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Senator Mike Rounds’ WEEKLY ROUND[S] UP: July 21-27, 2025

Welcome back to another Weekly Round[s] Up. Here in DC, we continue to work on confirming President Trump’s nominees. Despite facing a historic level of obstruction from the other side of the aisle, the Senate is continuing to confirm nominees at a record pace. As of this past week, the Senate has confirmed 105 of President Trump’s nominees to positions in the executive and judicial branches. This is almost double the number of nominees that had been confirmed this far into President Trump’s first term. In addition, we’ve taken 435 roll call votes, which is more votes than the Senate has taken during some entire years. All this to say that we’re moving at a fast pace to get nominees in place and implement the agenda voted on by the American people. More on the rest of my week in my Weekly Round[s] Up:

South Dakota groups I met with: Melissa Magstadt, South Dakota’s Secretary of Health; South Dakota representatives from the Oncology Nurse Society; Ryman LeBeau, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe; Jim Speirs, Executive Director of Arts South Dakota; Janet Alkire, Chairwoman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe; Brian Cooper with Maguire Iron; two South Dakota school psychologists in town for a national training; South Dakota’s class of Tomorrow’s Ag Leaders; Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz, founder of the Chabad Jewish Center of South Dakota; Ron Heiser with Pivotal Health Solutions; South Dakota representatives of 340B Health; and students representing South Dakota and Boys and Girls Nation.

South Dakota towns represented: Aberdeen, Andover, Brandon, Castlewood, Corsica, Eagle Butte, Groton, Hecla, Irene, Lake Preston, Madison, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Wallace, Watertown and Yankton.

Other meetings: Representatives from Canada’s parliament; Jason Droege, CEO of Scale AI; Eric Jensen, CEO of ICEYE US; Dr. Greg Sorensen with RadNet; leaders from the Coalition for Health AI; and Will Lansing, CEO of FICO. I also attended our Senate Bible Study, where our verse of the week was Proverbs 13:24, and our Senate Prayer Breakfast, where I was our speaker this past week!

Hearings: I attended two hearings in the Senate Armed Services Committee. You can watch a clip of one of these hearings here.

Briefings and markups: I attended one classified briefing as part of my work on the Intelligence committee. I also attended a markup in the Appropriations committee to discuss our bills funding Interior and Environment, as well as Transportation, Housing and Urban Development.

Legislation introduced: I introduced two pieces of legislation to address the critical shortage of housing across the country and create more affordable paths to owning a home for more Americans. Together the Unlocking Housing Supply Through Streamlined and Modernized Reviews Act and the Better Use of Intergovernmental & Local Development (BUILD) Housing Act would streamline the federal housing environmental review process to responsibly increase housing production and boost overall supply and lower cost. Read more here.

In addition, I introduced the Intelligence Community Property Security Act of 2025, legislation to establish a specific provision prohibiting unauthorized access to U.S. Intelligence Community property and strengthening the penalty for trespassing on property that is under jurisdiction of the United States intelligence community. Read more about this bill here.

Votes taken: 20 – we confirmed nine additional nominees this past week.

My staff in South Dakota visited: Aberdeen, Pierre, Redfield, Wall and Winner.

Steps taken: 46,792 steps or 21.14 miles.

Video of the week: I joined Stuart Varney on Fox Business this past week to discuss the ongoing conflict in Israel:

An Aberdeen couple who were at the center of the 2018 Republican gubernatorial primary battle between then-Congresswoman Kristi Noem and Attorney General Marty Jackley have recently filed for divorce in Brown County.

A petition for divorce has been filed between Laura Zylstra Kaiser and former State Rep. Dan Kaiser.  If you recall, Zylstra, a former DCI agent had won a $1.5 million sexual harassment lawsuit involving the Brown County Sheriff’s office, and was featured in campaign advertising by Kristi Noem during the campaign against Marty Jackley after claims by Zylstra that her settlement was delayed over payment issues, which the AG cited as being handled by the office of Risk Management.

Immediately after Noem’s primary win, Zylstra’s spouse, Rep. Dan Kaiser, was featured in e-mails and a campaign to delegates by State Rep. Liz May to draft him to be nominated for Lt. Governor:

Current conservative legislators join former conservative icons, in advance of the Republican state convention, in endorsing conservative Representative Dan Kaiser (R-Aberdeen) to be the Republican Party nominee for Lieutenant Governor.

On Saturday, Republican delegates will cast official votes to determine who is on the November general election ballot as the Republican Party candidate for Public Utilities Commission, School & Public Lands Commissioner, State Auditor, State Treasurer, Secretary of State, Attorney General, and Lieutenant Governor.

and..

Joining Rep. Liz May (R-Kyle) in her support and endorsement of Representative Dan Kaiser are some of South Dakotas most conservative current and past legislators: Rep. Sam Marty (R-Prairie City), Rep. Steve Livermont (R-Martin), Rep. Tim Goodwin (R-Rapid City), Rep. Drew Dennert (R-Aberdeen), Rep. Tom Pischke (R-Dell Rapids), Rep. Lynne Hix-DiSanto (R-Rapid City), Rep. Julie Frye-Mueller (R-Rapid City), Rep. “Chip” Campbell (R-Rapid City), Senator Phil Jensen (R-Rapid City), Senator Stace Nelson (R-Fulton), Senator Emeritus Betty Olson (R-Prairie City), Senator Emeritus Gordon Howie (R-Rapid City), and Representative Emeritus Don Kopp (R-Rapid City).

Read that here (via the wayback machine).

According to the UJS website, the status of the divorce is currently pending the recusal of the assigned judge.

I’m continuing to unpack what went on in politics this last week while I was at my biennial work conference for my day job.

The big news of the week was the announcement that Christine Erickson is running to be the next Mayor of Sioux Falls.

But one of the more quiet, yet interesting developments is that supporters of the candidate who last polled at 4% in the gubernatorial race, Toby Doeden, such as State Rep. & awful human being Phil Jensen and Mike “13 just violates the age of consent” Zitterich, are calling for opposing candidate Jon Hansen to drop out of the race, because they believe Hansen will deny Doeden a win.

Of course, this raised the ire of 4% Hansen supporters, such as Neal “I’m only a terrorist attack away from winning congress” Tapio..

Watch for the bombs to continue to be thrown between the camps in the far right, as the battle over whether Jon Hansen should drop out is just starting between the two.

Backers Push $1.50 Flat Tax to Replace S.D.’s Local Property Taxes
By Scott Sundberg, Hub City Radio, and Todd Epp, Northern Plains News

ABERDEEN, S.D. (Hub City Radio/NPN) — A group wants to kill property taxes in South Dakota.

They’ve filed a proposed constitutional amendment with the state Attorney General’s Office.

Former State Senator Julie Frye-Mueller, one of the measure’s backers, said the proposal would fund county governments through a flat transaction tax applied to most goods and services.

“We’re not trying to take money away from schools or counties,” Frye-Mueller said. “We’re offering an alternative that doesn’t punish property owners.”

Her husband, Mike Mueller, argued the transaction tax would be more equitable and less invasive than property assessments.

“This tax follows your choice to spend, not your right to own,” Mueller said.

Under the plan, South Dakota’s $1.8 billion in property tax revenue would be replaced with a $1.50 charge on most retail transactions. Not a percentage—a flat fee. Buy a candy bar, pay $1.50. Buy a car, same thing.

Matt Smith, a podcaster helping with the campaign, says that makes the system simple and predictable.

“People will know exactly what they’re paying,” Smith said. “It keeps legislators from playing shell games with property values.”

Critics say it does the opposite: it makes taxes less fair and more erratic. A $1.50 charge hits poor people harder than rich ones. And it doesn’t scale with what you buy.

The amendment allows lawmakers to raise the fee—up to $5—if the budget demands it.

“We added that language so they don’t try to open it later and turn it into something worse,” Frye-Mueller said.

The state doesn’t collect property taxes. That’s done by counties, schools, and other local governments. Supporters claim the new tax will cover those costs. They haven’t shown how, at least yet.

Mueller says the details will come later.

“Who’s going to pay for the schools? This will,” he said. “Who’s going to pay for the counties? This will.”

Frye-Mueller says the Legislature could put the measure on the ballot, but she doesn’t trust them to do it.

She was censured by the South Dakota Senate in 2023 for harassing a legislative staffer. That hasn’t stopped her from making the rounds at Republican events.

The state GOP isn’t backing the plan.

“We’re just giving them a venue,” said party chair Jim Eschenbaum. “We’re not taking any official position.”

The group’s website is www.abolishpropertytaxessd.com.

A state property tax task force will meet in Aberdeen on Wednesday, August 13. Time and place are still TBD.

What the Amendment Proposes

The amendment would scrap South Dakota’s $1.8 billion property tax system and replace it with a flat $1.50 fee on most purchases. Backers call it fair and simple. Critics say it hits low-income buyers hardest and hasn’t been tested. The plan allows lawmakers to raise the fee to $5 if future budgets require it.

Had a reader send this over..  what idiot is sending out a political text blast at 12:13 AM? 

That would be the Doeden campaign.

Seriously? That’s a complete and definite no no.  When people get a text message at 12:13 AM, they’re wondering if someone is in the hospital or if a relative died – not getting a political message from a grumpy looking politician.

Already, it’s a long campaign.

State Reps. Scott Odenbach and (Hillary Clinton donor) Liz May seem to have something against economic development as Scott reprints a Liz May column alluding to how he thinks land needs to be undeveloped..

TELLING IT LIKE IT IS

The following written by Rep. Liz May:  This Isn’t Growth—It’s a Slow Displacement

Every time I drive into Rapid City or head out to Spearfish, Box Elder, or Summerset, I feel like I’ve taken a wrong turn.

The hills are still there—but the open sky, the sense of peace, the small‑town rhythm—it’s being swallowed by endless housing tracts, towering apartments, and polished master‑planned developments. Downtown feels more engineered than earned. Communities like Spearfish—once anchored in tight‑knit culture—are now overrun by developers chasing future profits.

and..

This isn’t sustainable. If it continues, Rapid City won’t feel like Rapid City. Spearfish won’t feel like Spearfish. And the Black Hills will no longer feel like the Black Hills—it’ll feel like Denver feels to Colorado.

It’s time to face the truth: this isn’t growth—it’s displacement. And it’s time for South Dakota to restore accountability, respect property rights, and reclaim community before it disappears under someone else’s blueprint.

Read that here.

And this is accompanied by a link to a KOTA story as if they are opposing economic development in the form of Liberty (land).

Is this a new caucus in the House forming – Republicans against Development? Why do I get the impression that this sounds like they’re saying land should not be developed as if they think it should be treated as if it should belong to someone else?

Kind of odd coming from people who claim to follow the Republican platform.

From Facebook, as opposed to serving the people of Aberdeen, in 2026 Rep. Brandei Schaefbaur plans to (again) use her legislative seat to promote conspiracy theories and goofiness regarding COVID:

So are we to gather that she’s going to encourage lawsuits against doctors, hospitals, the gubmint, and anyone else she can think of over COVID and vaccinating against it?  And to set up a taxpayer paid victims fund?

I’m sure this will go well.

Guest Column: In Defense of Secretary Kellie Wasko
by Eric Gednalske

Kellie Wasko is the most effective Secretary the South Dakota Department of Corrections has had in decades. Her tenure has been marked by a firm commitment to reform, transparency, and modern corrections leadership. Yet, calls for her removal are mounting. Why? Because “inmate deaths are higher than usual.” That’s the argument. Let’s unpack it.

More than half of this year’s inmate deaths are attributed to natural causes—age, illness, or chronic health conditions. These are unfortunate, yes, but hardly an indictment of administrative failure. If anything, they reflect the aging population within our prisons, a trend not unique to South Dakota.

Then there are suicides. These are tragic and deserving of attention. But let’s be honest: no correctional system, no matter how well-funded or staffed, can completely eliminate self-harm. The mental health crisis in prisons is a national issue. It’s not unique to this Secretary, and to frame these tragedies as policy failures ignores the complex human realities involved.

Finally, we come to drug overdoses—the one category that does demand action. And action is precisely what Secretary Wasko has taken. Immediately following this year’s spike in overdose deaths, the Department transitioned visitations to non-contact, a move designed to sever one of the primary pathways for contraband. It’s not a popular decision, but it’s a responsible one. Leadership sometimes means doing the hard, unpopular thing to protect lives.

So, I ask again: what exactly are we blaming Secretary Wasko for? Implementing swift, preventative policy? Taking ownership where others would deflect? Showing transparency in a system historically resistant to it?

Critics need to bring more than headlines and raw numbers to the table. Reforming a correctional system is hard work. Secretary Wasko is doing it—and doing it well. Before we talk about replacing her, let’s have a real conversation about what we expect from leadership in corrections, and whether our outrage is truly justified—or merely convenient.

Your shot boys.

—

Eric Gednalske is currently a student at the Knudson School of Law at USD and a Political Science graduate of SDSU. Eric grew up in Pierre and served as an Infantryman in the Army before starting college.

It’s Time to Act on South Dakota’s New State Penitentiary
By Lt. Governor Tony Venhuizen
July 25, 2025

For years, South Dakota has grappled with the fact that its 144-year-old State Penitentiary in Sioux Falls needs replacement, yet consensus on where and how to build it has remained elusive.

Governor Larry Rhoden created the Project Prison Reset task force earlier this year to achieve consensus to solve this problem. Governor Rhoden challenged us with a straightforward mission of answering three questions: 1) Determine if we need a new penitentiary; 2) Decide what kind of facility we should build; and 3) Recommend where it should be located.

The task force included legislators, law enforcement, and other stakeholders. Over the course of four public meetings, we toured facilities, studied data, heard more than eight hours of public testimony, and reviewed hundreds of written comments. Our work was conducted openly, and every voice, whether supportive or skeptical, was heard.

Our open and transparent process worked. Task force members who began on opposite sides came together to unanimously recommend a plan that South Dakota can and should support. In fact, we voted unanimously in our answers to each of Governor Rhoden’s three questions.

The task force unanimously recommended that the aging penitentiary be replaced with a 1500-bed facility, built to last 100 years, at a cost not to exceed $650 million. Our contractors are confident they can sharpen their pencils and reach this target.

This design includes a modern intake for new inmates. It also enhances rehabilitation by including the same programming spaces as the proposed Lincoln County design, including increased space for education, treatment, medical services, and re-entry programming. It is a massive improvement over the existing facility and will allow us to do a better job preparing inmates to reenter society, so they do not re-offend and return to incarceration.

More than a dozen potential sites were evaluated, and two locations in northeast Sioux Falls emerged as the best options. Both offer ready access to utilities and emergency services, an easy transition for staffing, and a location in the city and county that has already been home to the state penitentiary for more than a century. They rate just as well as the previously proposed Lincoln County site. Although there will be some transition costs in changing locations, the Sioux Falls sites also save us approximately $18 million due to ready access to existing utility infrastructure.

South Dakota is fortunate that Governor Noem and legislators set aside the funds to pay for a new prison. We also do not need to cut corners. We have seen other states, in weaker financial positions, make difficult decisions to build cheaper, shorter-life structures, and to exclude programming spaces. Our strong financial position means we don’t have to take those shortcuts. We can build high-quality facility now and avoid even higher costs in the future. And we will also avoid having to bond for this facility, which will save South Dakota taxpayers over a half-billion dollars in the long-term.

The task force’s recommendation was unanimous. It represents a hard-won compromise by people who began with very different views. We listened, we adjusted, and we found common ground. Now, we must act.

Every month we delay, costs go up – due to inflation, rising material costs, and ongoing maintenance of our aging facility. South Dakota has the money to do this. We can pay for this project without new taxes or debt. It’s time to move forward, put this issue behind us, and build the penitentiary our state needs for the next century. Let’s get this done – for public safety, for fiscal responsibility, and for the future of South Dakota.

—

Tony Venhuizen serves as the 40^th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota. At Governor Larry Rhoden’s direction, he served as Chairman of the Project Prison Reset task force.

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