota, highlighting the historic significance of Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse as well as the state’s thriving economy.  Noem’s request came after the South Dakota Legislature passed Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1, which formally invited President Trump to the state.

“As we work together to improve the path to prosperity for all Americans, I hope you visit South Dakota, and particularly, the faces etched in stone that memorialize the foundation upon which America’s greatness rests,” wrote Noem. 

The text of the letter follows: 

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January 24, 2017

The Honorable Donald Trump
President of the United States of America
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C.  20500 

Dear Mr. President,

George Washington’s leadership, Thomas Jefferson’s commitment to liberty, Theodore Roosevelt’s roughrider spirit, Abraham Lincoln’s ode to freedom: These pillars of American greatness are captured on Mount Rushmore’s cliffs and brought to life by the people of the Great State of South Dakota.  With this in mind, I am writing today to invite you to visit our state and America’s memorial to democracy. 

Additionally, just a few miles from Mount Rushmore rests the immense mountain carving of Crazy Horse, a legendary Native American leader.  The formation, which is the world’s largest in-progress mountain carving, will reach hundreds of feet into the air and stand as a lasting symbol of the role Native Americans have played in the growth and development of our nation.

Finally, I would note that South Dakota serves as a microcosm of American innovation and prosperity.  From the farms and ranches that span the heartland to the high-tech manufacturing and entrepreneurship taking hold in the state’s cities and towns, South Dakota has found a way to weather the national economic recession.  Our state is consistently listed as a top state for businesses and has maintained one of the nation’s lowest unemployment rates.

As we work together to improve the path to prosperity for all Americans, I hope you visit South Dakota, and particularly, the faces etched in stone that memorialize the foundation upon which America’s greatness rests.  This is an invitation I extend with the support of nearly two dozen state lawmakers, who, as one of their first legislative acts in 2017, introduced and passed Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 1, inviting you to visit our state.  I look forward to your response.

Sincerely, 

KRISTI NOEM
Member of Congress 

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Trump Actions Show Commitment to Energy Independence, Says Noem

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today issued the following statement after President Trump directed the federal government to move forward on the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines: 

“The United States must look at every opportunity to increase energy independence, if we’re going to expand economic freedom and create a more secure nation. President Trump’s actions showcase his commitment to energy independence and I look forward to working with him as we move our country closer to a made-in-America energy supply.” 

In 2015, Rep. Noem joined the House in passing H.R.3, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act, which would have authorized the long-awaited pipeline’s construction and operation.  The legislation was passed by the Senate as well, but vetoed by President Obama. 

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Rounds Statement on Trump’s Executive Actions to Move Keystone XL, Dakota Access Pipelines Forward

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement on President Trump’s executive action to move forward with construction of the Keystone Xl and Dakota Access pipelines. 

“President Trump understands that pipelines provide an effective and efficient means of transporting natural resources and meeting our country’s energy needs,” said Rounds. “Good domestic energy policies include an ‘all of the above’ approach that will strengthen our economy, create jobs and enhance U.S. energy independence. As the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines move forward, I will continue to work with those involved to address their concerns.”  

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Noem Introduces Death Tax Repeal in the House

Washington, D.C. – Reps. Kristi Noem (R-SD) and Sanford Bishop (D-GA) today introduced the bipartisan Death Tax Repeal Act of 2017 to fully and permanently repeal the death tax. According to a Joint Economic Committee report, the death tax has removed more than $1.1 trillion in capital from the economy while motivating family businesses and others to reduce savings and limit growth. 

“While we were still trying to pick up the pieces after my dad died in a farm accident, our family received a letter from the IRS.  Because of a tragedy that undermined our sense of security, the death tax was now about to undermine our financial security,” said Rep. Noem. “No family should have to go through what ours did, so I’m committed to seeing this tragedy tax finally repealed.” 

“I have always believed that the death tax is politically misguided, morally unjustified, and downright un-American,” said Rep. Bishop.  “It undermines the life work and the life savings of farmers and jeopardizes small- and medium-sized businesses in Georgia and across the nation.”

Rep. Noem, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, and her family were hit by the death tax after her father passed away in a tragic farming accident. Rep. Bishop has long led the charge to repeal the controversial tax in order to prevent farmers, in Georgia and nationwide, from losing their family farms or being forced to sell much needed land, buildings, or equipment.

Sen. Thune led lawmakers in the U.S. Senate as well today in introducing companion legislation.

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