Category: Uncategorized

From my e-mail, Rep. Hickey responds to Jonathan Ellis’ story at Argus Leader.com on questions about his 2012 Petitions:

The following is neither an admission nor an apology, it is merely a statement. No hard feelings towards the Argus; Jonathan Ellis is a good reporter and someone I like, and he did his job well when someone who doesn’t like me handed him red meat. And I take no issue with Hartford city council people who’ve said what they’ve said. I want them to be honest and it’s always been important to me that I am as well.

Of course I’m bummed at anything that undermines my integrity and especially the trust of the people here in District 9. I do hope I have been sufficiently transparent and truthful in my years in office such that it is believable when I say now if I was aware of any monkey business with my petitions I would have not turned them in. I’m not sure how to explain that some who signed the two contested sheets say I was the circulator and others who signed say I was not. It was three years ago and of what I do remember , I remember feeling good about my petitions, was glad to have meet the deadline, was glad they were certified by the SOS and obviously they weren’t challenged that election year.

It is important to me that everything relating to me is above board and I welcome at any point for people to challenge me if something seems amiss. No one in my district is under the impression I have no flaws. I’m thankful even for these unpleasant days and the things I’m learning. The trust the voters put in me I pledge to never betray.

SH

Gov. Daugaard’s Statement On RESTORE Resolution 

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard issued the following statement today in support of U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds’ bipartisan Regulation Sensibility Through Oversight Restoration (RESTORE) Resolution:

 “Federal rules have huge impacts and are very burdensome on states and citizens, and I know my fellow governors are very concerned by it. I hope Congress will embrace Sen. Rounds’ proposal and will take this opportunity to reassert its authority over rule making, and I commend him for advancing it.”

 If passed, the resolution would create a Joint Select Committee to consider the practicality of establishing a rules review process for Congress. South Dakota and 40 other states use comparable processes at the state-level which allow legislatures to weigh in on executive branch rules.

 The committee would also hold hearings on the effects of current regulations and recommend ways to eliminate unnecessary or overly burdensome regulations. 

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It was planned, fell through, and with the purchase of my airline tickets, it’s officially back on. I’m heading back to Washington DC in a couple of weeks.

I’ll have a much fuller dance card than I did last July, as I’m going to be attending a conference sponsored by Autism Speaks, as opposed to tagging along with my wife and sightseeing. I’ll have the conference, as well as visits to the offices of our elected officials in the Senate and Congress.

But that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to fit a few touristy things in.

The Arlington National Cemetery was one thing I didn’t hit last time I was there, and I’d like to see it, as well as the Air & Space Museum. And my wife wants to get to the lower levels of the Smithsonian American History Museum that I missed before.

Any other suggestions?

South Dakota politico Garrett DeVries, currently with the America Rising PAC, shot a video of Hillary Clinton that’s now been featured by Drudge, and is blowing up across the internet with 4 Million views and rising of Clinton telling an adoring fan to go to the end of the line:

“Be The Cure” In South Dakota
A column by Lt. Gov. Matt Michels:

I currently serve as South Dakota’s Lt. Governor, but I have had the opportunity to wear a lot of different “hats” throughout the years. Few have been as formative as my nurse “hat.” Nursing exposed me to people from many different walks of life and taught me about compassion, as well as countless other life lessons. But, it also taught me about the far-reaching impact of medical ailments and the importance of doing what we can, as a society, to confront those ailments.

Public health should be everyone’s concern. Over the years, the development of new medicines has been vital in helping people live longer and healthier lives. Clinical trials are the primary route by which patients can voluntarily participate in the drug development process, receive access to unapproved investigational medicines and contribute to the collection of data necessary for Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

Successful clinical trials require diverse and robust volunteer participation. It is important that people of all races understand the benefits of clinical trials. Different racial groups can be affected by different diseases and may respond differently to certain kinds of medications. Unfortunately, minority groups are typically underrepresented in clinical trials, resulting in limited evidence for how effective such treatments may be for those individuals.

As Lt. Governor, I have the opportunity to participate in a bipartisan group called the National Lieutenant Governors Association (NLGA). This year the NLGA is starting a new program called “Be the Cure.” The goal of the program is to increase education and awareness among legislators, policymakers, patients and providers about the clinical trial process, specifically the need for participation of diverse patient populations.

South Dakota is home to people of many different backgrounds, and we need to work to continue advancing medicines that could help all of our state’s residents. It is important that we all spread the word about the need for diversity enrollment in clinical trials and the value and benefits of increased participation by underrepresented communities.

I encourage you visit the National Lt. Governors Association “Be the Cure” web site at www.nlga.us  to learn more about the importance of clinical trials and increased participation by all.

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Sometimes you have to consider your comments in light of the goals of the group you’re addressing.

From the May 15, 2015 minutes of the Humane Society of the Black Hills Board of Directors Meeting (via Ron Sasso’s Blog):

Greetings from excessively humid Bella Vista, Arkansas!

No, I’m not vacationing. My pickup is loaded up, the estate sale people are coming today, and I’m hoping I’m on my last trip to clear out my in-laws’ home in preparation for sale.

We’re breaking for lunch at the moment, as you can tell from a couple of my dining/working companions:

They’ve been ‘toting that barge,’ and ‘lifting that bale’ since 7am, so they’re entitled to be fed at least once today.

Packing boxes, unloading cabinets, moving furniture, loading trucks – It’s just like the 20-plus years I spent in the auction business again. And a reminder why none of my daughters had any interest in it. Not even clerking! My boys still have a smile… for now.

So, light posting for a bit. It’s time to get back to the grind.

AFP Calls For Overturn of EPA Water Rule

Thanks South Dakota Delegation for Doing Their Part To Repeal This Onerous New Regulation

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Americans for Prosperity South Dakota issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newly finalized “Waters of the United States rule” which will drastically expand the power granted to the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers under the Clean Water Act (CWA).

“The amount of regulatory overreach coming from the EPA is astonishing,” explained Ben Lee, State Director of Americans for Prosperity South Dakota. “The Waters of the U.S rule threatens property rights and drowns land owners in red tape. This new rule will have a serious impact on the South Dakota’s economy– particularly in agriculture. It’s important that our lawmakers support efforts to overturn the rule. We thank Senators Thune and Rounds as well as Congresswom Noem for their efforts to stop this regulation and for standing up for the rights of South Dakotans all across our state.”

The new rules proposed by the EPA will drastically expand the reach of the EPA to regulate water on private property. By redefining the “waters of the U.S.” from its current definition in the Clean Water Act to “navigable waters” the EPA now has the ability to regulate conceivably any area water flows through. This would include dry creek beds, irrigation ditches, and even simply standing water. This new rule would come with significant compliance costs for South Dakota landowners and family farmers and infringe upon their rights.

Here we go again! From AP/Brookings Radio News:

An attorney for a former South Dakota U.S. Senate candidate who has been convicted of felony election law violations says they plan to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Bob Van Norman, an attorney for Sioux Falls physician Annette Bosworth, said Thursday they plan to appeal after her planned July sentencing.

and…

Van Norman says Bosworth is “devastated.”

Read it here.

Ugh. Can we get off this carnival ride already?