Category: Uncategorized

Kristi for Governor Launches New Ad: “What Did He Just Say?”

@SoDakCampaigns

Kristi for Governor Launches New Ad: “What Did He Just Say?”

PIERRE, SOUTH DAKOTA – Today, the Kristi for Governor campaign launched a new ad called “What Did He Just Say?” The ad plays verbatim Jamie Smith’s own comments at the Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary where he stated, “We need more things to tax.”

“Wait, what did he just say?” the ad states, highlighting Jamie Smith’s repeated statements that he wants to create additional taxes for South Dakota residents.

Jamie Smith has a record of raising taxes. He opposed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which then-Congresswoman Noem helped pass for the people of South Dakota. That bill put $2,400 back in the pockets of the average South Dakota family.

Jamie Smith also wanted to make it easier for counties to raise taxes on South Dakotans, and he cosponsored a bill to raise the state sales tax from 4.5% to 4.85%.

Governor Kristi Noem is proud that South Dakota has a low, simple tax code. South Dakota has no personal income tax, no corporate income tax, and no statewide personal property tax. Governor Noem has proposed eliminating the sales tax on food, which will lower the tax burden on South Dakotans by another $100 million.

To learn more about Jamie Smith’s history of supporting high taxes, visit JamieandJoe.com.

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You knew that was coming. Hotel that banned Native Americans now subject of a lawsuit by US Justice Department.

@SoDakCampaigns

From the US Department of Justice, the Grand Gateway Hotel is going to have to explain their side in court. From the release:

Justice Department Files Lawsuit Challenging Policy Barring Native Americans From Accessing South Dakota Hotel and Sports Lounge

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department filed a lawsuit today against the owners and operators of the Grand Gateway Hotel, and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino, a sports bar that operates within the hotel, located in Rapid City, South Dakota. The lawsuit alleges that the defendants discriminated against Native American customers in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion or national origin in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and other places of entertainment. The suit is brought against the corporate owner, Retsel Corporation, and two of the company’s directors, Connie Uhre and her son, Nicholas Uhre.

“Policies prohibiting Native Americans from accessing public establishments are both racially discriminatory and unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “The Justice Department will continue to vigorously protect the rights of all people to go about their daily lives free from discrimination at hotels, restaurants, and other public accommodations around the country.”

“Restricting access to a hotel based on a person’s race is prohibited by federal law,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell for the District of South Dakota. “At the U.S. Attorney’s Office, we are called to ensure that individuals are treated equally at public accommodations in South Dakota. We are committed to protecting that fundamental right for Native Americans.”

The lawsuit, filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Dakota, alleges that, since at least March 20, the Retsel Corporation, Connie Uhre and Nicholas Uhre discriminated against Native American customers through policies and practices that denied Native Americans the full and equal enjoyment of access to the services, accommodations and privileges at the Grand Gateway Hotel and the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino.

Specifically, the complaint alleges that on March 20, Connie Uhre told other Rapid City hotel owners and managers that she did “not want to allow Natives on property. . . . The problem is we do not know the nice ones from the bad natives…so we just have to say no to them!” That same day, the complaint alleges, Ms. Uhre posted a statement in a comment thread from her Facebook account announcing that “we will no longer allow any Native American [sic]” in the Grand Gateway or in the Cheers Sports Lounge and Casino. The complaint further alleges that on at least two occasions on March 21 and March 22,  respectively, the defendants turned away Native Americans who sought to book a room in the Grand Gateway.

Under Title II, the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division can obtain injunctive relief that changes policies and practices to remedy the discriminatory conduct. Title II does not authorize the division to obtain monetary damages for customers who are victims of discrimination.

More information about the Civil Rights Division and the laws it enforces is available at http://www.justice.gov/crt. Individuals may report discrimination in places of public accommodation that violates Title II by calling the Justice Department at 1-833-591-0291, or submitting a report online.

 

Governor Noem Orders Flags at Half Staff in Honor of Former Governor Harvey Wollman  

@SoDakCampaigns

Governor Noem Orders Flags at Half Staff in Honor of Former Governor Harvey Wollman

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced that flags will be at half-staff from sunrise until sundown statewide, effective immediately, in honor of former Governor Harvey Wollman. Flags will remain at half-staff until the day of Governor Wollman’s interment, which will be announced at a later time.

“Harvey Wollman stood up and answered the call of duty, stepping into the role of Governor at a difficult time for our state,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “During his brief tenure as governor, he advanced water development in our state and helped bring about the eventual repeal of the state’s personal property tax. In South Dakota, we honor our leaders. We honor their accomplishments. We honor our history.”

Wollman ran for Lieutenant Governor on a ticket with Governor Richard Kneip in 1974. When Governor Kneip resigned to become the United States Ambassador to Singapore in 1978, Wollman stepped up to the role of Governor of South Dakota. Before serving in the executive branch, Wollman served in the State Senate from 1969-1975, including as Democrat leader from 1971-1974.

Details on funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.

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Last living Democrat Governor, Harvey Wollman, passes away

@SoDakCampaigns

The last living Democrat to serve as Governor of South Dakota, Harvey Wollman, has passed away.  According to the Trail of Governor bio on Wollman:

Governor Harvey Wollman was the twenty-sixth governor of South Dakota, serving from 1978 to 1979. Wollman was born on March 14, 1935 in Frankfort, South Dakota and grew up on his family’s farm in Spink County. Wollman graduated from Doland High School in 1953. He married Anne Geigel in 1958, and they had three children: Kristine, Michael and Daniel.

and..

In 1974, Governor Richard Kneip invited Wollman to join him on the Democratic ticket as the candidate for lieutenant governor. The Kneip-Wollman team was elected, and Wollman took office in 1975.

Governor Kneip resigned in 1978 to become the U.S. Ambassador to Singapore. Wollman became the first lieutenant governor to succeed to the governorship, taking office on July 24, 1978. He was sworn in as governor by his brother, Chief Justice Roger Wollman.

Although Governor Wollman only served in office for five months, he was not a caretaker. As governor, he focused on water project development, proposed a plan to accelerate the elimination of the personal property tax, and highlighted the threat that railroad abandonment posed to the agricultural industry.

Read that here.

Services are pending at this time.

Monae Johnson declines to comment on 2020 election

Pat Powers

KELOLAND pressed Republican Secretary of State candidate Monae Johnson on questions over the conduct of the 2020 election, where some question the legitimacy of the vote in some states.

And this may be something she’ll be asked about again in the remaining weeks..

Release – Jamie Smith: “We Need More Things to Tax”

@SoDakCampaigns

Jamie Smith: “We Need More Things to Tax”

SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA – Today, at an event with the Sioux Falls Downtown Rotary, Jamie Smith told the audience that “We need more things to tax.”  He then doubled down, saying “I’m advocating for taxes on new things.” You can find a video of Jamie Smith’s remarks here.

“When someone tells you who they are, believe them,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I have cut taxes for South Dakotans, and my number one priority is eliminating the sales tax on food. Jamie Smith proved today that he can’t be trusted with South Dakota’s finances.”

Jamie Smith has a record of raising taxes. He opposed the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which then-Congresswoman Noem helped pass for the people of South Dakota. That bill put $2,400 back in the pockets of the average South Dakota family.

Jamie Smith also wanted to make it easier for counties to raise taxes on South Dakotans, and he cosponsored a bill to raise the state sales tax from 4.5% to 4.85%.

Governor Kristi Noem is proud that South Dakota has a low, simple tax code. South Dakota has no personal income tax, no corporate income tax, and no statewide personal property tax. Governor Noem has proposed eliminating the sales tax on food, which will lower the tax burden on South Dakotans by another $100 million.

To learn more about Jamie Smith’s history of supporting high taxes, visit JamieandJoe.com.

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US Senate Candidate Brian Bengs files his 3q FEC Report. It’s over. $195k raised, $172k spent, $54k cash on hand, and a 20k loan.

@SoDakCampaigns

In case you were wondering how the Brian Bengs campaign was going to go out.. it’s not with a bang. Or even a “beng.”  It’s just going to quietly go away, as he hardly has enough left to go on the air, much less to do any mailings, etcetera.

He might be able to prevent going too far into debt if he closes his doors now, and saves those last couple of weeks of salary:

Brian Bengs 2022 3q FEC by Pat Powers

In his 2022 3rd quarter FEC Report, Democrat US Senate candidate Bengs reported raising $193,997.19 against spending of $167,871.33, leaving him cash on hand of $54,335.13…. with a pre-existing debt of $20,000 to himself.

Uh oh.. This campaign is sinking fast, and $34k is hardly going to pay staff and overhead for the last month, much less get ads on TV, Social Media, direct mail, radio, newspapers.. etcetera and so on.

I think we can call this race over and done with, because Bengs hardly has money to move this campaign forward.

And another election winds down.