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In the media recently, the failed Paula Hawks campaign has been quick to point fingers at the SDDP for fumbling the ball during the 2016 elections over and over. And over. But as one Democrat operative writes over at the Drinking Liberally Sioux Falls website, it sounds as if Paula might want to hold a mirror up to her own effort:

In South Dakota Democratic Party (SDDP) politics, the party’s legislative candidates will meet Saturday at noon at the VFW in Sioux Falls to seek a way forward after the disasters of the last two election cycles. Paula Hawks has publicly complained that the SDDP didn’t support her campaign sufficiently. This sounds like sour grapes to me. Her campaign was liberally staffed with operatives who were primarily responsible for the SDDP’s disastrous showing in 2014. The only difference being the staff got bonuses for their hard, if unsuccessful, work that year. The Hawks campaign ended without any money. Its staff is probably looking at the SDDP for a bump and future employment.

Read that here.

While the SDDP effort was a record setting miserable failure, given her track record (remember the worst campaign rollout in State History) I think she can shoulder the blame for her mess al by herself.

Do you need a Minority whip in the state senate for 6… er, 5 people when two are already minority leader and the assistant? Apparently you do in South Dakota, according to KCCR news this AM:

At meetings of the Democratic Caucuses of the South Dakota State House and Senate in Sioux Falls, Democratic legislators selected their caucus leaders for the upcoming legislative session.

In the Senate, Democratic Leader – Billie Sutton, Burke, Assistant Democratic Leader – Troy Heinert, Mission, and Whip – Jason Frerichs, Wilmot. In the House, Democratic Leader – Spence Hawley, Brookings, Assistant Democratic Leader – Julie Bartling, Gregory, Whips – Karen Soli, Sioux Falls and Susan Wismer, Britton.

Read it here.

Celebrating the Generosity of Our Native People
By Sen. John Thune

When Thanksgiving approaches each year, I’m reminded of the kindness and generosity Native Americans extended to the Pilgrims at Plymouth Rock nearly 400 years ago. With the help of Native Americans, Pilgrims learned how to cultivate corn, where to hunt and fish, how to extract sap from maple trees, and many other skills that helped these early settlers survive and prosper.  

While each tribe has its own unique set of customs, traditions, and language, it seems like the common thread among tribes is an enormous sense of generosity. In South Dakota, the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota people have taught us that family should be at the center of life, relationships are more precious than any material gain, and standing up for what we believe in is an important quality in life.  

While South Dakota is one of the few states that celebrates Native American Day rather than Columbus Day, I don’t think one day is enough to honor their contributions to our state and nation. That’s why I’m a proud cosponsor of a recently passed congressional resolution recognizing November as National Native American Heritage Month. November is designated each year as the month to reflect on Native American sacrifices, contributions, history, and shaping of America. And as South Dakotans know, we have plenty of that to celebrate across the state.

As South Dakotans, we have the unique opportunity to witness and learn firsthand about the authentic and rich cultures of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota ways. Attending a powwow or visiting a tribal community are great examples. Some of the earliest tribal traditions of song and dance are displayed throughout the state, and memorials like the Crazy Horse monument will forever remind us of the legacy of the courageous Lakota warrior.

Just recently, Dignity, a breathtaking statue of a Native American woman with a starquilt draped over her shoulders, was unveiled, and according to the sculptor, it’s a tribute to “the pride and strength and durability of the native cultures.” And the Lakota Nation Invitational — where sports fans have gathered to see some of our best Native youth display their incredible athletic talent for more than 40 years — is a favorite event of mine.

I hope all South Dakotans take time this November to reflect on the numerous contributions Native Americans have made to the rich heritage of our state. We have a lot to celebrate, so be sure to get out there and take advantage of these opportunities.

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Plenty to be Thankful for This Year
By Senator Mike Rounds

Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the holiday season for many of us, and it’s a special time of year where we show gratitude for all the blessings in our lives. I am thankful to have the opportunity to serve the people of South Dakota in the U.S. Senate, and for the love and support of my family as I do this job.

I’m also thankful for our men and women in uniform, many of whom may be far away from their friends and families for the holidays. This Veterans Day, I attended activation ceremonies in Parkston and Huron to send off the South Dakota National Guard 153rd Engineer Battalion and Forward Support Company as they left South Dakota for a 10-month deployment to Kuwait. We are grateful for their service and sacrifice, and for that of their loved ones back home.

This year, Americans endured a long, tiring campaign season that ended in an historic election result most of us did not foresee. Despite the many challenges we face as a nation, I am more hopeful than ever about our future. With a Republican partner in the White House for the first time in eight years, we in Congress will now have an ally in our desire to make meaningful and necessary reforms to the way Washington does business. We’ll work to roll back many of the overreaching, overly burdensome regulations that are stifling job growth and creativity in this country. We’ll work to make sure hard-working Americans can bring home more of their paycheck to support their families and re-invest in our economy. We are excited to consider our new president’s recommendation for the Supreme Court. America will finally have the opportunity to see a change in Washington, and I am very thankful for that.

As we count our blessings this Thanksgiving season, I would encourage South Dakotans to take some time to give back to our neighbors and communities. The state of South Dakota was recently ranked fourth in the nation for volunteering, which is no surprise to any of us who live here. I’m thankful to live in a state where neighbors lend a helping hand whenever they can, to those who need it. There are plenty of opportunities to give back during this holiday season. We can volunteer at our churches, donate our time or money to help prepare a community supper for those who may not otherwise have a warm meal on Thanksgiving or help out at a local food bank or charity.

My family and I want to wish all South Dakotans a blessed Thanksgiving holiday. It is the warmth and generosity of the people of South Dakota who make our state the best place in the world to call home. May God continue to bless you and your families. 

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Active Gratitude
By Rep. Kristi Noem

On Veterans Day this year, I attended the activation ceremony for the 153^rd Engineer Battalion of the South Dakota National Guard, as more than 150 soldiers from Huron and Parkston prepared to deploy to Kuwait for the next year.  The work they will be doing is critical, but it’s still sobering to think of the empty chair that will be at the Thanksgiving table this year and the slightly more solemn Christmas to come soon after.  The simple act of saying “thank you for you and your family’s service” hardly seems to capture the depth of gratitude a person feels. 

I have always believed, and have always tried to teach my kids, that gratitude is more than a series of words.  Gratitude is active; something you show; something you share with others.  I know I’m not alone in this belief.  It’s a value most South Dakotans share.

Just this month, a new federal report found that South Dakota ranks fourth in the nation for volunteering – one way we can perhaps measure gratitude in action.  While around 25 percent of Americans volunteer, more than 1 in 3 South Dakotans do – and that number is actually on the rise even as volunteering becomes less popular nationwide.  All in all, South Dakotans offered 23.26 million hours of service in 2015. 

Of course, there are countless informal ways to practice active gratitude as well.  Sit down and play cards with someone who might be having a tough time this holiday season.  Drop dinner off at the home of a military family in your community.  Be a little more patient with your children or a little more helpful to your parents. 

They say it takes 21 days to make a habit, which is just about the same length as the holiday season.  I encourage you to use this Thanksgiving as the start of a 21-day challenge to make active gratitude an even bigger part of your life.  Just imagine how much could change if we all committed ourselves to showing our appreciation a little bit more.

On behalf of my entire family, I wish you a safe – and filling – Thanksgiving. 

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Blue Ribbon Package Raises The Salary Bar For South Dakota Teachers
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard

During the 2016 session, the State Legislature passed a package of three bills, based on the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Task Force. The purpose of these bills was to direct new funding to school districts to increase teacher salaries.

I’m pleased to report that this effort has been a success.

A new survey by the state Department of Education indicates that the average teacher salary is $46,924. This represents a one-year increase of 11.9 percent.

The Blue Ribbon Task Force was convened to address the serious problem our schools faced when trying to recruit and retain excellent teachers. South Dakota had paid the lowest average teacher salary for decades, but in recent years the gap with our surrounding states had widened. For many teachers, neither the desire to stay close to home, nor South Dakota’s low cost of living, could any longer outweigh the significantly higher salaries offered in neighboring states.

The task force’s recommendations addressed the problem head-on, and I again thank the task force members for their work. I also thank the legislators who had the courage to vote for bills that raised the sales tax, that rewrote the school funding formula, and that committed funds to innovation and sharing of services.

The Legislature set a “target average salary” of $48,500 for teachers. We knew that we would not reach that average in the first year, because it will take time for schools to become more efficient and repurpose their own funds into salaries. I am very pleased that, with an average salary of nearly $47,000, our schools have made so much progress toward that goal.

Our smaller, rural school districts are especially challenged to attract teachers, and so I am particularly pleased to see very sizable salary increases in many small districts. In Jones County, the average teacher salary increased by 22.4 percent. In Ethan, it increased by 19.7 percent. In Mobridge-Pollock, salaries increased 25 percent. Faith increased 18.3 percent. Iroquois increased 23.3 percent. Florence increased 19.6 percent. Burke increased 18.8 percent. Oelrichs salaries improved by 20.5 percent. Gayville-Volin went up 21.4 percent. And the highest increase in the state, as a percentage, was Waubay with 26.3 percent.

Larger schools also enjoyed sizable raises, although they had higher salaries to begin with and therefore their percentage increases are generally lower. Most were close to the state average of 11.9 percent, although Brandon Valley achieved an increase of 19.3 percent and Meade County went up 14.7 percent.

I have already heard from many superintendents that these raises are having an impact. Fewer teachers are departing, fewer vacancies are unfilled, more are applying for open positions and more teachers are staying in South Dakota rather than leaving the state. I am confident that, over the next year or two, the data we collect from school districts will show a persistence in the impact that we are seeing in the first year of these salary increases.

Every South Dakotan wants to give our children a quality education, and we know that the most important means to that end is not buildings or equipment – it is great teachers. When the Legislature approved the Blue Ribbon package this year, it sent a clear message that South Dakotans were willing to invest in our teachers. I thank our school leaders for joining in that investment by using these funds to dramatically increase teacher salaries.

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I’m hearing early reports of the new GOP House Leadership being chosen, and while not confirmed officially, here’s how I’m hearing how it shook out:

Speaker: Mark Mickelson
Speaker Pro Tem: Don Haggar
Majority Leader: Lee Qualm
Assistant Majority Leader: Kent Peterson
Whips: Lynne DiSanto, Larry Rhoden, Les Heinemann, Arch Beal & Isaac Latterell

Congratulations to all.

Former Republican legislator Robert ‘Bob’ A. Roe of Brookings passed away on Friday, November 18, 2016 at his home from pancreatic cancer.

Roe was appointed November 28, 1989, to fill the vacancy of Dean M. Krogman, and served a total off 12 years from 1989 to 2000. He also served as Majority Whip 1995-1998.

His obituary can be found here.

After several days, State Dems are sort of shunning Reynold Nesiba after his arrest for unwanted sexual contact, dropping the news late Friday, when they hope no one is paying attention. 

At least, they’re going to pretend to sort-of shun him, hoping he’ll get off on the charges:

In a statement Friday, party leaders said Augustana University Professor and Sen. Reynold Nesiba, D-Sioux Falls, would not be allowed to participate in caucus activities pending the outcome of the charges.

And

Party officials said they would reconsider allowing Nesiba to caucus with Democrats following the conclusion of his legal proceedings.

Nesiba was arrested Monday on one count of sexual contact without consent for allegedly making unwanted sexual advances on a woman in September.

Read it all here.

From the Argus Leader:

A pair of state Transportation Commission members resigned this week following the enactment of Initiated Measure 22.

Tim Dougherty, a Sioux Falls lawyer and the commission’s chair, and Kathy Zander, executive director of the South Dakota Agri-Business Association, stepped down from their positions on the board because provisions in the new law bar elected and appointed officials from accepting more than $100 in contributions from lobbyists annually.

and…

“IM22 is very badly drafted and it could have all sorts of bizarre unintended consequences,” Venhuizen said.

Read it all here.

This is just the start…