Category: Uncategorized

This one seems to have come out of left field, but Legislative Research Council Director Reed Holwegner is out after a meeting of the Legislature’s Executive Board today:

Reed Holwegner tendered his resignation as the director of the Legislative Research Council during a meeting of the Executive Board. During the meeting, the 15-member board made up of senators and representatives suspended the board’s rules and went into executive session to discuss the resignation.

and..

It’s unclear why Holwegner resigned. Executive sessions are not open under public meeting laws for purposes of discussing employee issues or consulting with legal counsel.

Read the entire story here.

This seems to have come out of the blue, but keep in mind this is the same LRC Director who acted like there was a “pestering” exception to open records requests during the Ravnsborg impeachment investigation.

So maybe it wasn’t quite out of the blue.

Update.. The Dakota Scout is suggesting the resignation arose because the director couldn’t keep employees there:

Legislative Research Council (LRC) Director Reed Holwegner has stepped down amid concerns about staff retention and office morale in the non-partisan office that provides year-round research, drafting, and support services for state lawmakers.

Read that here.

The Dakota Scout did a story after my post on The Minnehaha’s GOP ex-chair Dave Roetman taking a job as the Executive Director in North Dakota.

Apparently Roetman plans to continue his prior work of factionalizing the South Dakota Republican Party while he’s working up in the colder, unfriendlier Dakota:

An Iowa native, Roetman has been a key player in the South Dakota GOP in recent years, helping non-establishment Republicans gain a foothold within the party and the South Dakota Legislature. He was also paramount in South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s upset of former Secretary of State Steve Barnett, who failed to secure the party nomination for reelection in 2022, which sent shockwaves through the state party and served as a precursor to the ouster of former South Dakota GOP chairman Dan Lederman.

and..

Roetman told The Dakota Scout Monday morning that while he’s moving to North Dakota, he intends to maintain a home in Sioux Falls and will remain involved on the periphery of politics in the Mount Rushmore State.

“I will still keep a hand in South Dakota politics, but I expect this to be a two-year gig,” he said.

Read the entire story here.

Not sure if Joe Sneve fell off his motorcycle and bumped his head, because neither Monae Johnson winning at convention, nor party divisions had anything to do whatsoever with Dan Lederman deciding not to run again. (Nevermind he had one of the longest GOP chair tenures in recent decades).

But aside from that, the more interesting thing in the story is that Roetman announced his intent is to continue to stay involved in politics in SD. Which as of late was sowing the seeds of division within the GOP and trying to knock out incumbent officeholders.

So the Executive Director of the North Dakota Republican Party is promising to continue to try to knock out South Dakota Republican elected officials?

We’ll see how that turns out for him.

Does the North Dakota Republican Party actually do any vetting when they hire people?

Because I just saw an announcement that Ex-SDGOP Finance Dir and ousted Minnehaha County GOP Chair Dave Roetman has now been put in charge of the North Dakota Republican Party:

The South Dakota Federation of Republican Women Condemns Hamas Terrorist Attacks on Israel

 On October 19, 2023, the South Dakota Federation of Republican Women (SDFRW) Executive Committee adopted a resolution condemning recent I-lamas attacks and affirming support for Israel.

It reads:

WHEREAS, Governor Kristi Noem said, “These barbaric actions shock the conscience of the world. Beloved People of Israel, we share your anger at the viciousness of these attacks and the death, pain, and suffering they have caused;” and,

WHEREAS, Senator John Thune said, “I strongly condemn the senseless terrorist attacks on Israel by I-lamas, a known proxy for Iran. Israel is a beacon of democracy in the Middle East – one of America’s strongest allies. We stand with Israel and support its unequivocal right to defend itself and its people;” and,

WHEREAS,Senator Mike Rounds said, “Shocked and saddened to see the horrific attacks by Iranian-backed terrorist group I-lamas. The United States condemns this senseless violence and stands ready to assist our ally, Israel. At least fourteen Americans are dead and several more are missing or held hostage. We cannot stand by when these atrocities are happening. We need to support Israel now, and those who commit these horrible crimes must be stopped;” and,

WHEREAS, Representative Dusty Johnson said, “I-lamas’ acts of terror in Israel are wholly unconscionable. America stands with our ally;”

RESOLVED, The South Dakota Federation of Republican Women sisterhood stands firm in our condemnation of terrorism. Let us pray for the strength, wisdom, and bravery of the leaders of Israel and its allies, including the United States. Let us pray for the hostages, for the bereaved families, for the brave first responders, for the tireless doctors and nurses, and for the heroic armed forces who will strike swiftly, truly, and with justice.

Rounds Hosts Discussion on AI in Cancer Research

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) working group today hosted a panel discussion focused on the use of AI in cancer research. The panel, comprised of academic and industry experts, discussed how AI is transforming health care. In addition to Rounds, the AI working group is comprised of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

“…Today’s discussion on AI is about something that’s a bit more personal to me: the fight against cancer,” said Rounds in his opening statement. “As many of you know, I lost my wife to cancer one year, 11 months and 17 days ago. I firmly believe that AI has the potential to change every aspect of cancer care as we know it. Continued investments in this technology will help us to not only improve the lives of people with cancer, but to one day ultimately overcome this disease.”

 Read Rounds’ full remarks below, as prepared for delivery.

 ++

 Good morning. Thank you all for taking the time to join us here today.

I’d like to first thank the panelists who took time out of their busy schedules to come speak with us today.

I’d also like to thank my colleagues, Leader Schumer and Senators Young and Heinrich for working with me on this event.

We’ve had a lot of discussions in the Senate this year about artificial intelligence, and how it’s leading to significant changes across our society.

But today’s discussion on AI is about something that’s a bit more personal to me: the fight against cancer. 

As many of you know, I lost my wife to cancer one year, 11 months and 17 days ago.

I firmly believe that AI has the potential to change every aspect of cancer care as we know it.

Continued investments in this technology will help us to not only improve the lives of people with cancer, but to one day ultimately overcome this disease.

However, when it comes to AI and health care, the impacts of AI will go far beyond fighting cancer.

I look forward to having a robust discussion and exchange of ideas about what we can do to enable the use of AI in our health care system.

We also need to make certain that as we’re considering new regulation that we’re speeding up AI innovation in this space, not slowing it down.

Now, I’d like to welcome our guests—

• Dr. Ned Sharpless, with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine;
• Dr. Michael Howell, with Google;
• Dr. Eli Van Allen, with Harvard Medical School;
• Rick Stevens, with Argonne National Lab; and
• Lauren Silvis, with Tempus.

These experts are going to cover topics related to how artificial intelligence is transforming health care—from research and drug development, to the delivery of patient care and treatment—and I am very excited for them share their perspectives with the Senate.

Dr. Sharpless, over to you.

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Rounds Delivers Opening Remarks at Banking Hearing, Presses Nominees on Protecting American Families and Businesses

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, today delivered opening remarks at a committee hearing on key nominations. Click HERE to listen to Rounds’ opening remarks.

“In the upper Midwest, producers rely on access to credit from their local credit unions and other financial institutions for the financing of their farming and ranching operations,” said Rounds in his opening remarks. “They feed the world.”

“We don’t need bureaucrats telling farmers, ranchers and the credit unions that support them how to run operations. Especially bureaucrats that believe chocolate milk comes from brown cows,” continued Rounds.

Rounds closed with, “Americans are frustrated, deeply frustrated by the actions of regulators that are hurting their businesses, families and interfering in their daily lives. It is our role in the Senate to scrutinize and evaluate each nominee who comes before this committee. The decisions you make in your respective roles, if confirmed, will have a bearing on the quality of life of American families.”

South Dakota’s Pheasant Hunting Tradition
By Sen. John Thune

A crisp, cool morning. The sight of blaze orange all around. Shouts of “rooster!” followed by the crack of a shotgun. It can only mean one thing: It’s pheasant season in South Dakota.

Ring-necked pheasants were introduced in South Dakota over 100 years ago. Not long after they were introduced, our state’s hunting tradition began, and as South Dakota’s pheasant population grew, so did the number of hunters who flocked to the prairies each year. Today the pheasant opener is all but an official holiday, and it’s a key part of our state’s heritage, our communities’ character, and many South Dakota families’ traditions.

Like a lot of South Dakotans, I can’t remember a time when I didn’t look forward to the start of pheasant season. My dad, Harold, taught my brothers and me how to bag a rooster when we were growing up. Dad was never one to miss a hunting season, even into his late 90s. I shared pheasant hunting with my daughters and, later, their husbands, and I’m looking forward to my grandchildren joining us in the field when they’re old enough.

For me, spending time in South Dakota’s great outdoors with family and friends is a large part of why I look forward to pheasant season each year. Of course, like most sportsmen, I also look forward to the challenge of the hunt itself. While the goal is to limit out, pheasant season’s benefits also go beyond just satisfied hunters, of which there are plenty. Last year, 127,000 hunters bagged 1.15 million pheasants. A majority of hunters come from outside of South Dakota, drawn in by our state’s reputation as the Pheasant Capital of the World. The activity around the annual hunt contributes hundreds of millions of dollars to our state’s economy, too, as hunters from near and far support local businesses.

South Dakota’s famed pheasant hunting is thanks, in no small part, to land conservation efforts that support quality habitat for ringnecks. The pheasant population each fall depends on the spring nesting season and the ability of pheasants to hide their nests and protect their young. The Conservation Reserve Program, which supports farmers who take environmentally sensitive land out of production, plays an important role in establishing and maintaining pheasant habitat. The program has become the cornerstone of federal conservation programs and is a major reason for South Dakota’s renowned pheasant population. In the Senate, I’m continuing to work to support and strengthen this program in the next farm bill for South Dakota’s farmers and ranchers and to ensure future pheasant seasons are as good as seasons past.

There’s so much to look forward to when the third Saturday in October rolls around each year. Family and friends coming together in the great outdoors. The next generation of hunters sharing in the challenge of hunting. And at the end of the day, enjoying a big meal, which hopefully includes some fresh pheasant. I wish all the hunters across South Dakota a safe and successful hunting season.

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The Big Three – Groundhog Day, Again
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 20, 2023

BIG Update

For more than two weeks, the U.S. House has not had a Speaker of the House, and without a leader, the House is at a standstill. It’s an unfortunate situation, but I am holding onto hope that we will make it out the other side – quickly. America has been in seasons of chaos like this and much worse before, and we remain the greatest nation in history. There are 247 years that testify to America standing as a beacon of hope and freedom. Sometimes it is messy, but the beauty of America is unity, despite our differences.

BIG Idea

The Subcommittee on Highways and Transit met this week to discuss solutions for the Highway Trust Fund as electric vehicles become more popular. People who drive gas-powered cars contribute to the Highway Trust Fund through the gas tax, but electric vehicle owners don’t contribute to this fund that maintains our roads. One suggested solution is a ‘pay at the pump’ approach at EV-charging stations, but that wouldn’t cover the majority of EV charges which are done at home. Another possible approach is tracking vehicle miles traveled, but the infrastructure can be expensive and has personal privacy concerns. I asked Jeff Davis from Eno Center of Transportation about how to address this unique dilemma. You can watch my remarks here .

BIG News

The conflict in Israel and Gaza continues to capture headlines worldwide. America must continue to stand with our ally Israel. Hamas’ stated goal is to wipe out the Jewish people and the nation of Israel – we must take them at their word. The Biden Administration’s decision to return $6 billion to Iran (the largest state sponsor of terrorism) in a hostage deal should never be transferred to Iran. I am supporting a bill, the No Funds for Iranian Terrorism Act, to permanently sanction and block these funds from ever reaching the Iranian regime.

I joined Fox Business to talk about the conflict. Missed my interview? Watch it here.

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Birds of a Feather
By: Governor Kristi Noem
October 20, 2023

South Dakota always seems to come alive in autumn. The air is crisp and cool, the leaves on the trees change to create a colorful masterpiece, and our farmers are preparing to harvest their crops. But there is one particular part of fall in South Dakota that has always put our state on the map. It’s an iconic South Dakota tradition that we’re known for worldwide: pheasant hunting.

We are celebrating the beginning of pheasant hunting season. You know, I think South Dakota is the only state that actively celebrates shooting its state bird! And it’s something we do with pride.

Our pheasant hunting roots run deep in South Dakota – and rightfully so. We have the best pheasant hunting in the world! People come from all over for a chance to participate in my favorite outdoor sport.

For me, pheasant hunting season always reminds me of my family. Before I was old enough to get my own hunting license, I used to follow my grandmother, Dorris, when she was out bird hunting. My dad preferred big game hunting. And from a young age, my siblings and I went with him. Our family trips were often hunting trips. Those trips were where I learned some of the best life lessons that I still use on a daily basis. Hunting taught me how to be a problem solver.

Hunting was always something that my family did together. Now, as a mother and a grandmother, I’ve continued the family tradition with my own kids and grandkids. I wanted to make sure that my kids learned the same lessons that I valued learning from my dad so much.

Now, I have two little grandkids. It warms my heart to know that future generations in my family will have the same kind of experiences that I did with my grandmother and my dad.

Hunting and guns aren’t political in South Dakota – they’re a way of life. And every year during pheasant season, we welcome people to join our South Dakota family for a little while. Folks get together to hunt, but they also get to experience all that our state has to offer. Our small-town communities treat visitors like one of our own. In South Dakota, we still believe in traditional, down-home, American values. And I hope that our visitors feel that whenever they come here.

In South Dakota, we really are like birds of a feather. And every fall, we flock together to spend time with our friends and families, enjoy the best pheasant hunting in the world, and enjoy the great outdoors.

There is something so special about the rugged Wild West during this time of year. Whether you live in South Dakota or come to visit us, I hope you will take advantage of all that this season has to offer.

Happy pheasant season – I look forward to seeing you all in the field!

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After the people behind the Navigator pipeline announced the cancellation of their project today…

Navigator CO2 Ventures has canceled its Heartland Greenway pipeline project aimed at capturing 15 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually from Midwest ethanol plants and storing it permanently underground, the company said on Friday, citing “unpredictable” state regulatory processes.

Read that here.

A company spokesperson for Summit Carbon announced that they are ready to step up for ethanol plants, and expand their project, connecting with additional plants:

“Summit Carbon Solutions welcomes and is well positioned to add additional plants and communities to our project footprint. We remain as committed to our project as the day we announced it. It’s not often you get the opportunity to positively impact an industry that touches every farmer and rural community across the Midwest. We have reached voluntary agreements along nearly 75% of our proposed route – we are pleased that the vast majority of landowners and farmers across the Midwest embrace the project. We look forward to building a generational asset that will create new markets for the ethanol industry and farmers.” 

With over 75% of landowners along the project route voluntarily signing on, it’s a good sign that they will be able to keep ethanol booming, and returning profits for agriculture.