Hawks exhibits ignorance of important issues right out of the gate.

@SoDakCampaigns

From the Capitol Journal, Paula Hawks is already shooting her mouth off to the media without having the benefit of having her brain engaged:

“The basic thought for me is that South Dakotans deserve better representation, and Hawks_videothey deserve somebody who is going to listen to them and to hear what they have to say, and to act on that rather than answering to the party and the highest bidder,” Hawks told The Associated Press. “There’s a distinct population in South Dakota that doesn’t feel represented, and I know that I’m the person that will represent them well.”

and…

Hawks said that Noem’s bank account highlights that her priority has been fundraising, and “that has shown in the lack of solid legislation that she has brought to support South Dakota.”

Read that here.

Gee, where have I read something completely different to that assertion:

But the farm bill is different. This is an issue of critical importance to South Dakota, and the nation. And Noem is right at the heart of things.

She was a member of the House Agriculture Committee that passed a farm bill after months and months of increasingly intense negotiations.

And she’s a member of House leadership at a time when the decision about when or whether to bring that farm bill to the floor rests with House Speaker John Boehner.

Noem’s not just one of 435 on this.

If the farm bill passes, she can claim it as a legitimate triumph. If it goes down in this Congress’ increasingly typical dysfunction, she won’t be able to dodge the blame.

Read that here.  And…

On February 7, 2014, 2014 Farm Bill was enacted.  I was privileged to serve as a member of the Conference Committee that negotiated the agreement and gave South Dakota a voice throughout the negotiations.

The USDA now has the responsibility to implement the legislation, but I am monitoring the process closely.

You can review the bill in its entirety here or check out some highlights below:

  • Saves More than $20 Billion.  The Farm Bill will reduce spending by more than $20 billion.  The savings were found through a series of reforms throughout the Farm Bill, including the elimination of direct payments and reforms to the nutrition program that help uphold the program’s integrity while saving around $8 billion.

  • Strengthens Livestock Disaster Program.  The Conference Committee based the Livestock Disaster Program off the House’s language, which was authored by Rep. Noem and offers a higher reimbursement rate than the Senate version did.  As a result, the program would reimburse producers up to 75% of the fair market value.  Additionally, the program will be retroactive for 2012 and 2013 and extend through the life of the Farm Bill.  Finally, the legislation raises the cap to $125,000 for a single producer and $250,000 for a married couple.

  • Gives Additional Tools to Combat Pine Beetle Crisis.  As urged by Rep. Noem, the agreement helps get boots on the ground faster for pine beetle mitigation efforts.  It does this by streamlining lengthy environmental red-tape on insect and disease infested areas of forests throughout the United States at the request of a state’s Governor. It also includes a categorical exclusion of 3,000 acres.  In November 2013, Rep. Noem hosted U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell in the Black Hills to show him the damage.  While there, he stated that we need to start dealing with thousands of acres rather than hundreds.  This Farm Bill allows for that.

  • Reauthorizes the Sun Grant Initiative.  The Farm Bill maintains the Sun Grant Initiative, which has created a network of land-grant universities, including South Dakota State University, that work together to further establish a biobased renewable energy economy.

  • Establishes an Office of Tribal Relations in the USDA.  The legislation permanently establishes an Office of Tribal Relations within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help improve communication between the USDA and Tribal nations.  Rep. Noem originally authored the provision in the House version of the bill.

  • Renew PILT Funds.  The legislation renews funding for Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILT), helping states fix roads, hire teachers, pay police officers and provide other vital services.  This is especially important to rural communities throughout South Dakota.

  • Includes Noem’s Protect Our Prairies Language for Certain States.  The Farm Bill includes the Protect Our Prairies Act, which was written by Rep. Noem.  The legislation encourages conservation of native sod and grassland by decreasing crop insurance support for the first four years after the sod/grassland is broken.  This provision only applies in South Dakota, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa.

Read that here.

If Paula Hawks can’t recognize that the Farm Bill was important, and that Congresswoman Noem played a critical role in this legislation, which was vitally important to SOUTH DAKOTA and OUR NATION, then she needs to go back to school, and study South Dakota.  Because her education on the topic of what’s important to South Dakotans is woefully inadequate.

And that distinct population who feels under-represented? It must consist exclusively of Democrat Party insiders. As evidenced by Noem’s 30 point victory over her last opponent.