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Merry Christmas, From My Family to Yours
By Sen. John Thune

The holiday season seems to arrive sooner and sooner each year. With it comes the joy and happiness of being able to spend time with our loved ones, reflect on the blessings of the year, and rejoice in God’s gift to mankind – that’s what this time of year is all about, after all. I’m grateful to be able to spend the holidays in South Dakota, healthy and happy, which is the greatest gift I could receive. And I always look forward to this time of year when I’m able to create new memories with friends and family as we celebrate the traditions of Christmases past.

It wouldn’t be the Christmas season without a trip down memory lane. Whether it’s sledding down Jackson Ave. in Murdo as a kid, spending all of those Christmas Eve nights at my grandmother’s house, or watching Brittany and Larissa perform in church and school Christmas programs, the memories still make me smile. When you think about it, memories like these, which are unique to every family, really help define the holiday season. Looking back, I’m so thankful for everything with which our family has been blessed. 

This time of year, I can’t help but think of all the moms and dads and sisters and brothers who will be spending the holiday season away from the comfort of their own homes. It would be an understatement to say the brave men and women in the military make innumerable sacrifices in their career, and spending the holidays halfway around the world is no exception. Their service is the most selfless gift anyone could give, and their sacrifice is not lost on the American people.

I was fortunate to have been able to participate in the recent welcome home ceremony for the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 196^th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. It’s always good when our troops return home safe and sound, but for them and their families, I don’t think there’s any better time of year than now.

I say it every chance I can get, but it’s the hard-working people of South Dakota who make our state the best place to live, work, and raise a family. On behalf of my family – including the newest addition, my granddaughter Henley Joy – I want to wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season. I hope it’s as memorable as it is merry and bright. 

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Investing in Infrastructure is an Investment in the Future
By Sen. Mike Rounds

In 2017, with a new president in office and a reinvigorated Congress eager to get to work, finding ways to help grow our economy will be a top priority in Washington. For the first time in nearly a decade, we will have an executive branch willing to work with us to reform the tax code and undo many of the burdensome regulations that are preventing job creators from expanding their businesses. Additionally, we will have a president in office who has committed to investing in infrastructure across America, another important tool that is critical to our economy.

Infrastructure is defined as basic organizational structures that are needed for the operation of society. This includes roads, railways, electric grids, pipelines, water systems, bridges, ports and airports, among other things. There is an expectation among Americans that no matter where they are across the country, they can expect clean water when they turn on a faucet and safe roads and bridges when they travel from place to place. 

A strong infrastructure system is important for public safety, and it has many economic benefits as well: it helps us maintain international competitiveness, creates jobs in construction and manufacturing industries and helps us make sure we are at the forefront of cutting-edge technology. A vibrant infrastructure system also strengthens national security: because we depend so heavily on travel and electricity to go about our daily lives, a breach in one of these systems could have far-reaching effects. In fact, the Department of Homeland Security has identified 16 different critical structures whose assets, systems and networks are considered so vital to the U.S. that their destruction or disruption would have a “debilitating” effect on our nation.

Putting people to work may be a short-term positive effect when we break ground on new infrastructure projects, but any project in which we choose to invest taxpayer dollars must also grow the economy. It’s important that we don’t start new projects simply for the sake of starting projects—we need to be guaranteed a return on our investments.

Since the beginning of the Roman Empire, infrastructure has been a key component of prosperous, thriving nations. After the development of the aqueduct, for example, the ancient Romans were able to move water long distances, thus expanding their empire. The growth of the United States is directly tied to innovation and infrastructure development. In the 19th century, our country expanded to the west as travel became more accessible. People and products could be moved on new rail lines, roads and waterways. It increased our ability to trade with others, move people to new parts of our burgeoning country and, as 19th century journalist John O’Sullivan put it, spread the “great experiment of liberty” west to the Pacific Ocean.

Since the early days of our republic, our infrastructure system has played a vital role in the growth of our country and the strength of our economy. As we begin work in the 115th Congress, investing in infrastructure will be a top priority.

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A Look Back at the 114^th Congress
By Rep. Kristi Noem

Being South Dakota’s lone voice in the U.S. House of Representatives has been the honor of a lifetime. With the current administration in place, progress on big issues – like tax reform and the repeal and replacement of Obamacare – has been slow, but I’m confident change will come soon.  Still, many things have been accomplished. In fact, during the 114^th Congress, we were able to come together on the more than 240 bills that were signed into law. 

For example, we passed legislation, including provisions I authored, that allocated more resources for survivors of human trafficking, offered more tools to go after traffickers, and created a framework for law enforcement to better intervene and prevent human trafficking.

Changes were made to correct No Child Left Behind, most notably empowering states and localities to make more decisions about our children’s education and making sure the federal government can’t force states into adopting Common Core.  

Legislation to help address the country’s mental healthcare crisis was also signed into law.  It included important provisions for tribal communities, an addition that occurred after I brought the bill’s author to South Dakota to see the challenges we faced.  The legislation also included new resources to help expand mental health access for rural communities.

The first long-term infrastructure bill in a decade was also signed into law, offering much-needed certainty for states and localities.  Additionally, the legislation cut red tape and gave states more flexibility to organize infrastructure programs in a way that best suits their local needs.

In addition to the new laws, we made headway in critical policy areas.  The Indian Health Service, for example, has been poorly managed for years.  In consultation with tribal communities and healthcare providers throughout South Dakota, I wrote and introduced legislation that would make comprehensive structural changes to how IHS operates, addressing both the medical and administrative challenges.  This legislation pushed a critical conversation, one that will continue in earnest in 2017, into the national spotlight. 

I also helped introduce changes to the wetland determination process, which has frustrated many South Dakota farmers and ranchers in recent years. With the policy now written, we’re already working to make sure it is included in the next Farm Bill. 

Moreover, we put forward ideas to hold the IRS accountable to taxpayers.  We’ve advanced legislation to expand the Black Hills National Cemetery and put pressure on the EPA to strengthen the Renewable Fuel Standard and reverse their controversial Waters of the U.S. rule. 

We’ve gotten legislation signed into law to put restrictions on the Forest Service in an effort to prevent something like the devastating Pautre Fire in the future.  We’ve helped draft a blueprint for tax reform that will serve as an outline for upcoming negotiations.  We’ve protected DC Booth, helped prioritize the Lewis & Clark Water System, demanded answers from the VA about plans for the Hot Springs Hospital, and introduced reforms to incentivize work and fight poverty. 

And on an individual level, we’ve personally helped more than 400 South Dakotans as they’ve fought through federal bureaucracies to receive care from the VA, a passport from the State Department, or their Social Security benefits, among many other things. 

There’s so much more to do, but I’m optimistic that the work we’ve done in recent years has set us up for success when the new administration takes office in January.  Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve. 

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A Christmas Reminder From Laura Ingalls Wilder
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

Christmas is a special time in South Dakota, and it was no less special in the 1880s.  Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of The Little House on the Prairie series, lived on a homestead near De Smet, and wrote about Christmas in Dakota Territory in “The Long Winter.”

Even if the train was unable to reach De Smet at Christmas time, Santa Claus always managed to find his way to the Ingalls household. In “The Long Winter,” which takes place in 1880, Laura and her family were faced with a tough, snowy winter, but they still took time to enjoy Christmas. Each of the girls had packages of Christmas candy. Pa got a pair of blue suspenders. Ma got a cardboard hair receiver. Mary got a roll of knitted lace. Carrie got a nice Christmas card in a frame. In addition to the presents, Pa bought two cans of oysters from the store and let the girls have the last of the cow’s milk – a cow they recently had to sell. Laura wrote that whatever happened, they always had a lovely Christmas.

Today, in a time of greater abundance and spending, it might seem odd that something as simple as knitted lace could mean so much. But it reminds us that a gift is not measured by size or monetary value, but by the love with which it is given. Gifts made with a true and sincere heart, to those we love, are tokens of our deeper feelings.

The story told by Laura Ingalls Wilder is also a reminder that the meaning of Christmas extends beyond the trappings of the holiday. Decorating the Christmas tree is fun. Receiving presents is enjoyable. So are hot cocoa, Christmas cookies and ham. But sharing our abilities and resources with those in need gives true meaning to Christmas. The man who shovels his neighbor’s driveway, the little girl who gives her allowance to the bell ringer and the church that opens its doors to someone without shelter – they are expressing the true spirit of Christmas.

We’re all busy, especially during this time of year. But find time this Christmas, if only in a small way, to be a blessing to someone in need. I’m sure you won’t regret it. Don’t underestimate the immense value of your life and the difference you can make in the lives of those you touch.

Merry Christmas!

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As you prepare for a snowstorm, I’m wondering if I can get back into it, from a cafe on a southern Main Street.

Imagine the tourist kitsch of Keystone, SD times 5 or 6, and you could easily tell where I am today. My #4 daughter and I are in Branson, Missouri for a college visit to College of the Ozarks, a.k.a., Hard Work U.

The biggest advantage, if you can get accepted, is that it is free. With a 9% acceptance rate, it’s a slim chance. But, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I know I’d prefer to have all proud SDSU jackrabbits of my kids, but I try to let them make their own choices. And there’s something to be said to going out in the world on their own.

Even if she doesn’t get in, my daughter has a high GPA while taking honors coursework, and more activities than I can keep track of, so I suspect she’ll do just fine in the college hunt.

It’s always a good thing to see your kids spreading their wings as they prepare to leave the nest. And in this case, I think #4 is ready to take flight to the next chapter of her life.

From last evening’s Brookings Register:

Hot out of today’s mailbox comes Governor Daugaard’s 2016 Christmas card:

I’m hearing this week that there’s a couple of people that we need to keep in our thoughts this holiday season.

Reporter Bob Mercer, whom we heard had collapsed at the IM22 hearing, is apparently anticipated to be out of pocket for some time due to illness.  Please keep him and his family in your thoughts.

GOP Activist Lance Hildebrand, who worked on the Munsterman campaign and served on the Noem Congressional staff is quite ill, and should also be in your thoughts this holiday season.

Please keep them both in your prayers.

I had the opportunity today to listen to Attorney General Marty Jackley as he spoke to a group of about 40 people in Brookings today on a number of topics, and opened himself up for a wide range of questions from the audience. You don’t often get a lot of opportunities to ask our statewide elected officials open ended questions, so it was a rare opportunity from the mixed audience of local businessmen and women, as well as some of the Republican faithful.

Introduced by State Representative Scott Munsterman, Scott enthusiastically told the group that several months ago he told Marty he was all in on Marty’s candidacy to become the next Governor of South Dakota.

Marty spoke at length about IM22, and despite yesterday’s coverage from the Argus, as I’d suspected, his thoughts on an ethics panel weren’t far from my own. He indicated that in his travels, people weren’t worried about campaign finance. And they certainly aren’t worried about paying for campaigns. But they do want to see some form of ethics panel – and his thoughts along those lines mirrored mine yesterday; where it could take the form of a panel to hear many of these issues that are too small to prosecute, but should be looked into nonetheless.

He quickly shifted from initiated measures, and laid out his rudimentary campaign plan of five areas he would focus on as Governor;

• Economic development, including such components as workforce development, housing, and engaging businessmen who understand development.
• Improving Education and working further with tech schools our university system
• In Health Care – He noted that there could be a delay in repealing Obamacare, and Medicaid expansion could still be on the table. He noted that Health care reform from the federal government could come in the form of block grants, and the next governor may need to know what to do with them.
• Public safety was one of his five planks, and addressing concerns in law enforcement with regards to addressing meth use, other drugs, drug treatment, drug courts, and veteran courts was important.
• Quality of life – Why does he want to be gov? He cited that we have a great state & opportunities, and he wants that for his children.

Marty was very pointed in comments criticizing Congress and talking about the work that the Attorney Generals had been doing in challenging Obamacare, the Waters of the US (WOTUS), etcetera, noting that while the Attorney Generals were doing the heavy lifting, all Congress did “was send a press release” – a theme he repeated a couple of times, as he noted that the Federal Government continuously fails in it’s oversight and it’s left to the AG’s to clean up the mess, specifically citing that “AG’s have stepped in and accomplished solutions” and “Congress passes resolutions and little else.”

The Jackley challenge and criticism against Congress as a whole seems to be a sharpening of rhetoric, as he develops his line of attack against his likely opponent, Congresswoman Kristi Noem. It’s expected that Noem would probably be challenging Pierre as an outsider candidate to State Government.

As he continued, Marty did shift back to some of the ethics and oversight legislation he’s planning on bringing this next session, and specifically addressed that he’d like to see a three pronged approach in new conflict of interest laws –

1. You can’t have oversight your own contract.
2. Whistleblower protections; you won’t lose your job if you report double dealing.
3. And that financial crimes, such as EB5, are on the same footing as regular crimes, noting if you steal $1000 from your public employer, it should be the same crime if you steal $1000 from someone else. It should not be a misdemeanor.

That’s the lion’s share of the takeaway from today’s luncheon wth the Attorney General – A platform, lots of content, and maybe a couple of potential barbs that might be used in the upcoming Gubernatorial campaign.

Congresswoman Kristi Noem dropped the below letter to supporters on her decision to forego another term in Congress, and to run for Governor in 2018 instead.

There’s lots of good stuff in the letter, including the rough outline of a platform, where she noted three key issues for her candidacy – Job Growth, Fiscal Responsibility, and Federalism.  Check it out for yourself.

Noem Announcement Letter to supporters by Pat Powers on Scribd