Category: Uncategorized

Toby Doeden is back in the news willing to Say Anything in his pursuit of the Governor’s office.

The Dakota Scout follows up on a story that I broke on 12/30 how the PAC founded and funded by corporate welfare queen Toby Doeden decided to get involved in the Rapid City Sports Center election coming up by sending out a text blast in opposition to the TIF (Tax Increment Financing) the project would receive.

Nevermind that Toby himself drinks from the same fountain that helped see the way forward for a TIF funded Aberdeen project he directly benefitted from:

Toby Doeden has also used the same government-supported financing tool to fund a development project of his own on the other side of South Dakota.

“Let’s be clear about what this is: corporate welfare. Taking money from taxpayers and handing it to private corporations,” read a text message Dakota First Action that was blasted to Rapid City voters ahead of an upcoming referendum on a tax increment financing district.

and..

Doeden is distancing himself from the Rapid City TIF debate and Dakota First Action.

“Mr. Doeden resigned his position with Dakota First Action early last year,” the campaign said in a statement to The Scout. “Communications from that organization do not constitute the opinions of Mr. Doeden personally.”

and..

Howard told The Scout that Dakota First Action is “a good conservative PAC.”

She confirmed Doeden is no longer directly tied to the PAC but contended there is a big difference between the Libertyland TIF and the TIF Aberdeen authorized for Doeden.

Read the entire pile of nonsense here.

Just another reminder that Toby Doeden will say anything in the race for Governor. And his pile of horse manure just keeps getting higher.

News out of Pierre this AM is that Incumbent Sheriff Pat Callahan is going to forego another run for the office after his successful term of service. According to KCCR Radio:

When Callahan became Sheriff in 2021, revenues from the Hughes County Jail totaled one-point-five million dollars. By 2025, revenues have increased to four-point-one million. He says that growth will provide a stable sustainable foundation for taxpayers and ensures the Office is prepared for challenges in the future. Callahan says he has been making plans for the next chapter in his life for the last several months and is looking forward to returning to the public sector at the end of the year.

Read the entire story here.

Sorry to see Sheriff Callahan go, but best wishes for him in his future endeavors.

Legislative Update from District 5 State Senator Glen Vilhauer

And they’re off! By the time you read this the 101st SD Legislative session may have begun. This is written on Saturday January 10th with the session starting Tuesday January 13th with Governor Rhoden’s State of the State address at 1:00 that day.

As I visit with my legislative colleagues around the state, the best descriptors of what to expect from this session are “interesting” and “challenging.” Both of these may be pretty mild adjectives, but we will know more by the last day on March 30th.

I will just throw out what I think will be some of the larger topics that will consume a lion’s share of the time during these 38 days.

1)     Budget

Back on December 2nd, the Governor gave his budget presentation. It was an “austere” budget, but not real surprising in light of our relatively flat revenue growth. The budget did not provide for any increase in funding to the “Big 3”-school aid, medical providers and state employees. I have heard a lot of concern expressed by many people as to what trend this is setting for the foreseeable future. The Appropriations Committee (of which I am a member of) and the full Senate and House will have its work cut out for it in order to present a Constitutionally-mandated budget for the next fiscal year starting in July.

2)     Property Taxes

Once again an attempt to reign in property taxes across the state will be front and center. Currently there are approximately 25 bills (and growing) already in the hopper which deal with property taxes. This includes the 19 that came out of the summer task force that was directed to come up with options to address the concerns. I was also part of this group, and, in my humble opinion, very few of the proposals would accomplish much real relief. During the course of the task force meetings, I stated several times that we are trying to provide statewide relief for problems that were noted only in certain areas of South Dakota. Will we find a long-term, reasonable solution to this problem?

3)     Growing the Economy

I list this as a separate topic, but it is really interrelated with the other two. Until we get serious about getting the state back on track with economic development, we will not see any long term revenue growth which in turn feeds into options for stabilizing or reducing property taxes. This discussion to date has centered primarily around the possible construction of large scale data centers in South Dakota. However, it is about so much more than this. The last couple years this state has lost its edge when it comes to taking advantage of the opportunities that have presented themselves. We need to turn this trend around. “A rising tide lifts all boats.”

These are just a few of the topics that will be dealt with in the 500-600 estimated bills that will come before the legislature. Quite often other issues come out of the blue that no one was expecting which need time to be adequately dealt with as well. In addition to the day-to-day activities, we can’t forget that this is also an election year. This will add an extra sort of drama to the session. The Governor’s race and the House Congressional race include parties that have ties to the activities surrounding the legislature. Also, let’s not forget that the 2 year terms for all 105 legislators will also be up at the end of 2026. It will indeed be “interesting and challenging”!!

Stay tuned! I will again try to provide a weekly recap of the events from my perspective. I have said it many times before, but I am truly humbled and honored to serve in this capacity. Again, don’t hesitate to track me down if you want to discuss something. Take care!!

I was informed this morning that State Senator Arch Beal has taken seriously ill, has undergone surgery, and is currently in the hospital.

Please keep Arch and his entire family in your prayers for his speedy recovery, and joining other senators in Pierre where they start convening next week.

(We need him back to poke questionable lobbyists when it’s appropriate.)

I get the feeling that the Democrat running for Secretary of State has never stepped foot in that office, and quite possibly knows less about it than Heather Baxter.

Democrat Terrance Davis is on social media, declaring that under him, the Secretary of State’s office would add a dedicated investigative division.

What?  How many FTE’s does he plan on requesting from the legislature for this? Is someone out there saying we need more government?  Or if he’s going to accomplish it within the current budget confines of the office, which divisions does he plan on stripping staff from to create this new Division of Investigation?

The Secretary of State‘s office is not one of the larger ones within the State of South Dakota. Not to mention, the Secretary of State is considered the state’s record keeper – not an investigator or prosecutor. The investigative function generally resides with the Attorney General. I can’t imagine that they would be all hot and bothered about this proposal, either.

While it might sound bright and shiny when Terrance is making a campaign speech, when the rubber hits the road, adding employees and an entire new division is one of those dogs that is never going to hunt.

In response to a letter from the Democratic National Committee to ten different states with regards to purging voters from the voting rolls, South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson has issued the following release:

 

SECRETARY OF STATE RESPONDS TO DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE LETTER

(Pierre, S.D.) – Secretary of State Monae L. Johnson received a letter from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) concerning the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and removing voters from the voter registration rolls.

Secretary Johnson says, “We are confident in the accuracy of our voter registration list, and we look forward to working with the U.S. Department of Justice in its effort to ensure compliance with federal election laws.” Secretary Johnson further states that South Dakota has no plans to violate the NVRA and has only removed voters from the voter registration rolls with due process.

For more information on voter registration in South Dakota, please visit the Secretary of State’s website.

Republicans’ Landmark Bill Gets to Work for South Dakotans
By Sen. John Thune

Last year, Republicans followed through on our promises to the American people by passing landmark legislation to support safer streets, put more money in hardworking Americans’ pockets, and create new opportunities to get ahead. The Working Families Tax Cuts that Republicans passed last July contains a decade of legislating in a single bill, and it will make a generational impact that the American people will begin to feel this year.

First and foremost is that the Working Families Tax Cuts delivered permanent tax relief for hardworking Americans, preventing a $2,500 tax hike on a typical South Dakota family beginning this year. As South Dakotans prepare to file their taxes, they can plan on taking advantage of a larger standard deduction, and seniors can claim an additional bonus deduction on top of that. We raised the child tax credit to $2,200 per child, which working families will be able to claim on this year’s tax return. Workers who earn tips and overtime pay won’t have to pay federal taxes on that income either. And all of that adds up to bigger tax refunds for a lot of South Dakotans in April.

Republicans’ landmark legislation also made a generational investment in rural health care. In the last two decades, more than 100 hospitals have closed across rural America. But thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, help is on the way. This bill created a $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program to address the rural health care crisis. Instead of a top-down approach centered in Washington, we gave states the resources and freedom to find solutions to their unique challenges. And in South Dakota, that funding will go toward creating regional hubs for emergency services, a major investment in telehealth, and to bolster our rural health care workforce, among other priorities.

This bill also made a significant investment in public safety and national security. It included funding for state and local law enforcement agencies, including efforts to combat violent crime and drug trafficking. It made a generational investment in border security, supporting the hiring of new enforcement agents, finishing the border wall, and deploying technology and resources to the southern border. And it supported much-needed efforts to modernize our military and ensure that America’s men and women in uniform have the very best capabilities to defend our national security from whatever threats may arise.

The contents and impact of this legislation are significant, and there’s much more I could say about it. I could talk about its sizeable investment in the programs that farmers and ranchers depend on; or tax policies that help small businesses grow; or its provisions addressing waste, fraud, and abuse in federal programs. This bill is filled with wins for the American people, and I can’t wait for that story to unfold in South Dakota and in every corner of America.

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Running a side business assisting candidates with mail, and one of the first thing I have to point out is that not only is mail more expensive to do this year, the timelines from when mail goes in, to when it shows up in mailboxes is insane. What used to take 2 days… now plan for a week.

So when Senator Mike Rounds points these things out – it’s well worth repeating because he’s 100% correct. The US Postal service needs to fix this mess:

Deregulation and Fraud Investigations
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
January 9, 2026

 BIG Update

My bill to protect the site of the Wounded Knee Massacre was signed into law. I’m thankful for the work of tribal leaders from the Oglala Sioux Tribe and Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe to preserve this land for generations to come and for the leadership of Senators Rounds and Thune who helped get this bill across the finish line.

I had the honor of attending the ceremony to mark the 135^th anniversary of this tragedy at the Wounded Knee Site on the Pine Ridge Reservation. This year, while the gathering was sorrowful, we could acknowledge that something special happened—our bill became law and tribes have permanent ownership of this land. I’m grateful this important legislation, which honors the lives lost and protects the land, is now law.

BIG Idea

Under President Biden, home costs increased greatly, monthly mortgages became unattainable for many, and rental prices rose exponentially. The average household pays $16,000 annually in regulatory costs which was exacerbated by the $1.8 trillion in regulations implemented under Biden’s administration.

In just one year, Congress and the Trump administration have brought housing-related inflation to a four-year low, and rental prices continue to decline. Just this week, I voted to reduce federal regulations on manufactured homes to improve their affordability. Government regulation should not stand in the way the American Dream. I’m working to end the era of overregulation to lower costs for Americans.

BIG News

Americans should trust their tax dollars are spent wisely. In Minnesota, federal program fraud is estimated to top $9 billion. This level of abuse is unacceptable and those responsible should be held accountable. This week, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing on this fraud and will continue to evaluate these programs. So far, investigations have found $60 million in Medicaid fraud and more than $1 billion in fraudulent payments intended for housing, autism care, and community support programs.

These federal programs are designed to support those who need it most. This is why I’ve been focused on reforming these programs to ensure these dollars are spent wisely and with the greatest impact.

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Court Hearing on Attorney General Jackley’s Injunction On Abortion Deceptive Advertising Moved to Friday, Jan. 16, in Pierre

 PIERRE, S.D. –  Next week’s court hearing on South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley’s motion to stop Mayday Health from deceptively advertising the sale of abortion pills and abortion services in South Dakota has been rescheduled.

The hearing had originally been scheduled for Monday, Jan. 12.  It has been moved to 9 a.m., CST Friday, Jan. 16.  The hearing will be held at the Hughes County Courthouse in Pierre.

For more information, contact Tony Mangan at 605-773-6878.

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