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From Facebook comes an interesting anecdote in the recent trial where former State Senator Alan Aker was charged with a felony for de-fence-ive actions:

I havent read a release about the charges being withdrawn, but if that’s a correct statement, it comes on the heels of the prosecutor declaring that charges would be re-filed:

The 7-woman, 5-man jury found Aker not guilty of a misdemeanor trespass charge tied to the Feb. 6 incident in which Akers admittedly used a chainsaw to cut 50 feet of hand-hewn log railing from the deck of a customer who had refused to make a final $2,600 payment for his work.

Immediately following the verdict, Lawrence County Deputy State’s Attorney Brenda Harvey vowed to retry Aker on at least one felony count of intentional damage to property. Fourth Circuit Court Judge Randall L. Macy set a Sept. 6 status hearing, at which time a new trial date is expected to be scheduled, Harvey said.

“We are going to go to trial again,” she said, declining further comment.

Read that here.

Stay tuned, as we will find out soon enough.

Back here in Orlando this morning, South Dakota conservatives and free market supporters are “representing” this morning, and showing everyone that South Dakota is the conservative center of the country. State Representative Don Haggar participated on a panel of AFP’s rising stars, with other legislators from Florida and Wisconsin.

Don’s message largely was to point out that when assessing whether someone is a free market conservative, “you can’t make assumptions based on party affiliation,”. noting that there are times where “some will change their party affiliation to run.”

In trying to get things accomplished in Pierre, Don noted it’s his belief that it’s important to “act with integrity, speak with respect, and respond with kindness.”

Don pointed out instances where he disagreed with the Governor on this past session’s sales tax increase for education, and discussions over whether to expand Medicaid in South Dakota & Don noted that he had to stand up and let the Governor know that he disagreed, but always with respect.

Don noted to participants that they need to build a relationship with their Representatives, and if they want to sway their vote or opinion, it’s important to be accurate, and well reasoned, but firm. And legislators will listen. He stressed “Do something,” if you want your legislators to act.

As for insight into issues for the upcoming session, Don indicated Health Care is going to be a big issue again, and fighting off Medicaid expansion is going to take center stage again. He also noted he’d rather not be so reliaint on dollars from the federal government, and would like to work out ways to find a solution. Represtatie Haggar pointed out problems on reservations as an example of what can happen when there’s too much federal involvement.

Overall, it was a great panel session featuring one of South Dakota’s very own.

I’m seated at the AFP Session dedicated to the Rising Stars beakout session, where you can see State Representative Don Haggar getting ready to participate on the panel.

Just had this e-mail appeal from the Hawks campaign sent to me. And after reading it, the e-mail struck me as more of a wasted opportunity than anything.

Why? It is utterly unremarkable. It’s unenthusiastic, and utterly pedestrian. It barely goes past repeating the typical trope abut Paula that we read in every press release she issues, and then it fails to make the case why she should be elected, much less engage the Democrat donors who put him in office many elections in a row as to why they should get behind her.

But (as usual) don’t take my word for it, read it yourself:

From: Senator Tim Johnson
Date: August 30, 2016 at 4:49:58 PM CDT
To: (redacted) 
Subject: we need Paula
Reply-To: info@hawksforhouse.com

(Redacted),

I met Paula Hawks in 2012, and I knew right away that South Dakota had a new rising star.

Paula understands the challenges South Dakotans face because she has faced them herself. From growing up on a family farm during the 80’s farm crisis, to becoming a high school teacher trying to make a difference in children’s lives, to being a mother of three children, Paula has worked her entire life to make our state a better place. She will be a strong voice when she becomes South Dakota’s next congresswoman.

Will you join me in contributing today to support Paula’s campaign for the U.S. House?

I know that by working hard, just like I did when I first ran for Congress, Paula can win in November, and I know that she will be a great congresswoman.

Thomas, if you believe that South Dakota needs to send a strong voice back to the U.S. House like I do, join me in contributing to support Paula’s campaign today.

With a campaign focused on being a strong voice for South Dakota agriculture, protecting social security and Medicare for our seniors, and building an economy that works for everyone– we have a leader who can make a difference, a difference that will improve the lives of South Dakotans.

Senator Tim Johnson

Zzz….  Oh, sorry. Are you done yet? I fell asleep.

It’s bad enough that it tries to unilaterally declare her a rising star, despite the fact that neither winning by 9 votes, nor pushing a state income tax makes one so.  And it fails to make any case as to why she should be elected, or what she’s going to with these riches Johnson is asking people to send her way. 

It lacks enthusiam, and it could be generically be used by Democrat HQ with nearly every Democrat running for office. 

And if that’s the level of cheerleading we get from Tim Johnson in his endorsement of Pauls Hawks, there’s a problem.

I shouldn’t intimate it’s a new problem. Because in reality, it’s more of the same. Her campaign had the worst start in state history. It has floundered for months. Recently, State Democrat Chairman Ann Tornberg had to write to the media to beg for coverage of Paula.

So as for Tim Johnson’s unenthusiastic endorsement of Paula Hawks… It’s not a problem in and of itself. It’s more of a symptom of a campaign that got off on a bad foot, continued to flounder, and now is in it’s death spiral.

I too was wondering about where Jim Seward was going to land, and the Rapid City Journal notes that he’s going to the Black Hills Corporation: 

Seward joined the Daugaard transition team in 2010 and has served as general counsel since 2011. He said he will join Black Hills Corporation in Rapid City.

“I would say that while I will greatly miss the governor and his family and staff, I am really looking forward to getting back to the Hills,” Seward said Thursday.

Amy Estes, Black Hills Corporation senior manager of community affairs, said she looks forward to working with the former Butte County state’s attorney who remains active in the South Dakota National Guard as a lieutenant colonel.

Read it here. 

And now you know. 

Speaking of members of the Haggar family who are involved in the legislative process (congrats again, Jenna), Patriarch of the Haggar Clan, State Representative Don Haggar is at the Americans for Prosperity Conference, but he’s not just listening – Don is a panelist. 

State Representative Haggar is one of the panelists at the break out session tomorrow entitled “Rising Stars: State Legislators that are leading the fight for economic freedom.”  The purpose of the session is for session participants to “hear from legislators on we they are in the fight for lower taxes, less spending, and more freedom.”

I’m planning on attending & finding out what the panel (and Don) have to say, so stay tuned!

The Americans for Prosperity Defending the Dream conference is underway with loads of enthusiasm, even if everyone’s phones lit up and howled last evening with a tornado warning, spurred on from the edges of the tropical storm. At the event this weekend, 2000 folks from across the nation – considered AFP’s top activists – are in attendance this weekend, and these people have congregated in Orlando for activist training and fellowship.

There’s loads of buzz and activity you notice walking in the door, were I quickly ran into South Dakota AFP Executive Director Ben Lee, who has been doing a yeoman’s job in herding cats, and was kind enough to help me wrangle my media credentials…. Just in time to walk into a meeting with some of the national leadership team from AFP. 

Tim Phillips, the President of Americans for Prosperity met with members of the media this morning, and went through AFP’s focus this election, which nationally is primarily regarding US Senate races, with a few select House contests. They are also keying in on a few select issues, primarily attacks on free speech, which includes South Dakota’s Initiated Measure 22.

Initiated Measure 22, if you recall, is the measure which most of know as the “welfare for politicians law” which takes money that could be used for schools & highways and puts it into political campaigns. But another onerous part of it is that it rewrites disclosure regulations, as noted by the Attorney General: 

This measure extensively revises State campaign finance laws. It requires additional disclosures and increased reporting. It lowers contribution amounts to political action committees; political parties; and candidates for statewide, legislative, or county office. It also imposes limits on contributions from candidate campaign committees, political action committees, and political parties.

Read that here.

As you’ve ready seen by AFP’s participation in the Defeat 22 coalition with an ever growing list of partners including…

• Souh Dakota Retailers
• South Dakota Farm Bureau
• Family Heritage Alliance Action
• Concerned Women for America of South Dakota
• South Dakota Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• South Dakoa Asociation of Cooperatives
• Western Dakota Families
• Associated General Contractors of South Dakota
• Minnehaha County GOP
• South Dakota Licensed Independent Contractors of America
• Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce
• South Dakota Grain & Feed Association
• South Dakota Agri-Business Association

…they’re on the right side of history in contesting the liberal re-write of election laws which limit constitutionally protected free speech, and mark the entrance of taxpayer dollars into financing political campaigns.

And that’s just the first hour. Stay tuned!

I did make it to the Americans For Prosperity conference in Orlando Florida this week. But it according to the radar, that flight was looking a little dicey at one point:

Yes, that plane was me in the sky at the time.

I suppose the locals look at that kind of weather system, and say “meh,” much like we scoff at 6 inches of snow. But when you’re flying through what people say could develop into a hurricane, that provides a little comfort.

With my later flight, I believe that completes the South Dakota contingent for the Defending the Dream Conference. 

Let the activism begin!