Category: Uncategorized

Senator Nelson must really not be feeling the love today.

First it was Dakota Posts poking at State Senator Stace Nelson.

Now the Argus Leader via letters to the editor has former General Counsel for Citibank and 2016 District 14 GOP House Primary candidate David Zimbeck lobbing a few pointed words regarding Senator Nelson:

For instance, the latter offer of an opportunity to engage in a great debate over a state nosh, the legislation’s sponsor, Sen. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton, provides fellow legislators a welcome reprieve from his incessant “man-splaining” of how the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is controlling over all others; not to mention routine temper tantrums, while regularly purveying conspiracy theories, with little if any suggestion of substantiation. He, the champion of “food fights” of another form. Even the most casual observer of politics in S.D., can take one look at a rather corpulent Senator Nelson and recognize that he would not recognize a “nosh” if it hit him in the head. The notion of something resembling a snack must be an anathema to a person of his girth, yet he finds the need to spend even the smallest amount of time debating the merits with this latest, albeit less destructive, food fight.

and…

Speaker Mickelson and other leaders, need to gain control over the nonsense before most of us can be convinced that S.D. should do anything but go to a biennial legislative session.

Read it all here.

Tapio Resolution Identifies Fundamental Islam as Cause of War on Terror, Calls on SD Organizations, Businesses, Military Veterans for Support

South Dakota Congressional Candidate and Watertown State Senator, Neal Tapio this week introduces a concurrent resolution which formally acknowledges fundamentalist Islam and Sharia Law as the root causes of the global war on terrorism and challenges South Dakota businesses, organizations and political leaders to support the resolution   in a show of unified support of America’s military personnel and in opposition to the terrorist organizations and Islamic nations who practice Sharia law, including the execution of non-believers or those who speak out against Islam.

The resolution which comes under consideration at an as yet undisclosed date in Pierre clearly identifies Islamic laws of apostasy and the belief in capital punishment for anyone who leaves the Islamic faith as the driving   doctrine behind the violent Jihadist tendencies that are plaguing peaceful western societies in both Europe and  North America and makes formal request that businesses, organizations and political leaders in South Dakota stand up and be counted as supporters of that message in order to facilitate renewed dialogue and effective policy against the stealth Jihad and sleeper cell invasion that has been concealed by the United Nations refugee resettlement program via NGO or nongovernmental organizational placement of Islamic refugee populations in South Dakota  and other states.

“The intent of this measure is to very clearly define the root causes of the plague of jihadist terrorism and violence that is ravaging open societies around the world,” Tapio said. “And to give some of the most powerful and influential organizations and businesses in South Dakota an opportunity to indicate one way or another their policies and intentions in either supporting or rejecting this resolution and thereby clearly signaling their   sentiments and future plans contributing to either the safety or danger of South Dakota citizens moving forward,” Tapio said.

Senator Tapio’s resolution formally calls on the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce, Lutheran Social Services, Sanford Health, Aberdeen Development Foundation and other entities to support America’s military troops home and abroad by stating clearly an acknowledged solidarity against Islamic jihad around the world while simultaneously issuing a statement of unified support for freedom from persecution, discrimination and threat of violence for anyone seeking to escape the deadly and hateful ideology that threatens death for leaving the Islamic faith. Tapio also calls on Governor Dennis Daugaard, U.S. Senators Mike Rounds and John Thune and Congresswoman, Kristi Noem to support South Dakota’s troops and veterans and those who have offered the ultimate sacrifice for their country by declaring publicly and explicitly that Islamic terrorism and organizations    who propagate jihadist violence are directly responsible for the war on terrorism and the untold carnage and human and material cost incurred by fighting that war in theaters around the world.

Tapio’s resolution goes so far as to name specific organizations and state sponsors of Islamic terror, such as Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Boko Haram. Al Shabaab, ISIS, Hamas, Hezbollah and other signatories of the Muslim Brotherhood, all fighting to enforce globally the Islamic laws of apostasy which prescribe the death penalty for leaving the Islamic faith.

“This hateful and deadly ideology is a scourge upon humanity and all freedom loving peoples, irrespective of race, color, creed, gender, religion, sect, or national origin,” Tapio said.

“Every individual and every nation suffering under the violent and cruel oppression of Islamic Sharia law should rise up in the same spirit of our American fighting men and women, their soldiers and families and shrug off the mantle of slavery and mental and physical bondage placed upon them so that they may know what it means to live and remain free,” Tapio said.

Senator and Congressional Candidate Tapio called on his fellow candidates, office seekers and office holders, including Kristi Noem and Marty Jackley, Dusty Johnson and Shantel Krebs, to support the resolution as well. Tapio’s resolution also includes a clear corollary to the imperative laid out in the formal declaration which states   that anyone, any organization, business or political candidate who fails to support the resolution is by omission declaring themselves an apologist for radical Islam, an enemy of the state and de facto supporter of and accomplice to violent jihad on American soil. Tapio  says his resolution and the political firestorm and debate to come will   serve as a clear line of demarcation in what he sees as the clash of civilizations and the ongoing policies both   federal and state which have allowed an influx of Islamic practitioners of Sharia law to locate within the    continental boundaries of the United States.

“No longer will we allow patriotic Americans to be considered members of a hate group, or political extremists or xenophobes, or Islamophobes, simply because we believe in freedom for all mankind and can clearly identify ideological or religious threats to the freedom, peace and safety that should be the birthright of every human on earth,” Tapio said.

“Today begins a fight for the very heart and soul of America. A fight for the survival of freedom and liberty in this nation.  A fight for the heart and soul of every American who has sacrificed for their country and come home to  find us importing the very ideology that tried to kill them overseas,” Tapio said.

“America stands on the Judeo-Christian traditions of freedom and liberty. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors that fought and died so that all men might be free. We fight likewise in a different time and place, without apology, but with the equal conviction that any tyranny over the mind of man is contrary to our Constitutional rights to free speech and freedom of religion,” Tapio said.

“We don’t apologize, we won’t back down, and we will not surrender as we wage this valiant struggle against encroaching darkness, in defense of this gleaming bastion of liberty that has so sweetly and famously been referred to as a ‘Shining city on a hill,’ Tapio said.

“It is our sacred duty and honor to fight this battle. And surrender is not an option,” Tapio said. “Let’s roll.”

Senate Concurrent Resolution 13 can be found here.

Dakota Posts is poking at Senator Stace Nelson again this morning:

From Tapio for Congress comes a new campaign video – Announcement Tour:

Had a reader send me this one that popped up in his facebook feed:

What you’re seeing is a promoted (i.e., paid) post coming from the South Dakota for Donald Trump Facebook page noting that Congressional candidate Neal Tapio’s facebook page is live.

If you dig further into the page, there is a note which gives indication that – at least in the past – Tapio has at least some control over what’s posted on this Facebook page:

The Facebook group in question has been completely dormant since November 2016 and through all of 2017, until a few days ago when the above post was made.

Clearly, the ad is being placed out there to give the impression that the Trump campaign has a connection with the Tapio campaign. And while Neal did work with the campaign in 2016, there’s been no indication of an endorsement in the Congressional race yet.

What do you think? Is this a shrewd campaign tactic as Tapio attempts to gain the upper hand in a congressional race that’s approaching all too fast?

From Facebook:

I about fell over from shock as a ‘Shantel Krebs for Congress’ post appeared in my facebook feed this morning. And in checking, it appears that the campaign has ‘un-banned’ me.

If you recall my post from September:

The blocking seems to have coincided with the announcement of the results of the party’s Straw Poll, which I really didn’t say anything about. It’s not going to prevent me from mentioning the campaign, or talking about issues or concerns that I might notice. But what it does do is remove positive campaign items that might be worth highlighting for the readers from coming to my notice so I can share them with readers.

So, Shantel Krebs has joined Lora Hubbel to hide things from public view. Not exactly a campaign strategy I ever have employed in nearly 30 years of this stuff.

Read that here.

Now I have posts such as this appearing in my facebook feed again:

Someone let me know why it was important to prevent my seeing that in the first place?

4 months to go.

The Importance of Protecting Life
By Sen. John Thune

Recently in the Senate, we took a vote on an important human rights bill, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. This bill would protect unborn children who have reached the age of 20 weeks – that’s five months of pregnancy – from being killed by abortion.

Right now, there are only seven countries in the world that allow elective abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy. The United States is one of them. Among the others are China and North Korea. As I’ve said before, I don’t think that’s the company Americans want to be keeping when it comes to protecting human rights.

Unfortunately, we’re going to be keeping company with those countries a little longer, since Democrats in the Senate chose to block us from moving forward on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.

This legislation should be a no-brainer. The scientific evidence is clear: At 20 weeks, unborn babies feel pain. 63 percent of the American people support a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, and I’m not surprised. Take a look at a five-month old unborn baby on an ultrasound. It’s pretty obvious that that’s a human being. And most people instinctively know that human beings, no matter how small they are, are worthy of protection.

While it’s hard to believe that so many of my colleagues would oppose this bill, I’m not giving up. A majority of the U.S. Senate and a majority of the American people agree with what we’re trying to do, and I’m going to keep speaking up for the most vulnerable among us and supporting efforts to get this bill passed.

And I am hopeful for the future. Last month, we had the national March for Life in Washington, D.C. Tens of thousands of people from across the country – including a number of South Dakotans, like the Jacks for Life group at South Dakota State University – marched from the National Mall to the Supreme Court to stand up for the right to life.

As I always am, I was struck by how many of the marchers are young people. Teenagers. College students. Young adults. Young people aren’t just participating in the pro-life movement – they’re leading it. They know that every life is precious and worthy of protection, and they’re not afraid to stand up and say it.

While we may suffer temporary defeats like we did in the Senate recently, with these young people leading the way, I am confident that our nation is moving toward the day when every child, born and unborn, is protected in law. And I will keep fighting in Congress to bring that day closer.

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Last Year’s Accomplishments lay Groundwork for More Changes in 2018
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

Over the past year, Congress and the White House made important changes to get away from the centralized, overregulated system of government that stifled American innovation and economic growth for years. We’re now laying the groundwork to make America even stronger, safer and freer in the coming year.

Last year, we were successful in undoing or stopping 1,600 burdensome federal regulations, including 15 under the Congressional Review Act. This will help businesses thrive by reducing the time and money they were forced to spend complying with costly and unnecessary regulations. We were also able to repeal Obamacare’s individual mandate so Americans aren’t forced to pay for expensive health insurance that they don’t like, want or need.

We restored balance to the courts by confirming fair-minded judges who adhere to the Constitution as it was written. We confirmed 22 of President Trump’s judicial nominees—12 of whom now sit on our country’s circuit courts—in addition to confirming Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. These men and women base their decisions on the rule of law rather than their personal policy preferences or feelings, which is important in their duty to faithfully and impartially apply the law.

One of our most important accomplishments—and one that will make a positive impact on the lives of a majority of Americans—is the enactment of historic tax reform. Tax reform is already leading to bigger paychecks and is creating a healthy, more vibrant economy—one that we can be proud to pass onto our kids and grandkids. Most Americans can expect to see more money in their paychecks this month. Already, more than 3 million Americans are feeling the benefits as more than 270 major employers announced raises and other benefits to their employees. Because of tax reform, the stock market has improved. This leads to more money in folks’ pensions and retirement accounts.

In his State of the Union address this year, President Trump laid out a vision for a more united country in which government is less intrusive and the American dream is possible for everyone. The progress we made over the past year provides a strong base to build on his priorities for 2018.

This year, we’ll focus on strengthening our armed forces, as directed by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that was signed into law last year. Giving our military a much-needed boost will allow military leaders to take necessary steps to regain the required level of readiness. A strong military is necessary to deter attacks from our enemies, and in the case of an attack on us or our allies, defeat them in combat.

We’ll also focus on developing a strong workforce to fill jobs here in the United States. We’ll work to equip potential employees with the skills and experience they need to thrive in this economy, whether through job training, apprenticeships or improving high school curriculum. The economic policies that Congress and the White House are working to implement will create more high-paying jobs, and we need skilled American workers to fill them.

While we have much progress to be proud of, we also have much work to do, and it will take hard work from both parties in both chambers and the White House to accomplish our goals. I look forward to continue working with the president and my colleagues as we address the most pressing issues before us. With just eight years until America’s 250th birthday, we must not let up on our efforts as we continue to make progress on our vision for America in which we are freer, safer and more prosperous for generations to come.

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Lessons of Homeownership
By Rep. Kristi Noem

For more than a century, the Garfield building in north Rapid City served as a schoolhouse, but today, different lessons are being learned there: the lessons of homeownership.

In 2012, plans began for what’s now known as the Garfield Green Project, a mixed-income, mixed-housing development. The school itself would be converted into 12-unit apartment building while eight, single-family “Habitat for Humanity” homes would be constructed beside it.

I had the opportunity to tour the campus this January and was absolutely blown away. Of course, the school was beautifully redone into contemporary apartments, and the single-family homes, built primarily by volunteers, were lined with new appliances and large closets. But what stuck with me most was the sense of community.

I got to meet soon-to-be-homeowners Valeriah and Tera during my visit. They’ll be neighbors in two of the Habitat homes. Both are moms, working hard to support their families, and both had seen homeownership as too high a financial hill without the support of Habitat. Now, they’ll each have mortgages designed with their financial situations in mind.

Many South Dakotans are in a similar position to Valeriah and Tera. Despite South Dakota’s relatively low cost of living, finding affordable housing can still be a challenge for low- and middle-income families. That makes it no surprise that there are 120 families on the waiting list for Habitat Homes. But projects, like Garfield Green, help.

Unfortunately, overreaching government regulations can make it more difficult to keep the cost of these homes low. For instance, appraisals can cost more than $1,000 and are required for a mortgage. Some appraisers offered to donate their services to non-profit charity groups, but found such a donation was a violation of the federal Dodd-Frank Act. Habitat for Humanity explained the regulation made it difficult to provide “responsible homeownership opportunities to families” as you couldn’t get affordable access to bank mortgages. This was one of the issues Black Hills Habitat for Humanity discussed with me.

The week after I visited the Garfield Green Project, I was thrilled to help the House pass H.R.2255, the Housing Opportunities Made Easier (HOME) Act. If enacted, this legislation would simply allow mortgage appraisal services to be donated by fee appraisers to non-profit organizations.

In response to the bipartisan legislation’s passage, Jonathan Reckford, CEO of Habitat for Humanity International explained: “This bill will help us keep affordable housing affordable… By ensuring that professional appraisers are also able to volunteer their services, this legislation will help keep loan origination fees low for new homebuyers. That’s good news for people buying Habitat homes, and it’s good news for the more than 1,300 local Habitat organizations across the nation that will be able to use the savings to build, rehabilitate and repair more homes.”

We absolutely need more options for low- and middle-income housing in South Dakota. Not only do families need it, but it’s also difficult to recruit businesses that want to hire people if there’s not housing available. While I’m eager to work on more in this area, I’m confident that in repealing this regulation, we take a step forward, expanding homeownership opportunities for hardworking South Dakotans.