Category: Uncategorized

As Russia continues an aggression campaign against its neighbor, this raises growing concerns across the globe and will have significant implications not just for Ukraine, but for the worldwide energy supply. If Russia invades Ukraine, Germany will withdrawal its approval of the Nord Stream 2, a natural gas pipeline that runs through the region. This pipeline is set to provide 15% of Europe’s natural gas. 

Currently, Russia supplies 39% of Europe’s natural gas, and the U.S. only supplies 3.5% of Europe’s supply. If Russia decides to withhold these energy resources from Europe, it could send the entire world energy market into a spiral, ballooning prices for all energy sources. 

While increased globalization has delivered goods and services where needed throughout history, times of war or conflict always highlight the need for national independence. We should be working towards domestic independence for essential commodities like food, natural gas, and oil. However, the unilateral decision President Biden made in the earliest days of his presidency to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline hinders our ability to become energy independent. I don’t consider Russia and China our friend, and our reliance for essential commodities and goods is a vulnerability that we cannot afford. 

I support an all-of-the-above approach to energy independence using all forms of American energy including wind, nuclear, solar, biofuels, oil, natural gas, and other traditional fuels to bolster our supplies. Increasing the use of all energy sources not only reduces our reliance on foreign oil and lowers costs for working families, but also safeguards our environment by producing it under our terms. Our country had made tremendous strides in the amount of energy we are producing domestically – President Biden has set us back. 

At a time when most Americans are facing increased energy, electricity, natural gas, oil, and gasoline prices, an international dispute will dampen access to energy sources and will make prices even worse. 

Whatever the outcome of the Russia – Ukraine conflict, one thing we know for sure is the importance of improving our energy infrastructure to become a more independent country.

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Are you better off than you were a year ago?  

Here in South Dakota, we can confidently say, “yes.” Unemployment is down and wages are up. The state economy continues to thrive. However, serious national economic concerns loom on the horizon. 

President Biden and his policies have caused inflation to rise to a level not seen in 40 years. South Dakotans have paid the price. Biden’s attacks on the energy industry — canceling the Keystone Pipeline and restricting drilling activity in the U.S. — has led to higher gas prices, just like we knew they would. In fact, it costs $5.40 more to fill up the average pickup in South Dakota than it did a month ago. And one year ago, it would have cost you $22.95 less than today to fill up. Those dollars add up quickly. 

The Biden-created supply chain crisis also shows no sign of abating. Both President Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau imposed vaccine policies on truckers, exacerbating the crisis. Moreover, their policies have not had their intended effect of slowing the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, these policies have simply caused additional pain for American families.  

But wait—there is more! The Federal Reserve appears to realize the very real damage that inflation has caused, but its solution – raising interest rates – will only put more pressure on the family pocketbook. Perhaps the Federal Reserve has little choice, but it will certainly cause the economy to slow down further. Wall Street knows the road ahead, and the stock market has already dropped seven percent so far this year. 

These Biden-created challenges may stall the South Dakota economy or even cause it to reverse course. These Washington D.C. realities confront South Dakota elected state leaders as we plan our budget for Fiscal Year 2023 during this year’s legislative session. Moreover, we must also consider drought, decreased consumer demand, and the risk of unexpected natural disaster in planning a conservative state’s budget.   Plus, the well of federal stimulus dollars that began flowing in response to the pandemic will dry up too.  

South Dakota’s strong economy can only insulate us so much from these severe challenges. Experts recognize as much. The legislature’s own economists have warned that prudence and fiscal responsibility must guide us, just as they always have, as we plan for the future.  

Because we have taken the prudent approach during my time as Governor, we have kept taxes low and protected our AAA credit rating. We fully fund our pension — the No. 1 state in the nation for the least pension liability — and balance our budget every single year. We must continue our fiscally responsible approach. 

Unfortunately, just this week a few legislators chose to ignore the economic warning signs and the words of their experts, and instead they painted an overly optimistic vision of the economy with their projected state revenue estimates. They see South Dakota’s strong growth and assume it will continue forever at its current record-breaking pace.  

Let me be clear – South Dakota is in a far better position than other states because of the responsible approach that we have taken, because we stayed open for business, because people are visiting and moving to our state in huge numbers, and because new businesses moved here or expanded in South Dakota. But we are still a small state, and we must plan for the challenges that we see coming.  

When a farmer sees storm clouds on the horizon, she doesn’t say, “It will be fine. We have had a great year, so this storm cannot do any damage.” Instead, she makes sure she has the supplies to handle whatever comes. She checks the generators to ensure they work. And she brings the animals into the barn as necessary to make sure they are protected. Just like the weather, the economy can take a bad turn quickly, and we need to prepare for all scenarios. 

South Dakota’s economy is unquestionably better than it was a year ago, but that story is not true around the nation in other states. We did not cause the economic storm, but thanks to President Biden it is coming anyway. South Dakota needs to be ready.  

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Thune on Fox Business: President Biden Condones Putin’s Pipeline, Kills American Energy
“[H]ow do you explain to the average American that [on] your first day in office you shut down the Keystone XL Pipeline, which brings energy from a friend, Canada, and gets it to places we need it in the United States, but when it comes to Nord Stream 2, you waive sanctions?”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the interview. 

NEW YORK, N.Y. — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined Larry Kudlow on Fox Business Network to discuss how the Biden administration and Democrats are handling Russia’s aggression, American energy production, and the rise in inflation that is continuing to burden American families with high costs on goods and services.

On how Democrats have handled Russia’s aggression around Ukraine: “It’s a very reactive position the administration’s been in … They keep saying, ‘well we’re gonna wait until [Putin] invades, then we’ll slap sanctions.’ Why would you do that?”  

On the sanctions package proposed by Senate Republicans: “The primary sanctions would hit them, the secondary sanctions would hit them really hard. And some of these financial sanctions that could be imposed could impose a real consequence to bad behavior.   “If [Putin] knew what the stakes were going [into a potential invasion], he wouldn’t be going in, and we should deter that.” 

On the White House ruling out certain financial sanctions on Russia: “I don’t think you ever tell a guy like Putin what you are not going to do. I mean, I don’t think you ever do that. And those sanctions honestly would be incredibly crushing to their economy, and I think that oughta be on the table. “And I don’t think you take any options off the table, really, at this point. This is historic, what we’re talking about. Huge ramifications, not just for the immediate region, but globally. And the world is watching.”  

On the Biden administration’s opposition to American energy compared to its support for Russian energy: “To me, how do you explain to the average American that [on] your first day in office you shut down the Keystone XL Pipeline, which brings energy from a friend, Canada, and gets it to places we need it in the United States, but when it comes to Nord Stream 2, you waive sanctions? “So you basically condone the Putin pipeline and kill American energy production.” 

On Democrats’ radical, far-left policies causing inflation: “In the middle of America, where people are actually having to pay the bills for this, there’s a political revolt building. I mean, I think the country is realizing how far out of the mainstream and how radical this agenda is, and what it means in terms of additional costs. “So you look at the average American family from year-over-year, since January of last year to this year, $3,500 more out of their pockets, just to pay for the things that they have to, you know, need to survive.  “That is a tax on everyone. And it hits lower-income and middle-income families the hardest.”

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Hey – an update from the campaign trail, as I managed to snag a few of the items that the candidates are passing around when they meet and greet the voters. First Mark Mowry for Senate with the same recurring problem:

I haven’t seen a bumper sticker like that before, but it looks like a small batch, fairly expensive item. Which still does not have a disclaimer on it, much like his prior materials.  At some point, that could get expensive for him when the FEC catches wind. Assuming that he’s going to be around past March. I remain skeptical.

Next is the campaign piece Monae Johnson is distributing in her run for Secretary of State:

The front is ok, although the back is a bit of a mess and has no mention of her name whatsoever, and has a generic list of qualifications and some random photos. And there’s that other problem.

If you’re going to note that you have 8 years’ experience in the Secretary of State’s office towards the top of your list, and highlight “election integrity,” you probably shouldn’t violate South Dakota campaign finance law regarding disclaimers on campaign material. Because it doesn’t have one.

I’d throw this batch away and start over.

And here’s a piece I’ve been looking for. Steve Haugaard for Governor. And I’m not sure, but Steve Haugaard might have actually found a way to communicate blandness in print:

“Second Amendment: The 2nd Amendment confers an individual right.“

Hold me back. I’m not sure how I could have ever doubted Steve’s ability to defeat the most popular Republican in South Dakota for Governor with a scintillating chestnut like that.

Again, they managed to communicate these resume points in a manner which actually has me looking up more synonyms for bland – banal, boring, white-bread, flavorless, tedious, uninteresting…  This looks more like a job application that’s missing the EEOC disclosure.  Further illustrating one of the Haugaard campaign’s problems.

The palm card looks more like they’re just going through the motions of producing a palm card just for the sake of being able to say they have one. Because they’re not communicating anything resembling excitement or energy.

In this case, I would have used the first page for the bullets, and used the second one to explain why people should care he’s been in the legislature and what he’s accomplished, as opposed to writing “Serving since 2015.”

Hang on for more. At least until March 29th.

Gov. Noem Launches Citizen Portal Website

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced the launch of the South Dakota Citizen Portal, an updated sd.gov website that will modernize citizen services.

“We want to make it easy to do business with the State of South Dakota,” Governor Noem said. “This portal is the launch point for the services that citizens regularly access, such as state park reservations or hunting licenses. This portal will allow people to create their own account, access all state agency services and maintain the records for services received.  I want South Dakota to be a leader in citizen-focused digital government.”

The Governor challenged her team to think citizen-first since the project kicked off last May.

The first version of the Governor’s Citizen Portal includes enhanced search functions that will help citizens find the services they need. The portal also provides a live agent online between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT during regular business days.

You can also reach a hotline for assistance at 605-773-3011. The hotline will be available between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. CT during regular business days.

Newly built-in services include the ability to request child-care assistance, information about our ConnectSD broadband program, and victims’ services. Additional services will be added to the Governor’s Citizen Portal as part of ongoing improvements.

The project is being paid for with a special appropriation by the legislature for the IT modernization fund. The goal is to update the state’s digital infrastructure in an effort to strengthen our systems against cybersecurity risks.

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There are several new names who have filed in the last day or so And they are joined by some very familiar ones.

The Big news is District 4 who now has a 4-way primary going for 2 house seats with the addition of Stephanie Sauder AND former Speaker of the House Val Rausch. Byron Callies joins them in D5, and there are several returning legislators with Bryan Breitling for Senate in D23, and Marli Wiese (D8), Roger Chase (D22), and Randy Gross (D25).

It’s all about consistency. Nice exchange caught on live feed between @govkristinoem and AP reporter @stephengroves today. pic.twitter.com/Ml4kM64kjm

— South Dakota GOP (@sdgop) February 17, 2022

Governor Noem and former AG Jackley issue mutual endorsements in respective 2022 elections

FEBRUARY 17, 2022

Pierre, SD – This afternoon, Governor Kristi Noem and former Attorney General Marty Jackley issued mutual endorsements, with Governor Noem endorsing former Attorney General Jackley in his election to retake his former post as South Dakota Attorney General and former Attorney General Jackley endorsing Governor Noem in her campaign for re-election this year.

Governor Noem stated the following in her endorsement of former Attorney General Jackley:

“South Dakota needs an Attorney General that believes in the constitution, has the confidence of law enforcement and the legal community, and understands the law. When any of these are lacking, our entire state feels the effect.

And so today, I am announcing my endorsement of Marty Jackley to be the next Attorney General of South Dakota. I believe that together we can work to uphold the law, keep our communities safe, and do great things for the people of South Dakota.”

Former Attorney General Jackley stated the following in issuing his endorsement of Governor Noem:

“South Dakota is thriving under Governor Noem’s leadership. She has my full support in her campaign for re-election. I am committed to working with Governor Noem and law enforcement to fight crime and to keep our South Dakota families safe. I am honored to receive her support and to offer her mine in this election.”

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Taneeza Islam is finding her path to losing the race for Sioux Falls Mayor is 1 step backwards, and two more steps back after she criticized Mayor Paul TenHaken for giving bonuses to retain city workers.. and found herself being blasted for it by organized labor:

After both ordinances were approved — the vacation time 6-0 and the bonuses 5-1, with Councilor Pat Starr against — Islam tweeted it was “inappropriate for the mayor to ask the City Council to approve a substantial pay package for City employees.”

and..

(Kooper) Caraway (SD Federation of Labor) added “to insinuate that receiving bonuses they’ve earned through negotiations with the city will sway the election is condescending at best” and said the bonuses could not wait.

Read the entire story here.

Oops. You know you’re in trouble as a liberal Democrat when the head of the Federation of Labor lets you have it for trying to use bonuses for workers as a point to complain about.

Rasmussen announces candidacy for one-year term on Brookings City Council 

Andrew Rasmussen has announced and filed for the one-year term on the Brookings City Council. 

Rasmussen is running for the one-year term as an opportunity to connect the Brookings community and SDSU. By fostering conversation between the constituent groups, Rasmussen believes there can be greater integration between the two groups. 

“My background as someone who grew up in Brookings, attended SDSU and as someone who wants to stay in Brookings beyond graduation gives me a unique perspective to the issues facing Brookings,” he said. 

Rasmussen’s top goals are to work on workforce development, community engagement, and bring a young voice to the table on housing, retail, and entertainment options. 

Rasmussen is a Brookings native and current student at South Dakota State University. He was elected as President of the SDSU Students’ Association in 2021. He is heavily involved in the Brookings community including the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program and Great After-School Program (GAP), where he works. 

He will graduate from SDSU in May with degrees in Journalism and Political Science and intends to continue his education, pursuing a Master’s degree in Communication and Media Studies. 

Connect with the Campaign on Facebook: Andrew Rasmussen for Council 

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