With the press conference still in progress, District 13 State Representative Tony Venhuizen is Governor Larry Rhoden’s pick to be his Lt. Governor in a nomination process that will go through both houses of the state legislature starting tomorrow.
Stay tuned for the official press release which will be forthcoming shortly.
The second voucher bill, Representative Odenbach’s House Bill 1020, a bill to establish education savings accounts was killed in House education, on a stronger vote than the more expensive HB1009 voucher bill, and was sent to the 41st day on a 9-6 vote after testimony from a broad coalition of opponents including state education interests, school administrators, teachers, parents, the South Dakota Chamber, and the South Dakota Retailers Association.
I’ve heard several things over the last day with regards to the announcement for Lt. Governor, but hearing more and more intensely that the choice is most likely District 13 State Rep. Tony Venhuizen being announced today.
The announcement will be in a little more than a half-hour, so we’ll find out shortly if the rumors are correct!
Rounds Joins Department of Government Efficiency Caucus
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced that he has joined the Senate’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Caucus. The DOGE Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of members ready to work hand-in-hand with the Trump administration to identify and eliminate wasteful spending and resources in the federal government.
“Hardworking Americans deserve to have their taxpayer dollars spent wisely,” said Rounds. “For the past four years, we had an administration in the White House that did not place a priority on eliminating wasteful government spending. The Trump administration is not only prepared, but committed, to cutting wasteful spending. I’m ready to work with my colleagues in the Senate to do our part in assisting President Trump in cutting spending, eliminating unnecessary programs and streamlining the federal government so it works for the people rather than the bureaucracy. One place to start is eliminating the federal Department of Education and returning educational decisions to our states, saving at least $1.3 billion in taxpayer dollars.”
Rounds is joining Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in cutting wasteful government spending.
For a full list of Rounds’ caucus memberships, click HERE.
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From former State Senator Erin Tobin, a great piece on why we don’t want to rob already underfunded public schools to dump cash into private schools:
Took a moment this AM to add my voice to those asking that the Senate reject the nomination of RFK, Jr. Why? He is not a good guy when it comes to health care policy:
Kennedy, who founded an anti-vaccine nonprofit and grew into one of the most prominent anti-vaccine activists in the world — a crusade from which he and associated groups have made millions of dollars — has prominently advanced a false contention that vaccines cause autism.
“I do believe that autism comes from vaccines,” Kennedy asserted to Fox News in 2023.
He went on to say that his position was misunderstood; he just wants to test the science behind them. But it’s Kennedy who rejects the science in front of him, critics say.
“Are we [also] reviewing the question about whether the Earth is flat? This is settled science,” said Rep. Kim Schrier, D-Wash., who previously worked as a pediatrician.
and..
“I bet you’ve never met anybody with full-blown autism your age,” Kennedy told podcaster Joe Rogan in 2023, launching into a script he often uses in public appearances. “You know, head-banging, football helmet on, nontoilet trained, nonverbal. I mean, I’ve never met anybody like that at my age, but in my kids’ age now, one in every 34 kids has autism. And half of those are full blown.”
This is not someone we want as our Secretary of HHS. He is awful.
Listening to House Ed this morning on House Bill 1009, (to provide for the creation and use of South Dakota educational
empowerment accounts, and to provide a penalty therefor). Rep. Phil Jensen started off by quoting the bible as part of a do pass motion, but Rep. Heermann offered a substitute motion to send it to the 41st day.
Rep. Degroot pointed out that the bill has a $140 Million price tag, according to the fiscal note, and if they have trouble trimming 40 million from the budget, $140 million is far beyond that.
The bill was quickly sent to the 41st day, and was narrowly killed on a tight 8-7 vote.
Today the South Dakota Senate passed Senate Bill 51, the proposed 10 commandments mandate that demands that schools post that section of the bible in every wood shop and physical education class by 1 single vote, according to the story on KELOland news:
Senate Bill 51 would require every classroom in the state to display the Ten Commandments on a poster no smaller than eight by 14 inches. The Ten Commandments must be the focus of the poster and in large, easily readable font.
and..
Republican Sen. Mykala Voita strongly supported the bill.
“We have allowed the outside culture to tell us that saying anything about faith is bad,” Voita said. “This is what founded our country, all of our morals and things that we base our law systems off of.”
and..
Republican Sen. Chris Karr broke a 17-17 tie with a deciding “Aye.”
Despite what Voita, the South Dakota legislature’s end-time army member says, I’m sure people are already preparing their legal briefs in opposition of the unconstitutional measure that will see the state spending money it doesn’t have on legal defense.
Update: The Argus Story on this also has some golden quotes from the debate, including the quote of the day from Senator Ernie Otten:
Sen. Carl Perry (R-Aberdeen) said while many people in the state “like to see local control,” sometimes he likes to see “local help,” or a “nudge to move in the right direction.”
and..
Sen. Ernie Otten (R-Tea) said while the Ten Commandments are “precious words” to him, he felt the postings required in the bill might be “dumbing down a group of people that all they’re going to end up doing is walking by a sign and thinking, ‘Something mystical is going on.’”
While Senator Perry provides gobbledygook to justify telling schools what to do, Senator Otten is very much correct.
Despite what sponsors think, students are not going to get much out of the ten commandments being posted in geography
Rounds, Thune Introduce Legislation to Rename Pierre Federal Building after Marcella LeBeau
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced the Marcella LeBeau Recognition Act to designate the federal office building in Pierre as the “Marcella LeBeau Federal Building.” Born in Promise, LeBeau was a lifelong South Dakotan, a World War II Veteran, a nurse and a well-respected leader in the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and across the state.
“Marcella LeBeau lived an incredible life in service to her tribe, her state and her country,” said Rounds. “She had a true passion for helping others and dedicated her life to not only improving but saving the lives of others. I was honored to be able to meet with Marcella several times over the course of her life, including in 2021 when she flew out to Washington, DC at the age of 101 to meet with me. This legislation would make certain that all who enter the federal building in Pierre will remember her life and legacy.”
“Marcella LeBeau dedicated her life to serving others, from treating wounded soldiers on the front lines at the Battle of the Bulge to working for the Indian Health Service for over three decades,” said Thune. “This legislation will honor her remarkable life and ensure her legacy remains a fixture in our state capital for generations to come.”
This legislation is endorsed by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association.
“On behalf of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and the tióšpaye (family) of Marcella LeBeau we would like send our sincere gratitude to Senator Rounds for his leadership, thoughtfulness and honor in renaming the Pierre SD federal building after our late matriarch our beloved grandmother Marcella LeBeau Wígmuŋke Wašté Wíŋ,” said Ryman LeBeau, Chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and Grandson of Marcella LeBeau.
“Marcella LeBeau was a true hero in World War II, saving our soldiers from death and braving the German Army during the Battle of the Bulge,” said Gay Kingman, Executive Director of the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association. “She was a leader on healthcare and native rights, and she was the conscience of America. She was a beautiful person who cared deeply about the Sioux nation and all of America.”
BACKGROUND ON MARCELLA LEBEAU:
Marcella LeBeau, “Wígmuŋke Wašté Wíŋ”, was born in 1919 and grew up in Promise, South Dakota as a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe (CRST). She attended boarding school and after graduating from nursing school at St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre, LeBeau enlisted in the United States Army Nurse Corps in 1943. She served with the Army Nurse Corps’ 76th General Hospital based in Minister, England. As Allied forces retook France and Belgium, she treated injured soldiers from medical tents, sometimes with bombs buzzing overhead.
Following her service in the military, she returned to South Dakota and continued her career as a nurse with the Indian Health Services (IHS). At the time of her retirement, LeBeau was the Director of Nursing for IHS in Eagle Butte. She also served on the CRST Council, becoming a well-established tribal leader. LeBeau was a recipient of the French Legion of Honor Medal and has been inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame and the National Native American Hall of Fame. She was a strong advocate for Lakota language, culture and spirituality. She was a lifelong advocate for healing of the Wounded Knee Massacre, which occurred in 1890.
Click HERE for full bill text.
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Governor Rhoden to Announce Lt. Governor Selection
PIERRE, S.D. – Tomorrow, Governor Larry Rhoden will announce his selection as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota. The selection will be announced in a press conference on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 10:00 am CT/9:00 am MT in the Mount Rushmore Room of the South Dakota State Capitol.
Today in an address to a joint session of the South Dakota legislature, Governor Rhoden previewed what he is looking for in his Lieutenant Governor selection:
“This individual must be loyal and honest – to me and to the people of South Dakota. My choice for Lieutenant Governor must share my commitment to keep South Dakota strong, safe, and free,” said Governor Rhoden. “He or she must be a strong partner who will provide me with wisdom, counsel, and help steer us in the right direction. And he or she must be ready to take over in the event I am no longer able to serve as Governor – it’s happened before!
“I want to make a selection who recognizes that ‘Under God, the People Rule.’ My lieutenant governor must be worthy of our tremendous people,” continued Governor Rhoden.
WHAT: Governor Larry Rhoden to announce his selection as the 40th Lieutenant Governor of South Dakota
WHEN: Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at 10:00 am CT/9:00 am MT
WHERE: Mount Rushmore Room, South Dakota State Capitol
LIVESTREAM: SDPB, SD.net, facebook.com/GovLarryRhoden
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