Category: Uncategorized

Long-Term Budget Forecast: Debt Crisis is Here
By Senator Mike Rounds

While Washington, D.C., was digging out of nearly two feet of snow from winter storm Jonas last week, another kind of storm was unveiled to the American public: the federal budget outlook for the next ten years. The report, issued by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO), forecasts a grim future for our country if we don’t begin to act now to rein in spending and address our country’s $18 trillion debt.

The report painted a picture of our economic outlook that is even worse than previously predicted. Deficits are projected to be more than 20 percent greater than the CBO previously calculated due to slower-than-expected economic growth. Additionally, the report confirmed that the federal government is headed toward record-breaking deficits in the next ten years, largely due to entitlement spending on programs such as Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare.

Even more alarming: in 10 years, the cost of entitlement programs and interest on our debt will amount to 99 percent of all revenue coming into the federal government. That will leave little room to adequately fund other important programs such as education, national defense, transportation and medical research. This should be a wake-up call to all of us.

What happens if we fail to act? According to analysis done by the Joint Economic Committee, over time, our rising debt will prevent capital formation. Without savings, we lack the ability to invest in new technologies, which hinders productivity and bogs down the entire economy. The sooner we begin to address these issues, the easier it will be to fix them.

While it will take time to get out of this mess, there are tangible steps we can take to begin to reduce our debt. We must first and foremost address entitlement spending. We have to save Medicare, reform Social Security so it is sustainable, make systematic changes to the Medicaid program and repeal the Affordable Care Act before it crumbles under its own weight. This is confirmed by the CBO report, which found that next year alone, spending on Medicare, Medicaid, subsidies for health insurance purchased through Obamacare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program will be 11 percent greater than they were just last year – an unsustainable path.

In addition to reforming entitlements, we must also adopt pro-growth policies that will allow the economy to expand. This will lead to increased job opportunities, higher wages and greater profits that can be reinvested, which will result in more revenue to help reduce our debt. This can be achieved by reducing burdensome regulations and reforming the tax code so families and business owners can adequately plan for the future. This is why I continue to work on a number of measures to reform the regulatory process.

In order to turn our fiscal house around, it will require everyone in Washington to make tough decisions that aren’t always popular. But as the latest CBO report confirms – doing nothing is not an option.

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Beyond the Game
By Rep. Kristi Noem

For potentially thousands of young women, the Super Bowl is anything but a game.  Instead, it’s another opening for exploitation.

In recent years, there has been a lot of conversation about the possible connection between the Super Bowl and human trafficking.  To be clear, there is no hard evidence showing that trafficking spikes surrounding the big game.  What we do know is that the laws of supply and demand apply to trafficking too.  In other words, traffickers are likely to transport victims to areas where there is increased demand – such as the Super Bowl host city.  Nonetheless, the sad reality is that human trafficking happens in the U.S. every single day.  While we should use opportunities like the Super Bowl to build awareness, we can’t allow ourselves to put the issue aside once the final whistle is blown.

Here are some numbers to consider.  As many as 300,000 children are at risk of becoming victims of sex trafficking in the U.S. every single year.  Most of the victims are young girls and, on average, they are just 12-14 years old when they are first trafficked.  If the victim is a young boy, they are only 11-13 years old, on average.  The most heart-wrenching statistic out there, to me, is that these young kids can be forced to have sex as many as 25 to 50 times a day.

Most of the transactions – about 76 percent by some estimates – are conducted online. Some of those online transactions have happened in South Dakota.  As an example, South Dakota law enforcement placed undercover online ads in February 2013.  The ads targeted folks in the Watertown area and offered underage girls for sex.  There were no significant events surrounding the timing of the ad.  Over the course of two days, more than 100 individuals responded. This isn’t just a problem happening overseas or in big U.S. cities.  It’s happening around the corner from us.

The girls in our area being trafficked can be recruited at local schools, area malls, or online.  Sometimes they are transported to other states, but in many – if not most – cases, they are being sold in South Dakota.  It has to stop.

In 2015, Congress passed and the President signed a sweeping anti-trafficking package.  It included resources for law enforcement officers, protection for victims, more enforceable laws against websites that allow for the sale of kids, and a provision I wrote allowing more resources to support shelters that house survivors.  We’re hopeful these provisions will help.

Still, one of the most important things I or anyone can do is build awareness around the fact that human trafficking is happening – and it’s happening in our backyard.  We all have a responsibility to keep an eye out for it in our community and speak up if we see anything suspicious.

One of the resources I like to share is the National Human Trafficking Hotline.  If you believe you have information about a potential trafficking situation, I encourage you to call 1-888-373-7888.  You can also text “HELP” or “INFO” to 233733.  The hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  Don’t be afraid to use this resource.  It may save someone’s life.

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Update On The USS South Dakota
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

When thinking about South Dakota, naval prowess might not be the first thing to come to mind. Still, our state has a strong and proud naval history – from the men and women who have answered the call to serve to the ships that have borne the name USS South Dakota.

In the twentieth century, two naval battleships were named after our great state: the USS South Dakota (ACR-9) commissioned in 1908 and the USS South Dakota (BB-57) commissioned in 1942. The BB-57 was one of the most decorated warships of World War II.

Now, our state is being honored a third time. The U.S. Navy has commissioned a new USS South Dakota, the SSN-790. This Virginia-class submarine is already under construction and is expected to be completed in August of 2018. It will be the first submarine to bear the name USS South Dakota.

This namesake will be more than a fleeting, ceremonial connection between the new submarine and our state. A commissioning committee has been brought aboard to support events surrounding the submarine’s keel laying, christening and commissioning. Perhaps more importantly, the committee will work to forge a relationship between the state and the submarine for the duration of its service.

This coming week, we will start to build that relationship when the USS South Dakota’s commanding officer, Commander Ronald Withrow, and four members of the boat’s crew will be visiting South Dakota.

They won’t be able to make it to all of the great places in South Dakota, but they are doing their best to fit as much as possible into a few short days.

On Wednesday, Feb. 3, they’ll be visiting the USS South Dakota Battleship Memorial, meeting with veterans groups and stopping at a school in Sioux Falls. The next day they’ll stop in Pierre where Commander Withrow will address both houses of the Legislature and the group will visit the Cultural Heritage Center.

Then on Friday the group will travel west to spend time at the Ellsworth Airforce Base, go to the Black Hills Stock Show, and experience America’s “Shrine of Democracy.”

I look forward to meeting Commander Withrow and the crew members. It is sure to be a good visit, and it won’t be the only visit. I also look forward to supporting the commissioning committee as they work to raise funds, talk to people across the state about the USS South Dakota and develop long lasting ties with the crew of the boat.

The SSN 790 represents more than just a submarine. It offers an opportunity to continue the USS South Dakota’s history of protecting our nation.

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Kristi for Congress 2015 Year End

We’re still waiting for Paula Hawks’ 4q/year end report, although after seeing these figures, she might be marking it her termination report.

At this point, Congresswoman Noem’s campaign is an experienced team firing on all cylinders – and able to produce results. While Hawks struggles to bring in $30k.

Stay tuned….

Had a nice note from a legislator this morning. Or maybe nice, and a little disappointing:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts publically on HB 1076. I have been told there is a similar bill coming in the Senate.

*insert audible groan here*

If after the opposition the illegal (for SNAP benefits), and unconstitutional (blanket testing without cause) urine testing bill received, someone is foolish enough to promote that massive expansion of government again after the public rejection of it, they certainly deserve the butt kicking the bill is certain to recieve on that side of the legislature.

Someone close to me referred to it as “legislation by Facebook,” referring to the bill as legislation coming as a reaction to nutty memes we all see in our Facebook feeds, as opposed to legitimate problems. In other words, it was just awful.

With the fight over Medicaid expansion, teacher pay, and dozens of worthier topics, I think legislators can find better use of their time than to revisit bad bills already killed once.

“Badlands Pawn is an example of the American Dream.”

– lead singer of the Badlands Pawn house band.

(I’m at the Hairball concert tonight, where they’re the opening act.)

Paula Hawks addresses the S.D. Farmer's Union in Yankton. pic.twitter.com/IwBJ3zeq7d

— Rob Nielsen (@RobNielsenPandD) January 30, 2016

From South DaCola this afternoon comes a rumor that Ann Tornberg’s name has come up as potentially being the Dem’s answer to otherwise giving John Thune a historic 2nd Bye:

Over lunch, the rumor mill gets a going. The latest is that Ann Tornberg (or a close relative) are going to put their hat in the ring to run against Thune.

Read that here

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA…. (continue laughing for a few minutes)…

Seriously?

What that tells us is that, despite promises, Ann Tornberg can not find anyone to run for the office. So, in order to fulfill her own boast that there will be an opponent, she may get stuck with it herself.  Of course, that raises the question of how much of party resources she’s going to divert from real candidates to accomplish it?

But still, that’s pretty darned funny.

What was I saying about controversial measures in the prior post? Here’s an interesting item that just found it’s way to my mailbox in the face of Medicaid Expansion’s opposition in the state from groups such as Americans for Prosperity and many Republicans:

From: Jennifer Stalley
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2016 1:59 PM
To: Jennifer Stalley
Subject: Medicaid Expansion – Make Your Voices Heard

Thank you for your support of the Governor’s proposal to expand Medicaid to 50,000 South Dakotans who need assistance with their healthcare.  The proposal accomplishes this in a way that is budget neutral for our State and makes sense for South Dakota.  We need your help to convince legislators to support us.

We continue to gain supporters – more than 50 diverse organizations representing health care, education, business, tribal and local government interests have signed on in support of the proposal.  Thank you for being one of those organizations and for standing up in support of this common sense proposal to providing health care access for some our poorest working families and improving the health care of our tribal citizens.

Now we need you and your organization to lend your voice and contact legislators to tell them you support of the proposal.  Please ask your board members and grassroots supporters to contact their legislators via e-mail or phone next week.  Let them know:

–          The plan to expand Medicaid will not increase South Dakota’s general fund budget;

–          Expansion of Medicaid means providing mental health services and substance abuse services to all Medicaid patients who need it;

–          60% of the expansion population is working – these are the working poor who need help with their health care coverage;

–          The expansion plan will save local governments millions of dollars in indigent care;

–          We have a unique opportunity to solve a long-standing reimbursement issue with Indian Health Services and help 50,000 South Dakotans with their health care coverage

A simple phone call or email from your members will help legislators see the depth and diversity of support for the Governor’s proposal and counter the out of state interests working to persuade them to oppose the plan.

Please ask your membership to send an e-mail their legislator to show support for the expansion proposal. They can send an e-mail to a legislator by clicking HERE.  Or, have them call their legislators, if they prefer.  They can call Senators at 605-773-3821  and Representatives at 605-773-3851.

If you have folks who can attend this weekend’s cracker barrels/legislative coffees this weekend, please encourage them to do so.  The meetings this weekend are in:

Brookings                      Brookings City & County Building               9:00 – 10:30
Huron                            Huron City Hall                                                9:00
Rapid City                     New Classroom – School of Mines             9:00 – 11:00
Spearfish                       BHSU Joy Room                                              9:00
Vermillion                    Vermillion City Hall                                         10:00 – 12:00

We are making a difference and our voices are getting stronger – please continue to help us move the Governor’s plan forward so we can improve health care in South Dakota.

Thank you!

P.S.  Watch for a message early next week about the launch of our social media efforts and website to help encourage even more people to contact legislators and show support for this plan!

And they have a logo, and everything. Not sure what form their social media campaign is going to take, but I’m sure this will be interesting to watch.

I don’t recall if I’ve ever had two advertisers so diametrically opposed before.

On the left, you have the Yes on 17/Specialty Care providers opposing House Bill 1067, and on the right, you have another coalition fighting in favor of it.   As illustrated above, I envision the ads shooting artillery at each other across the page, much like the battle that’s going to take place over the measure in the South Dakota Legislature.

I’d spoken earlier that this is certain to be the most, if not one of the most controversial measures this session, and it hasn’t even hit it’s first hearing. (That’s next week in House Commerce)  It’s being heard in the committee being chaired by the sponsor.

For information on the measure, I’d invite you to click on either, or both of the ads, and see what you think.