Gov. Noem and Colleagues Send Letter Opposing President Biden’s Long-Term Care Regulations
PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and 14 of her fellow Republican governors sent a letter to President Biden opposing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) proposed new regulations for long-term care facilities. The governors called on President Biden to reconsider this unfunded mandate and engage in conversation on how to best serve residents of long-term care facilities. You can read the letter here.
“CMS proposed new regulations for long-term care facilities that impose unnecessary, one-size-fits-all staff requirements,” wrote Governor Noem and her colleagues. “If adopted, CMS’s proposed regulations will force many long-term care facilities in our communities to close, eroding access to healthcare for some of our most vulnerable citizens.”
The proposed regulations put additional burdens on an industry that is already experiencing a nationwide workforce shortage. They would also impose significant industry costs that would erode access to care.
“Republican governors are pulling multiple levers to ensure these facilities have the staff they need to care for their vulnerable residents,” continued Governor Noem and the other governors. “In contrast, your proposed rule treats this complex, deep-rooted problem as something to be solved with a simple wave of the bureaucratic wand.”
Governor Noem was joined by the following Republican governors in issuing the statement:
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves, Missouri Governor Mike Parson, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte, Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon.
In the public eye, there’s a widespread belief that conservative Republicans hold a narrow, draconian viewpoint on law and order. No doubt, most conservatives support serious consequences for serious crimes, but that doesn’t mean we support tired adages like “Lock ‘em up and throw away the key.” Conservatives, by and large, also believe in second chances and redemption.
Since about 95% of all state prisoners will eventually be released, it’s essential to help prepare inmates to successfully reenter society. Unfortunately, as it stands, there’s not much opportunity for training, education or other programming in our state prisons, largely due to staffing shortages and safety concerns. Though the largest portion of the prison population is incarcerated for drug use and possession, only about one-third are engaged in substance abuse treatment. An operational review of our prisons also noted vocational training attendance is “low or non-existent.” Lockdowns are common and inmates can quickly lose sight of a pathway to redemption.
Given that environment, it comes as no surprise that over 40% of inmates return to prison within three years of release, ranking our state’s recidivism rate 33rd among the 50 states. Too frequently, individuals who have completed their sentences find themselves without skills, tools or encouragement, ensnared in a vicious cycle and further straining communities and the criminal justice system. In the end, as always, the citizens bear the cost, and not just in the form of crime rates. It costs taxpayers an average of $28,749 to incarcerate a single adult offender for one year.
Like a lot of problems in government, there are no quick, easy solutions, but there are some first steps we can take together. Sure, we should stabilize staffing levels and build new, modern prisons, but there are also programs that can have a systemic, lasting effect at little cost. A small group of legislators, law enforcement and inmates have been working on a three-year pilot proposal aimed at enhancing prison reentry initiatives and programming. This proposal, aptly named “Truth in Corrections,” draws on a model program in Oklahoma that reduced recidivism rates by 21%. It provides state nondriver identification cards and other documentation and services to help inmates transition into a job market that is in desperate need of workers. Furthermore, the bill expands programming opportunities and encourages the use of volunteer and faith-based services, many of which are readily available at no cost to taxpayers.
Our working group believes we should invest in the future of our communities by supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of formerly incarcerated individuals. In the coming weeks, we anticipate refining and releasing the draft language for this bill, titled, “An Act to Enhance Prison Reentry Initiatives and Programming.” We humbly request your support and welcome your suggestions to provide this pathway to redemption. Together, we can build safer communities and lessen the financial burden on all of us.
The author served a career in the military, surviving the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon. He’s a published author, occasional newspaper columnist and currently serves as a state senator for District 9 in glorious South Dakota.
The mail was just dropped off on my doorstep, and I got one of the best pieces of campaign swag I think I’ve ever seen – the Mike Rohl for Senate Hoodie:
(Pardon my shedding retriever’s hair, but..) Working from my desk in “the corner of cold” in my house, this item from the District 1 State Senator is just what I was looking for today!
And this thing is great – Love the laced hoodie.
Thank you very much Senator Rohl, and my most enthusiastic thumbs up for the campaign swag.
We’re back in Washington for another week of work in the United States Senate. Now that we’ve got a Speaker of the House, both the House and the Senate are in a lot better position to address some of the big issues that are facing America right now. We still have to pass a series of appropriation bills to keep the government open and funded past the November 17 deadline set by the continuing resolution. We’re currently making amendments to these appropriation bills on the Senate floor, and the House is doing the same on their side. As part of this, we also need to address aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as securing our southern border as a prerequisite. Because we have divided government – a Republican majority in the House, a Democrat majority in the Senate and a Democrat President – we have to work together in a bipartisan way to complete our appropriations process. I recognize that there’s a lot to get done here, and I’m ready to continue working to finish the job. Here’s my Weekly Round[s] Up:
South Dakotans I visited with: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District’s Leadership Development Class.
Meetings this past week: Condoleezza Rice, former Secretary of State and current Director of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University; the Software and Information Industry Association; David Sampson, President and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association; National Association of Convenience Stores; Masood Khan, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States; Todd McCracken, President and CEO of the National Small Business Association; Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Google; Essa Kayd, Somaliland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs; Father Chris Kellerman, Director of Government Relations for the Jesuit Conference of Canada and the United States; Syracuse University’s AI Policy Symposium; Kathleen Hicks, Deputy Secretary of Defense; Jake Sullivan, National Security Advisor and Shalanda Young, Director of the White House’s Office of Management and Budget.
I spoke at the Housing Assistance Council’s National Rural Housing Conference in a Fireside Chat with Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.). As members of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, Senator Smith and I have introduced legislation to improve rural housing programs, cut red tape and increase the accessibility of affordable housing in our state. Together, we have met with stakeholders and visited with constituents about the hurdles they are facing regarding homeownership. Our bill, the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, is the direct result of these visits and meetings. During this Fireside Chat, we discussed this important bill that would work to make homeownership a reality for more South Dakotans.
As you may remember, as a member of the bipartisan AI working group, I hosted the first AI Insight Forum last month with leaders from the tech industry, including former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Meta (Facebook) CEO Mark Zuckerberg and more. This past week, we hosted another forum with leaders from AI companies and venture capital groups, where we focused on opportunities for innovation and domestic growth within the industry.
It’s critical that the United States stays at the forefront of artificial intelligence development. The opportunity to utilize AI for innovations in the health care industry, including research on deadly diseases like cancer, will not only improve but extend the lives of Americans. These forums continue to be informative and helpful as the future of AI regulation and legislation begins to take shape.
Votes taken: 10 – A few of these were on nominations, and a few of them were on amendments to our “minibus” appropriation bills. As we look to the November 17 deadline set by last month’s continuing resolution, we continue to work on getting these appropriation bills passed through the Senate.
Hearings: I attended one hearing in the Select Committee on Intelligence. Wish I could tell you more, but as usual, our hearing this week was closed.
Classified briefings: I had one classified briefing related to my work on the Select Committee on Intelligence.
My staff in South Dakota visited: Aberdeen, Brookings, Carthage, Custer, Edgemont, Hill City, Hot Springs, Keystone, Lead, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Watertown.
Steps taken this past week: 58,449 steps or 29.01 miles
Photo of the Week:
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and I during our meeting this past week.
Just when you think things are going to be static with certain legislative races, it looks like at least two Rapid City districts are going to be as competitive as they were last election.
It appears that District 32 is going to have a potential open seat in the House, as State Representative Becky Drury is said to be moving from one house to another house. In more ways than one.
I’m hearing that Representative Drury is planning a move within Rapid City as she has a new home that the Drury family are in the process of fixing up and remodeling.. except this new House is not in D32, but in District 34, where you might expect the former City Councilwoman to hang her hat, and to run for office from in 2024, leaving an open seat in D32, Rapid City’s most challenging district for Republicans. I have no doubt they will find a qualified candidate, but that will make things interesting.
How does that affect District 34? Currently, With Mike Derby and Jess Olson in the House, Rep. Drury would make three.. except I’m also hearing that there is a possibility that State Rep. Jess Olson may take a pass on seeking re-election, winnowing the numbers back down to two.
Stay tuned… because it’s barely over 60 days until petitions can be taken out!
Rounds, Working Group to Host AI Discussion on Workforce Forum to Feature DSU President José-Marie Griffiths
WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, November 1, U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) working group will host a discussion focused on AI in the workforce. The forum will feature academic and industry experts, including Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University. The group will discuss the intersection of AI and the workforce and will aim to explore how AI will alter the way that Americans work. In addition to Rounds, the AI working group is comprised of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).
“AI is leading to incredible advancements in our daily lives, including the way we work,” said Rounds. “From medicine and manufacturing to entertainment and hospitality, workers in all industries will feel the impacts of AI. I look forward to hearing from Dr. Griffiths and other top experts as we discuss the development of AI in the workforce.”
In addition to Griffiths, featured speakers include:
Allyson Knox, Microsoft – Senior Director of Education Policy and Programs
Ameenah Salaam, Communication Workers of America – Secretary-Treasurer
Anton Korinek, University of Virginia – Professor
Arnab Chakraborty, Accenture – Senior Managing Director of Data and AI and Global Responsible AI Lead
Austin Keyser, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Assistant to the International President
Bonnie Castillo, National Nurses United – Executive Director
Chris Hyams, Indeed – Chairman and CEO
Daron Acemoglu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Professor
Michael Fraccaro, Mastercard – Chief People Officer
Michael Strain, American Enterprise Institute – Director of Economic Policy Studies
Patrick Gaspard, Center for American Progress – President and CEO
Paul Schwalb, UNITE HERE – Secretary-Treasurer of DC Local 25
Rachel Lyons, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) – Legislative Director
Rob Atkinson, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation – Founder and President
In May 2023, the working group was formed to pursue the opportunities and tackle the threats presented by AI. In order to provide additional information to members of the Senate, the working group has hosted a series of briefings. These briefings have included a first-of-its-kind forum that featured top tech leaders including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates and a panel discussion comprised of academic and industry experts focusing on how AI is transforming health care.
MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MEET PIERRE
The Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee will hold its second meeting of the 2023 Interim on Monday, November 6, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT). The meeting is being conducted in Room 413 of the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota. The committee is chaired by Senator Erin Tobin (R-Winner) with vice chair Representative Roger DeGroot (R-Brookings). Members will hear from representatives of state agencies, medical marijuana establishments, health care providers, and the industry regarding the operational status of the South Dakota medical marijuana program. Public testimony will also be taken. The full agenda is available online.
In addition to Senator Tobin and Representative DeGroot, committee members include Senator Jim Mehlhaff (R-Pierre); Representative Curt Massie (R-Rapid City); and non-legislators Francine Arneson, Brian Doherty, Katie Kassin, Brian Mueller, Kristi Palmer, Jon Thum, and Rachel Waddell.
While many were in the Sioux Falls area for the Governor’s Hunt this last weekend, on Friday, South Dakota Senate Republicans had their own event for fellowship, and to raise some funds to replenish the coffers of the Senate GOP committee to make sure Republicans come out on top in 2024. Looks like a great time was had by all at the event which also featured an appearance by Governor Kristi Noem!
Roetman made dozens and dozens of ignorant social media posts, ranging from caddish digital gawking at women in various states of undress to jokes about women making sandwiches to a bigoted suggestion that Black Americans leave the country and move to Wakanda.
Roetman has been completely unapologetic about the posts. “I am a man who stands by his words,” he told me in response to an inquiry for the original story about them. Since my story published, he also made multiple posts mocking the controversy and liked another social media post suggesting it was a woman’s role to stay at home and care for children while men “provide and protect.”
