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Understanding Our Food and Those Who Produce It
By Rep. Kristi Noem

Earlier this month, people around the country celebrated National Agriculture Day.  In South Dakota, our lives and livelihoods are deeply tied to agriculture – whether we live in town or on a farm.  But in so many other areas of this country, people are fundamentally disconnected from the way their food is produced.

For most families, food is one of the top expenditures each month – often times, only falling behind housing and transportation costs. Still, a 2011 study by the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance found 72 percent of consumers knew nothing or very little about farming or ranching.  While not everyone farms, everyone does eat, so it’s important that more people understand where their food comes from.

Creating this understanding will be critical – especially as more and more pressure is put on farmers and ranchers to produce the food needed to support a growing global population. This is a national security necessity as much as it is a humanitarian mission. During a congressional hearing late last year, John Negroponte, who served as U.S. Ambassador to Iraq and then Director of National Intelligence under President George W. Bush, explained that the need for more food “could affect political stability” and could “fuel further instability in the Middle East.”  He went on to observe that “the world must increase food production by 50 to 60 percent to satisfy expected global population growth and changing consumption patterns by 2050.”

These realities make it all the more important to invest in our agriculture community.

Many reading this column likely know I have spent my life farming and ranching in South Dakota.  As our state’s only member in the U.S. House of Representatives, I try to share what it is like to live in our shoes, because it’s essential that folks have a better understanding of the risk that comes with agriculture and the significance of a stable food supply.  They should know the kind of capital farmers bury in the ground each spring, hoping to get the crop and prices needed to keep their operation going.  They ought to see the hard work, long hours, and extreme risk that come with running a ranch – especially now that calving season is upon us.

South Dakota ranchers have been blessed this year so far with good weather for calving.  But I remember many years when we were calving in sub-zero weather.  We’d stay up all night, so we could be there to get the calf somewhere warm enough to survive.  And no matter how attentive you were, there would always be those heartbreaking times where all you could say was “Maybe next year.”

Even beyond understanding the dynamics of food production and food security, I believe our country would benefit greatly from seeing how we live in an agriculture community.  I love this segment from Paul Harvey’s tribute to farmers: “God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor’s place.”  A little more of a farming and ranching mentality would go a long way in this country.

To all of South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers, thank you for doing what you do.  Because of your work, our families are fed, our national security is stronger, and the world is better off.

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The Fight Against Meth
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

On March 6, the United States lost a beloved First Lady.

As partner to the most powerful man in the world, First Lady Nancy Reagan chose to devote her time in the White House to a cause that is as relevant today as it was when she announced it 30 years ago. This, of course, is Mrs. Reagan’s “Just Say No” campaign.

Although Mrs. Reagan is no longer with us, we can still honor her by remembering the cause she fought so fiercely to promote. As she said in 1986, “[drug abuse] concerns us all, because of the way it tears at our lives, and because it is aimed at destroying the brightness and life of the sons and daughters of the United States.” These words still ring true today – but one drug in particular should concern us all.

Although available during the “Just Say No” campaign, methamphetamine didn’t gain popularity until the Reagans were out of office. As reported by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. has seen an increase almost every year since the early 1990s. The West Central and Southwest states have been particularly susceptible to the trend, and South Dakota is not immune. Reports show that South Dakota’s latest spike in meth use began in 2010 and continues to increase.

Understanding the severity of the problem, the South Dakota Department of Social Services has been working to develop a State Methamphetamine Awareness Campaign to discourage the use of this drug. When I entered office in 2011, there were 128 statewide meth arrests. By 2014, the number of arrests had grown to 271 arrests –nearly a 112 percent increase. About that time, the Public Safety Improvement Act was passed, which increased the number of drug treatment programs to help those who were already users. With expanded drug treatment programs, our next objective must be re-educating South Dakotans, and especially our younger population, about the dangers of meth before they decide to try it.

A major aspect of the campaign will be to demonstrate what meth does to a person’s physical and mental health.

Physically, a user will often experience open sores, yellow skin and rotten teeth in a collapsed jaw. Seizures, heart attack and liver failure are also common occurrences in someone who uses meth. Trying meth just once can lead to death.

Mentally, a meth user is susceptible to depression, suicidal thoughts and mental impairment. Meth users will often feel intense anger towards someone, and feel anxious about life. One of the most alarming facts about the drug is how it impacts the brain chemically. Meth is very addictive because the drug causes the brain to release high amounts of dopamine, leading to a rush. The rush can last up to 12 hours before the user experiences a crash. In order to reach that high level of euphoria again, the user must ingest more of the drug. Over time, the drug destroys the brain’s dopamine receptors. Without functioning dopamine receptors, a person’s ability to feel happy is impaired.

Meth has been robbing South Dakota for decades, and this campaign is merely another step in an ongoing battle to stop the malicious fight. Rolling out next school year, the campaign will educate students and parents alike to take Mrs. Reagan’s age-old advice, and just say no. Trying meth even once is not worth it. Losing one’s health, mental capabilities, relationships and risking one’s life is not worth it.

As Mrs. Reagan told Americans back in the 1980s, “Drugs steal away so much. They take and take, until finally every time a drug goes into a child, something else is forced out – like love and hope and trust and confidence. Drugs take away the dream from every child’s heart and replace it with a nightmare, and it’s time we in America stand up and replace those dreams.”

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SDGOP Elects Delegates and Alternates for Republican National Convention

Today over 70 delegates from counties across the state met in Pierre to elect delegates and alternates to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland July 17-21. Twenty six delegates and twenty six alternates were elected from a pool of county delegates. In addition, the South Dakota Republican Party State Chair, National Committeeman and National Committeewoman are delegates for a total of twenty-nine delegates.

The State Legislative races are incredibly fluid right now! (With the exception there’s hardly any Democrats running for anything.)

That being said – Is there anyone who are we missing in my rundown of candidates? You can view the list at the 2016 South Dakota Candidate List I’ve set up.

Give a shout out to anyone we’re missing or have wrong in the comment section under this post.

10 Days to GO!

I’m in the Brookings GOP meeting this morning, thinking it was going to be relatively announcement free…  And out of the blue up popped another candidate for District 7 State House Mike Fossum; turning a race where it was going to be nice to have two strong candidates (Reed and Pitts) to legislative primary.

This could mean serious trouble for House Minority Leader Spence Hawley, who would be facing the top two in that race. They’ll have had the advantage of campaigning this spring and raising their name ID – so look for District 7 House to be far more exciting than it was a month ago.

This evening, my spies are telling me that there are some changes happening in the Watertown area State Senate race.

What I’m hearing is that current State Senator Ried Holien is taking a step back, and not running this fall. What IS happening, is that State Representative Roger Solum – instead of retiring from the legislature – he’s going to be turning in petitions for the State Senate seat.

This election is nuts already!

Just had an e-mail from a friend. Apparently, Stace Nelson is doing lit drops, and hanging his brochure on people’s doors. So it’s hot off the press, and you’ll have to excuse me assembling it from the photos I was sent. (You should be able to click to enlarge them):

For a race that may be happening this June, it looks the unannounced candidate Nelson has just deleted “US” from his logo, and from most of the materials he used in his ill-fated run for US Senate where he placed third behind Current US Senator Mike Rounds, and Larry Rhoden.

There’s a lot of braggadocio as you might expect from Stace, such as claiming “in his four years in your legislature(2011-2014) Stace was more productive than District 19’s Current three legislators combined (2010-2015).”

Oddly, the brochure directs people to StaceNelson.com to support his State Senate race.

But when you go to the web site, you find that it’s still branded for US Senate.

Whether that’s temporary because he hasn’t had the time, he lacks funds to pay someone to have it changed, or it’s abandoned for some odd reason, there’s a lack of a consistent message that he is running for State Senate.

It is what it is, so, it’s confirmed that Nelson, who has yet to make his candidacy official, is apparently off and hanging brochures on doorknobs for State Senate.

Anyone noticing that the ACLU is trying to walk back their involvement in scolding Marty Jackley for having a prayer at the informational meeting on the Westerhuis Murder/Gear Up Press conference?

On KSFY yesterday, the ACLU was puffing out their chest on the matter:

ACLU South Dakota leaders believe a public prayer held during a press conference in Platte violates the constitution.

and…

For some this could be a time to pray, but ACLU South Dakota leaders question where it’s appropriate.

and…

ACLU executive director Heather Smith said “as a representative of government, the attorney general’s job is to represent all people, and not just a portion of people. In this case, the reference to Heavenly Father at the press conference, could be taken as in reference to Christ, and one religion in particular over others, or no religion at all.”

Read that here.

But after a response from AG Jackley,

“Joining a community that has tragically lost an entire family in a moment of prayer is both appropriate and legal. The United States Supreme Court has clearly upheld and recognized the Guaranteed Constitutional Right to Freedom of Religion. As Attorney General, I have joined with other State Attorneys General in successfully allowing gatherings which include local government and other legislative functions to open a meeting with an appropriate prayer. I invite the ACLU to join with me and other State Attorneys General in both recognizing and protecting Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights,” said Attorney General Jackley.

As well as the support of others who think the ACLU is looking like a drove of jackasses..

Note to ACLU: When 6 people are dead, and more than $1 million of public funding has disappeared, a prayer to start a public mtg can’t hurt.

— Bob Mercer (@pierremercer) March 17, 2016

.. the SD ACLU actually seems to be trying to slink away, And better yet, they’re in the paper trying to spin it and claim they weren’t the ones who were complaining. (Despite going on TV and all)..

The attorney general’s press release was directed at the American Civil Liberties Union, which was not directly involved in the back and forth.

Courtney Bowie, legal director for the ACLU, said Hanna has worked with ACLU before but was not representing the group in Wednesday’s exchange. However, the organization maintains its stance that allowing a Christian prayer at the press conference violated the Establishment Clause.

Read that here.

Nope. Nothing to do with it. Nothing at all. IT WAS ONLY THEIR FREAKING ED on KSFY howling about AG Marty Jackley, and they’re actually trying to claim that they were not directly involved?

Priceless.

Apparently, when 6 people are lost in a murder suicide, and a state official wants to talk about it, and allows a local pastor to offer a prayer to the local community members, the ACLU will stand firmly against it…

…for the 3 or 4 hours it takes them to realize they look like idiots.

The South Dakota Democrat’s latest FEC filing (for 2/16) is in. And it continues to show a deteriorating financial condition for the opposition party. But don’t take my word for it. You can read:

SDDP Feb 2016 FEC Report

While South Dakota Democrats started the month with $14,736.77 in their bank account, they ended it with $7762.86, after taking in $16,231.69 in receipts.  The problem is that they spent over $23k in the process.

And it gets worse. Of the  $16,231.69 in receipts, Just shy of $10,000 of it came from the Democrat National Committee. Yes, the national Democrat party continues to have the State Democrat party on life support, having sent them $9526.00 to keep the lights on, and a whole lot of people hired.

I’d say they were bleeding out, but that would downplay it. They’re bleeding so badly, the closest comparison would be an Ebola triggered hemorrhagic fever.

They can’t continue to take in $16k, and spend $23, especially when the national Dems pay $10k of it – an amount they could shut off at any time.  The rumor has been they’ve been getting ready to cut the cord for years, but it hasn’t happened yet.

Yet, being the operative word.

For candidates thinking about running under the Democrat party’s banner, this should be a cautionary anecdote.

So, when they say they’ll help you raise money for your campaign, consider how well they do for themselves.

And run.

Paul Ten Haken left the following comment yesterday, taking himself back out of the running for Dsistrict 14 House, where he had been included among a field of 4 circulating petitions for the 2 available seats:

I thought I would chime in on this and at least put one of the challengers to rest  While I have been collecting petition signatures, I’ve simultaneously been having discussions with my business partners, wife and close confidants about this race. In short, I am not moving ahead as a candidate at this time. Those on this thread are very correct in that Larry and Tom have served the district well and from all I have heard, Dave Zimbeck is another top-shelf guy. District 14 is in great hands!

Read that here.

Republican Dr. Stephen Eckrich jumped into the District 33 House Race yesterday. You may know Eckrich from the initiated measure 17 battle, where he was one of the public faces of the act.

Patient choice is personal for Steve Eckrich.  He is one of the doctors who initially pushed Initiated Measure 17 and started circulating petitions.

and…

“I really have a hard time understanding that because 90 percent of insurance products out there are open panels: Medicare, Medicaid, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Workers’ Comp, Dakota Care,”  argues Dr. Eckrich.

“Those are all insurance products where they say this is our fee schedule. These are the criteria you have to meet.  If you meet these and you want to participate, you’re in,” said Dr. Eckrich.  “There are very few that are run by Sanford and Avera and the state health plan are the only ones that have these narrow networks.”

Read that here.

This puts Eckrich in a primary with Incumbent House member Scott Craig, as well as David Johnson & Taffy Howard who are all competing for the office.

Here in Brookings, with the State’s Attorney office open for the first time in 40 years, a Republican has entered the race. Daniel Nelson of Elkton, SD, who is currently working in the Beadle County State’s Attorney’s office as a deputy SA has thrown his hat into the ring.

Running as a agent of change, Nelson indicates that he would like to bring a drug court to Brookings, as well as other reforms aimed at keeping people out of jail, and not using drugs:

As a prosecutor, it is with great respect and pride that I can stand in Court representing the citizens of our State and the unfortunate victims of crime. As State’s Attorney, I will work with victims by ensuring they have a voice in the system. All victims and victim service providers will have a loud voice in my office and I will be proud to carry that voice as the next State’s Attorney.

Over 70 individuals with ties to Brookings County were sentenced to the penitentiary last year, so it’s likely that a majority of those people will return while on parole. One of the things that we must do as a community is work collectively to ensure those individuals do not resort to criminal behavior when they return, so as State’s Attorney, I would lead a coalition of community stake holders including the Department of Corrections and local law enforcement agencies to create a reentry program for individuals planning to live in Brookings County while on parole. I will base our reentry program on similar successful programs started by prosecutors across this country. Engaging the community to enable parolees to obtain employment, housing and education is vital in keeping our community safe. A parole reentry program designed at preventing crime before it occurs is a simple and common sense approach to enhancing community safety.

As State’s Attorney, I would create a participant funded diversion program that would be aimed at adults and juveniles entering the criminal justice system for the first time on non-violent misdemeanor charges. This program would hold offenders accountable while limiting the collateral consequences of a conviction. This Community Accountability Program would model the successful program that currently exists in Beadle County. A program that emphasizes accountability through community service, a curriculum centered on changing criminal behavior, and drug treatment.

As policy makers and we in law enforcement continue to grapple with increasing drug use across South Dakota, the need to implement smarter policies is essential. I am proud to say that under our current Governor and Chief Justice a bright spot has emerged with the introduction of Drug Court.

Drug Courts now exist in several jurisdictions in South Dakota and have provided an effective tool in enabling people to overcome their addiction and begin the path toward recovery and remain crime free. Drug Courts rely heavily on community resources and cooperation, so it is essential that the State’s Attorney is someone who can significantly contribute to this effort with decisive leadership to ensure success in our County. I have had the honor of being the prosecutor representing the State’s Attorney on the Beadle County Drug Court. In this role I have personally witnessed the powerful transformation drug offenders have experienced while participating in the program. I’m confident we can bring that same success to Brookings County.

I’m sure we’ll hear more from Mr. Nelson in the near future.

11 days until the filing deadline – More to come!