Category: Uncategorized

A Victory For South Dakota’s Children
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

This week, the South Dakota State Legislature gave final passage to House Bill 1182. This important legislation directs approximately $70 million to significant pay increases for our public school teachers, as well as instructors at the state’s technical institutes. The bill also directs nearly $40 million to property tax relief.

I proposed this bill in response to the report of the Blue Ribbon Task Force. Over the past year, the task force undertook an extensive process of seeking public input, analyzing data and crafting policy proposals. The task force concluded that South Dakota needed to take bold action, this year, to avoid a teacher shortage. That required new money to increase teacher pay.

Great schools require great teachers and this plan will allow our state to recruit the next generation of great teachers. Our state will increase our salaries to be competitive with surrounding states, and South Dakota teachers will no longer be paid 51st in the nation.

Two other bills are a part of this package. Senate Bill 131 reforms our school funding formula to increase transparency and accountability. The new formula will be based on a statewide target average teacher salary of $48,500 and on target student-to-teacher ratios for each school. This bill also makes other important reforms, including the imposition of caps on school reserve funds and new limits on the growth of property taxes for capital outlay. It is important that, as we make a significant investment of new money into schools, we also ensure that the funding formula furthers our goal of providing an excellent education to every young person in this state.

Senate Bill 133 encourages schools to become more efficient by creating new opportunities for schools to share resources and to use services such as the e-Learning Center at Northern State. Creating efficiency allows schools to focus more funding on teacher salaries. The bill also makes it easier for certified teachers in other states to come to South Dakota.

All three bills are important. South Dakota is increasing teacher pay, making our funding formula more transparent and fair, and making schools more efficient.

House Bill 1182 was adopted by a bipartisan coalition in each house, passing with a two-thirds vote and a majority of Republicans and Democrats. It represents the strong support of all South Dakotans for our schools.

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Thune Statement on Passing of Former First Lady Nancy Reagan

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement regarding the passing of former first lady Nancy Reagan:

“With the passing of former first lady Nancy Reagan, our nation lost a beloved and inspirational figure. She was a woman of strength who devoted her life to her country, to her family, and to public service. My condolences to the entire Reagan family in this difficult time. She will be sorely missed.”

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From Yahoo/Variety:

Former first lady Nancy Reagan, who as an aspiring actress married affable leading man Ronald Reagan and then offered her unfailing support and Hollywood style as his unlikely political career took them to the Sacramento’s governor’s mansion and then all the way to the White House, has died. She was 94.

A family spokesperson told CBS that Reagan died Sunday in her Los Angeles home of congestive heart failure.

Read it here.

I’d mentioned this on February 28th, but here’s the official on Senator Dave Novstrup deciding to take a pass.  From Facebook/Aberdeen American News:

At the same time, the person who would have been his opponent is spending today braying like an ass claiming that he drove Novstrup from office. Which I’m sure couldn’t be farther from the truth.

Ask other good and qualified people such as former State Representative Christine Erickson how tough it is to be in Pierre for 2 – 3 months as you try to manage kids, work, etcetera, especially with a young family. It isn’t easy, and after ten years, I can see where he’s looking for a break, and wants to spend time with his kids.

It does bring up a good point that those wishing to donate to Al Novstrup, who will be running for the District 3 State Senate seat can do so at:

Novstrup for Senate
1705 Northview Lane
Aberdeen, SD 57401

When November rolls around, you’ll be glad you did.

State Representative Scott Munsterman announced at the crackerbarrel today that he’s deciding to take a pass on another term in the House of Representatives. I was speaking with a candidate for office this morning at that time, so I didn’t get to hear what he said. But I know he’s taking a step back for personal reasons which many who know him understand.

And I suspect he’s been stretched a bit thin over the past couple of years with everything he’s doing, and just needed to take a break.

In the legislature, parents of kids on the autism spectrum in South Dakota have Scott to thank for all the progress we’ve made in trying to cover therapy for them through our insurance, as it all started with his introduction of a committee bill a couple of years back which started us on the path to where we are today.

It’s that kind of thing that wasn’t on anyone’s radar. It was probably unpopular in some circles.  But, as a result of Scott’s leadership, it’s been on everyone’s radar since.

I’m sad that he’s taking a pass, as Scott is one of those rare individuals serving in the legislature whom I can unequivocally say is not just a public servant, but a genuinely good and decent person to his core.

It’s not that others aren’t, but I’ve spent a bit of time with Scott, since his second place finish in the run for Governor in 2010 and gotten to know him. I might not always have agreed with him 100% of the time (see the tan ban), but I’d never question his motives, or the fact he’s trying to do good.  There are people who get involved with politics that you gravitate towards and support because you believe in them. That would describe Scott Munsterman.

In a political word where cynicism is the word of the day, believing in someone is no light thing. Scott is one of those people who you could do so without reservation.  We can hope that someday, he thinks about getting back into it, because in a time where we see our presidential candidates squabbling and name calling on national television, we need more people like Scott Munsterman serving in public office.

At the least, we’re all a little better off for him giving us the time he could, and giving many of us someone to believe in.

Scott: Good luck, and thank you my friend.

Yankton County is holding it’s Lincoln Day Dinner tonight at JoDeans.

The emcee for the event is Public Utilities Commissioner Chris Nelson who is up for election this year, and Speakers are Attorney General Marty Jackley and State Representative Mark Mickelson who might be up for election in the near future.  🙂

The event is being held at JoDeans with Prime Rib or Shrimp as your menu choices.

5:30 Social Hour; 6:30 Dinner.

Secretary of State receives 3rd petition challenge

Pierre, SD – Today, Secretary of State Shantel Krebs announced that a challenge was submitted March 3rd for an initiated measure to legalize marijuana for medical use. The initiated measure was previously rejected by the Secretary of State’s office on February 3rd.

The Secretary of State’s office will verify the petition challenge in the coming months. There is not a deadline in state statute as to when the verification process must be completed.

The challenge was submitted by Melissa Mentele of Emery, South Dakota.

For more information regarding the challenge process please visit: https://sdsos.gov/elections-voting/upcoming-elections/general-information/2016-ballot-questions.aspx

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From Jay Williams’ campaign website:

Jay William’s campaign theme is “Washington Change?”

Is that theme in some sort of pidgin english?

Or is “Washington Change” expressive of the amount of money he’s expecting to bring into his campaign for fundraising, being the “if no one else will” candidate running against John Thune?

Man. He’s started off awful, and it’s not getting better.

Thune’s MOBILE NOW Act Clears Key Senate Hurdle

“Expanding wireless broadband so more things in our day-to-day life can become Internet-connected would make completing many routine tasks easier and more efficient, but more importantly, could help save lives too.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement after bipartisan legislation he authored, the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act, passed the Commerce Committee by voice vote:

“The MOBILE NOW Act would give a boost to America’s innovators working to advance our 5G future, which would ultimately benefit businesses competing in an ever-changing global economy and the consumers who participate in it,” said Thune. “Expanding wireless broadband so more things in our day-to-day life can become Internet-connected would make completing many routine tasks easier and more efficient, but more importantly, could help save lives too.”

Thune recently penned an op-ed on the importance of passing the MOBILE NOW Act and bringing the 5G network one step closer to reality.

Click here for legislative text of the MOBILE NOW Act (S. 2555), as introduced, and here for more information on amendments that were adopted during today’s markup.

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“Scott Walker, State’s Rights, and CPAC”

Name three things that have never been mentioned in Mark Mickelson’s social media before today.

(I’m just sayin’.  Is there a campaign for something going on?)