Category: Uncategorized

Johnson Re-introduces Bill to Protect Land of Wounded Knee Massacre

 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) re-introduced the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act to preserve a section of the land where hundreds of Lakota Indians were massacred by the U.S. Army. This bill passed the House with unanimous support last Congress, but was not signed into law.

“I’m grateful to the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for their help the last few years to draft this legislation and advance it in the House,” said Johnson. “I’m hopeful the bill passes this Congress to provides greater tribal sovereignty to this sacred land. Memorializing the Lakota lives lost will ensure this site remains sacred for generations to come.”

Specifically, the Wounded Knee Massacre Memorial and Sacred Site Act places the purchased land into restricted fee status to be held by the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe. Restricted fee status allows the tribes to own the land outright, while also keeping protections in place, such as a restriction on alienation and taxation from any state or local government. In September 2022, both tribes purchased the field where an old trading post was located. On October 21, 2022, the tribes signed a covenant, stating that this property shall be held and maintained as a memorial and sacred site without any development.

This bill states that the land will continue to be owned by both tribes, subject to civil and criminal jurisdiction of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, may not be sold without the consent of Congress and both tribes, and is not subject to taxation by any state or local government. This land currently resides within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation’s boundaries.

“This critically important bill protects and secures the grounds of Wounded Knee Memorial site, which we consider to be hallowed land where hundreds of our unarmed ancestors were chased down by the United States military and brutally murdered in the dead of winter. We thank Congressman Dusty Johnson for his steadfast support and dedication to diligently working to advance this bill and bring the truth to light in honor of the original stewards of these sacred lands,” said Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Chairman Ryman LeBeau.

“We continue to support Representative Dusty Johnson’s efforts in Congress to preserve the memory of the Wounded Knee Massacre and the legacy and sacrifice of our ancestors. This sacred site should forever serve to remind us of where we as a country have been and as a marker for how much further we have to go. This bill passed the House in the 118^th Congress and we expect it to pass again; it is wholly uncontroversial and will protect our sacred Wounded Knee site in perpetuity,” said Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out.

Read full bill text here. Find the Covenant between both tribes here. Find the map here.

Wounded Knee Massacre Background:

 In the late 1880s, a movement called the Ghost Dance swept across the nation. Indians believed that this dance would give stolen land back to the Indians, bringing about a renewal of Native society. Indians would join together, wearing shirts they believed would protect them from bullets, to dance for this renewal, all at the protest of the federal government.

On December 29, 1890, a group of Lakota Indians led by Chief Spotted Elk had made camp near Wounded Knee Creek on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. There, U.S. Army 7th Calvary troops were sent to disarm the Lakota. A struggle occurred between the U.S. Army and some of Chief Spotted Elk’s band – a majority of which consisted of women and children. A shot rang out, and the U.S. Army opened fire on the largely unarmed group, massacring an estimated up to 350-375 Lakota Indians. Twenty-five U.S. soldiers also died.

###

I took one for the team recently, and listened to a fairly painful forum of NIMBY’s held up in McPherson county, so you didn’t have to do it. Most of it was a lot of droning on about Data Centers, but there were a couple of interesting takeaways from 2 members of incoming legislative leadership from District 3.

Interesting, as in how Carl Perry views the people he’s the incoming assistant of leading, and what legislation Brandei Schaefbauer is cheering on to attack energy production and possibly even mining in South Dakota.

First off, at about 1 hour and 32 minutes or so in, Senator-elect Carl Perry takes some time to brag himself up as the Senate’s incoming Assistant Majority leader, the same time he’s in front of a crowd in public throwing rocks at the outgoing Senate GOP leadership team.. despite several of them still being part of the GOP Caucus:

Perry: “I haven’t really been in the Senate yet, but I’m already the Assistant Majority Leader… But you know, uh, here’s the news. The people who were in there before were sooo bad.”

Is Carl perceptive enough to realize that being a sore winner isn’t exactly inspirational leadership for holding the caucus together and getting things done?  I guess we’re going to find out.

Also as part of the video (at around 1:40 or so) is the big item that should grab attention. At the meeting, another District 3 legislator, State Representative Brandei Schaefbauer is explaining to the crowd that energy development is happening too quickly so they need new laws to slow it down…

Schaefbauer: “The other thing is, is um.. don’t be surprised.. and I’m very hopeful that we will have some, um legislation on moratoriums for all of this green energy because it’s coming so fast and furious into our state that, you know that, that some laws were maken.. er, made like years ago, um, just to, you know kind of get it in here and now it’s just full force.  Well, I think we have the right people in leadership, we have the right amount of people – especially in the House – that are like we’re gonna stop and we need to think about this before, you know, we become, like I say, a wasteland.

So um, I’m very hopeful that there will be some legislation just on a statewide moratorium on this green energy, whether it’s wind, solar, the pipelines, um, mining out in our beautiful Black Hills, um, you know and I, I’ve heard there may be some summer studies on wind.. what are we going to do with these wind towers that are at their life’s end, you know. We need to look at some reclamation accounts, trust accounts that will help landowners reclaim the loss of after, you know, these towers go down… or where are these computers going to be buried...”

Schaefbauer tells the crowd she’s hopeful to stifle energy production and mining in South Dakota? Wow.

The Legislative Session opens at noon on January 15th. We might want to pay close attention and see what industries and energy production South Dakota has left by session’s end.

Thune Joins Face the Nation, Meet the Press

Click here to watch Face the Nation and here to watch Meet the Press.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) joined Margaret Brennan on CBS’ Face the Nation and Kristen Welker on NBC’s Meet the Press.

On confirming President Trump’s nominees:

“We’re gonna do everything we can to ensure that he has the people he wants in place. I think you give great deference and latitude to a president when it comes to people he wants to put into key positions. The national security ones are especially important, but the Senate has a role – advice and consent – and we intend, we have a lot of our senators who take that role very seriously. So we will make sure that these nominees have a process, a fair process, in which they have an opportunity to make their cases, not only to the members of the committee, and ultimately to the full Senate, but also to the American people. And that’s underway as we speak. But my hope and expectation is that the president will get the people that he wants in place to implement his agenda.”

“[M]y expectation is, and as the leader of the Senate, that we’re going to get the president his people as quickly as possible in the key positions where he wants them.”

On securing the southern border:

“[A]s we think about what those next steps are, the first thing is securing that border and making sure that we change the incentive structure so people aren’t incentivized to come here illegally, which they have been for the past four years. And then we do everything to ensure that the border personnel, the ICE agents and border agents, have the resources that they need to do their job. Now, some of that means physical barriers, some of that means technical, technological barriers, etc., and those are all going to require resources. And then some is going to require deportation of certain people who are here illegally.”

“We think that a generational investment in the border is necessary, given where we are after the last four years of a, what I think is a very failed Biden-Harris border policy.”

“[I] would argue that when the president takes office, and he’s going to do a lot of things on the border by executive order, by executive action, that we’re going to need to be able to provide the resources in order for him to do that. And that’s why I’ve suggested that we take that border issue on right away and enable him to do the things that he needs to do.”

On the need to shore up defense capabilities:

“I think we are dramatically underfunding our military today; I think the president believes that, President Trump, and I think a lot of our Republican colleagues in the House and the Senate share that view. So, can we do this through reconciliation? We’re obviously looking at our options.”

“I also think we have some immediate concerns, matters that need to be addressed – one of which is national security, given the increasingly dangerous world in which we live.”

On pro-growth tax policies:

“[W]e intend to ensure that we don’t have a $4 trillion tax increase on the American people by December 31 of this year. And in order to do that, we’ve got to act collectively – House, Senate, and White House – to extend the 2017 tax cuts. Now, in doing that, I believe there will also be a robust conversation about whether we can find offsets and achieve reductions in spending that would help offset some of that. But then also, you’ve got to understand, too, that tax policy is directly connected to economic growth, and we’ve been told by all the experts – the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Congressional Budget Office – that for every 1 percent increase in GDP, you generate about $3 trillion in additional tax revenue. Many of the tax provisions that are in law today, that will be extended, will have a very positive impact on the growth of the economy. I’m somebody who believes in growth. With growth, you get better-paying jobs, but you also generate more tax revenue. And I think that’s something that isn’t fully contemplated or considered when people talk about deficit numbers.” 

“[I]f you want to avoid a $4 trillion tax increase, you’re going to have to take some steps to extend the current tax policy. When you do that, I think you get outcomes that are good for the economy. When the economy is growing, expanding, and creating better-paying jobs, people are making money, they’re taking realizations, they’re paying taxes, tax revenues go up, and that was demonstrated and proven in 2017 with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.”

 “We’re going to have a very robust conversation about tax reform. I was a big part of it back in 2017 when we did the initial Trump tax cuts, and this time around, there’s a lot riding on it. There’s a lot riding on it economically. I think regulatory policy, tax policy, energy policy, are going to be really essential to the strength of the economy and how fast we can grow and expand and create better-paying jobs in this country. So I’m a big believer in pro-growth tax policy. I believe you get a lot of that back through growth in additional revenue … Every 1 percent increase in GDP, in economic growth, we’re told, generates about $3 trillion in additional tax revenue. So you’re going to get some back in terms of the growth dividend, and there will be spending cuts.”

###

Incoming Senator John “California” Carley is wasting no time in pushing his über-religious agenda on South Dakota taxpayers, as he is currently seeking co-sponsors on an unfunded mandate to prominently post displays of religious tracts – in this case the ten commandments – in every classroom across South Dakota.

In case you’d like a preview of what’s on the Senator’s indoctrin.. ahem, agenda:

And that’s as much as my correspondent sent over to me (or at least as much as they could stand.)

It seems that on one hand the hard right wants to strip public schools of taxpayer funds to send it to religious schools. And on the other they want to have public schools spend taxpayer funds on religion.

Seems like we’re going to get a lot of religion this session.

From Arielle Zionts via twitter, former Democrat legislator Nancy Turbak Berry is part of an effort to lead a state ballot measure to restore abortion rights for 2026 with the support of national organizations:

Another one of the “not ready for prime time” GOP chair hopefuls sent out a profile this afternoon to Republican County officials, seeking their favor.

Former Hand Co. GOP Chairman Jim Eschenbaum sent out his plea for the Central Committee’s consideration of his candidacy, letting everyone know that he was the county chair for around 6 months before resigning, and that if he’s made chairman he will be against elected (officials) running the things, and there will be a scorecard showing how candidates follow the platform.

In part…

I believe that one way to facilitate smooth operations of the party, regain trust from the body, and support the involvement of as many Republicans as possible; is to have regularly scheduled State Central Committee meetings as outlined in our bylaws.

We should discuss choosing a designated Saturday for two (2) given months of the year.

and..

Having too many elected running the party is equivalent to having the fox guarding the hen house. The image of the party that I will strive for is one that invites all conservatives who adhere to the US Constitution, State Constitution, and party platform, to participate and have a voice.

—

I would like to put together a committee to create a Conservative scorecard. We have a U.S. Constitution and a State Constitution that every elected swears an oath to. We also have a platform along with the Constitutions that should be guiding our elected Republicans how to vote. A scorecard would inform Republican voters Statewide about who is aligning with, and protecting our Constitutional Rights and Freedoms, and who isn’t. There is no reason to keep electing politicians who don’t follow their oath and the platform.

and..

As I have previously stated, I am running for the position of Chairman because I believe that a well-led and highly functioning South Dakota GOP will benefit all Republicans across our state. You have my word that I will never sell out to money, favors, or deeds.

Well, it’s a good thing Jim Eschenbaum will never sell out to money (or grammar) because aside from setting a date for meetings, banning ‘too many’ elected officials from running the party and doing scorecards, he apparently has no plans on how to raise the funds to actually run the organization going into 2026.

This SDGOP Chairman contest is just painful to watch.

Come the next election, there’s just going to be too many of us who sound like we’re old men in the coffee shop going “remember when the South Dakota Republican Party was a functioning organization?”

 

ROUND[S] UP 2024: A YEAR IN REVIEW

Welcome to the 2024 Round[s] Up: A Year in Review! I hope you had a joyful Christmas season with friends and family, and that your 2025 is off to a great start. I was fortunate to spend the holidays with my loved ones at home in Fort Pierre enjoying our yearly traditions and taking time to reflect on 2024.  My team and I are incredibly grateful for the trust and support from our constituents and we remain committed to working tirelessly on behalf of South Dakotans in 2025. Here is a recap of just a few things we kept busy with during 2024:

 South Dakotans I met with: I held 135 meetings in DC with folks from our great state.

Visited with South Dakotans from: 119 different towns across the state—from Britton to Edgemont and everywhere in between.

Other meetings: I had 196 other meetings, ranging from Trump’s cabinet nominees to the weekly Senate Bible study.

Votes taken: 308.

Hearings: I attended 62 hearings throughout 2024 for my committee assignments on Armed Services; Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; Indian Affairs; Veteran Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Classified Briefings: I attended a total of 46 classified briefings. These mostly pertain to my work on the Senate Armed Service Committee and the Select Committee on Intelligence.

Legislation introduced: In 2024, I introduced 21 different pieces of legislation, ranging from an Act to fast-track combat veterans’ access to health care benefits to a resolution to permanently address federal overregulation in America and a recent piece of legislation to return education to our states by eliminating the U.S. Department of Education. I also cosponsored 73 bills in 2024.

Results: Four standalone bills that I introduced this year were signed into law, either by themselves or part of a larger package. In addition, I authored 40 provisions that passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in 2024. You can view a full list of those here.

My staff in South Dakota made visits to nearby towns a total of 153 times.

Our office responded to 45,354 incoming messages from constituents in 2024, with the primary concerns being health care, foreign relations and agriculture.

Our office received 545 requests from South Dakotans for assistance with federal agencies, with the primary issues being veterans administration, U.S. citizenship and immigration services and the IRS.

Steps taken in 2024: 1,343,181 steps or 619 miles. That’s about the same distance as walking across South Dakota from east to west AND north to south combined. Always on the move!

As we head into a new year, I am excited to continue working on your behalf in Washington. If you need assistance with any federal agency or simply want to leave a comment or concern, please don’t hesitate to send me a message or call one of my offices in Aberdeen, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls or Washington.

Thune Delivers First Remarks as Senate Majority Leader

“My Republican colleagues have trusted me to lead our party – and the Senate – in the next Congress, and I will work every day to be worthy of that trust.”

Click here to watch the video.  

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) yesterday delivered his first remarks on the Senate floor as the majority leader for the 119th Congress.

What I’m looking forward to this year
By Congressman Dusty Johnson

Over the past four years, Americans have been burdened by the results of the Biden Administration’s policies, like an open border, high inflation, mandates that are increasingly difficult to meet for energy production, vehicle emissions, health care, firearms, and more.

When I travel around South Dakota, the one comment I hear from most people is they are struggling to make ends meet due to high prices. Since President Biden took office, I have voted against more than $13 trillion in progressive spending. Unfortunately, those spending plans passed with Democrat support and handed the bill to American families who are now paying more than $13,000 per year to buy the same goods, compared to four years ago. The President and Congress cannot spend beyond our means.

I’m optimistic for change. In a few short weeks, Congress and the Trump Administration will put conservative policies back in place. We’ll secure the border, restore fiscal sanity, extend Trump’s tax cuts, get tough on China, and make government more efficient.

Here are a few things I’m looking forward to in 2025:

Border security: More than ten million illegal immigrants have entered our country since January 2021. It’s time to finish the border wall, increase Border Patrol, and reimplement Trump-era policies like Remain in Mexico to prevent more individuals from entering illegally.

Fiscal sanity: Congress and the White House must work together to cut unnecessary federal spending. I’ve worked with Members of Congress to pass a spending package that cut spending for the first time in over a decade. While it didn’t bring the budget to where it needs to be, there is power in incrementalism, and I look forward to making more aggressive cuts to government spending.

China: It’s clear the Chinese Communist Party is not backing down from targeting America. Just this week, Chinese government hackers breached the U.S. Treasury Department looking for information on which Chinese companies may be designated for sanctions. China’s aggression cannot continue to go unchecked. We can’t allow them to continue to bully America. As a member of the Select Committee on China, I’m in a unique position to work with President Trump to protect America from our adversary.

Making government more efficient: The Biden Administration’s bloated approach to bureaucracy—from spending to government programs to regulations—is coming to an end. I’m excited for the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and my role as part of the DOGE Caucus in the House to cut spending, reform welfare, cut regulations, and streamline government programs.

I’m expectant for a conservative House, Senate, and White House, that are aligned on policies to improve our economy, boost domestic production, lower prices for families, and make America a safer place.

Working Together for Safer Communities
By: Secretary Robert Perry
January 3, 2025

January serves as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, an important time for reflection, awareness, and action. This month is a solemn reminder of the urgent need to protect the most vulnerable among us from one of the most insidious crimes in our society. Today, I want to speak directly to you about what this means for us and how we can all make a difference.

Before becoming the Secretary of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), I dedicated over 30 years to various law enforcement roles, having the honor of working with many committed professionals. During this time, I witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of human trafficking on individuals, families, and entire communities. I have met survivors who carry the heavy burden of their experiences and collaborated with dedicated teams to bring traffickers to justice.

Human trafficking often occurs right in front of us, hidden in plain sight. It’s not just something that occurs in big cities or faraway places. Trafficking can occur in any community, with no regard to class, race, or other social factors.

Traffickers use our interstate highways as inconspicuous routes to travel across the country, making it easier to carry out their illegal activities while evading detection. They exploit people’s vulnerabilities, whether it be financial hardship, addiction, homelessness, or simply a lack of family support. They prey on the trusting nature of individuals and communities, turning lives upside down for their own profit.

Each trafficking victim is someone’s child, sibling, or friend. They deserve a future free from fear, exploitation, and harm. And it is all of our responsibility to ensure that future.

The fight against human trafficking begins with awareness. Recognizing the signs can save lives. For example, if you notice someone who seems unusually fearful, withdrawn, or controlled by another person; if they have bruises, appear malnourished, or cannot speak freely; or if they are living or working in conditions that seem unsafe or unsanitary, these could all be indicators of trafficking. Trust your instincts and reach out to the authorities. Your vigilance could make all the difference.

It’s equally important to educate our children and young people about the dangers of trafficking. Open conversations about online safety, healthy relationships, and recognizing manipulative behaviors are crucial in preventing exploitation. In today’s digital age, traffickers often use social media to lure unsuspecting victims. Let’s make sure our children know how to stay safe and seek help when they need it. There are many great online resources that can help guide you to creating a safer online experience for your family.

Our state has resources in place to combat this issue, but we cannot do it alone. I encourage you to partner with local organizations, churches, and community groups that are already doing incredible work to support survivors and raise awareness. Consider volunteering your time, donating to reputable anti-trafficking initiatives, or simply sharing information to spread the word.

If you suspect human trafficking, please do not hesitate to report it. The National Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24/7 at 1-888-373-7888 or by texting 233733. All calls are confidential, and you can remain anonymous. Every report matters, and every call could save a life.

Together, as neighbors and as a community, we can create an environment where traffickers find no foothold and where every individual can thrive without fear. Let’s stand united this January and beyond, committing to protect the vulnerable, support survivors, and bring traffickers to justice.

Robert Perry is the Cabinet Secretary for the South Dakota Department of Public Safety.

###