Category: Uncategorized

So, I’m looking at Ann Tornberg’s late campaign finance report.

In the year end report – from 2 weeks before the election through January 1, she is claiming she received two – as in 2 – itemized donations totaling $800.

BUT… She claims she received $15,348.11 In unitemized donations during the same period?

Er, yeah. Sorry, but I’m going to call Bull$h|t on that one. I’m pretty sure that defies the laws of fundraising. She claims to have received over 150 donations around $100 in the last two weeks… At the same time she shuffles 15k off to the Democratic Party?

Sorry, but that doesn’t happen. At all.

If we are going to bother to enforce campaign finance reporting laws at all, it’s worthy of an investigation and a spot audit by the Secretary of State.

Otherwise, why do we bother to report, versus eliminating the reporting requirement.

A couple of legislators were on the floor of the house this morning haranguing me because I wasn’t posting enough today for them to fully get their SDWC fix.

But this morning wasn’t about me – It was for my wife, who over the noon hour, was recognized as South Dakota’s Special Education Administrator of the year, along with several other remarkable school administrators from across South Dakota.

Representative Jacqueline Sly addressed the group, along with others including Secretary of Education Melody Schopp. After they were feted at the Luncheon, the administrators also went up to the Capitol where they were recognized by the Governor and both chambers of the Legislature.

(Yes, that’s Mrs PP with the Governor)

Several others were recognized as exemplary administrators, at the principal, business manager, curriculum director and superintendent levels.

We all want good teachers for our children. And administrators play a significant role in that process. Congrats to all who were recognized today.

Rounds Cosponsors Balanced Budget Amendment Legislation

Washington—Today, Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined every Republican Senator in introducing a Balanced Budget Amendment, requiring the federal government to balance its books.

“Washington spends too much money, plain and simple.” said Rounds. “In South Dakota, we understand the importance of spending taxpayer dollars wisely and we don’t spend what we don’t have. Washington ought to do the same.”

“Taking significant steps to rein in spending, as the Balanced Budget Amendment would do, would send a strong signal to job creators that we are serious about growing our economy for the long haul. It would give them the confidence to invest and hire again.”

Sen. Rounds’ weekly column on our debt and Balanced Budget Amendment is available HERE.

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We haven’t heard much about a certain US Senate candidate who faces a felony prosecution for petition issues.

No, not Annette Bosworth. From her we’ve heard far too much.

I’m talking about Clayton Walker:

A former South Dakota U.S. Senate Candidate was ordered to undergo a psychological evaluation, as he battles and indictments charging him with nine felonies for election law violations and threatening state employees.

Clayton Walker, who tried to run for U.S. Senate as an independent in the 2014 mid-term election, had successfully fought to keep his third lawyer in the case, Timothy Rensch, when Circuit Judge John Brown ordered the evaluation.

Rensch had filed a motion to withdraw as council Jan. 29. Brown said he “simply can’t just keep appointing attorneys”, for Walker when he denied the motion and ordered Rensch to keep Walker as a client.

And..

Walker’s trial date was not been set, Brown said, because he want to wait for the results of Walker’s evaluation and hold a competency hearing.

Go read it here.

Secretary of State Shantel Krebs issued a list today of those campaigns and organizations who have filed late, or not at all.

If you see your name here, you may want to call the office…

ANN TORNBERG FOR DISTRICT 16 SENATE filed 02/03/15
BARTLETT4HOUSE
BEHLINGS FOR SD HOUSE
BILL LAIRD FOR SOUTH DAKOTA SENATE
BRULE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY
BURG FOR SENATE
CANTON POOL PAC
CAPITOL COMMITTEE
CLARK COUNTY REPUBLICANS
CONSERVATIVE ACTION TODAY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
CORSON COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
DAVID L. ALLEN FOR STATE SENATE
DENNERT FOR SENATE
DEUEL COUNTY DEMOCRATS
DISTRICT 9 FUTURE PAC
DONNA JO HAUSMAN
ELEPHANTS ON PATROL
ELLEE FOR 12
ENERGY EMPLOYEES PAC
FRIENDS OF DARRELL RASCHKE filed 02/03/15
FRIENDS OF EDUCATION
FRIENDS OF NORBERT BARRIE
FRIENDS OF REYNOLD NESIBA
FRIENDS OF TAMMY BASEL
GREGORY KNIFFEN FOR HOUSE
HABER FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
HAMLIN COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HAMLIN COUNTY REPUBLICANS
HAND COUNTY DEMOCRATS
HAND COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
HARGENS FOR HOUSE
HAUSMAN FOR HOUSE
INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY BANKERS OF SOUTH DAKOTA PAC
JIM SHEEHAN
JOHN KOSKAN
KAY WILDS FOR SOUTH DAKOTA
LAKE COUNTY DEMOCRATS
LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF SOUTH DAKOTA
MCPHERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATS
MEADE COUNTY DEMOCRATS
MERCHANT FOR SENATE
MICHAEL O’CONNOR
MICHELLE MALONEY FOR STATE SENATE filed 02/03/15
MINNEHAHA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY filed 02/03/15
NO ON 16
NORTHERN HILLS TOURISM PAC
PEGGY SCHUELKE FOR DISTRICT 4
PIERSON FOR STATE TREASURER
PLUMBERS & FITTERS LOCAL 300 PAC
ROBERTS COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
SD ASSOCIATION OF VIDEO LOTTERY ESTABLISHMENTS
SIOUX FALLS POLICE OFFICERS / SERGEANTS PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA COMPASSION PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA DEMOCRATIC PARTY filed 02/03/15
SOUTH DAKOTA PEOPLE’S PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA ROOTS filed 02/03/15
SOUTH DAKOTA TELECOMMUNICATIONS PAC
SOUTH DAKOTA YOUNG DEMOCRATS
STACEY FOR SENATE
STEVE HICKEY FOR STATE HOUSE filed 02/03/15
STUDER FOR SENATE
SUSAN CHESHIER FOR STATE SENATE
SVARSTADPAC
THE COMMITTEE TO ELECT LANCE RUSSELL STATE REPRESENTATIVES filed 02/02/15 at 5:13 pm
THE MAJORITY PROJECT filed 02/03/15
TOM NELSON CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
TRIPP COUNTY REPUBLICANS
TURNER COUNTY DEMOCRAT PARTY
VOTE ROBIN PAGE FOR SD HOUSE
WALWORTH COUNTY DEMOCRATS
WANDA BLAIR FOR HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
WOMENRUN! SOUTH DAKOTA filed 02/03/15
ZELMER FOR SENATE
ZIEBACH COUNTY REPUBLICANS

Secretary Krebs also issued a list of those who have issues with their report that need to be resolved.

Thune Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Clay Hunt SAV Act

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) issued the following statement on the Senate’s passage of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act:

“While we’ve made strides in recognizing the needs of America’s veterans, it’s an outrage our heroes still don’t have all of the mental health resources they need when they return home from the battlefield. There is still much to be done to treat the invisible wounds of war, and this bill, in conjunction with the efforts taken by Congress last year, will help us to further repay the tremendous debt of gratitude we owe the men and women who have answered the call to serve.”

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I just had the opportunity to chat with State Senator David Novstrup who informed me of a measure he’s got coming that should be numbered and assigned to committee today from being dropped in the hopper last Friday.

The Youth Minimum Wage Act is designed to find a happy medium for kids who are working, and allow them to be put back on the job.

The act covers youths who are working aged 14-18, and allows them to be paid at $7.50 an hour versus the current $8.50 mandated state minimum wage.

He’ll be more fully fleshing out the why’s in the weeks to come, but it makes a lot of sense.

It separates the kids from the adults in the minimum wage argument, as not many 14 year olds are out supporting a family. It allows employers to hire more of them for “kid” types of jobs, as they’re typically taking very part time employment that working adults avoid.

It sounds to be a win/win for kids looking for a part time job, as well as employers. Agree or disagree?