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This was an interesting post on Facebook.  Sometimes it’s less the photo, and more what’s in the background. In a post on the anti-Republican SD Grassroots Conservative facebook group, they were just clucking about raising money to take out Republican legislators they don’t like..

And who is that we see in the background on the left of one of the photos? Looks to be (former 32-year Obama Democrat and) SDGOP Chair Jim Eschenbaum, fresh off of attending yet another dinner event, the prior night’s event for Justin McNeal who is going to run to try to take out Senator Mike Rounds.

If Eschenbaum only put as much effort into supporting incumbent Republican officeholders as he did trying to beat them, then maybe the party wouldn’t be in such dire straits.

Republican Michael Dupic reached out today and sent me a note, wanting to get the word out about his candidacy for the District 10 Senate seat against Senate Minority Leader Liz Larson as he launches his campaign in the coming days:

My name is Michael Dupic. I am a registered Republican. I am seeking the Republican nomination for the SD Senate in District 10 next year. I confirmed with SOS office that my statement of organization papers have been received.

I’m ultimately running to unseat Senate Minority leader Liz Larson. I want to run on expanding economic opportunities, criminal justice reform, and government accountability etc. I want to run a campaign to attract a winning coalition of voters including Republicans, Independents, and Conservative Democrats.

I am a longtime Sioux Falls resident and local entrepreneur. I know it will not be easy to defeat a sitting Senate Minority leader, however I’m going to give it my best chance!

Please go check out Michael’s facebook page, and watch this space for future coverage.

Representative Taylor Rehfeldt Selected for 2025 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award

SIOUX FALLS, SD –    The Council of State Governments (CSG) has named Representative Taylor Rehfeldt (R-District 14) a recipient of the 2025 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award. The award honors the bipartisan leadership and public service of 20 emerging elected and appointed state officials across all four CSG regions.

“Serving South Dakota is a privilege. I’m grateful for this recognition because it reflects what matters most: delivering real results for families and communities across our state. There is important work ahead, and I’m committed to staying focused on solutions that make life better for every South Dakotan,” said Rep. Rehfeldt.

Established in 2020 through the vision of former New Hampshire Sen. Lou D’Allesandro, a public servant of more than five decades, the CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award was created during his tenure as CSG National Chair to strengthen engagement with younger state leaders.

Since then, the CSG 20 Under 40 community has annually welcomed a new class of inspiring public servants under the age of 40 who make meaningful contributions to their communities while exemplifying the core CSG values of civility, collaboration, and innovation.

Rehfeldt was selected from a competitive pool of applicants who demonstrated excellence in one or more of the following areas:

• Ability to engage officials across party, departments, branch, and/or state lines in meaningful ways to advance the common good for their state/territory.
• Provide exceptional leadership to a state project, committee, chamber, commission, or special group.
• Serve as a champion of change and seek to enhance the lives of all constituents within a specific policy area.

A recognition ceremony for the 2025 recipients will take place at the CSG National Conference, Dec. 9-13, in Chicago. Leaders from all 56 states and U.S. territories will be in attendance to exchange ideas, address complex state policy issues, and celebrate the work of outstanding public servants.

For more information about The Council of State Governments and the 2025 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award, visit csg.org.

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Thune: Schumer Shutdown Day 27

“Democrats don’t want a solution: they want a political issue.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Addressing Challenges in Emergency Medical Services: A Legislative Update
by Rep. Tim Walburg, Dist. 8

The 2025 Legislative Session has brought forth significant discussions on various concerns, particularly in the realm of Emergency Medical Services (EMS). In preparation for the EMS Summer Study, Rep. Kull and I embarked on a journey across different EMS agencies to grasp the challenges faced at a local level. Our visits consistently highlighted two predominant issues: funding and staffing. When we talk staffing, we can’t forget training.

Rural Emergency Services: Staffing and Training

In our initial meetings, we were tasked with addressing the unique needs of rural emergency services, specifically in obtaining, maintaining, and training staff. We explored ways to deliver trauma services in remote areas lacking immediate access to trauma centers and sought to identify the efficiencies and resources necessary for effective operations. Throughout the summer session meetings, we heard from numerous EMS agencies, local citizens, and state agencies, all voicing their concerns and suggestions.

Staffing and Compensation Concerns

A significant portion of the feedback we received from citizens revolved around staffing shortages and inadequate compensation for EMS personnel. Although insurance reimburses many calls, numerous others go uncompensated. The crux of the issue lies in the nature of the calls—insurance only pays if the patient is transported, and even then, the reimbursement often covers only 50% or less of the actual costs.

Regulatory Changes and Their Impact

Several testimonies detailed the impact of recent changes in EMS regulations. The South Dakota Osteopathic Board now oversees EMS providers in the state. This shift, while initially promising, has strained smaller volunteer services already struggling to meet operational demands. The board’s rules for ambulance operators have added another layer of complexity, particularly for smaller agencies.

Nursing in Emergency Services: Regulatory Challenges

Another vital concern brought to our attention involved the role of nurses in emergency services. Changes in the law in 2024 left many Licensed Practical Nurses (LPN) and Registered Nurses (RN) uncertain about their coverage while serving in rural areas. The dual oversight by the Board of Nursing and the Osteopathic Board led to confusion and, in some cases, a decision by nurses to withdraw from EMS roles—exacerbating staffing challenges in remote areas.

Defining the Role of “Ambulance Operator”

The term “Ambulance Operator” has become a focal point of debate. Previously managed by the South Dakota Department of Health, oversight now falls under the Osteopathic Board. This transition has sparked concerns among ambulance services, who feel the certification requirements add unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. The requirement for drivers to complete a state-approved Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC) has been particularly contentious, as it overlaps with existing training received by law enforcement officers.

In response to these challenges, I introduced two bills for consideration by the EMS Summer Study:

Draft 142: Local Control for “Ambulance Operator” Certification

Draft 142 proposes transferring the authority over “Ambulance Operator” certification back to individual agencies. This change would empower agencies to determine their staff’s training requirements, including recognizing the training of law enforcement officers. The bill aims to reduce bureaucratic burdens and enhance operational flexibility for local EMS agencies.

Draft 135: Clarifying Nursing Roles in EMS

Draft 135 seeks to clearly define the roles of LPNs and RNs within emergency services. By integrating nursing terminology into EMS statutes, the bill ensures that nurses can continue to operate in ambulances and provide emergency care, alleviating confusion and anxiety among nursing professionals.

Looking Ahead: Continuing Efforts for EMS Support

I am grateful for the support of my colleagues as we present these bills to the executive board, who will ultimately decide their fate. While we have made strides in addressing staffing and operational challenges, the issue of funding remains unresolved. We have committed to continuing discussions on funding solutions in the next legislative session, with several promising ideas already on the table. Our goal is to support rural areas in delivering essential emergency services to their residents, ensuring that no community is left without the care it needs.

Gov. Rhoden Signs Hours of Service Waiver to Bring Relief for Fuel Supplies During Harvest

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden signed Executive Order 2025-09 granting an hours-of-service waiver for propane and other liquid products being transported through South Dakota associated with the ongoing harvest.

The 14-day order exempts delivery of gasoline or gasoline blends, diesel, fuel oil, ethanol, propane, jet fuel, and biodiesel from federal motor carrier regulations regarding drivers’ hours of service. The waiver will address supply shortages being reported in the state by residents and businesses.

Although hours of service have been temporarily suspended for commercial deliveries, companies may not require or allow fatigued drivers to make deliveries. All other road safety and vehicle compliance regulations still apply.

The executive order expires at midnight on November 10th, 2025.

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From the anti-Trumper group “SD Grassroot Conservatives” it looks like former 32-year Democrat and current SDGOP Chair Jim Eschenbaum went al the way out to Keystone to take part in the Justin McNeal for US Senate announcement, as here he is with Julie Frye-Mueller and her husband.

Later in the video clip this was snipped from was Phil Jensen and his wife, the state party Vice-Chair Janet Jensen. Because well, of course.

As you see, Phil is looking as intelligent as he acts during session.

(Guessing neither our ’32-year Democrat’ State GOP Chair Eschenbaum nor Rep. Jensen were invited to the Governor’s Hunt on the other end of the state).

In response to the Minnehaha County SDGOP Chair earlier today calling the attempted coup by the vice-chair improper.. The Minnehaha SDGOP Vice-chair responded in a completely adult manner, and declared (in effect) No it’s not improper. Nee-ner nee-ner! No takebacks!  As they prepare for a rumble at the bingo-hall!

In case the middle-school students need some remedial bylaw training, which clearly they do..  If you look at the governing bylaws as per the State Republican Party, which supersede any county rules to the contrary:

5. Duties of Officers:

A. County Chairman: The county chairman, as head of the Republican Party in the county, has the following duties:

1. Direct county Republican Party affairs as well as to conduct the political campaign in the county.

6. Preside over meetings of the County Central Committee and County Executive Board.

and..

B. County Vice Chairman: The county vice chairman has the following duties:

1. Discharge all duties of the county chairman in his/her absence or disability.

2. Coordinate all Republican auxiliary activities in the county.

3. Other duties as the county chairman may delegate.

I’m quite sure the state bylaws noting that the chair directs party affairs, and presides over meetings, AND that the VC can only discharge the chair’s duties in the chair’s absence or disability, means that unless the Chair delegated to the Vice Chair the ability to call meetings, the vice-chair does not get to do so, just because they don’t like the chair’s decision.

Good Gosh. Maybe we can hope that they’ll finally figure it out and quit it.

The continuing drama over the recall election for Deadwood City Commissioner Blake Joseph continues as a hearing determined there were not sufficient grounds to stop the election, so it’s back on like Donkey-Kong:

City officials are expected to schedule a special meeting Monday, where they can now set a special election date.

The word I’m hearing out of the Governor’s Hunt this last weekend is that we should expect Governor Rhoden to be making an official announcement in the next 2-3 weeks.

That rumor doesn’t come as a shock, but what’s in 2-3 weeks? The lead in to Thanksgiving.  That starts the tough holiday season for fundraising when people tend to keep their money home.

Governor Rhoden did hold a big Friday afternoon fundraiser – a Strong, Safe, and Free PAC event – during the Governor’s Hunt weekend. And while it had a few heavy hitters in attendance, I don’t know that it produced a half a million in receipts, as recent Dusty Johnson or Marty Jackley events in Sioux Falls have. Although, donors are being provided with a myriad of ways they can inject money into the Governor’s race on Larry’s behalf:

We’re starting to get down to brass tacks where we’re going to see a flurry of announcements, with the Governor’s expected to be the biggest.  Once they pull the trigger, the question will be how much can they raise to put a message into every Republican Household in the state? Because there’s going to be a lot of competition this season.