Category: Uncategorized

South Dakota Searchlight via Josh Haiar has a story today on Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen declining to recuse herself from the matter of the Summit Carbon pipeline on the basis of a conflict of interest that has not changed since she had previously recused herself:

A trust controlled by a South Dakota regulator’s relatives still owns land along a proposed pipeline route, but the regulator has not recused herself from the project’s second permit application after recusing herself from the first one.

Two years ago, Public Utilities Commissioner Kristie Fiegen disqualified herself from Summit Carbon Solutions’ first carbon dioxide pipeline application. She cited state law prohibiting commissioners from participating in hearings or proceedings when they have a conflict of interest.

Fiegen wrote a recusal letter in February 2022 that said the pipeline “would cross land owned by my sister-in-law (my husband’s sister) and her husband.” Gov. Kristi Noem assigned State Treasurer Josh Haeder to fill in for Fiegen.

and..

The new pipeline route would cross the same parcels of land: the Minnehaha County land that Fiegen’s relatives no longer own, and the McCook County land that the Ordal trust still owns.

Read the entire story here.

As referenced in the letter above which I had mentioned before, I’d also point out that the 2022 letter was not Commissioner Fiegen’s first recusal over pipelines. There was another one back in 2015..:

…where Kristie recused herself over the Dakota Access Pipeline crossing both properties, including the McCook County land which remains under her relative’s control.

Kristie has always been a straight shooter, concerned about fairness, so it’s unclear why she’s changed course on her participation not compromising her partiality in this situation.

BFM Releases Annual Comprehensive Financial Report

 PIERRE, S.D. – Today, the Bureau of Finance and Management (BFM) released South Dakota’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for fiscal year 2024. The ACFR is the audited financial statements for state government and represents the collective effort of BFM, the state agencies, and the Department of Legislative Audit.

Highlights from the fiscal year 2024 ACFR include:

• The State’s ending net position for the year is $9.9 billion which is an increase of $667.5 million or 7.2% from the prior fiscal year;
• At the end of the fiscal year, the total fund balance of the General Fund was $1.6 billion, an increase of $229.1 million, or 16.8% from the prior fiscal year;
• The State has set aside $612.5 million for the Incarceration Construction Fund to build new prisons. By funding these projects with existing funds, the need to issue debt is avoided; and
• The State has maintained its AAA public issuer rating from Standard & Poor’s, Fitch Ratings, and Moody’s for the past eight fiscal years. This represents the highest rating for all three bond rating agencies.

The ACFR can be viewed online at bfm.sd.gov, or for printed copies, contact BFM at 605-773-3411.

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I think Senator Michael Rohl touched a nerve.

Within hours after filing his proposed legislation that allowed fat cats to loan unlimited funds to their political action committees, far beyond the rules that Joe six-pack is required to live by, Toby “Dumpster-Fire” Doeden, the chief abuser who brought this loophole into a glaring spotlight came unglued on Facebook, and is absolutely howling that people are signing on to Rohl’s legislation to stop the abuse that allowed him to dump $100,000 and more into his Political Action Committee, Dakota First Action (yes, the PAC who held the rally with the alleged ‘black nazi’)  to try to buy elections:

Blah, blah, blah.  That’s a lot of excuses and finger pointing for something that comes down to his own actions. “Fact is, millions and millions of dollars flow into our state politics from out-of-state corporations, PACs, and other nefarious origins. This money is spent by compromised establishment politicians to maintain power.”  Did Toby actually pay a PAC staffer to write that ridiculous nonsense?  

The truth of the matter is that you and I can go to the Secretary of State’s website and look up exactly what was spent on campaigns, and who campaign funds were donated to and by whom. The limits are set in law, and legislators have decided the point where we it gets excessive, and goes beyond one-man, one-vote.

But there are times when the members of a citizen legislature don’t foresee everything. And a loophole exists. This is one of those instances, where they never imagined someone would dump cash in untold and unlimited amounts into a Political Action Committee via a loan.

The fact of the matter is that dirty campaigner Toby Doeden used much of that money he dumped into his PAC to launch text messaging across the state that did not follow state law in terms of disclaimers noting who was paying for it, until his feet were held to the fire.  And he had to figure something out, fast.

Dakota First Action_Toby Do… by Pat Powers

He was able to weasel out of the charges being investigated by the A.G. because of the loophole in the state law which allowed him to refile his $100,000 donation after he got caught by now calling it a “loan.” Illegal as hell when he did it. But by refiling it as a loan, the little-known loophole saved his bacon.  And here we are.

Senators Rohl, Reed and Wheeler, and Representative Otten are trying to fix the loophole. Leaving Toby crying, because he wants his unlimited loophole to remain in the dark recesses of South Dakota politics. But where have we heard all this before?

There was a similar debate a number of years ago when Senator Lee Schoenbeck argued a fix a similar loophole in 2005 which allowed people to donate unlimited funds to Political Action Committees. Quoting the February 1, 2005 Rapid City Journal article by Denise Ross (a friend to many who passed away in 2015):

And… (Here we have one of the all-time best Lee Schoenbeck quotes:)

The arguments against the latest bill are literally the same arguments used back in 2005. And we survived, except it took 20 years for the abuse of a loophole to highlight where the bill needed adjustment.

If you think a big boob like Toby should be able to buy elections by loaning his personal PAC hundreds of thousands or a million dollars at a time, then by all means, encourage your legislators to let this wide-open campaign finance loopholes stand as it is.

But if you think everyone should play by the same set of rules, and $10,000 is enough for dirty Doeden to dump into his campaign account just like everyone else – encourage your legislators to support Senate Bill 12.

Congressman Dusty Johnson is among those supporting the return of Mike Johnson as Speaker of the US House:

Thank you, Mr. President. You’re right, Speaker Johnson has done, and will do, a good job for our country. I’m glad to join with you in endorsing Mike Johnson for Speaker. pic.twitter.com/px6VrKHpN6

— Dusty Johnson (@DustyJohnson) December 30, 2024

Along with President Trump, I’m told Dusty is also helping to whip votes for Mike Johnson.

Attorney General Jackley Announces Former Revenue Employee Sentenced on Fraud-Related Charges 

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a former State Department of Revenue employee has been sentenced after pleading guilty to two fraud-related charges.

Lynne Hunsley, 64, pleaded guilty Monday afternoon in Hughes County Circuit Court to one count of Forgery, a Class 5 felony, and one count of Grand Theft by Deception, a Class 6 felony. She was sentenced to three years in prison suspended on the Forgery charge and one year in prison suspended on the Grant Theft by Deception charge. She also was placed on probation for three years, fined $1,000 combined on the two charges, and ordered to pay $1,200 in restitution.

“The defendant has accepted responsibility for her actions and is being held accountable for violating the public’s trust,” said Attorney General Jackley. “As Attorney General, I will continue to protect taxpayer dollars and restore the public’s trust in state government.”

Hunsley was accused of using her position with the Division of Motor Vehicles to falsify records between Jan. 1, 2021 and June 30, 2021. That action resulted in her not having to pay $1,200 in tax liabilities to the state.

A second former Revenue employee, Danielle Degenstein, 51, was indicted on Misprison of a Felony, a Class 1 Misdemeanor, where she concealed her knowledge of a felony to authorities. The defendant has pleaded not guilty, and that case is still pending. She is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

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From Senator Mike Rounds on Facebook:

From Twitter, outgoing State Senator Erin Tobin who had previously been an advocate for unsuccessful efforts to bring exceptions to South Dakota’s total abortion ban in cases involving the health of the mother is pointing out today that Winner South Dakota will no longer offer labor and delivery services at Winner Regional Health:

Should this become a trend, the lack of OB/GYN care in rural settings should draw our lawmakers’ attention, as our state’s infant mortality rates are increasing and seems to be skyrocketing among Native Americans, having more than doubled in that population group since mortality hit a low in 2017:

Add a lack of medical services to a lack of child care, lack of jobs, declining schools, and the other things that negatively impact rural South Dakota communities.

Attorney General Jackley Announces Lake Andes Man Pleads Guilty to First-Degree Manslaughter Charge

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Lake Andes man has pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree manslaughter in the stabbing death of another man in May 2024.

Mackenzie Antelope, 18, pleaded guilty Monday in Charles Mix Circuit Court. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison when sentenced at 9 a.m. Feb. 28, 2025.

The incident took place May 21 2024 in a Lake Andes motel. Antelope also had been charged in injuring a second person in the same incident.

South Dakota’s Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Charles Mix County Sheriff’s Office, and Yankton Sioux Tribal Police investigated the case. The prosecution is being handled by the Attorney General’s Office and the Charles Mix State’s Attorney’s Office.

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Flags at Half-Staff in Honor of Former President Jimmy Carter

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem ordered that flags be flown at half-staff at the from sunrise until sunset effective immediately until January 28, 2025 in honor of former President James (Jimmy) Carter, the 39^th President of the United States, who passed away on December 29.

“President Carter’s life was one of steadfast service, marked by humility and grace. In this moment, may his family find peace and comfort,” Governor Noem posted on X.

According to United States Flag Code, “The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President.”

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