Category: Uncategorized

The Argus Leader is covering Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s comprehensive measure to overhaul the IHS system – something that’s been long overdue:

Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., said she plans to bring a bill that will address contracting, recruitment, billing and accountability at the federal agency following reports that indicated two reservation hospitals in South Dakota provided fatally flawed health care.

“We’ve known for decades that IHS was not meeting the needs of Native American residents in the region,” Noem said in an interview with Argus Leader Media, “but we haven’t seen reforms put into place that we know will really create positive change. That’s why this bill is so thorough, so we can have real solutions, not just a fix.”

and…

Noem’s broad legislation would cut red tape to allow the agency to more easily enter into long-term contracts for care services and faster hiring, to provide additional recruitment incentives like removing taxes on student loan repayment for medical staff and expanding the loan repayment program to include management staff.

It would also require the agency to develop a formula to ensure that areas with the most critical need get more funding for care accessed at non-IHS hospitals, negotiate Medicare-like rates for services from private providers and pay back private providers for any backlogged health care bills.

and…

“I’m just not going to leave this in their hands to decide what’s right,” Noem said, “because they haven’t been able to do that.”

Read all of this important article here.

Not sure I’d want to tie myself to the socialist candidate for president…

(And not sure what blew up with the html coding from my phone where I posted it from)

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 41^st 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.

Read the entire article here.

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.