In case you missed it a few weeks back, our friends at Dakota Town Hall interviewed Brendan Thomas from the Internet for Growth organization about an area of regulation that seems to be on the hit list as we approach our next session. The problem is we have those legislators who think they can solve South Dakota’s property tax crisis by cherry picking sales tax exemptions here and there and they forget small government when faced with the scary internet box and get in the face of those who do their business on-line.

The problem is that overreaches of government and costs in both taxation and regulation end up getting passed down to businesses, which they pass down to consumers, which ultimately doesn’t amount to a hill of beans because minor exemptions are not going to do much of anything.

A troubling trend among some of our elected officials – and those who want to be elected officials – is over the question of what we want our future to look like. There are some who think we can have the same jobs we had in the 1950’s. And they’re happy to declare they like it how it was in the ‘good old days.’ Which they tap out on their cell phones which we did not have back then.

The parallel we can draw with the ‘good old days’ is that South Dakota can define America in one word: opportunity. Fueled by our hardworking spirit, we’re as much a home to rolling hills, golden plains and national parks as we are to modern cities like Sioux Falls and Rapid City. And we can create opportunities in our rural communities as we push the boundaries of what we have now by also being open to new possibilities in the digital age, such as data centers, digital offices and home based businesses that are connected to the world through the magic of the Internet.  The key to our state’s survival is recognizing the needs of our small business owners.

From the mom-and-pop shopkeepers of Rapid City to the home-grown entrepreneurs of tribal country, the 216,705 South Dakota residents “working small” comprise a silent majority. It’s time to make sure their interests are heard, starting with protecting digital advertising – a crucial component to their success. And to stop unnecessary regulation where one size does not fit all.

In South Dakota, South Dakota small businesses have created 89.4% of the net job increases between 2023 and 2024, AND in 2023, South Dakota small businesses brought in $837 million from exported goods.  And it’s not just people who advertise on websites like mine – take a look at social media. Social platforms empower small businesses across South Dakota to connect with consumers, serve as their own advertising agents, and implement real-time feedback on products and services. They’re the reason why small business employment grew more than 21% since the dawn of the iMac.

Digital advertising tools have reinvented what it means to be a small business, making it easier than ever before for small businesses to enter their sector and be competitive. Through social platforms, small businesses can reach their audience anytime, anywhere—from just down the block to around the globe, all while saving tens of thousands on advertising! Those savings fuel growth, allowing internet based businesses to reinvest in employees and grow workforces.

If we want our state’s economy to continue to flourish, small businesses need to speak up about the power of digital advertising and tell legislators to keep their hands off of burdensome regulation. If South Dakota’s representatives pass laws that restrict access to data that gives small businesses a competitive edge, big companies won’t suffer; our communities will.  If they increase taxes on those who advertise on-line, it’s just another hurdle for South Dakota small business to enter the marketplace and to compete in that market. 

When the next pieces of tech legislation are drafted, big businesses with deep pockets will pay lobbyists and lawyers to protect their interests. It’s our job to make sure that the needs of small businesses trying to enter the on-line universe aren’t forgotten.  What do legislators need to be mindful of when looking at what legislation to bring next session?

• Small businesses advertising on the internet should be treated fairly and equally to brick and mortar businesses, and not be hit with more regulation or punitive costs (that will be passed down).
• Legislators should work toward thoughtful solutions that protect consumers from bad actors without eroding digital advertising capabilities for small businesses.
• Restrictions on digital platforms’ ability to collect information will hurt the small businesses that rely on those platforms—not the mainstream competitors with expansive marketing budgets.  

As legislators try to rein in what they perceive and derisively call “big tech,” they need to make sure they aren’t hurting small business in the process.

Just caught that South Dakota is becoming a hotbed of a new and troubling COVID-19 variant, according to FOX News:

Coronavirus cases have been on the rise in nine U.S. states, including New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Vermont, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota and both North and South Dakota, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC’s wastewater monitoring in the U.S. has identified XFG as the “predominant variant,” based on data from the week of Sept. 15.

and..

This suggests that the strain may be harder for the body to fight off, especially for those who are unvaccinated or have not been previously infected, as reported by Stony Brook Medicine.

and..

Stratus may also present as shortness of breath, chest tightness, sore or scratchy throat, headaches and body aches, upset stomach, nausea or loss of appetite, brain fog or trouble concentrating, and loss of taste or smell, although that symptom is now becoming less common.

Read the entire story here.

Thune Splits with Trump on Tylenol, Free Speech
Thinks science should guide drug and medical decisions Dana Bash and Sen. John Thune. 

By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News

Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) is breaking with the Trump administration on two fronts — a warning about Tylenol and the government’s role in what Americans see on TV.

Speaking on CNN’s Inside Politics, Thune pushed back after President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested pregnant women should avoid Tylenol because of a supposed autism risk. CNN noted the claim is not supported by science.

Thune, who became a grandfather again seven months ago, said he took the issue personally. “I think that science ought to guide these discussions,” he said. “We ought to be very guarded in making broad assertions and make sure they are well-grounded in science and medicine.”

He added that Kennedy, as HHS secretary, must work to restore public trust. Thune said Senate hearings would give lawmakers a chance to question Kennedy and make sure decisions are rooted in medical evidence.

According to Politico, Thune also stressed that many doctors disagree with the administration’s warning. “There are an awful lot of people in the medical community who come to a different conclusion about the use of Tylenol,” he said.

Politico reported Thune went further, criticizing the White House for leaning on broadcasters after ABC briefly pulled Jimmy Kimmel Live! from the air. Nexstar and Sinclair stations had preempted the show before it returned Tuesday.

Thune said the “coercive use of government” in programming decisions crossed a line. “As a general matter, my view is that the government ought not be in the business of trying to decide what people can and cannot say,” he said, according to Politico’s account of the CNN interview.

The South Dakota Republican has been in the Senate since 2005 and rose to majority leader earlier this year. Politico reported his comments as a rare split from Trump on both public health and free speech.

Johnson, Budzinski Legislation Provides Overdue Base Acre Update

 Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Nikki Budzinski (D-IL) introduced the Balanced Agricultural Support and Efficiency (BASE) Act to require the United States Department of Agriculture to update base acres for all farms as soon as is practicable. The last mandatory update was completed in 1985; the last voluntary update was completed in 2014.

“It’s been four decades since the last mandatory update and production agriculture has changed drastically since then,” said Johnson. “Changing global markets, high inflation, and black swan events over the past five years have changed farmers’ inputs and outputs. Updating base acres will help support our farmers.”

“The current base acre allocations do not accurately reflect what’s really being planted across the United States. For the folks I represent in Illinois, it’s simply not fair,” said Budzinski. “This legislation will finally bring fairness back to base acreage for the first time in 40 years, see that farmers are accurately supported for what they grow today, and ensure that we serve as better stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

“We need a modernized safety net that benefits active farmers. Farmers in South Dakota face high input costs, low prices and widening basis,” said Taylor Sumption, President, South Dakota Corn Growers Association. “The South Dakota Corn Growers Association greatly appreciates Representative Johnson working to level the playing field on behalf of our corn producers.”

The Balanced Agricultural Support and Efficiency (BASE) Act:

• Requires the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to update base acres for all farms as soon as practicable after enactment.

• • Updates are based on a five-year average of acres planted (or prevented from planting due to disasters), using 2020-2024 planting history. No crop year from 2020-2024 may be excluded, even if nothing was planted.
  • If acreage was devoted to more than one covered commodity (other than double-cropping), producers may elect which crop to count – but not both.
  • The update accounts for disasters like prevented planting acres caused by drought, flood, or other uncontrollable events are included.

• Removes “generic base acres.” Outdated provisions are eliminated, with conforming changes to yield, payment, and coverage calculations.

Click here for bill text.

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In a show of his campaign’s strength, this morning the Dusty Johnson for Governor campaign launched a massive endorsement listing of 113 current and former lawmakers supporting the Congressman’s candidacy to become South Dakota’s next Governor.  The list includes 36 currently sitting lawmakers, and 77 former legislators boasting nearly 650 years of collective legislative service. Which is sure to be an intimidating psychological move against his opponents.

Declaring “Together, with 646 years of legislative service, we helped build the South Dakota we are proud of. We know the value of safe communities, strong schools, low taxes, limited government, and real leadership. That’s why we support Dusty Johnson for Governor,” the list is a tour de force in the campaign’s success in bringing South Dakota community leaders and opinion makers together to elect a man who many expect will be South Dakota’s next Governor.

How are his opponents faring in comparison in the endorsement arena?

Toby Doeden and Jon Hansen have collectively announced around a dozen legislative supporters when counted together.

While Governor Larry Rhoden has not entered the contest for Governor, Senator Arch Beal and Representative Mike Derby are openly supporting the Rhoden campaign effort through the formation of a PAC to raise money on his behalf.

State Rep. Jon Hansen is apparently speaking at SDSU this evening in his campaign tour for Governor:

Not just a little ironically, his appearance at SDSU comes just a short time after Hansen demanded the firing of a USD professor over what he posted on Facebook.  Which was temporarily restrained by a federal judge in court yesterday.  According to the article about the court’s action:

He was suspended because he angered powerful people in South Dakota with commentary on a “matter of public concern,” Leach said. 

“Yet here, we have the government, at the highest level, punishing Professor Hook for his political speech,” he added, arguing that Speaker Hansen’s communications with USD President Sheila Gestring appeared to be all it took to set the wheels of termination in motion.

and..

Instead, he argued, the termination notice was an unconstitutional violation of Hook’s First Amendment rights and grounds for an immediate court order that would reinstate him and block the University of South Dakota from proceeding with its disciplinary action and barring retaliatory action. 

Read that here.

Having been on the receiving end myself of several Hansen attempts at cancellation, one has to wonder if his talk will consist of how we as a country can best prevent the exercise of free speech?

Opinion: Winners and Losers in South Dakota’s $650 Million Prison Plan

Gov. Larry Rhoden secured legislative approval for a new state penitentiary, reshaping the debate over transparency, rehabilitation, and political positioning in Pierre
by Northern Plains News, LLC

By Todd Epp, Northern Plains News

Whether you agree or disagree with the South Dakota Legislature’s approval of Gov. Larry Rhoden’s $650 million men’s prison plan, Tuesday’s legislative session had some winners and losers.

WINNER: Gov. Larry Rhoden: Rhoden took former Gov. Kristi Noem’s dead-in-the-water prison plan, which apparently was widely opposed, and got it across the finish line with a better location and a lower price. He likely enhanced his standing should he finally decide to toss his cowboy hat in the Republican nomination for governor.

WINNER: Transparency in Government: While Noem conducted most of her prison plan behind closed doors, not notifying legislators, county commissioners, or the public, Rhoden took a refreshing approach. He appointed a task force that met in public, took public testimony (including testimony from an incarcerated individual), solicited community input to express interest in the new facility, and reached a unanimous agreement on the measure that eventually passed.

LOSERS: Speaker Jon Hansen and Speaker Pro Tem Karla Lems: Both were members of the prison task force. Both voted for the proposal that the legislature considered as task force members, but voted against it on the House floor. Hansen’s “September Surprise” on Monday, the day before the special session, about the state funding prisoner transgender transitions, was a direct attempt to derail the measure. The state must provide such care until the federal courts determine otherwise. If it was an attempt by the Hansen/Lems GOP gubernatorial team to embarrass Rhoden, it failed. It only served to make Rhoden look more statesman-like.

WINNER: Better Rehabilitation Programs for Inmates: Typically, state legislators want to be “tough on crime” and pass bills that felonize more crimes. Which, of course, helps fill up the prison system. But almost to a person, legislators for and against the prison talked about the need for much greater efforts to rehabilitate inmates, give them job skills and addiction treatment, and reduce the state’s high recidivism rate. Rhoden appointed another task force on rehabilitation on the heels of the passage of the prison bill. We’ll see if the desire for more rehabilitation versus punishment is sustainable—and funded– in the halls of Pierre.

LOSERS: Current Inmates and Staff at “The Hill”: The Rhoden administration has announced that it will take four years to build, with projected completion in 2029, of the new 1,500-bed prison in northeast South Dakota. That means inmates and correctional staff will continue to be in a nearly 150-year-old prison not designed for safety or rehabilitation. Some legislators said staff want tactical training and equipment to keep them safe. The bill that passed did not address any current correctional needs.

WINNERS? LOSERS?: South Dakota Taxpayers: On the plus side: the new prison will save millions of dollars because the state will not have to pay interest on bonds. Also, the new facility should be more secure to protect the public from particularly dangerous criminals. On the downside: The measure will still require some state funding from the “rainy day” fund. Also, it’s estimated it will cost $30 million a year to operate the new facility. Maybe this is a TBD.

ON THE SIDELINES: GOP Gubernatorial Candidates Toby Doeden and Rep. Dusty Johnson: The businessman and the U.S. Congressman largely stayed out of the prison fracas. So, they didn’t say anything regrettable. However, they also failed to gain traction on the prison issue.

If we’ve learned anything about politics and legislating, there are almost always unforeseen consequences of such a major decision. What will that be? Watch this space.

From Facebook, State Representative Mike Weisgram has a fundraiser today at the St. Charles in Pierre.

If you’re in the area, check it out!

From Facebook:

I’ve never wavered in listening to law enforcement and pushing to make South Dakota safer.

I talked to everyone I could think of in the criminal justice world over the last few years: cops, prosecutors, defense attorneys, prison staff, Sheriffs, and everyone in between. The message was clear: we need a new prison, for the protection of our communities, the safety of the guards, and the rehabilitation of the inmates.

Yesterday was a good day for the future of South Dakota.

A good message about what legislators managed to do this week.

While Toby Doeden might have the support of Senator California Carley and his favorite tenant Rep. Brandei Schaefbauer, and Jon Hansen might welcome the support of sticky Tom Pischke, (and Carl Perry apparently can’t make up his mind between the 2% candidate and the 4% candidate),  Dusty Johnson last night at his Brookings fundraiser gave attendees a preview that his campaign would be soon releasing a list of over 100 current and former lawmakers who are endorsing his campaign for Governor.

This morning, Dakota News Now has a hint of a few of the names on the list:

Some of the names on the list include former Sioux Falls Police Chief and state lawmaker Doug Barthel, former House Speaker and the son and grandson of two South Dakota Governors, Mark Mickelson, and former longtime Yankton-area lawmaker, Jean Hunhoff.

In addition, current lawmakers Steve Kolbeck, Taylor Rehfeldt, and Will Mortenson are also lining up behind the Dusty Johnson campaign.

Read it all here!

Stay tuned, because it’s going to ratchet things up pretty significantly!