Matters of State: Why the Invasion at the Southern Border is a Threat to States’ Rights By: Governor Kristi Noem February 2, 2024
For almost 250 years America has been the standard of a government of, by, and for the people. But today, the American people are not secure. We have a national security crisis at our Southern Border because the federal government is facilitating the violation of federal law.
A nation without borders is not a nation at all. A government that does not value the security of its people is not only negligent but inhumane.
When the federal government fails to uphold its duty to the people, the responsibility falls to the states. But Democrat politicians are urging President Biden to federalize the Texas National Guard. If he were to do that, it would be the first time in American history that a president activated American armed forces explicitly to stand down, to make us less safe, to not protect the United States of America. And if President Biden can do that to Texas, he can do it to South Dakota – or any other state.
Governors are Commanders in Chief of our National Guards. These soldiers report to us, not the federal government. We understand our unique situations better than a distant federal authority can. I trust Governor Abbott to make the best decisions for his National Guard, just as I make the best decisions for ours here in South Dakota.
South Dakota is directly affected by this invasion. We are affected by cartel presence on our tribal reservations; by the spread of drugs and human trafficking throughout our communities; and by the drain on our resources at the local, state, and federal level.
South Dakota was the first state in the nation to send National Guard soldiers to help. We later deployed our Lakota helicopters on a federal mission when the Biden Administration needed help with surveillance of drug traffickers. Last summer, when Governor Abbott again asked for assistance, we sent more troops.
And now, the sheer number of illegal migrants coming into the country has made it so that every state is now a border state. This isn’t just an issue for Texas and other states along the border. This is an issue for every American. And this issue is about preserving this great nation for our kids and our grandkids.
This war is primarily being fought at the southern border, but it affects us here in South Dakota, too. We might see the effects differently than Texas, but make no mistake – the open border affects everyone. It is South Dakota’s duty to protect our people.
We need to be prepared to stand united to protect our state’s constitutional right to defend ourselves. I am proud to support what Texas is doing to defend itself because I realize the consequences of what will happen if they don’t. The cartels are here in South Dakota, and they are perpetuating violence and criminal activity daily on South Dakota families. They are killing our children with their drugs and trafficking. These cartels are being fed from over the open southern border where more dangerous individuals are entering the country to destroy America from within.
I had better things to do as I begin my workday here at South Dakota’s happiest political website – celebrating 19 years, and based in the lower level of my home in Brookings, when I checked Facebook… and noticed that Congressional Explorer Toby Doeden must still be butt hurt over how I pointed out he has never voted in a Republican Primary during the course of the last 20 years.
Why? Because he’s paying to run advertisements on facebook for the video he made attacking me after my pointing this out. (I’ll put up the graphic again, since it seems to have vexed him so.)
For Republicans, that’s a bad voting record. Toby,bad voting record. Bad, bad voting record!
Ultimately, it was his choice whether to participate in the Republican elections across the last 20 years, so I’m not sure why he feels the need to shoot the messenger. But, I’m guessing self-reflection to be a better person is not a tool in his toolbox.
Speaking of shooting the messenger, what’s Toby spending to attack me?
So far, there appears to be 2 flights of the amateurish ads that he started running yesterday to the tune of $900 total, which he’s targeted to an audience of 500,000 – 1,000,000 people.
Economic Expansion Powered by South Dakota Ethanol Producers
New study shows farm income could increase by $128 million annually with SAF
ONIDA, S.D. (February 1, 2024) – In a significant boost to South Dakota’s economy, the SD Ethanol Producers Association share the promising economic impacts from the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) industry, as revealed by a Decision Innovation Solutions (DIS) study, released today.
The introduction of SAF production, particularly from fats, oils, and greases (HEFA-SAF) and ethanol-to- jet (ETJ-SAF), is set to escalate ethanol production capacity in South Dakota remarkably. The potential includes an additional 400 million gallons of ethanol capacity and the establishment of new ETJ-SAF plants utilizing 426 million gallons of ethanol yearly that would require an additional 147 million bushels of corn. This also opens doors for the construction of one or more HEFA-SAF plants in South Dakota, capable of processing the soybean oil from 167 million bushels of soybeans.
The study shows the construction and operation of these facilities promise a significant economic injection over the next 25 years, with profound effects on the state’s economic growth.
Economic highlights include:
The creation of 9,089 construction jobs, adding more than $750 million into South Dakota’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and an increase of $600 million in labor income.
An addition of 5,247 permanent new jobs post-
An increase in household income by $241 million.
An impressive $667 million boost to South Dakota’s GDP.
To fully realize the potential of SAF, the study shows it’s crucial to establish a stable public policy environment and develop carbon capture and sequestration opportunities for ethanol producers. While some ETJ-SAF can be produced from ethanol plants capable of onsite CO2 sequestration, meeting the full demand requires further innovation and support.
The South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association are committed to advancing the state’s economic well-being and job opportunities. We are poised to propel economic development and employment in South Dakota, and we need carbon capture and storage pipelines to get there.
My text messaging and my phone just started blowing up first thing this afternoon today. It started off with “Congrats on being Toby’s new opponent!” with the following image attached:
“Pat Powers is one of the dirtiest you’ll find in South Dakota.” Well.. that kind of hurts. I took a shower yesterday whether I needed it or not! Had a dental appointment, and I was trying to be polite.
Oh! it wasn’t about hygiene? It was actually about the fact I write about South Dakota politics. (SDWC birthday alert – and have done so for 19 years next week). So it’s nothing I haven’t heard before. I’m quite sure I’m awful and disliked by politicians and dogs alike. One of my daughters who saw this remarked that “He picked good photos of you.” Well, thank God for that!
I mean, I’d hate to get in a candidate’s head and have them use bad photos of me.
Clearly Toby has turned around one of the worst cases of the 24 hour I-don’t-vote-in-republican-primaries influenza viruses that we’ve ever seen. Thankfully your thoughts and prayers for this congressional explorer have healed him like it was a gosh darned tent revival. Either that or it was Ivermectin.
Whatever the reason for his equally sudden cure, it clearly healed him enough to provide newfound strength to go after someone who looked up voter records.
I’m not sure how to best commemorate the occasion.
Probably a button.
I’ll see about getting some made. They’re durable, and there’s a chance it may be a long campaign.
But of course, the paranoid conspiracists and ultra-right facebook addicts that make up Doeden’s core supporters had to know – has he been approached with a bribe to get out of the race?
And of course, Toby (or the people chained to a desk to write on his behalf) are saying not yet, but I’m sure it’s coming!
“I 100% haven’t been approached, yet. I reckon it’s because we are an exploratory committee at this point. One way or the other, I’m sure this offer will be made at some point..”
Er.. yeah. You betcha. I’m suuuuurreee that’s going to happen. (That was sarcasm)
Someone must have mixed his aspirin with his coca-cola to addle him to this degree. If anyone is going to make a donation, there are two far more likely scenarios.
#1 – Local residents might donate a couple of gas cards to get him on the campaign trail and out of Aberdeen to save the community the embarrassment of being associated with him. As in “please, we’d like to help you leave town for a while…“
#2 – State political blog writers might send him money to stay in the race, because this stuff is absolute comedy gold. But then again, most of us don’t do this for the money, so that’s less likely to happen.
Yep – going with #1. His neighbors will likely want to encourage this clown’s away travel. Far, far away.
The announced Democrat in the race for Congress, Zach Kovach has filed his latest FEC Report for his committee “Friends of Zachary Kovach.” And in reading, it’s clear Zach needs to find some more friends.
$880 raised, $2572.78 spent, a negative $1302.76 cash on hand, with 390.02 owed.
It’s tough enough trying to run a campaign from another state, where he’s located in Colorado, but doing so when it’s doing nothing but costing him money, I kind of feel bad for him at this point. Not enough to send him money mind you. But jeez. This is not looking like it’s going in a direction that will bring him success.
Might be time for Zach to cut bait before it gets more expensive.
South Dakota’s Congressman put up a whopper of a fundraising quarter where he added a very strong $662,787.93 in donations, along with $21,800 from another committee, and $60,555.35 in interest to add up to $745,143.28 to the positive. Against which the committee had $139,780.20 in expenses.
Leaving Congressman Johnson with ending cash on hand of $3,881,425.26 going into the 2024 campaign season.
Those are strong fundraising numbers, and it will only get better with the possibility of an dumpster fire of an opponent.
Thune, Peters Demand Answers From TSA on Delayed PreCheck Enrollment Expansion
“We are concerned with TSA’s implementation of the TSA Modernization Act’s language aimed at expanding enrollment opportunities in areas which – due to geographical or other circumstances – lack accessible enrollment options.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) today called on Transportation Security Administrator (TSA) David Pekoske to prioritize expanding the PreCheck program to individuals in underserved areas without accessible and secure enrollment options. The senators also noted that reports citing security breaches from CLEAR, an airport membership program that fast-tracks airline passengers though security checkpoints, underscore the need for TSA to ensure enrollment service providers are held to the highest security standards.
“It is crucial that other transaction authority (OTA) agreements reached by TSA fully reflect congressional intent to expand PreCheck enrollment opportunities in new communities, particularly those in rural areas, through the use of innovative technologies and methods,” wrote the senators. “We are concerned that entities operating under OTA agreements are instead duplicating services already provided under the Universal Enrollment Services (UES) program. We are also concerned about reports of serious security breaches by CLEAR and request more information regarding how TSA is ensuring that CLEAR and other OTA providers maintain the highest security standards before executing OTA agreements with TSA.”
Thune previously authored the TSA Modernization Act, the first reauthorization of the agency in its history, which brought greater stability to the agency’s leadership and put new security assets in place to better protect travelers and minimize delays.
We write regarding the future of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) PreCheck program and TSA’s progress toward expanding enrollment in a secure manner, consistent with the TSA Modernization Act. It is crucial that other transaction authority (OTA) agreements reached by TSA fully reflect congressional intent to expand PreCheck enrollment opportunities in new communities, particularly those in rural areas, through the use of innovative technologies and methods. We are concerned that entities operating under OTA agreements are instead duplicating services already provided under the Universal Enrollment Services (UES) program. We are also concerned about reports of serious security breaches by CLEAR and request more information regarding how TSA is ensuring that CLEAR and other OTA providers maintain the highest security standards before executing OTA agreements with TSA.
We recognize your strong commitment to expanding PreCheck given how essential the program is to improving aviation security and the efficiency of screening checkpoints. However, we are concerned with TSA’s implementation of the TSA Modernization Act’s language aimed at expanding enrollment opportunities in areas which – due to geographical or other circumstances – lack accessible enrollment options. As you know, Section 1937 of the TSA Modernization Act directs TSA to enter into OTA agreements to provide enrollment services in a way that is additive – not duplicative – of enrollment services provided under UES.
Unfortunately, it appears that OTA agreements reached by TSA duplicate the enrollment services provided by UES. For example, many of the locations where these services are provided through OTA agreements appear to be in close geographic proximity to enrollment centers provided under UES. Additionally, the enrollment services provided through OTA do not appear to utilize novel approaches or technologies, such as mobile or remote enrollment, which could greatly expand access to TSA PreCheck for Americans. Effectively, the enrollment services provided through the two existing OTA agreements still leave rural communities and other underserved areas without an accessible enrollment option, in contravention of the intent of the TSA Modernization Act.
We are also aware that CLEAR has been authorized to provide OTA enrollment services despite having recently undergone a TSA probe due to numerous reports of security breaches at airports where CLEAR provides services under the registered traveler program. Based on the major security threats outlined in these reports, we have serious concerns about CLEAR’s viability as a provider of enrollment services pursuant to their OTA agreement without a full TSA investigation of these reports or documentation of actions both CLEAR and TSA have taken to address these issues.
We believe that TSA should use the OTA agreements awarded in accordance with Section 1937 to focus solely on expanding PreCheck enrollment opportunities – especially through the use of new technologies – to communities who lack accessible enrollment options rather than duplicating enrollment services already provided under the UES program. We also believe entities providing services under OTA should be held to the highest security standards to keep the traveling public safe.
Accordingly, we respectfully request that you respond in writing to the following questions within 30 days:
What criteria does TSA use to review and approve proposed new enrollment centers under OTA agreements?
Has TSA considered other methods, including new technology, to expand enrollment in PreCheck, particularly to rural and other underserved areas, using OTA agreements? If so, can you describe those methods?
Has TSA made progress in working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to develop secure methods of biometric identification for use in a remote PreCheck enrollment option?
Has TSA worked with other federal partners to consider leveraging additional security information, such as security clearance investigations, to inform or supplement other enrollment pathways?
How is TSA working to ensure that new enrollment centers established pursuant to OTA agreements are not duplicative – geographically or otherwise – with enrollment services provided under UES? What criteria does TSA use to establish new centers?
Can you describe how enrollment services provided through OTA agreements interact with such services provided under UES, specifically as they relate to online renewal enrollment services for PreCheck?
What actions has TSA taken in response to reports of serious security breaches by CLEAR?
Has TSA taken the reported security breaches by CLEAR into account as part of its continued oversight of CLEAR as an OTA provider? If so, what actions has the agency taken in response, and what measures has CLEAR taken to remedy its vulnerabilities?
Thank you for your attention to these issues, and we look forward to working with you to keep the national aviation system secure. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our staff.
