Category: Uncategorized

Build Back Better?  Better Add Hyde!!!
By Dale Bartscher, Executive Director, South Dakota Right to Life

South Dakota Right to Life condemns the passage of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” reconciliation bill that was pushed through the House Friday, November 19, as part of Nancy Pelosi’s agenda.

The House of Representatives passed the “Build Back Better” spending bill in a vote of 220 to 213 with no Republican support.

Despite overwhelming taxpayer opposition to paying for abortions, the Democrats’ spending spree deliberately excludes Hyde Amendment protections with the goal of expanding abortion on demand paid for by your tax dollars.

We thank US Representative Dusty Johnson for his pro-life values and for voting to defeat this bill on the floor of the House.  Shortly after the House Vote he wrote: “I voted no on this legislation.  If made permanent, this spending bill will skyrocket the deficit by $2.5 trillion more every decade …. Additionally, this bill fails to include the long-standing pro-life protections from the Hyde Amendment.”

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee stated, “Abortion is not healthcare and, until this Congress, the Hyde Amendment enjoyed 45 years of bipartisan support.  The Hyde Amendment is widely recognized as having a significant impact on the number of abortions in the United States saving an estimated 2.4 million American lives. Yet, today, the Hyde Amendment is being targeted at every turn by pro-abortion Democrats.”

President Biden’s “Build Back Better” spending spree would:

• Mandate abortion funding in Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans in 2024 in states that have not expanded Medicaid.
• Fund abortions via reinsurance payments and cost-sharing funding to states.
• Extend the Obamacare expansion from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan Act. This would further subsidize Obamacare exchange plans that cover abortion and subsidize millions of individuals’ taxpayer-funded plans that cover abortion on demand.
• Direct billions of dollars to various public health grants without Hyde Amendment protections.

We respectfully urge US Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds to defeat this massive bill as passed by the house. If this bill should happen to see the light of day, it must include the Hyde Amendment which stops taxpayer funding of abortion and has saved millions of American lives.

(From my mailbox – PP)

 

After heartfelt and prayerful consideration, it is with great joy and excitement that I am announcing my candidacy for the House of Representatives in District 14. My wife, Erika, and I believe Sioux Falls is an amazing community and that South Dakota is the best state to raise our growing family. Now is our time to serve the people of southeast Sioux Falls as their voice in the Legislature.

Erika and I are the proud parents of Emmett (1) and we are expecting our second child in April. Like many families in District 14, we relate to the daily joys and challenges of balancing our careers and raising a family while also being engaged in improving our community. As a father and young professional, I will bring this unique perspective to South Dakota’s House of Representatives. As a conservative, I will also bring our shared values to the policymaking process. For me, this means being responsible with our resources and continuing South Dakota’s successful record as a business-friendly state. Above all, I will put people first as their legislator.

Although 2022 will be my first time as a candidate for public office, I am no stranger to public service. I have served on community service boards including the Sioux Falls YMCA board of directors; Rotary Club of Downtown Sioux Falls; and numerous other state boards and commissions, including the Senate Bill 55 Taskforce for Higher Education. I also currently serve in the Office of U.S. Senator Mike Rounds as the Southeast Regional Director, leading the senator’s Sioux Falls office, and as the office’s State Director of Tribal Affairs.

I am looking forward to working hard, knocking on doors, and earning the vote of my neighbors, but first I need your help to run a successful campaign in a potential primary as well as in the general election.

Your financial support will help my campaign get my name out to the voters of District 14. Other ways you can help is to mention my candidacy to your friends and family in the area, hosting a coffee or event with District 14 voters, or perhaps put up a yard sign at your home or business. Any help or support would be greatly appreciated as we launch this new adventure.

If you have any questions about my background or positions on issues, or would like to visit with me further, I welcome your calls at (605) 381-8105 or feedback at tylertordsen.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for your support and consideration.

Sincerely,

Tyler Tordsen
Candidate, District 14 House

From my mailbox:

MINNEHAHA COUNTY MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY LICENSURE APPLICATION TIMELINE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office will begin accepting medical cannabis dispensary applications beginning November 29, 2021. The deadline to apply is December 13, 2021. Applications can only be submitted in person by sealed envelope at the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office, 415 N. Dakota Ave., 57104 between 8:00 – 5:00, Monday-Friday, excluding holidays. 

Applications must comply with Minnehaha County Ordinance MC 60-21, a copy of which can be found at www.minnehahacounty.org, under the How Do I? section. 

Each Medical Cannabis Dispensary license application must be accompanied with the following fees and information, separate from the sealed envelope: 

• • A document containing the legal business name, the business’s primary contact name, email address and phone number. 
• • A non-refundable $50.00 publishing fee; 
• • A non-refundable application fee of $5,000.00; and 
• • An Initial License Fee of $100,000.00. The Initial License Fee is refundable to those applicants that are not awarded a medical cannabis license. 

Payment of each of the fees must be submitted on separate checks or cashier checks made payable to the Minnehaha County Treasurer. 

A copy of the application can be found at www.minnehahacounty.org, under the Notices section or obtained from the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office. 

Please contact the Minnehaha County Auditor’s Office with any questions at 605-367-4220. 

-30- 

From KELO Radio, long-time conspiracy crank Lora Hubbel has apparently gone on the air to tell people she really is running for Governor, despite no one paying any attention to her:

She is airing a spot on KELO Radio saying she is running.

Hubbel did not say if she was seeking the Republican nomination or was running as a third party candidate or as an independent.

Read the entire story here.

And that’s the key.  Any tin-foil hat wearing idiot can say they’re running for Governor, but getting on the ballot is the important part.

I doubt she’ll run as a Republican or Independent, because she’s actually have to go out and work to get signatures. But as part of a third-party bid, they can just anoint her.

Too bad for Lora that there’s only one third party group in the state after her part in the destruction of the state’s Constitution Party, and I’m not sure the Libertarians are so desperate they’d nominate her.

(Or are they?)

Lora has been long known for all sorts of goofball statements, but in my mind, nothing will ever top it when back in 2017, she equated alcohol consumption with demonic possession, and declared that taking pills from your pharmacist was into “sorcery.”

Americans For Prosperity – South Dakota Announces New State Director Keith Moore

SIOUX FALLS, SD – Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota (AFP-SD) today announced Keith Moore as its next state director.

“South Dakota has a lot of good things going for it, but there are some areas where significant policy reform would take our state to the next level: education, economic opportunity, and criminal justice to name a few. Last year’s legislative reforms in health care and education shows that South Dakotans are ready for real solutions to some of our challenges. I look forward to working with South Dakotans from across the state to push transformational policy solutions that will lead us out of this pandemic and to a recovery that makes South Dakota stronger than ever,” Moore said.

Prior to joining Americans for Prosperity, Moore served as the state director of Fellowship of Christian Athletes, a position he served in since 2012. Moore has also held positions with the Federal Bureau of Indian Education, the University of South Dakota, and the South Dakota Department of Education.

Moore earned his undergraduate degree from Northern State University and his graduate degree from South Dakota State University. He also holds a specialist degree in educational leadership from Montana State.  Born and raised in South Dakota, Keith now lives in Sioux Falls with his wife and children.

Background:
AFP-SD is a grassroots organization that encourages lawmakers to champion policy that promotes economic opportunity for all South Dakotans, expands access to quality health care, reforms our criminal justice system, and improves education for all students.
 

Republican State Representative Mike Derby announced his re-election campaign kickoff this past weekend in Rapid City, and was able to get a nice soundbite on the local news as part of his announcement.

As he looks ahead to a second term, Derby has declared a couple of priorities.

“As a businessman for over 30 years, I always look through legislation with the lens of a business person. What is this legislation going to do to impact the business people? What are the barriers we can get out of the way?” Derby asked. “I’ve been involved over the years with Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder and past Chairman of the Military Affairs Committee and Ellsworth Task Force, and been through the base realignment and closure commission process,” he adds. “And so those are two things that I’m very interested in.”

Read (and watch the story) here.

Representative Derby represents District 34, and has served in the legislature for 8 total years, spanning two runs of office. He is currently a member of the LRC Executive Board.

Good catch to a blog correspondent who pointed out to me this evening that Dakota Free Press author Cory Heidelberger has recently filed a change of address to his ballot measure committee, noting that “SD Voice” is now a ballot measure committee operating out of Nebraska:

NebraskaVoice_sdcfdisclosure by Pat Powers on Scribd

(Funny that Cory has yet to mention the move…)

Gov. Kristi Noem Issues Statement Honoring Marcella LeBeau

PIERRE, SD — Today Governor Kristi Noem issued the following statement after learning of the death of beloved Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe member Marcella LeBeau:

“As a proud member of the Lakota, Wigmunke Waste Win (Pretty Rainbow Woman) served both her community and her country as a member of the Greatest Generation. Her service as a nurse during World War II has been chronicled by historians. Her dedication as a nurse in the Indian Health Services for more than 30 years has left a legacy that will live in our hearts and minds forever. In addition to keeping her people healthy, she protected their heritage by helping repatriate important cultural items belonging to the tribes. Through it all, it was her joyful spirit that connected her with many in her community.

“Bryon and I send our condolences to the entire Lakota nation as they remember Marcella. Her kind, servant’s heart will be missed.”

On October 12, 2019, the state of South Dakota proclaimed it Marcella LeBeau Day in honor of her 100^thbirthday. You may find that proclamation here.

###

The Bluestem Prairie blog is reporting this afternoon that State Representative Tina Mulally is among a group of people and organizations sponsoring Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack at an event in Rapid City next week:

Mack has been noted as a long-time Board member of controversial group Oath Keepers up until 2015. The same Oath Keepers group which is cited as having 23 members of their militia group arrested as part of the riot at the US Capitol on January 6th. Mack is appearing in Rapid City as a representative of the “Constitutional Sheriffs & Peace Officer Association,” a group which has been cited as being controversial in it’s own right as he teaches that “the sheriff has unilateral power to decide which laws should be enforced.”

Rolling Stone and multiple news outlets recently directed national attention at the Oath Keeper group’s South Dakota ties, which featured State Rep. Phil Jensen’s membership in the extremist militia group.

Interestingly, In addition to State Rep. Mulally, former State Rep. Chip Campbell and the Custer County Sheriff sponsoring the controversial speaker, the flyer claims event sponsorship of the event by Grand Gateway Hotel in Rapid City and Outback Steakhouse.

Do we really think Outback Steakhouse is sponsoring it? I have a sneaking suspicion it’s similar to when Lora Hubbel was hosting an event at Pizza Ranch to talk about masking for COVID..

Stay tuned.

The First Thanksgiving
By U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)
November 22, 2021

Thanksgiving – it’s the time of year where you can turn to the paper and are almost guaranteed to find a few fluffy columns about counting blessings and being thankful. But this year, it would ring hollow coming from me. As many of you know, I lost Jean, my wife of 43 years, to cancer on November 2. She was the love of my life and, without her in it, my world will never be the same.

Often when we think about love, we think about all the firsts. The first date. The first kiss. The first time bringing her home to mom and dad. But what about the painful firsts love throws at us? The first night shutting off the lights alone in bed. The first snowfall without her by my side. Even in death, love remains; yet is the source of grief.

This is my first holiday alone. And while family will be there, I’m still alone. No amount of people can replace Jean’s presence. For 43 years, we shared everything together. In marriage, we became one. She was my soulmate, my rock and her void is impossible to fill.

Hardly an hour goes by where I don’t think about Jean. She’s my first thought in the morning and the last before I go to bed. She was everything to me and is constantly on my mind.

Everyone grieves differently and it can hit you at any time. Feelings come when you least expect them and some moments are worse than others. Sometimes longing, sometimes anger, sometimes pain. We often don’t get to choose how we feel. But when I can, I choose to be thankful.

Thankful that God brought that Lake Preston farm girl into my life. Thankful for every minute we shared together. And that family was always first.

Thankful for the friends, family and even strangers who prayed for us and loved us through it all. Thankful for the doctors and nurses who worked so hard to cure her and to make her comfortable. The kindness we felt made a difference and will never be forgotten.

Thankful she is no longer in pain and is finally at peace. No more long trips to Mayo. No more poking and prodding. No more radiation or chemo. Just peace.

Thankful for everything she left with me. The memories. The kids. The grandkids. I’ll take care of them and they’ll take care of me. That’s what family does and we’ll get through this together. A part of Jean lives in each of us, and in that we can find comfort.

And thankful for our Faith, which gives us the hope that we will be with each other again someday. 65 is too young to leave this earth. While death may separate us now, love binds us together forever.

Like our ancestors who faced a new, unknown world on the first Thanksgiving, I find myself this Thanksgiving anticipating an entirely new world. But relying on courage and Faith, I know God will continue to provide and give me the strength to live out the purpose he has remaining for me. As Jean and I would remind one another, “When you have Faith, you have hope.”