New and Improved
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
September 26, 2025
BIG Update
Artificial intelligence (AI) will be an engine of economic growth around the world. That’s why China and the United States are in a race to develop the infrastructure to support this transformative technology. America must win this race. President Trump and I understand the urgency and importance of this issue, from an economic and national security perspective.
I was in Aberdeen with energy, AI, and data center leaders to talk about how these investments would provide critical property tax revenue for South Dakota counties while helping the United States win this race.
As the world becomes increasingly digital, I will work with industry leaders to find ways to grow and train Americans for the skills needed to support this future-forward, emerging AI technology. South Dakota absolutely can and should be positioned to have a place in this digital race.
Johnson digital roundtable in Aberdeen
BIG News
The federal government is unfortunately heading towards another government shutdown. Shutdowns are stupid and do not serve the American people. That’s why I introduced the Eliminate Shutdowns Act with Senator Ron Johnson to prevent the government from shutting down ever again. My bill makes sure government funding continues at current levels until Congress passes new funding packages.
There is plenty of blame to go around for any shutdown, but one thing is clear: no one benefits from a shutdown.
BIG Idea
Four decades have passed since America’s ag producers had a mandatory update for the base acres – essentially how much a farm plants of certain crops. I’m sure you know how much the world has changed since 1985 and so has production agriculture. Inaccurate base acre numbers create discrepancies between USDA program payments and what is actually planted.
To improve these programs, I introduced the Balanced Agricultural Support and Efficiency (BASE) Act to require a one-time update of base acres for covered commodities to ensure base acres reflect recent planting history. These updates will better protect producers during disasters and more accurately reflect a recent average of acres planted.
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Republicans hold the White House,Senate and House Thune accuses the Demos of shutting down the government Give me a break Big time gaslighting
The House has already passed the bill but it requires 60 votes in the Senate. The choice to shut down the government is up to Schumer and his Democrats in the Senate.
so what if the government shuts down for a few days or weeks? It’s an annual event. The non-essential employees get a paid vacation, views of national monuments are obstructed, and then, just when the public starts getting used to it, and starts entertaining ideas that less government would be an improvement, they get a budget passed, congratulate themselves in front of the cameras and tell us we’ve been rescued from certain catastrophe.
What about all the farmland that data centers gobble up? And all the power and water they require? Which water users are going to get priority in a dry year – the residents & farmers or the data center? One data center can use as much electricity as Sioux Falls – how can we be sure that won’t raise our rates. Not a lot of room in my budget for that, Rep. Johnson.
Computers are not steam powered, they don’t “consume” water. They use it for recirculating cooling systems.