Category: Uncategorized
Paula Hawks: A not ready for prime time candidate railing against made up stuff.
While our representatives in Washington are concerning themselves with questions and concerns affecting us as a nation, apparently Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s opponent, Paula Hawks, is switching tactics, and running on made up issues in State Government:
From: “Paula Hawks” <[email protected]>
Date: November 16, 2015 at 2:00:47 PM CST
To:
Subject: ✏ SIGN: government corruption
Reply-To: [email protected]
{redacted}, for too long, the South Dakota Republican-led government has participated in corrupt and unethical behavior – refusing to open up their back-room dealings to the public and obstructing progress at every turn, at every level of government. Last week, the Center for Public Integrity gave our state an “F” grade on its 2015 State Integrity report card. Our government officials – nearly all Republicans – have been guilty of concealing campaign finance reports, turning a blind eye to electoral corruption, and hiding lobbying disclosure reports from the public.
If our government won’t improve on its own, it’s up to us to DEMAND a change in leadership. Sign my petition to demand transparency and accountability in our state government!
The South Dakota GOP has been cheating its way to the top, ignoring the best interest of the people, and running wild without any oversight or accountability. We’re WAY overdue for an overhaul.
It’s up to us to bring REAL leadership back to South Dakota.
Sign my petition demanding an end to the GOP’s dysfunction, corruption, and obstruction. Click here >>>
Thanks for taking a stand,
Paula
There’s a couple of fatal flaws with this train of thought for Paula Hawks.
First, its a made up issue from a special interest group trying to promote their agenda, as easily illustrated by this headline off of their own website:
Only three states score higher than D+ in State Integrity Investigation; 11 flunk
THEY GAVE EVERYONE AWFUL GRADES WHO HAVEN’T PASSED THEIR SPECIAL INTEREST LEGISLATION. Seriously. The gave three states higher grades, and the rest got D’s and F’s. I’d say that’s a pretty darned slanted agenda, especially by their own admission of the scoring.
![Hawks_video](https://dakotawarcollege.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Hawks_video.png)
Second, and probably more important to Paula, her “state level” partisan snipping shows that she isn’t anywhere near ready for prime time. She wants to play in the majors. But by her own words, she isn’t ready to be sent up.
While Congresswoman Noem is talking about issues of national importance and how they affect South Dakota, Hawks is mired down in mewling about Republicans in State Government being “meanies.”
And the best part – “concealing campaign finance reports…. and hiding lobbying disclosure reports from the public” – has no basis in fact. It just flat out isn’t true. In other words, her propaganda has caught her in an outright lie.
If she’s going to make the claim, lets hear her tell us exactly, which lobbyist(s) she’s accusing of “hiding their lobbyist disclosure report?” And who exactly is she accusing of “concealing campaign finance reports?” Because last I checked, they’re pretty easy to look up on the internet and all.
But that does not play into the lies she’s telling to try to raise money. Really, until she cares to put some information on the table to back up her claims, we shouldn’t consider her as anything more than a politician who throws out lies to try to gain traction.
One that’s stuck in the bush leagues, at that.
Noem: No more Syrian refugees until we can properly screen
Congresswoman Kristi Noem offered a statement today in the face of the crisis of a Syrian refugee participating in the attacks on Paris. It notes in part:
As we turn toward the refugee crisis, my top priority today is to protect the safety and security of Americans, which is why I believe we need to immediately suspend accepting refugees from Iraq and Syria. Our efforts to differentiate between refugees and ISIL militants aren’t foolproof. When I met with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos in October, he shared the same concerns. He explained that he believed the screening process could be allowing those who want to cause harm through Greece and into Europe. We know now that one of the Paris attackers may have disguised himself as a refugee to get through Greece and into Europe. That’s a risk I’m not willing to take on American soil.
List of states refusing Syrian Refugees now up to seven… nine… Now fifteen.
From Reuters:
Five U.S. governors on Monday said they would not allow Syrian refugees to be settled in their states, joining Alabama and Michigan and contending it is too dangerous to let in people from that war-torn country following Friday’s deadly Paris attacks.
Republican Governors Greg Abbott of Texas, Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Mike Pence of Indiana, Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Phil Bryant of Mississippi said their states would no longer help support the Obama administration’s goal of accepting 10,000 Syrian refugees in the coming years.
And now 15 –
The resistance at the state level is coalescing at a rapid clip. So far, governors in at least 15 states have moved to suspend or restrict the refugee resettlement, including Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.
and add Terry Brandstad for Iowa to make 16.
Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags Half-Staff For Former State Rep. Louise Van Gerpen
Gov. Daugaard Orders State Capitol Flags Half-Staff For Former State Rep. Louise Van Gerpen
PIERRE, S.D. – Former state Rep. Louise Van Gerpen passed away on Nov. 13, 2015. Gov. Dennis Daugaard has ordered flags to fly half-staff at the State Capitol on Tuesday, Nov. 17, the date of Van Gerpen’s funeral, in her honor.
She was appointed to the State House of Representatives by Gov. Bill Janklow in 1983 to replace her husband, Rep. Roland Van Gerpen, who had died.
Van Gerpen’s son, Bill, is currently a state senator from District 19.
– 30 –
Governors starting to refuse acceptance of Syrian refugees as a result of Paris attack.
From the Washington Post, Republican Governors are starting to make public their refusal to accept Syrian refugees as a result of the Paris attacks this past weekend:
The terrorist attacks in Paris have prompted two governors to announce that Syrian refugees will not be allowed to resettle in their states.
Gov. Rick Snyder of Michigan and Gov. Robert Bentley of Alabama, both Republicans, issued individual statements Sunday declaring that their states would not be open to refugees fleeing the conflict in Syria.
Noting Michigan’s “rich history of immigration,” Snyder’s statement said, “But our first priority is protecting the safety of our residents.”
and…
Police are investigating a Syrian passport found near the spot where suicide bombers blew themselves up outside France’s national stadium. Greek authorities have traced the passport to a refugee who was among the 198 that arrived at Leros, an Aegean island, by way of a migrant boat on Oct. 3.
The story also notes that there’s little that Governors can actually do, despite the strain accepting refugees puts on state and local governments.
The attacks on Paris linked to at least some Syrian refugees comes a couple of months after South Dakota’s Liberal Democrats are out there saying “We should take more refugees from Syria.”
But, given their promises to attack the United States, should we?
What do you think? Do we need to open our borders and accept Syrian refugees, or is the risk and expense too great?
*Update* – Add Gov. Bobby Jindal to the list of people at least thinking about it:
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a Republican candidate for president, wrote the White House a letter Saturday, demanding information on refugees seeking resettlement in his state. “It is irresponsible and severely disconcerting to place individuals, who may have ties to ISIS, in a state without the state’s knowledge or involvement.”
*Another Update* – At least one South Dakota State legislator is also having concerns over Obama’s Syrian Refugee Resettlement program:
We’ve already learned that at least one of the Paris terrorists was from Syria and rescued in Greece from a sinking boat and found his way to France with other refugees.
Syrian refugees are starting to arrive in New Orleans this week. We are expecting 15,000 or so in the United States. The administration doubled down over the weekend on their commitment to receiving Syrian refugees. They have no papers, we know nothing about them, and some of them will eventually be settled in Sioux Falls and Huron, among other places nearby.
I sure hope for all of our sakes that these in Paris slipped through the cracks. But, when we know nothing about them and can get no history of them–there’s no slipping needed, and the crack is about 2500 miles wide. If they’re not coming here directly, they’re just going to Mexico and walking north. I know we’re a nation of immigrants, but when my great grandparents went through Ellis Island, other Germans, Norwegians, or Irish weren’t screaming Death to America–they wanted to become Americans.
That’s one way for a Democrat to exit the race
From Fox News:
A Democratic candidate for the Minnesota House ended his campaign Sunday, hours after he tweeted that the Islamic State group “isn’t necessarily evil” and its members were doing what they thought was best for their community.
Dan Kimmel, 63, announced the end of his bid for office on his campaign website and Twitter account. He said Saturday evening’s tweet was in response to a statement made during a candidate debate, not in response to Friday’s violent attacks in Paris that left more than 120 people dead and more than 350 wounded.
He said his tweet was poorly worded and didn’t convey his intent.
Noem legislation cited as factor in increased Human Trafficking prosecutions.
From today’s KCCR.com, Congresswomen Kristi Noem was recently cited as helping increase the Number of prosecutions for human trafficking in the state:
Jenise Pischel is the program coordinator at Our Home Inc. in Parkston, a private non-profit that has helped trafficked girls. She says she thinks traffickers see trusting South Dakota as a good place to operate and not get caught.
But, she says “…we seem to be catching an awful lot of them.
Back in July, the U.S. House of Representatives passed South Dakota Representative Kristi Noem’s bipartisan Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act. The legislation works to better prevent and intervene when trafficking or attempted trafficking occurs while also opening up additional resources for survivors who are working to recover.
Human Trafficking in South Dakota is not a new crime, however with a combination of growing prosecutions and Noem’s recently passed legislation, there is a “new recognition” across the state.
US Senator Mike Rounds’ Weekly Column: We Thank Our Veterans, Now Let’s Improve Their Care
We Thank Our Veterans, Now Let’s Improve Their Care
By Senator Mike Rounds
On November 11, South Dakotans across the state once again gathered in auditoriums, gymnasiums, Legion halls and at memorials to recognize the service and sacrifices of our veterans. Since statehood, generations of South Dakotans have answered the call to serve in times of war, peace and uncertainty around the world. With one of the highest rates of military membership per capita in the nation, almost all of us know a loved one who served in the military.
As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, working with veterans, veteran service organizations and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to make certain the men and women who fought to defend our country receive the care they’ve been promised has been a top priority.
Just before Veterans Day, I joined Sens. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), to introduce bipartisan legislation to help improve staffing at VA health centers. The Veterans Healthcare Staffing Improvement Act would allow veterans to receive health care closer to home by removing bureaucratic barriers for their providers. At many VA health centers around the country, veterans are forced wait weeks – sometimes even months – just to get an appointment. This is unacceptable.
Our bill aims to make it easier for military doctors and other health care professionals to transfer directly into the VA system after serving in the armed forces. It also allows nurse practitioners and physician assistants to provide a wider range of services to help address health provider shortages at VA facilities across the nation. This is a similar strategy being implemented by our state’s private health-care systems and is important for providing greater access to care at one of the many community-based outpatient clinics in our region. The main goal is to get our veterans the health care they deserve in an efficient and effective manner.
I regularly hear from South Dakota veterans about the VA. While I’m pleased to hear that many are satisfied with the care they receive, improvements are still needed. The Veterans Choice Program is a prime example. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is a complex organization challenged by its size, scope of services, unique patient population, congressionally mandated funding and governance.
In 2014, the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act was passed and signed into law in an attempt to get veterans off long waitlists and into their doctor’s office. The law’s intent was to provide better care and greater flexibility, but the VA’s implementation has missed the mark. The primary focus must be to get veterans quality care as soon as possible, avoiding the need to jump through hoops or fill out excessive paperwork. Veterans have enough on their plate and shouldn’t have to worry if they will be able to see a doctor when they are sick. We will continue to work to fix the Choice Act and improve veteran care.
We will continue to work diligently to provide greater access to care closer to home for our veterans, as well as better care throughout the entire VA system. After all, one of the most important things we can do to honor our veterans is to keep the promises which we make to them. They deserve this much from their country.
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Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Is it the IRS or a Scam?
Is it the IRS or a Scam?
By Rep. Kristi Noem
In a single day earlier this month, more than 100 South Dakotans received phone calls from scammers pretending to represent the IRS. Residents were told they were about to face legal action, unless they paid their taxes immediately. These types of scam calls happen nearly every day across the country. In fact, approximately 736,000 scam contacts have been made in the last two years alone, according to the IRS. As a result, nearly 5,000 Americans have fallen victim to one of these scams, costing them more than $23 million collectively. With the right information, however, you can protect yourself.
In many cases, the scammer will call, email or text you and claim the IRS will sue you, arrest you, or revoke your driver’s license unless supposedly overdue taxes are paid immediately. This is exactly what recently occurred in South Dakota. The scammer’s goal is to con you into turning over your credit card number or bank information. This isn’t how the IRS operates, however.
The IRS will never call you before sending a letter. They will never call you to demand an immediate tax payment, nor will they demand that you pay a tax without an option to question how much you owe. The IRS will also never demand that you pay your taxes in a certain way, such as on a credit or debit card. They will also never ask for your credit or debit card number over the phone.
If you are concerned that you are being contacted by a scammer, ask the caller for their name, badge number, and a call-back number. Then, hang up and call the IRS directly at 1-800-366-4484. Once you provide them with the information, they will be able to tell you if the call was legitimate. If the caller demands an over-the-phone payment, hang up immediately. Do not provide any information.
Scammers have also been known to target people through email. Know that the IRS will not ask you for personal information via email. If you receive such an email – even if it’s on “official” IRS letterhead – do not reply, open any attachments, or click any links. You can forward the email to [email protected] and they will investigate it, but then delete the email from your inbox.
Unfortunately, criminals are quick to adapt to new technologies, meaning they are now using text messages to dig for personal information as well. Once again, the IRS will not contact you in this way. As with email, do not reply, open any attachments, or click on any links. You can forward the text to 202-552-1226 to report it, but then delete the text from your phone.
Initially, scammers primarily targeted older Americans and new immigrants, but the IRS now reports that “the crooks try to swindle just about anyone.” Please stay alert. These scams can happen to anyone – any time of the year.
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