Rounds Delivers Tribute to Terry Redlin on Senate Floor
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today paid tribute to Terry Redlin in a speech on the Senate floor. Redlin, a famed painter from Watertown, passed away at the age of 78 on Sunday, April 24, 2016.
Thune Bill Would Create Independent Oversight Position for Veterans Choice Act
“Veterans should not have to face additional burdens to care, especially in a program that is meant to streamline the veteran experience.”
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced legislation that would create an independent ombudsman position within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) that would be tasked with establishing a methodology for resolving certain complaints levied by veterans, their family members or designated caregivers, VA employees, and third party health care providers.
Thune introduced this bill in response to concerns he received from veterans who reported ongoing scheduling issues created by the Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability (Choice) Act of 2014, a law that was intended to increase veterans’ access to local health care, but has been blamed for numerous scheduling backlogs.
“There are some serious problems with the Choice Act that I think everyone can recognize,” said Thune. “What began as a straightforward attempt to address the scandal-plagued VA has become a headache for some veterans across South Dakota, even when few scheduling issues existed in the first place. Veterans should not have to face additional burdens to care, especially in a program that is meant to streamline the veteran experience. I hope this new position in the OIG’s office would help answer our veterans’ questions and resolve some of their problems. It’s what they deserve.”
Under Thune’s legislation, the newly appointed ombudsman would serve as the central collection point for complaints related to problems with:
The ombudsman, whose position would sunset after 10 years or when the Choice Act’s authorization expires, would be required to provide quarterly reports to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs on his or her activity, including the total number of complaints received and complaints resolved and/or pending. He or she would also be required to provide recommendations for resolving the systemic problems with the Choice Act.
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I’m hearing that there will be a independent running in District 18 Senate that the GOP can get behind!
(I might take just a smidgen of credit by telling local Republicans that he would be a good guy to talk to.). And it sounds like someone went and did just that.
I’ll stand by and let the news break when the petitions arrive. So, keep your eyes out!
Rounds Statement on Meeting with Judge Garland
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) made the following statement after his meeting with Judge Merrick Garland, President Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court:
“As a former governor, I respect the president’s responsibility to make a nomination. Today I met with Judge Garland as a courtesy. During our meeting, I thanked him for allowing the president to place his name in nomination. However, I believe that Justice Scalia’s replacement should be nominated by the next President of the United States.”
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I think my mouth is still agape after listening to the interview the Argus Leader did with Democrat’s “If no one else will do it” Senate candidate Jay Williams yesterday. Because I don’t think I can ever recall hearing a candidate promoting the views that he did.
And some of it was so crazy, that you have to question whether Democrats are going to start a movement to dump him?
There’s so much that was said that was just utterly off the wall, I’m not sure where to start. But, I’ll give it an attempt.
Williams didn’t exactly deny that he was the “If no one else would do it” candidate, but he preferred to call himself the “if you can’t find a better known” candidate. I’m not sure that’s any better.
From there, we quickly moved into the Jay Williams tax plan where Williams went on about how South Dakota has “no income tax” and said “We’re undertaxed in South Dakota,,, an Income tax would be a good way to go.”
Williams also brought up his views on the Dem’s presidential candidates, and reiterated previously stated thoughts about Bernie Sanders, noting “I DO think he’s a moderate. He’s not a European Liberal, He’s ab American Liberal…. He’s a progressive guy is what we say.”
(Bernie Sanders a Moderate? Brrr…. I’d hate to see a real liberal then. – pp)
Williams also made note regarding himself that he’s “always been a Liberal.” To which I would not have grounds to argue with him. From there he moved deeper into the weird and politically unfathomable. Especially where it comes to fossil fuels. Because Williams directly advocated for stopping any expansion of infrastructure for the transport of fossil fuels – and directly stated that “the transport of fossil fuels is a problem.”
Worse yet, when asked if his platform would be to rid ourselves of fossil fuels, he replied “of fossil fuels? YOU BET!”
He went on to advocate a program of “government subsidies so everyone could put photo-voltaic cells on their roofs.” Yes. He wants to create a brand new Obama-roof program. WOW. Of course, he also advocated “eliminating coal” from the production of electricity in this country entirely citing “wind, solar and ocean tides.” Because South Daktota’s energy needs will be served well by ocean tides? Again, wow.
Lest he leave it out, Williams also weighed in on cap & tax for carbon credits, citing “Cap & trade..is a pretty good idea.”
When asked about legalizing marijuana for recreational use, Williams directly stated that “Drugs are not criminal…..it’s a mental health problem.” And that “recreational marijuana is a thing that’s going to happen, so South Dakota should do it sooner than later.”
By this time, we were fully in the twilight zone, so it came as no surprise when Williams advocated increasing gas taxes by $1 a gallon, when prompted by the interviewers. Williams directly stated “I think that’s a pretty good number…. I’d propose a tax to not let it get below a certain number.”
A candidate who is for legalizing pot, a state income tax, eliminating oil and coal from the national energy infrastructure, and wanting to raise prices in gasoline by at least $1 per gallon or more – you’re left asking whether Democrats going to start a movement to dump Jay Williams? Or are they going to embrace the crazy?
Because there’s no way the public at large is going to accept a candidate espousing such utter lunacy as making everyone get an electric car or tractor, making us all get Obama-roofs, and shutting down petroleum production in this country.
If Democrats are serious about competing in the US Senate contest this year, they’d be best served by finding someone – anyone – who isn’t so ridiculously out on the fringe of far-left liberal thinking. Because what they’ve got right now will just leave voters with dropped jaws every time he opens his mouth.
Seriously, go listen to the interview here, and you can judge for yourself.
This was an interesting e-mail coming out yesterday from the South Dakota Democrats.
In the announcement for their “McGovern Day” dinner, they have the invitation coming from ex-Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, which would seem to give the impression that she’s building a strong connection with the State party organization as it promotes one of it’s big yearly fundraisers (in a struggle to keep from going underwater).
The event will feature Ohio Congressman Tim Ryan, who before running himself, used to be on the staff of Rep. James Traficant. Traficant, if you recall, was expelled from the House and sent to prison for seven years after being convicted of a list of crimes including taking bribes, filing false tax returns, racketeering and forcing his aides to perform chores. (No word if Ryan is going to talk about doing chores on Traficant’s Ohio farm or D.C. houseboat at the dinner.)
I’m more interested in the co-branding of the event with Herseth-Sandlin, though.
It seems to parallel some of the efforts that various Republicans in the 2018 race for Governor, such as Marty Jackley and Mark Mickelson are making, in which they’re headlining GOP Dinners across the state.
They’re headlining these events, because for all practical purposes, Republicans are calling the 2106 major statewide races DONE Paula Hawks is simply one of the worst candidates that Democrats have ever put up for Congress. And Jay “If no one else will do it” Williams is even worse.
By bringing in Stephanie to encourage people to attend, it’s like they’re trying to scrape the bad meal they’ve been served up for 2016 off of their tongue, and to start talking about 2018, when one of their former stars might be thinking about running for office. Because make no mistake – no one (except for their spouses) are coming to the event for Hawks and Williams.
Democrats are going to attend with the hopes of glimpsing the promise of the red meat they might be served 2 years hence. They’re certainly not coming for a meal where they are served microwaved leftovers complete with a side of beets, because that’s all that was left in the cupboard.
Senate Passes Schatz-Thune Legislation to Improve and Grow Tourism in Native Communities
The NATIVE Act Will Empower Native Communities and Expand Cultural Tourism Opportunities
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) issued the following statements after the Senate unanimously approved the Native American Tourism and Improving Visitor Experience (NATIVE) Act, bipartisan legislation that will enhance and integrate native tourism, empower native communities, and expand unique cultural tourism opportunities in the United States.
“South Dakota is rich in the culture and traditions of the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota nations,” said Thune. “We should do all we can to help celebrate and recognize the numerous and oftentimes invaluable contributions our tribal communities provide to our state. I want to thank Sen. Schatz for his work on this bill that will help integrate tribally driven tourism plans into the existing federal tourism effort, which will help draw more visitors to the Great Plains and continue to empower our tribal citizens and communities.”
“I authored this bill because our country’s native communities are unique and have histories and cultures that can only be shared in America,” said Schatz. “In our state, we are proud that the Native Hawaiian contribution is foundational to who we are as a place and a people. Every visitor should know that.”
The NATIVE Act will require federal agencies with tourism assets and responsibilities to include tribes and native organizations in national tourism efforts and strategic planning. It would also provide Native Hawaiian, Alaska Native, and American Indian communities with access to resources and technical assistance needed to build sustainable recreational and cultural travel and tourism infrastructure and capacity; spur economic development, and create good jobs.
U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Al Franken (D-Minn.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) are cosponsors of the NATIVE Act.
“Travel and tourism provide massive benefit for communities in every corner of the country, and in many communities those benefits are driven by visitation to Native American lands and cultural attractions,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “The NATIVE Act expands opportunities to promote tourism to these lands. International travelers to Indian Country often have a greater impact on the local economy than other visitors—staying longer, visiting more states and regions and spending more on travel service—and the NATIVE Act will harness that effect for these communities.”
The NATIVE Act is supported by a broad coalition of stakeholders, including the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, Sovereign Councils of the Hawaiian Homeland Assembly, U.S. Travel Association, American Indian and Alaska Native Tourism Association, Southeast Tourism Society, Western States Tourism Policy Council, National Congress of American Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, Native American Contractors Association, and the Native Enterprise Initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
In September 2015, U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.
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When I saw it, I had to have one. It depicts many well known Socialists, most of whom didn’t run for president of the United States.
Cue that 2-note sound from the NBC Show “Law and Order” here. (Bum-bum).
Alright faithful readers – It’s time for another episode of The Svarstad Files, chronicling the long criminal history of Democrat Party State House Candidate Chris Svarstad as runs for the South Dakota State Legislature, dragging a chain of broken laws the entire way behind him.
On February the 29th Yankton Democrat Candidate Chris Svarstad compared himself to Republican State Representative Mike Stevens on crime on a campaign web page that as of tonight, is no longer there: 
Svarstad alleges “weekend passes and cover-ups” on the part of State Representative Mike Stevens…. but skips over the part where Mike Stevens isn’t a prosecutor. He isn’t some sort of jail administrator. He would have had practically nothing to do with any “Weekend passes.”
What was Steven’s role in the matter? Stevens was actually counsel for the defendant. His attorney. So, as counsel for the defense, advocating for his client… well, it would actually be part of the job duties of a defense counsel, and he’d be in dutch if he didn’t do his job.
What makes the post even more bizarre is that given Svarstad’s past experiences with Attorney Stevens acting as a defense counsel prior to making that questionable statement, you would think he should have already know that.
Why would he know of Stevens’ work as a defense lawyer? Well, here’s where we have to take a look into The Svarstad Files:
In 2014, about 22 years after the case that Svarstad is using to poke at Representative Stevens, Svarstad (or someone paying Svarstad’s bills) hired Representative Stevens to represent him and act as his attorney because he was charged with use or possession of drug paraphernalia.
So, when he made the questionable statement about Rep. Stevens in the 1992 case earlier this month, Svarstad was already well acquainted with the role that Stevens serves within the system of American Jurisprudence in acting as a defense counsel. He’d already used Steven’s services himself.
Except, unlike the 1992 case, apparently there was not enough reasonable doubt for Stevens to get Svarstad off the hook on this drug crime for which he pled guilty about a year and a half ago.
Stay tuned for more to come on The Svarstad Files.
Sorry about the light posting lately. I’ve had my nose held hard on the grindstone without a free moment in-between work and more work over the past few weeks.
If I’m not plunking away on claims & other activity at the insurance office, I’m making a fleeting appearance at the Real Estate office while I work on a few things. And it’s just otherwise nuts around these parts. We had a first communion this weekend for my youngest, as he gets older day by day… It’s also the end of the school year, which my wife described at Lunch today as work, concert, work, concert, work, concert…
There’s also that whole campaign printing & supply business of mine which is going like gangbusters.
As you can see here pictured to the left, my sign delivery team is hard at work, as we wait for a candidate to meet us this past weekend. We spent most of Saturday on the road after I had open houses for Real Estate in the morning.
I’d love to spend more time getting in-depth with what’s happening in South Dakota politics, but I find myself devoting my energies to “making hay while the sun is shining,” and working with the candidates who are out there doing political campaign signs, and campaign postcards for the primary campaign season.
And that provides the basis for a post – that Political postcards are nothing new for South Dakota, as you might tell by one of my favorite political items in my personal collection:
This is a South Dakota political postcard from 1908 – over 108 years old – regarding outgoing Governor, and US Senate Candidate Coe Crawford going to the US Senate after raising money for the State Treasury by taxing South Dakota Railroads.
It’s one of, if not the earliest example I’ve found for South Dakota. It’s a simple black & white 4×6 postcard. Obviously, they didn’t do full color 6 x 11 postcards with UV coating (as you can buy through dakotacampaignstore.com *shameless plug*), but they didn’t have to punch a message through the amount of junk mail we all receive in these modern days.
Postcards had somewhat been in and out of vogue in South Dakota state politics, until State Democrat party Executive Director Rick Hauffe brought them back in the late 80’s/early 90’s, and (admittedly) he used them to effect against his opponents, in this case, select candidates for the SDGOP, as they received these giant postcards that not many people had seen before. If they weren’t effective in moving votes away from their opponents, it at least left some candidates trying to respond to the zingers that were thrown against them on a mass basis.
That coincided with when the pendulum last swung back for Democrats, allowing them to capture a slim majority in the State Senate for a single term. And it was postcards that made it possible. Although, don’t look for a repeat anytime soon. Nowadays, Democrats are a pale reflection of what they once were, and the GOP is far more vigilant.
Since that time, postcards have become more and more a staple in many campaigns, as broadcast and newspaper advertising has increased in price, and electronic mediums for advertising have yet to catch fire for State, Legislative, and County level candidates. And, postcards are not such a scatter-shot approach as radio or newspaper advertising tends to be.
It’s like the difference between training a shotgun at a deer, or using a high power rifle on a target.
We read mainly about the negative postcards that are bandied about, and sometimes go for the jugular, but in reality, most candidates use them simply for name identification. With the ability to target the exact voters who have the highest likelihood to participate in an election, they arguably surpass all other methods of contacting the electorate on a targeted basis.
The lowly postcard. Since (at least) 1908 in South Dakota.