Category: Uncategorized

Permanent Tax Relief Under the Tree
By Sen. John Thune

With the end of the year approaching, there are a lot of demands on working families’ budgets: holiday expenses, end-of-year giving, and putting something away for your retirement and the kids’ education. It’s not easy, but the Working Families Tax Cuts that Republicans passed this year will provide some help, enabling you to keep more of your hard-earned money to save, invest, and spend how you see fit.

The cornerstone of the Working Families Tax Cuts is permanently lower tax rates. In 2017, Republicans passed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which lowered taxes across the board. But those cuts were set to expire at the end of this year without action from Congress, which would have meant a $2,500 tax hike for a typical family in South Dakota. Republicans were determined not to let that happen. So we passed a bill this year that makes those lower tax rates and the higher standard deduction permanent, meaning lower tax bills and more money in working families’ pockets.

With this bill, we also secured additional tax relief for South Dakotans raising families. In 2017, Republicans doubled the child tax credit. This year we raised it again, to $2,200 per child, and linked it to inflation so it will never lose its value. We also created new investment accounts for newborns with an initial $1,000 investment from the government. Families will be able to contribute to these accounts as their children grow, and the money can be used later for education, to start a business, and to buy a first home – in short, to get a head start on the American Dream.

This bill also eliminated taxes on overtime and on tips. Police officers, paramedics, firefighters, nurses, and others who have to be on the job during Thanksgiving and Christmas will be able to keep what they earn for those overtime shifts. And waiters, bartenders, and busboys working through the busy holiday season won’t have to pay taxes on their tips when they file their taxes in April.

Small businesses also stand to benefit from permanent tax relief. In 2017, Republicans created a 20 percent small business deduction, which freed up cash for small businesses to invest in their operations and employees. That provision is now a permanent feature of our tax code. Full expensing for new equipment, which makes it more affordable for small businesses, farmers, and ranchers to invest in their operations, is also now permanent. And these permanent pro-growth tax policies will help small businesses remain competitive and strong in the years to come.

For the last few years, working families, farmers and ranchers, and small businesses have struggled through serious economic headwinds. Republicans’ top priority this year was delivering tax relief for these hardworking Americans to give them more breathing room in their budgets. Without action by Congress, 2026 would have brought a massive tax hike. Thanks to the Working Families Tax Cuts, that tax hike isn’t coming next year, or the year after that, or ever. And that’s great news as we head into the new year.

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Get your fingers out, and wear a pair of flip-flops in the bigger counties. Because the SDGOP appears to be going all-in on the hand-counting nonsense.

In a recent training they just took to facebook to announce, they are now directly sponsoring the election goofballs of SD Canvassing by promoting a party-sponsored on-line session of how to count by hand with one of their big cheeses:

The South Dakota Republican Party is featuring self-declared election expert (and self-declared hero) Rick Weible in an on-line hand-counting training.  Even though none of the state’s county auditors have any interest in it, making this a stupid thing to spend time, money and effort on.

It’s really kind of a slap at the elected county auditors as well as the Republican Secretary of State. Which is opposite of the function that the SDGOP is supposed to serve.

If you were ever thinking about donating to the SDGOP; right on the cusp of the holiday season they managed to come up with yet another reason to be Grinch-ful when it comes to any thought of sharing the wealth, and to not support the State Republican party’s efforts.

Instead, this holiday think locally, and give to your candidates directly.

November 17 – 23, 2025

Welcome back to another Weekly Round[s] Up. We are now back on a regular, in-session schedule after finally getting out of the longest government shutdown in US history. It was a busy week filled with meetings, briefings, events, votes and interviews, but we got a lot done!

Additionally, I attended the Halifax International Security Forum in Nova Scotia this past weekend. I spent this time in meetings with our partners and allies from around the world. I also spoke on a panel titled “Democracies Design Doodads” discussing innovation in democratic countries, specifically regarding artificial intelligence.

More on the rest of my week in my Weekly Round[s] Up:

South Dakota groups I visited with: South Dakota representatives with John Deere; South Dakota Family Career and Community Leaders of America; South Dakota members of the Clean Fuels Alliance; Dr. Ashlea Semmens with the American Society of Breast Surgeons; Mike Salem with McDonald’s; Shirley Hauge and Emily Parish with the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association; South Dakota Telecommunications Association; Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and SAGE Development Authority.

Met with South Dakotans from: Aberdeen, Belle Fourche, Bison, Blackhawk, Clear Lake, Colman, Deadwood, Harrisburg, Herreid, Kimball, Rapid City, Salem, Sioux Falls, Volga and Wall.

Other meetings: Mackenzie Eaglen, Defense Analyst at the American Enterprise Institute; James Bracken, John Diaz and Anne Chai with Zurich North America; Secretary of State Marco Rubio; Secretary of Education Linda McMahon; Summer Mersinger, CEO of Blockchain Association; John Collison with Stripe; and the Hon. Stephan Mayer, MP, Member of Foreign Affairs Committee, German Bundestag; and Christian Forstner, Director of Hanns Seidel Foundation USA.

Briefings: I attended two Senate Select Committee on Intelligence closed briefings this past week.

Senate Prayer Breakfast: I attended our Senate Prayer Breakfast Wednesday morning, where Senator Roger Marshall from Kansas was the speaker.

H-2B Letter: This week Senator Angus King (I-Maine) and I sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Labor requesting that they release the maximum allowable number of additional H-2B visas for Fiscal Year 2026, consistent with the previous three years. Thirty-one other Senators signed the letter with us and now we wait for their response. These visas are crucial to South Dakota because our seasonal tourism and hospitality industries rely on H-2B workers to fill jobs that simply can’t be staffed locally during peak months.

Votes taken: 5 – This week I voted on nominee Ho Nieh, of Alabama, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Yea). I also voted on the Lummis Buffalo Resource Management Plan Amendment CRA (Yea) and on the Schiff Oil and Gas CRA (Nay).

My staff in South Dakota visited: Milbank, Revillo, Sturgis, Webster and Wall.

Steps taken: 72,973 steps or 34.18 miles.

Photos of the Week

American Society of Breast Surgeons

The Salvation Army

South Dakota Telecommunication Association

Speech-Language-Hearing Association

What I am Thankful For
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
November 25, 2025 

It’s the time of year when long-distance family and friends come home and gather together again. Being together can help us remember all there is to be grateful for. I’ve taken some time to reflect on some of the things that I am thankful for this season.

I’m thankful for my wife and my sons, and for the opportunity to spend a little extra time with them throughout the holiday season. Max will be home from college and with Ben and Owen on Thanksgiving break, it will be a joy to have everyone around the table again. As my boys grow up and start to move out, I cherish these moments together even more.

I’m grateful to those who serve our country and our communities in South Dakota. From deployed service members to firefighters, police officers, and first responders, I’m heartened by their sacrifice to serve and protect. Many of these service members miss out on celebrating with their family on Thanksgiving Day because they are working to keep us safe. Take a moment to remember and be grateful for their sacrifice.

Our farmers and ranchers work day in and day out to feed the world. I’m grateful for their dedication to get up and put in long hours of physical work, no matter the weather or the holiday. Their resilience is the backbone of our nation. When you’re sitting down at a table filled with food, remember to thank a farmer.

The grit and determination of South Dakotans is unique. I’m grateful to those who work hard to improve their communities, serve their neighbors, and make South Dakota a place we are all proud to call home.

As we officially enter the holiday season, I hope we can all take some time to reflect on what really matters. I wish you and your families a blessed Thanksgiving!

KOTA News has a story today on Governor Larry Rhoden’s campaign event in Sturgis last night, where he listed off his list of accomplishments as Governor:

With almost a year under his belt as governor, Rhoden mentioned three accomplishments he’ll hang his hat on in a bid for re-election: banning eminent domain for carbon pipelines, slowing property tax increases and working to develop a new prison construction plan.

and..

Rhoden said transparency will be key in his first campaign atop the gubernatorial ticket.

Read the entire story here.

So, where is the field of candidates on these claims?

Not sure ethanol producers (or GEVO) would agree with banning carbon pipelines on the list, but the signing of House Bill 1052 is the first bill on Governor Rhoden’s list of accomplishments which he intends to campaign on in the 2026 primary election.  But there are others who will be looking to cast a line in the same waters.

Specifically on the carbon pipeline issue, obviously, Jon Hansen can’t campaign enough on it. Toby Doeden is also attempting to use that issue.  Congressman Dusty Johnson’s platform notes that he believes South Dakota needs to protect private property rights.

In reference to the property tax portion, much of that would appear to be “yet to come” in the next legislative session, as there has not been much that has materialized in property tax reduction in the last session. Governor Rhoden’s primary proposal has consisted of a county sales tax option for property tax relief, placing the onus on counties to choose whether to raise the taxes themselves.

A recent proposal of Rhoden’s opponent Jon Hansen consisted of telling the governor to cut spending by 5%.  Which really is kind of meaningless, since fiscal years lag, and since he wants to have the job next he could choose to do that himself.  Toby Doeden has been trying to address the issue, but with goofy, undefined claims about external revenue that he really can’t or won’t provide specifics on.  Congressman and gubernatorial hopeful Dusty Johnson indicates (again, in his platform) that his goal is to cut property taxes for homeowners, farmers, and ranchers, without defunding police,  roads, or schools.

The prison is the most clearly defined accomplishment for the Governor, especially with Jon Hansen doing his best to sink the prison at the last minute. Toby Doeden again came with complaints that it was a luxury hotel and no solutions. But did get his legislative minions to cast a no vote. So he can’t say much about it either. During the debate Congressman Johnson deferred getting into the prison fray.

As the campaign moves forward, we’re sure to hear more specifics about candidate platforms.

And maybe by June 2026, Toby Doeden will be able to actually explain his external revenue nonsense.

An independent candidate for Congress has filed paperwork with the Federal Elections Commission to begin his efforts:

Jack Pittman of Pine Ridge has filed to enter the race as an independent, without designating a committee, other than “Pittman for House.”  Not much other information out there at the moment, but we’ll keep an eye on things in case an actual campaign moves forward.

Just had a friend send this over to me for the $25 Dusty Johnson fundraiser this evening in Rapid City:

There are past, present (and future) legislators on the list of hosts, as well as a number of other Rapid City dignitaries, including Sheriff Brian Mueller. Maybe even a podcast host of questionable repute (just kidding Murdoc).

Tonight at 5pm at the Firehouse Skybox in Rapid City, or there’s a QR code you can use.

Johnson Announces “Real Food, Real Freedom”

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Today, gubernatorial candidate and Congressman Dusty Johnson announced “Real Food, Real Freedom,” an innovative plan designed to ensure nutritious food is available to all South Dakotans. The initiative focuses on personal responsibility, local agriculture, and smart state policy to strengthen families and communities.

“We should be making it easier for South Dakota families to make healthy choices,” said Johnson. “As Governor, I’ll work to ensure taxpayer dollars are used to purchase healthier, whole foods, rather than processed sugar. We can also do more to make sure South Dakota’s producers, both large and small, can more easily enter the market to sell their products, and make sure South Dakota’s schools are incentivized to buy meat locally. It’s time to let South Dakota feed South Dakota.”

“Real Food, Real Freedom” consists of three pillars:

• Removal of pop and candy from SNAP-eligible purchases: Under the plan, pop and candy would be eliminated from the list of items that can be purchased through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in South Dakota. South Dakota would request a federal waiver to redirect benefits toward milk, protein, fruits, vegetables, grains, and other wholesome foods. Johnson supports legislative efforts, including a plan soon-to-be announced by Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt (R-Sioux Falls) and Sen. Sydney Davis (R-Burbank) to establish the framework for pursuing the waiver.

• Eases the government burden on selling farm-fresh food: The plan would cut red tape on local producers, from small-scale vegetable growers to ranchers selling meat directly to families. Johnson pledges to enable expanded local-producer sales to grocery stores, simplify licensing and labeling rules for small processors and direct-to-consumer sales, and modernize inspection laws to make it easier to sell vegetables and locally processed meat while maintaining food safety.

• Expand access to local meat in South Dakota schools: “Real Food, Real Freedom” will encourage and incentivize schools to serve local beef, pork, chicken, and other locally grown meat in school lunches, building off Johnson’s congressional work in this space. The initiative will bring education, agriculture, meat processing, and nutrition leaders together to ensure flexibility for local school districts and connect producers directly to food-service buyers.

“By letting common sense and safety guide our decisions, rather than burdensome bureaucracy, we’ll give South Dakota producers and families the chance to thrive,” Johnson continued. “South Dakotans shouldn’t need a stack of government forms to sell a quarter beef, and they shouldn’t be subsidizing junk food. ‘Real Food, Real Freedom’ gets all of us on the right path.”

To learn more about “Real Food, Real Freedom,” please click here.

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Well of course you could pick who is advocating for this in three guesses or less:

Seriously, facebook. I don’t ask for the crazy to be pushed into my feed. So why do you pump all the off-the-wall stuff into my algorithm?  But yes, District 3 State Representative Brandei Schaefbauer wants people to be able to take medicine for horses and sheep over the counter… just because.

Another item to research that might be useful in light of Brandei’s proposal?

There are currently no established standards for treating ivermectin poisoning, and there is no specific antidote for overdose. While many drugs have been utilized to address ivermectin toxicity, further research is needed in this area.

Read that here.

I’m guessing that research might just be accomplished sooner than we think.

Update…

This next session is going to be interesting, to say the least.

Gov. Rhoden Announces Approval of Disaster Relief Plan for North Sioux City

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved South Dakota’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Relief (CDBG-DR) Action Plan for North Sioux City, marking an important step forward in the community’s long-term recovery efforts.

“When South Dakota works together, we build communities that stay strong, safe, and free. This approval is a major victory for North Sioux City, and it brings the city one step closer to the resources it needs to rebuild stronger than before,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “I am grateful for GOED, my team in the Governor’s Office, and Senator Thune for getting us to this important milestone and making sure it remained a priority in Washington.”

Governor Rhoden discussed this issue with Senator Thune and his team in October, and the Senator’s assistance was an important part of getting the action plan approved in a timely manner.

With the Action Plan approved, GOED will work with federal and local partners to complete the remaining steps so funding can be awarded. This approval provides positive momentum, keeping North Sioux City on track for meaningful recovery and future resilience.

“Securing HUD’s approval is a major step forward, and we are deeply grateful to Governor Rhoden, Senator Thune, and both their teams for championing this effort and keeping this process moving,” said GOED Commissioner Bill Even. “I’m incredibly proud of the GOED team and grateful for their hard work serving our communities. We’ll continue working closely with our federal partners and local leaders as the next phases advance for North Sioux City.”

For more information on CDBG-DR efforts, visit sdgoed.com.

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