AFP Reacts to “Clean Power Plan”

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Today, Americans for Prosperity South Dakota, the state’s foremost advocate for economic freedom, reacted with disappointment to the President’s new “Clean Power Plan” rule, finalized today, which would drive up costs for consumers across the economy.

State Director Ben Lee released the following statement:

“South Dakota doesn’t need more regulation from Washington — especially not ones that will send our electric bills skyrocketing, cost thousands of jobs, and raise costs for consumers all across our state. This new plan would essentially amount to a federal takeover of South Dakota’s powergrid and we just can’t afford it.

Last session, state lawmakers rightly voiced their opposition to the EPA and this harmful plan.  Likewise, Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds and Congresswoman Kristi Noem are doing their part to protect South Dakotans from these costly regulations.  It is important for our leaders to continue to do all they can to oppose this power grab by the EPA.”

Rounds Statement on Obama’s Coal Tax Plan

“This plan will result in higher electricity rates for every single household and job creator in America.”

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today issued the following statement on President Obama’s so-called “Clean Power Plan” final rule, which was issued earlier today:

“Once again, the Obama Administration is stretching the limits of the law far beyond what Congress intended to impose sweeping new mandates at the expense of American families,” said Rounds. “This plan will result in higher electricity rates for every single household and job creator in America. Additionally, energy production will be reduced, bringing further uncertainty surrounding the electric grid – all with little environmental benefit. The rule could also threaten the livelihood of South Dakota’s lone coal-fired plant at Big Stone, which is already in the middle of a $400 million compliance upgrade.

“The so-called clean power plan is yet another example in which American families are being forced to suffer the consequences of this Administration’s overreaching, over-burdensome agenda without any input or recourse for policies they disagree with.

“Congressional frustration with these types of regulations underscores the need for a bipartisan approach to address executive overreach, regardless of party affiliation.  The bipartisan RESTORE Resolution, which we introduced earlier this year, along with its House companion, would lead to a permanent solution to regulation without representation. It reinforces Congressional oversight as part of the rulemaking process.”

Earlier this year, Rounds sponsored The Affordable Reliable Energy Now Act (ARENA), the principal legislative vehicle in the Senate to roll back the Clean Power Plan. The Senate EPW Committee is scheduled to mark-up ARENA on Wednesday.

More information about RESTORE is available HERE.

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Rounds Votes to Protect Taxpayers from Paying For Planned Parenthood

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today voted in favor of S. 1881, legislation he cosponsored to redirect funds from Planned Parenthood to community health centers.

“Recent videos of Planned Parenthood officials causally and cold-heartedly discussing the sale of body parts of unborn children is reprehensible. I thank Majority Leader McConnell for bringing legislation to redirect funds from Planned Parenthood up for a vote this evening, and I thank my colleagues who have taken the lead on this important issue. I am pro-life and I do not support taxpayer dollars funding an organization that performs abortions and illegally sells the body parts of unborn children. It is sickening.

“Part of our job as members of Congress is to vote our conscience when it comes to moral issues. This is clearly a moral issue that must be addressed. There are many other options – other than Planned Parenthood –  for delivering important services to women. I will continue to oppose federal funding of Planned Parenthood.”

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South Dakota Attorney General Voices Concern with EPA’s Clean Power Plan

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized the rule establishing performance standards for greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing fossil fuel fired power plants.

“We all recognize the importance of protecting our environment and developing energy efficiency, but I am concerned the EPA has exceeded its authority granted by Congress and reduced the decision-making authority of our State. The EPA’s actions will directly affect energy costs and potential energy availability to South Dakota consumers. I intend to work with other State Attorneys General to protect our State decision-making authority and our consumers who heavily depend on energy in their everyday lives,” said Jackley.

In 2014, several states submitted extensive comments on the Proposed Rule, explaining the Proposed Rule was unlawful. In addition, they also noted the EPA’s failure to comply with notice and comment requirements. Now over a year later, these comments and related concerns have not been addressed as the EPA moves forward with the implementation of the Rule.

  Thune Bill Would Improve Access, Availability of Rural Health Care

“This common-sense bill would support and improve the health care services that skilled nursing facilities can provide to our rural communities by allowing them access to much-needed funds that are currently out of reach.”

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today introduced S. 1916, the Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015, a bill that would amend the Communications Act to permit skilled nursing facilities (SNF) to apply for support from the Universal Service Fund’s (USF) Rural Health Care Program (RHCP). The USF’s RHCP provides funding for telecommunications and broadband services used to provide health care in rural communities. The Communications Act specifies which types of health care providers are eligible to receive RHCP support, of which SNFs are currently not included. Thune serves as the chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) and the USF.

“For many South Dakotans, it is not as easy as jumping in the car and driving down to the local hospital for a checkup, which is why access to rural health care, including telemedicine, is such an important issue for South Dakota families,” said Thune. “This common-sense bill would support and improve the health care services that skilled nursing facilities can provide to our rural communities by allowing them access to much-needed funds that are currently out of reach. My legislation achieves this goal without raising the existing cap on the Universal Service Fund.”

When the FCC updated the RHCP and created the Healthcare Connect Fund in 2012, it proposed to implement a pilot program to examine funding SNFs. In January 2014, the FCC deferred implementation of the pilot program, and in June 2014, Thune sent a letter to the FCC urging it to resume implementation of the pilot program.

The Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society (Good Sam), headquartered in Sioux Falls, S.D., currently operates hundreds of SNFs nationwide, most of which are in rural communities. Through Internet-based connections to its national headquarters, Good Sam allows rural patients to remotely connect with hospitals and physicians. The Rural Health Care Connectivity Act of 2015 would help organizations like Good Sam provide better quality care for rural areas throughout the country.

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The Argus Leader’s 100 Eyes program is running right now, with the major topic of discussion the Argus staffers savaging Paula Hawks’ announcement for Congress.  Editor or Content Strategist, (or whatever they call him now) Patrick Lalley summed it up in three words, as noticed by Tony Reiss:

Analysis from #100Eyes on @hawksforhouse campaign roll out: It’s amateur hour. Wow.

— Tony Reiss (@realTonyReiss) August 3, 2015

Lalley reiterated that statement later in the show, and continued noting “She wasn’t ready to be the candidate.”  “What’s the campaign about….?”

He let the word “Substandard” slip inadvertently, but it’s pretty accurate. And should continue to be for quite some time.

South Dakota Republican Party Highlights Hawks’ Support for State Income Tax

Pierre – The South Dakota Republican Party today issued the following statement in response to Paula Hawks’ candidacy for the U.S. House:

“Paula Hawks is best known for being the leading advocate for the creation of a state income tax that would dramatically raise taxes on all South Dakotans and we welcome her to the race,” said South Dakota Republican Chairwoman Pam Roberts.

Background: Watch the video available at the Argus Leader website for more on Hawks’ support for a massive tax increase: http://archive.argusleader.com/article/20130104/VOICES/301040018/School-funding-taxes-hot-topics

Questioner: “Are you in favor of an (state) income tax?”

Hawks: “Um, yeah. …”

Questioner: “Do you see a downside to an income tax?

Hawks: “It’s extremely unpopular. The unfortunate part of that is it’s unpopular because of a lack of understanding how that would affect people differently than taxes now.”

I see South Dakota Democrats can barely contain themselves that they have a candidate for Congress.

Really, this rollout couldn’t have been more awful if they’d planned for it not to be noticed.

The flipside of the coin is that I almost hate to write about how bad it is. As every time I do, it increases the campaign’s media presence exponentially.