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Apparently, someone was a bad, bad County Commissioner.  it’s reported in the news this AM that Pennington County Commissioners have suspended Commissioner George Ferebee from the planning commission and publicly reprimanded him for using his post to gain information for his court case, as well as other actions:

Four Pennington County commissioners have publicly reprimanded a fellow board member for allegedly bullying and harassing Planning Department staff.

and…

Commissioners say Ferebee created a hostile work environment and violated the county’s code of ethics.

Ferebee is accused in court of violating county ordinance by failing to obtain a permit for his septic system. The county’s planning director says Ferebee used his position to pursue information for his court case.

Read it all here.

In the Rapid City Journal, Commissioner Deb Hadcock had to weigh in with her usual erudite manner:

The current short-term Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) extension expires on July 15, leaving just a few short weeks for Congress to pass a short-term extension or a long term reauthorization bill.

For those of you who think it should be easy to get things liek that done – from Politico comes a story on how South Dakota’s Senior US Senator John Thune has been pushing for long-term funding for the Federal Aviation Administration, but his committee counterparts in the House are only looking to put a band-aid… as well as a lot of other things on it:

THUNE TO POLITICO: ‘WE’RE GOING TO TAKE ONE MORE RUN.’ Even with the House seemingly decided on taking an extension, Senate Commerce Chairman John Thune isn’t ready to admit defeat on his hopes of getting a bill passed by the summer. We caught up with him on Monday night and updated him on the latest we’d heard from the House. Thune says he’s planning to have discussions with Shuster this week. “We’re going to take one more run at trying to get something done with this,” Thune told POLITICO. “I know there are a lot of different things, permutations of this that are being discussed right now, but I think we’ll have a better sense by the end of the week. But we’ve got a dialogue going with our counterparts in the House right now, and I’m hopeful that that will yield some sort of forward progress.”

and…

Final thoughts: MT asked Thune if he felt frustrated about the process. Stepping onto the Senate subway elevators, he sighed. “Yeah,” he said. “Aren’t you?”

Read it here.

And of course, it’s never as simple as passing a bill,  as the Capital Thinking blog notes…

Complicating matters, FAA reauthorization is likely the only bill with a tax title that Congress will pass this year. Because of this, Members of Congress may attempt to add contentious tax provisions to the FAA bill, making an extension into 2017 more palatable to Members who want to avoid these tax fights during the lame duck period.

Read that here.

As much as those such as Senator Thune wants to move forward, it’s in the face of working with others who want to kick the can down the road to keep from having to make tough calls.

Here’s one you won’t read about in the mainstream media. While Paula Hawks kvetches about the IHS Health crisis on South Dakota’s indian reservations, Congressowman Kristi Noem is doing more than complaining..

The fiscal year 2017 Interior and Environment Appropriations bill that was released on Tuesday includes additional funds to address what Rep. Kristi Noem (R-South Dakota) said was a “crisis” at the IHS. Some $6 million will be directed to “accreditation emergencies” like the ones affecting an unprecedented four facilities in the Great Plains.“

The added funding will not solve IHS’s deep-rooted problems, but I’m hopeful it will help as we work to put real reforms in place,” Noem said in a press release on Wednesday.S.2953 does not have a companion in the House at this point. But Noem confirmed that she is working on her own IHS reform package, an effort Thune welcomed during his conference call.

“We need to fundamentally change how this agency is run and how it delivers care” Noem said.

Read it here.

…Congresswoman Noem is acting. And Noem’s activism for the tribes in Congress has not gone unnoticed, as the Rosebud Sioux Tribe recently recognized her hard work with a resolution that points out her extensive work on behalf of South Dakota Tribes:

Exempting tribes from the Employer Mandate, Protecting Tribal Sovereignty, Suicide Prevention, Mni Wiconi, a Meth Facility for Rosebud, Health Care, fighting to create a USDA office of Tribal Relations, and even working to shepherd the National Bison Legacy Act through the House and Senate earned Congresswoman Noem the unanimous thanks and gratitude of the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council.

Whether it’s working hard for South Dakota tribes, or South Dakota Agriculture, there’s a reason we say she does a good job for South Dakota. because it’s true.

The Republican primaries are over, and this weekend, we move into what may be one of the most low-key State Republican Conventions that we’ve seen in recent years.  Devoid of controversy and races with competition, more action may potentially be in committee, with the highest level of politicking saved for candidates as they jockey for 2018.

South Dakota National Committeewoman Sandye Kading is expected to be re-elected in an uncontested contest, and while National Committeeman Dana Randall is stepping back from his duties, leaving an open seat for his position, only outgoing State Senator Ried Holien has expressed an interest in running, which may leave that office uncontested as well.

The Republican and Democrat party conventions this year will also have the responsibility of nominating their respective choices for the Public Utilities Commission to appear on the fall ballot.

Current Republican PUC Commissioner Chris Nelson is running, although Thomas Bixler of Yankton, who has unsuccessfully ran twice for the legislature in Yankton sent an e-mail trying to delegates via the internet to nominate him in absentia. Similar efforts in the past have traditionally fallen short.

Nelson will win his convention contest unopposed when it comes down to the actual delegate vote, and will handily dispatch whatever sacrificial lamb Democrats talk into running when they recruit someone to “take one for the team,” as Jay Williams is doing in the US Senate Race, and Paula Hawks is doing in the Congressional contest for the Democrats.

If there are any fireworks likely to occur, it may be in the Resolutions and Platform Committees which both meet Friday Morning. According to a postcard sent out by the SDGOP this week:

The Resolutions Committee is meeting at 1pm on Friday, and is still accepting proposed resolutions through Noon via e-mail at [email protected]. Similarly, the Platform committee is meeting at 10am, but will be accepting platform amendments through noon. Those can be mailed to the committee at [email protected].

The last convention in Rapid City enacted a controversial resolution from the floor that garnered national attention when it demanded President Obama’s impeachment for the trading of prisoners for Bowe Bergdahl:

The resolution says Obama has “violated his oath of office in numerous ways.” It specifically cites the release of five Taliban combatants in a trade for captive U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl, Obama’s statement that people could keep insurance companies, and recent EPA regulations on power plants.

“Therefore, be it resolved that the South Dakota Republican Party calls on our U.S. Representatives to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president of the United States,” the resolution reads.

Read that here.

Depending on the makeup and temperament of the delegates in attendance, we may see a bomb-throwing resolution or two, but, it’s par for the course, just like when Democrats passed one declaring themselves apologists for President Obama after the Republican one.

But, don’t take this as a hint that the entire affair is going to be low-key, due to the lack of contested races at conventions and elsewhere.

Watch for the serious politicking to take place in the hospitality suites and elsewhere as candidates appear and start their jockeying for Governor and other offices in 2018.  Marty Jackley and Mark Mickelson are expected to loom large, as well any number of others who are considered to be in the hunt.

Congresswoman Kristi Noem is always a presence at convention, and if she didn’t have that speed bump (Paula Hawks) in her run to another term, I’m sure she’s be talking more about 2018 as well.

And if (when) Noem does make the jump for Governor, that opens up a whole beachhead as every young candidate worth their salt (or who believes they can run at that level) will throw their hat in the ring.

We might see a few making noise already for constitutional offices in 2018, Jason Ravnsborg is mentioned as a 2-18 AG hopeful, as are Brian Gosch, Tom Wollman, and others. Trust me – there will be a lot of chatter about it in the hospitality rooms.

Tired of 2016 already? 2018 will be on display a-plenty this weekend!  If the GOP Convention is not on your calendar, it should be. I’ve got my room lined up, and my charging cords packed up for the biggest political event of the season.

See you there!

The next big political question coming is whether or not a special session for Medicaid expansion should take place. Tell us yes or no, and add the “why” under the comments.

A Special Father’s Day Message From John and Harold Thune

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), co-chair of the Senate Task Force on Responsible Fatherhood, and his dad Harold Thune have a special message about Father’s Day and the importance of being a good dad.

“I want to wish all dads across the state of South Dakota and across this country a happy Father’s Day and encourage them to keep on keeping on even when it gets hard – to battle through the tough times – but never forget to spend time with and connect with those kids and invest in them because that’s the most important thing that we can do,” said Thune. “That’s our greatest treasure, and that’s what really Father’s Day is all about.”

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Being a Dad is the Best Job of My Life
By Sen. John Thune

I’ve worn numerous hats, held a lot of jobs, and had many titles throughout my life. And while being your U.S. senator is one of the most humbling and fulfilling of those experiences, it pales in comparison to being a dad. It’s the most amazing blessing I’ve ever received, and I thank God each day for the privilege of having had the opportunity to raise two strong and confident daughters.

My dad taught me a lot of lessons in life, including that with faith and hard work, all things are possible. Personal responsibility, discipline, patience, and humility were qualities my dad modeled every day, and they are the qualities to which I aspire.

My dad is a very humble guy. When we were growing up, he was “dad,” the guy who always showed up to batting practice, throwing pitch after pitch for me and my teammates. He was the guy who enjoyed the simple things in life, and so loved spending time with his kids that even though he was a teacher, coach, and the athletic director, he still drove the school bus to and from sporting events.

Had it not been for my mom, my siblings and I might never have known that my dad was a fighter pilot and war hero. He flew multiple missions over the Pacific from the USS Intrepid during World War II and even earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, which is awarded for “heroism or extraordinary achievement.” I don’t know that he ever would have told us about his basketball career either – a hall of famer, nonetheless. In fact, the good people of Murdo were kind enough to name the Murdo City Auditorium after him.

Needless to say, my dad set the bar pretty high.

Being a dad to Larissa and Brittany is the most serious role I’ve undertaken, and I’ve always believed that if you don’t do your best at being a dad, nothing else really matters. My dad proved there’s no greater power than the power of example, and I’ve tried to follow his lead.

Being there for the big moments in the girls’ lives has always been important to me. I can still see Brittany breaking free of my hold for that first bike ride without training wheels. I remember like yesterday pulling Larissa out of a fast-moving creek in the Black Hills, and I will always cherish tucking in the girls each night and reciting our bedtime prayers. I relish the moments – both the good times and the bad – when I could sling my arm around them and offer congratulations or provide the comfort that things will be okay.

Being a dad is more than a job to me. It defines who I am, and it inspires me to be a better person for my family and also for the community I serve. There’s no other job I’d rather have.

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Field Hearing Important Step to Fixing Indian Health Service
By Senator Mike Rounds

I recently joined Senate Indian Affairs Committee Chairman John Barrasso and the other members of the South Dakota congressional delegation in a field hearing in Rapid City to discuss the inadequate health care being provided to our tribal members. The purpose of the hearing was to shed additional light on the ongoing crisis at Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities within the Great Plains Area, and to work with tribal leaders toward permanent solutions.

Nearly every week, if not every day, our newspaper headlines tell the tale of new problems with IHS facilities. It is important to understand the impact that IHS is having on real people on our tribal land. The Great Plains Area IHS, which covers South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa, has the second highest mortality rate among all IHS regions. We also have the highest diabetes death rate, almost double the average among all IHS regions. Tragically, our life expectancy rate is also the lowest of all IHS regions, at 68.1 years. The U.S. average life expectancy is nearly a decade longer at 77.7 years. It is clear the IHS is failing our tribal members, who are suffering and in some cases even dying due to this inadequate and disgraceful care.

As we all know, Rosebud has essentially had its emergency department shut down for approximately 200 days and counting, meaning tribal members are having to drive over 50 miles to receive emergency care. The same is true for their obstetrics and surgical departments. These circumstances are going to continue to occur until we demand a thorough review and reform of IHS. More specifically, we need an external audit.

I had the opportunity to meet with the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association in April. We discussed an in-depth profile analysis on IHS that my office put together in an attempt to seek answers and gain a better understanding. We talked about the administrative imbalance; of the 15,000 employees at IHS, only 750 are doctors and nearly 4,000 are administrative “medical billers.” We also found that IHS employees and administrators can’t explain or don’t understand their own budget.

After reviewing the data with me, the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen voted on a resolution supporting an audit of IHS. The IHS needs major reform but more taxpayer money won’t solve the dysfunction, because what IHS lacks is an efficient system and accountability. I appreciate Health and Human Services Acting Deputy Secretary Mary Wakefield’s support for an independent audit and look forward to working with her to get the answers necessary to turn the agency around. From my standpoint, investing more taxpayer money in a dysfunctional system will only compound the problem.

This is a serious issue that requires tangible solutions, not temporary fixes. There are significant administrative, financial and quality-of-care issues that must be addressed. The hearing helped us better understand where the problems lie so IHS, working in close collaboration with the tribes, can take steps forward to fix these problems. IHS will never be able to deliver the timely, quality care the federal government has a trust responsibility to deliver, without broad reforms.

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Keep Fighting
By Rep. Kristi Noem

You have to do a double take when you get a letter like this: “My name is Maggie Einrem.  I am a 36 year old breast cancer survivor.”  Wow, a survivor – at 36.

Maggie, a mother of two from Watertown, was only 34 when she received the diagnosis.  She wrote: “I had no warning signs, never even thought that breast cancer could affect me.  Naïve, I know, however, it was not something that I had worried about…. At the ripe old age of 34, I found a lump.  Not thinking it was anything serious, I just let it go for a couple of months.”

She was a busy mom and the to-do list was already busting at the seams.  But by June of that year, the lump had grown.  She received an ultrasound and a mammogram.  Less than a month later, Maggie was in surgery and so her battle began.

“I made it through eight rounds of chemo and 36 radiation treatments,” Maggie wrote, “worked eight hours a day, raised two kids (ages 3 and 9), put supper on the table every night…. I knew if I stopped to think about everything, I would lose it and go into a very dark place.  So I put on a smile, lost all my hair, had burned skin, numerous surgeries, and felt like junk every day, but I kept going.”

Not only did Maggie keep going in her own fight, she began to reach out to help others with theirs. She’s become an activist even within her own family to make sure that all the women receive annual mammograms and that the men do self-checks.  She made a blanket for a co-worker that was diagnosed recently, as the transfusion room can be so cold.  And through her workplace, Sparton, she’s raised awareness about breast cancer by helping with a cancer walk, a soup cook-off, and a raffle.

After hearing her story, I chose Maggie to be my guest of honor at this year’s Congressional Women’s Softball Game.  Every year, female members of Congress team up to take on the female members of the press corps.  We play to benefit the Young Survival Coalition, an organization set up to help young women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

Sadly, too many of these diagnoses are happening in our state.  The number of incidents has risen steadily since 2010, putting South Dakota at the top of the list when it comes to breast cancer diagnoses per capita.

It’s unclear what has caused the influx, and while not everything is in your control, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk.  According to the American Cancer Society, excessive drinking, being overweight or obese (particularly after menopause), and a lack of physical activity can increase a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer.  These are things you can take action on today.  Additionally, getting an annual mammogram can help make early detection possible.  This means treatment can start earlier, possibly even before the cancer has spread.

We have made tremendous strides when it comes to detecting and treating breast cancer.  Still, 680 South Dakotans are expected to learn they have breast cancer this year alone.  I pray they are able to approach this diagnosis as Maggie did in her letter when she wrote: “I have too much to live for and so much love to give to others that I will never stop fighting!”

Keep on fighting, Maggie.  You’re an inspiration to your children, your community, and women fighting this disease everywhere.

Rep. Kristi Noem & Maggie Einrem at 2016 Congressional Women’s Softball Game

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An Invitation to the Governor’s Mansion
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

Linda and I are very fortunate these days. We live in a big home on Capitol Lake where we have a great view of the Capitol Building. My place of employment is only a short walk away and, except when hundreds of geese arrive for the winter, our neighborhood is nice and quiet.

Some of South Dakota’s former governors weren’t quite as lucky. When Pierre was named as the state Capitol, there was no Governor’s residence. Instead, governors received a housing allowance of $75 per month. In 1925 the Legislature approved the purchase of a small yellow cottage on the eastern shore of Capitol Lake.

In 1936, Gov. Tom Berry thought it was time to make improvements to the Governor’s residence. State funds were limited at the time because of the Great Depression, so South Dakota accepted help from the Works Progress Administration (WPA) to construct a new home. From 1937 until 2003, governors lived in that home built by the WPA. It was a 57 x 97 foot, two-story house made with native brick, lumber and concrete.

By the time Gov. Mike Rounds came into office, the residence was in rough shape. The wiring was outdated, the plumbing leaked and dry rot had weakened the walls. One night, the Rounds family was preparing to host an evening event. Just before the guests arrived, as someone was upstairs taking a shower, water started pouring through one of the light fixtures. It was time for a new Governor’s Mansion.

The new Governor’s Mansion where Linda and I now reside was completed in the summer of 2005. It was funded entirely through private donations. Thousands of South Dakotans and numerous businesses from across the state donated money and materials to make this mansion possible. The mansion is approximately 14,000 square feet and is located in the precise location of the previous Governor’s Mansion. One-third of the mansion serves as the private residence for the governor and their family.  Two-thirds of the building is the public area where large groups can be hosted.

This summer my wife Linda and I are once again opening your Governor’s Mansion for public tours. The 45-minute tours begin at 1 p.m. Central Time on Wednesdays and they are conducted by the First Lady and volunteers. There is no charge for the tours, but you must reserve tickets in advance. June is already booked up, but there are still openings for tours in July and August. Reserve tickets by calling the Pierre Area Chamber of Commerce at 605-224-7361.

Linda and I are honored to stay in such a beautiful home. We know the Governor’s Mansion belongs to the people of South Dakota and we want South Dakotans to be able to experience it for themselves.

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