From the Argus:
A Sioux Falls man whose prison sentence was reduced by U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds has been charged with breaking into Rounds’ office downtown and stealing various items.
It sounds like the burglar earned his early release for community service, or getting his GED. I suspect he’s also earned a return trip to the greybar hotel through his actions as well.
Betty Otten was kind enough to share some photos from the Lennox 4th of July parade where she reports District 6 GOP candidates were having fun — candy from Sen & Rep Otten; water gun sprays from Rep Latterell from a boat! And that Chris Nelson, Commissioner David Gillespie, Congresswoman Noem & Senator Thune also had a good presence.
She tells us all 136 photos are posted here: https://www.facebook.com/ErnieOttenForSouthDakota/ – so go check it out!
From the Aberdeen legislative candidate who declared how hard her classes were and “#f__knorthern” in her twitter feed, it looks like Democrat Nikki Bootz should have appreciated her classes a little more. Especially the parts where she’s required to communicate in the English language.
But don’t take my word for it. Read for yourself:
I don’t see a disclaimer, as required under South Dakota law. But that’s a minor offense against the electorate when you look at the egregious offenses against our native tongue.
Honestly, I’m not sure where she’s coming from with most of her letter. Not just where the letter switches schizophrenically from a third person to a first person narrative between paragraphs 3 and 4. It’s the rest the content that’s not just odd, it’s downright bizarre.
She goes on about how Democrats are being “outnumbered by Republicans by more than 1000 voters is due to gerrymandering.” Aside from the fact no one cares, I question whether she knows what gerymandering is, since that’s a voter registration issue.
Of course, it devolves into semi-coherent slogans. just because it has to when the content runs dry. “Ms. Nikki is serious when it comes to politics, she has strong views on specific political issues that directly affect her own family.” So, she doesn’t care about issues that don’t? “Keeping our jobs local and open,” which means what? She wants lots of local unemployment?
She does take a stab at a position on the second amendment, where she sort of claims that she supports the right to bear arms, because “South Dakota’s economy depends a lot on it. Hunting is our own personal right for food and sport and aids in keeping farmers’ crops safe. We also have the right to bear arms in defense and to be prepared to defend ourselves as needed.”
Curiously, her declaration of support for gun rights in her fundraising letter seems to fly in the face of prior statements, such as this from facebook:
Which I had posted here, where apparently she didn’t believe that legislators deal with abortion or gun rights.
What do you think? Should she have taken a run at draft two, three, …or fifteen before this mess was sent out?
I think I’ve mentioned it at least once that Jordan Youngberg in District 8 is worth keeping an eye on. He was nice enough to share some pictures from the parades this past weekend where he and his crew went and manged out 2 or three parades.
Candidates – Something to keep in mind when you’re hitting these – pull in as big a crew as you can, as it helps cover the parade route (and shows how well you’re supported).
I asked Jordan what he thought of the parade circuit, and he noted “was great for me as far as getting turnout and what a great way to shake people’s hand and reach out!”
Thanks for sharing – and Candidates – feel free to share your photos with me here.
Medicaid expansion is the topic at hand in an Associated Press article this AM, regarding the possibility of it passing in the 2017 legislative session, now that plans for a special session of the state legislature have been canceled:
“I think the path for the governor’s office is potentially going to be tougher next session, but we’re continuing to march forward with the thought that that very well could be a topic for 2017,” said Ben Lee, state director at opposition group Americans for Prosperity-South Dakota.
Daugaard, who had floated the idea of a summer special session, decided against it after hearing from lawmakers who wanted more time to study the proposal and to wait until after the presidential election to consider it. The move was a blow to Democrats pushing for expansion, and Senate Minority Leader Billie Sutton said it would remain their top priority when lawmakers gather in 2017.
Their push would be helped if Democrats can gain some legislative seats in November to stave off a more conservative Senate, he said.
There are enough undecided and leaning legislators in both chambers to make expansion a “real possibility” in 2017, said Jennifer Stalley, a lobbyist for the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas, which is among many groups supporting expansion.
I think there’s far less support in the House than proponents think, and that’s going to be the easy chamber. Expanding welfare rolls for able-bodied adults is not going to fly at all in the State Senate.
The rank and file of the GOP recently noted (in part) in resolutions at the 2016 convention:
Whereas, the South Dakota Republican Party recognizes the crises in healthcare offered by the Veterans Administration and the Indian Health Service, and the failure of the federal government to keep its promises to those who receive these services.
Now, Therefore, be it resolved, the South Dakota Republican Party rejects efforts by the federal government to mandate or incentivize further government intervention in healthcare; and,Be it further resolved, the South Dakota Republican Party is opposed to the expansion of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, generally referred to as Obamacare; and,
Be it further resolved, the South Dakota Republican Party urges the South Dakota state legislature, both house and senate, to reject and defeat efforts to expand Medicaid or adopt the Medicaid standards outlined in Obamacare.
That’s probably a good hint that, at least among the Republican faithful, that dog is not going to hunt and Republicans remain largely unconvinced that it could be in their benefit. And that’s not helped when the conventional wisdom is that there are no success stories in states who have moved forward with the expansion.
Coupled with Democrats’ likely legislative prospects this fall (slim to none) my crystal ball tells me that there is no visible path forward in the state legislature for Medicaid expansion in 2017, and you can arguably add 2018 to that prediction as well.
Todd Epp, who was an early denizen of South Dakota’s blogosphere at SD Watch, at about the time I started Dakotawarcollege just took on a new job as producer for the conservative Greg Belfrage Show on KELO-AM where you can see his byline on a few stories associated with the show.
According to his Linked-in profile, Todd will “Help produce The Greg Belfrage Show weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. on KELO-AM 1320 and KELQ-FM 107.9.” Todd had previously been with KSFY as their news producer, and later with KSOO Radio in 2015 (up until a point where it seemed that news wasn’t terribly important to them anymore).
Best wishes to Todd in his new position.
From KSFY, apparently Dem’s US Senate Candidate Jay Williams had a big rally in his hometown, featuring himself, as well as many other Democrat candidates from the area. See for yourself:
My gosh. You can hardly see Jay from all the people in the picnic shelter.
Seriously, though. This was a rally with he, and a number of other Democrat candidates in his hometown. If you subtract candidates, and family members… I’m not sure if anyone is there. Much like Williams’ support against sitting US Senator John Thune.
Man, he is toast.
A South Dakota Fourth of July
By Sen. John Thune
There are a lot of qualities that make South Dakotans some of the greatest people in America. They’re humble, honest, and thoughtful, and they know a hard day’s work and the true value of a dollar better than anyone else. South Dakotans have an immense respect for what it means to be an American and are grateful for the extraordinary blessing of having been born here, the freest country in the world. More than that, though, they understand those blessings came with a price – an immeasurable amount of blood, sweat, and tears. All that to say, the true meaning of July 4 isn’t lost on the people who call South Dakota home.
Independence Day is one of those holidays that’s celebrated in different ways by different people, but all with an underlying sense of pride and patriotism. I think that’s exactly what the men and women who’ve laid down their lives on our behalf would have wanted, and it’s a right for which our military heroes continue to fight and protect to this day.
For as many communities as there are across South Dakota, there’s as many unique and enjoyable Fourth of July celebrations. The cowboys and cowgirls at Belle Fourche’s Black Hills Roundup and Rodeo, one of the oldest annual outdoor rodeos in America, will ride in the 97th annual event this year. The week-long experience includes a parade, fireworks, the Miss Rodeo South Dakota contest, and the big rodeo itself, of course. While you’re in the Black Hills, the Crazy Horse celebration is a sight to see, considering it usually includes an explosion or two as the monument continues to take shape.
It goes without saying, but while each of those celebrations and the dozens more that take place across the state are worth seeing on their own, nothing quite compares to spending July 4 at Mount Rushmore. On any given day, you’d be hard-pressed not to feel a rush of patriotism while visiting Borglum’s tribute to some of our nation’s Founding Fathers, but add the excitement of July 4 to the mix, and I don’t think it gets more American than that.
Whether you and your family are camping, hiking, or firing up the backyard BBQ this Fourth of July, I hope it’s a safe, enjoyable, and memory-filled day. Wherever you are and whichever parade you attend, don’t miss the steely-eyed men and women marching quietly near the front. They won’t be tossing any candy and they won’t be riding on a flashy float. For our veterans, carrying the stars and stripes has a little extra meaning that day, and it’s something we should always honor and never forget.
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This Fourth of July is a Time to Reflect on What’s Important
By Senator Mike Rounds
Jean and I are blessed to have all eight of our grandkids nearby. They all live within a few minutes of our home in Ft. Pierre and we are fortunate to spend time with them most weekends. Among many other blessings they bring, they are also a constant reminder that the policy decisions being made today determine the kind of future we will leave for them.
With election season underway and near-constant media coverage of presidential politics, it can often be frustrating when the focus seems to be on hair or pantsuits, rather than the policy issues that will lead to a more prosperous future. Even my young grandchildren are put off by the tone, and thankfully they prefer riding around on the lawnmower or “four wheeling” on the golf cart with me. The reality is, we are facing serious issues and the important discussions need to be prioritized. We ought to be talking about the problems we face, and more importantly, the solutions that need to be pursued.
Independence Day is a good time to reflect on these issues. On July 4, 2026, just 10 years away, America turns 250 years old. As Americans, we will celebrate a historic time in the greatest country in the world. At the same time, our 250th birthday brings to bear a dangerous situation that we can forecast today. In 2026, it is projected that 99 percent of our taxpayer dollars will be spent on two categories: entitlement spending and interest on the national debt. That begs the important question: where will we get the money to spend on other critical items like national defense, roads and bridges, education or medical research? The crisis is not ten years down the road – it is right now. If we begin focusing on these problems today, we can address these challenges together. If we kick the can down the road, 2026 will be historic, but not in a good way.
Some in Congress are consistent in promoting higher taxes and more “free stuff.” Those plans inflate an already bloated federal bureaucracy, add to the federal debt and stifle job growth. Conversely, others in Congress simply support lowering taxes. Economically speaking, the solution is more complex.
We need tax reform that will provide an environment where businesses want to invest in America, rather than create jobs overseas and keep profits overseas. We need to limit the federal rule-making process that unfairly punishes job creators and restricts capital. Congress must regain its role as the lawmaking body– not D.C. bureaucrats. We need the courage to address entitlement reform so that we can save important programs like Social Security. We need to recognize that the best decisions are made at the local level of government, not in Washington, D.C. Lastly, we need to reduce the size of the federal government, and streamline it through strategic reductions.
Small victories are important and we’re seeing some success in the U.S. Senate. We’re moving more legislation through the committees than we have in the past eight years. We’re making progress, but we have a long way to go. In the meantime, we all need to keep our focus on the problems facing America so we can work together to find solutions. We’ll have a new president next year, and the leadership philosophy he or she brings will greatly impact what America looks like on our 250th birthday. I think all of us can agree on one thing: we want to leave this country better for our kids and grandkids.
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