Category: Uncategorized

Supporting Local Law Enforcement
By Rep. Kristi Noem

Like many South Dakotans, I’m used to walking around town and seeing our local police officers working hard and keeping us safe. With National Police Week starting on Sunday, I’d like to take this time to say thank you to all of the men and women who serve in our state and across the country. I also want to help provide them with the necessary tools needed to combat the dangerous issues they face on a daily basis. 

I recently visited the Minnehaha County Sheriff’s Office, where I toured the jail and participated in a ride-along with deputies in order to see the challenges they face firsthand. Sheriff Mike Milstead and I spoke at length about the issues his deputies’ face and the ways I can be of assistance.

The rate of violent crime in South Dakota has nearly doubled over the last 10 years. According to Sheriff Milstead, Minnehaha County alone has seen a 17% increase in violent crime this year as opposed to the same time last year. Every week, newspapers across the state report on drug busts, violent crimes, and an influx of gangs. These aren’t just stories. According to local law enforcement, a high percentage of violent crime cases involve drugs. In order to better assist our law enforcement at home, I’ve asked the Department of Justice to step up its efforts to combat drug trafficking in our state.

In South Dakota people are getting addicted to drugs being channeled into our country illegally, such as meth and heroin. Sheriff Milstead informed me that he believes more than 90% of the meth and heroin comes from south of the border. It is critical for the federal government to support the efforts of our local law enforcement by halting the flow of drugs across our border.

I am proud to cosponsor several pieces of legislation to help address this acute need. The SMART Act authorizes the deployment of up to 10,000 more National Guard personnel and a number of new technologies to secure the border.

Another bill I support helps us catch up with drug traffickers’ tactics. Many times, drug traffickers utilize “spotters” while they cross the U.S.-Mexico border. These people help them avoid law enforcement. Under current law, spotting is not actually a criminal offense. The bill, called the “Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act,” would change that.

These bills will help us protect our border and in doing so, will provide assistance to our local law enforcement as they fight against drugs and violent crime in South Dakota. We must realize that attacking the problem at the source is the best way to solve it.

Our local law enforcement are an integral part of the fabric of our community. They are our neighbors, our friends, and even our family. We owe them our unwavering support. This week, as we celebrate their service to our communities, state and nation, I hope you’ll thank one of your local men or women in uniform for what they do every day.

From Politico:

CAN CORINNA DELIVER? — “She’s a f—ing unicorn.” That’s what a Democratic strategist told me when we spoke yesterday about Corinna Robinson, an unknown 51-year-old former career Army U.S. major who did two tours in Iraq, supported post-9/11 combat operations in Afghanistan and who moved in January to Florida via a Pentagon job and Brookings congressional fellowship to support the counter terrorism program at Joint Special Operations University at U.S. Special Operations Command in Tampa. Oh, she’s a pro-gun Democrat and mother of three biracial young men who all live in Florida. And now she’s talking to state and national Democrats about taking on Rep. Brian Mast, the combat wounded veteran in FL-18 who voted with his party to dismantle Obamacare but wouldn’t immediately explain his vote.

Read it all here.

SD Reaches Lowest Ever Infant Mortality Rate
A column by First Lady Linda Daugaard:

It has been six-and-a-half years since Dennis was first elected, and since then a number of things have changed in our lives. We have become grandparents, and our five grandkids – all age four or younger – brighten our days and amuse us to no end.

A number of things have changed in South Dakota as well. On May 1, the state released new data which shows more South Dakota babies are celebrating their first birthday.

In 2012, South Dakota had a relatively high infant mortality rate of 8.6 deaths per 1,000 live births. Our rate was higher than the rates in surrounding states of North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Montana and Nebraska.

We’ve made progress since then, and in 2016, South Dakota reported its lowest ever rate of infant deaths: 4.8 deaths per 1,000 births. That’s a drop by nearly half since 2012.

In 2011, Dennis asked me to chair the Governor’s Task Force on Infant Mortality. In our research, we found three major contributors to infant mortality: tobacco use, lack of prenatal care in the first trimester and unsafe sleep practices.

Research shows babies in South Dakota are twice as likely to die before their first birthday if their mothers smoke during pregnancy. The new data shows an improvement over the 2011 numbers, with 3.3 percent fewer pregnant women who smoked during pregnancy.

Along with abstaining from tobacco products, it’s critically important for expectant mothers to seek the care they need during the first trimester. In South Dakota, 72.7 percent of women received prenatal care in the first trimester last year. That’s also an improvement from the 2011 percentage. I found it was easiest to remember the ABCs of safe sleep: ALONE, on their BACKS and in a CRIB.

Also before baby is born, expectant parents should learn about safe sleep practices. Infants need to sleep on a firm surface covered by a fitted sheet. Pillows, blankets, toys and crib bumpers should not be in the crib. Babies need to be placed on their back and it’s best for them to sleep in light clothing in a smoke-free environment. Family members and other caregivers also need to know about these important practices.

Since the task force issued its findings, I’ve been traveling around the state to talk about the avoidable causes of infant mortality and to gain support for the South Dakota Cribs For Kids program. Under this program, private organizations and donors have partnered with the Department of Health to provide Safe Sleep Kits to families without a safe sleep option that show a financial need. The kit includes a portable crib, crib sheet, sleep sack, informational DVD, children’s book and pacifier. So far, 7,915 parents and other caregivers have received these cribs. 

It’s wonderful news that more babies are celebrating their first birthdays. If we continue to promote safe sleep guidelines for infants, help pregnant women stop smoking, and remind expectant mothers about early and ongoing prenatal care, we can support that encouraging trend. 

Learn more about healthy pregnancies and safe sleep guidelines at the Department of Health’s Website: ForBabySakeSD.com.

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And a beautiful Saturday morning to you from Lake of the Ozarks in Southern Missouri! I’m here for a quick trip so my wife can spread her mother’s ashes after her passing last year, so it’s a weekend of family obligations and driving for me.

Although, there are worse places to have family obligations than Table Rock Lake.

Big changes are afoot at the Family Heritage alliance. First and foremost, is the resignation of Dale Bartscher who has led the organization for many years, who is apparently leaving to pursue other opportunities.

An email came out tonight, noting in part:

Dale Bartscher has tendered his resignation. Dale is looking forward to a few weeks of rest and relaxation and then will be pursuing new career opportunities. As most are well aware, Dale’s unparalleled energy, enthusiasm, and networking skills catapulted the FHA organizations into a prominent role in South Dakota public policy and faith based activism. For that, we and this great state will continue to be grateful.  

The boards are also enthusiastic to announce some big changes in the rest of our leadership team. Ed Randazzo, who has served this organization faithfully for the last two years as our Public Policy Advisor, will assume the role of Director of Legislative Operations and will function as Chief of Staff. We anticipate Mr. Randazzo bringing to bear his exceptional knowledge of public policy and his many relationships across our state as we enhance our critical work in South Dakota’s political arena.

Stay tuned for more!

I think I’ve heard it all now.

My spies are telling me that they’ve heard there may be a petition starting to circulate to keep Ann Tornberg, the embattled Chairwoman of the SDDP who nearly was ousted from her position a week and a half ago.

Stay tuned!

State legislators seeking a solution for the meandered lakes issue are making noise that a special session of the State Legislature may be convened as soon as next month to revisit the issue, and to attempt to come up with a solution of what to do about formerly public waters that are no longer public, because they reside over someone’s land:

Greenfield is vice chairman of the task force. “I’m hopeful that special session can be very soon,” he said. “I’m talking days, really, when it comes down to it.”

and..

Hawley listed three issues the special session could be built around:

• Authorizing the game commission to decide regulations for specific bodies of water;
• Limiting landowner liability; and
• Authorizing GFP staff to negotiate with individual landowners.

Qualm said public testimony wouldn’t be part of the May 24 meeting. Conversations would continue “off-line” between legislators in the meantime, he said.

Read it all here.

Can they get 105 people to agree to an issue that has had a tendency to be contentious in the past? That may be the challenge.

We might have to prepare to fall over dead, as one of the fomenters of the failed Democrat Party revolt is finally breaking his news blackout on the attempted coup to oust Democrat party Chair Ann Tornberg to install someone who could inspire the confidence of Democrat malcontents.

As one of the principal people promoting Ann Tornberg’s ouster from her office..

Planning a snap election for new Democratic Party leadership on McGovern Day is not sudden, last-second upheaval. It does not show “bad taste.” It shows courage, inclusiveness, and good timing… all of which are good characteristics for a Democratic Party leader.

…former State Senate Candidate Cory Heidelberger was all too happy to help stoke the fires of revolution, and while earlier he characterized the ouster as having “courage,” and “good timing,” he spent the event bravely hiding in his burrow not attending the meeting he was pushing others to revolt at.

And now, after the failed revolution, we now hear some signs of activity from the Democrat’s peanut gallery, finally commenting more than 10 mornings after.

Contrary to the baldly false assertion of former Democratic legislator Larry Lucas, there were plenty of Democrats in the room who felt a “shotgun election” would have been entirely appropriate. As I said to my local party leaders before McGovern Day, if someone has a plan to produce better election results for Democrats in 2018, and if the current party leadership is unwilling or unable to carry out that plan, then get out that shotgun. No personal niceties should stand in the way of good plan for doing what the party should be doing.

and…

To whoever is circulating the petition to recall the party chair, I say, stop and redirect. A continued, extended effort to replace the party chair is at best substitutive, if not subtractive. Drop the recall and try an additive approach. Instead of directing all that energy inward, toward Democratic Central Committee members for one limited internal action, aim outward. Make recruiting calls. Go to protest marches to register voters, seek donations, and spread the Democratic message that we are on the people’s side.

and…

I am disappointed with the outcome of McGovern Day. The party needs to make progress. Individuals promising progress showed no ability to make progress, at least not in that internal setting.

Read that here.

(This response to the Democrat party upheaval is coming so long after the event, we might have to see if Cory runs back to the comfort of his burrow, so we can predict 6 more weeks of Democrat failure.)

Now that Heidelberger is likely facing being frozen out from Ann Tornberg’s inner circle, after having been one of her favored whom she featured at fundraisers, Cory seems unable to decide whether to continue the effort to dump Ann Tornberg, or to try to sweep the revolution under the rug, as he urges the dissenters to drop the recall.

As I’ve said before to the Democrats – keep on keeping on. This is one of the greatest shows in town.

(From my mailbox, “Team Dusty” is having a campaign kickoff next Wednesday in Mitchell, Sioux Falls, and Rapid City -pp)

I am kicking off the campaign in a BIG WAY and I want you to be a part of the fun! Jacquelyn, the boys, and I will be traveling across South Dakota to personally share why “Team Dusty” is running for Congress.

Join us for a celebration on Wednesday, May 17th from:

8-9 a.m. – Rapid City
Alex Johnson Hotel
(604 N Main St.)

2-3 p.m. – Mitchell
Corn Palace Plaza
(604 N Main St. )

6-7 p.m. – Sioux Falls
Falls Overlook Cafe
(825 N Weber Ave.)

We hope to see you there!

Your Friend,

Dusty Johnson

If you can’t attend, but would still like to be a part of “Team Dusty” visit our website: www.DustyJohnson.com.

While it has been quiet for several weeks as Dusty Johnson and Shantel Krebs have been campaigning across the state, the candidacy of Neal Tapio for Congress had slipped from the political conversation, and been fairly quiet.  Was he actually thinking about it? Had Neal abandoned considering running?

From a conversation I had with Neal Tapio recently, the answer is unequivocally that yes, the 2018 Republican nomination for Congress is very much on his radar. But don’t expect an answer anytime soon.

Neal indicated to me that running for Congress is more of a certainty than it isn’t, as he’s leaning towards pulling the trigger for a campaign, and isn’t afraid to tell people.  However, he’s also in no great hurry, despite those of us who are political prognosticators and in the business of mapping these things out.

Tapio indicates that frankly, he thinks it’s too early to get into a race. Neal told me he “enjoyed this past legislative session, and learned how much he didn’t know,” as he noted he learned an “incredible amount” serving in the State Senate, he’s looking forward to next session, and serving is good preparation for thinking about a run.

But, as far as announcing now, Neal indicated that “He’d like to shorten the campaign, because people are tired” of long campaign seasons. One of the big pressures on candidates is to raise the funds necessary in preceding months to run the race is not one he faces, as he indicated an ability to self-fund a congressional race, eliminating any need to get in early to spend his time fundraising.

Neal noted to me that he’s “met with the media people, and campaign managers,” and is doing the initial legwork to prepare to jump into a statewide contest such as Congress.  However, he takes his timeline to make a decision from our Current Congresswoman as opposed to what his potential opponents Johnson or Krebs are doing.

“My goal is to try to make a decision whether to enter the race in January or February like Noem did,” Tapio noted. “As opposed to spending the next few months out there campaigning, I’d rather spend my time talking about issues.”

The issue that rises to the top for Tapio is right along the lines of his appearance at the recent Freedom Rally help be Republicans at the end of April – He’s concerned about freedom in the United States, and in particular, the freedoms guaranteed by the first amendment, and how we make sure those freedoms are preserved.  And we’re going to be hearing more of this from him on this topic over the remainder of the year.

While he hasn’t made a final decision yet, the message from my conversation with Senator Tapio was very clear – Don’t count him out of the 2018 Congressional contest. He might not be in a hurry, but if – and more likely when – he does pull the trigger for the race, it will be for a race he’s ready to run.