From the Argus Leader, the Keystone XL pipeline people are asking for a pause in the review process. Not that they haven’t had a 7 year one already:

TransCanada, the company behind the controversial Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the U.S Gulf Coast, has asked the U.S. State Department to pause its review of the project.

TransCanada said Monday it had sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry requesting that the State Department suspend its review of the pipeline application. The pipeline company said such a suspension would be appropriate while it works with Nebraska authorities for approval of its preferred route through the state that is facing legal challenges in state courts.

The move comes as the Obama administration was widely expected to reject the pipeline permit application.

“We have just received TransCanada’s letter to Secretary Kerry and are reviewing it. In the meantime, consideration under the Executive Order continues,” State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said.

Read it here.

Some say that they simply want to pause the approval process in hopes of having a new administration to deal with. Well, if that’s the case, who can blame them?

The fact is that the Keystone XL permitting has become a national embarrassment of epic proportions, specifically at the expense of relations with our closest ally and neighbor Canada, with whom we already have several pipeline agreements with.

It’s drug on for years, and at a cost. $42 Million into the economy daily, according to one source:

Since President Barack Obama took office in 2009, the State Department has sat on the pipeline’s approval and not issued its recommendation on whether or not the project is in the national interest. That delay has added up, according to AFF, costing the U.S. economy $15 billion per year.

“At today’s price of crude at $51.76, this would gross over $42 million dollars a day or roughly $15 billion per year,” wrote VanWyhe, noting how much economic activity was lost by not moving 830,000 barrels of oil across the Canadian border.

and…

“Fiscally, economically, environmentally and strategically speaking this project is a win,” VinWyhe wrote. “After nearly 7 years and $175 billion in lost economic activity, it is time for the construction of Keystone to come to fruition in order to allow Americans to experience the economic benefits.”

Read it all here.

Apparently, it’s a slow news day in Aberdeen. A very slow news day.

The local newspaper which claims they’re not biased against Republicans today has a front page story on how Democrats are holding a meeting to try to gin up some interest in the once proud, but faltering Democrat party by hauling out some of the core liberal leadership.

They’re having a meeting, so that’s front page worthy?:

“We’re hoping that from this event people will see what the citizens of the community have on their minds,” Jennifer Slaight-Hansen, a member of the Aberdeen City Council and chairwoman of the Brown County Democratic Party, said. “Are we on the right track? Do we know the pulse of the people?”

The panelists are hosted by the Brown County Democratic Party. Although one panelist is a current state senator, none of the panelists are currently seeking office.

Panelists include:

• Cory Heidelberger, political blogger.
• Billie Sutton, state senator from Burke.
• Ann Tornberg, chairwoman of the South Dakota Democratic Party.
• Kathy Tyler, former legislator.
• Susan Wismer, former South Dakota gubernatorial candidate.

Read it here.

Interesting they left the party ED back in Sioux Falls for this Dog & Pony show.  Apparently, they want to insulate her from the bomb throwing. Looking at the composition of the group, it’s not looking like most of them are mainstream democrats. Or mainstream South Dakotans for that matter. As opposed to being comprised of the most liberal views  of the SDDP. (Billie Sutton might want to consider the company he keeps if he wants to run for higher office).

A “front porch forum” hardly sounds descriptive. Instead, maybe riffing off of some of their viewpoints, they could call it the “Godless Abortion Gunless Democrat” meeting or “GAG’s” for short.  While Democrat’s grinder monkey Cory proselytizes his atheism, Kathy Tyler can explain why she believes Jesus was in favor of abortion, and Ann Tornberg can explain her party’s position on Gun Control.

Why, I’m sure they’ll be able to GAG people in Brown county from miles away once they hear what the SDDP’s liberal core has to say!

I’m not sure there’s a takeaway from this, other than for Republicans  – make sure you ask for front page coverage next time you have a meeting.

Rounds, Ernst Call for Strengthened Support of
Kurdish Peshmerga Forces in Iraq

WASHINGTON— Following a recent Congressional delegation trip to the Middle East, U.S. Sens. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) today sent a letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter raising serious concerns voiced by foreign leaders in the region. The senators echoed concerns that the coalition effort to defeat ISIL is not achieving the desired outcome – including U.S. support for the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and their Peshmerga Forces. They also called on Secretary Carter in their letter to strengthen support to the KRG. The letter comes on the heels of the Obama Administration’s recent decision to deploy U.S. personnel to Kurdish territory in Syria.

“Unfortunately, the picture provided to us in theater is starkly different from that which is provided to the American people, and to us as elected officials in the Senate and members of the Senate Armed Services Committee,” the senators wrote. “Specifically, it does not appear that coalition efforts are having the Administration’s desired ‘degrade and destroy’ effects against ISIL.”

The senators continued, “While visiting Iraq, our meeting with foreign officials painted a grim picture of the U.S. and coalition effort against ISIL. In particular, our time on the ground did not alleviate our long-standing concerns about inadequate U.S. support to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and their Peshmerga forces.”

“In conclusion, we ask the Department to strengthen its support to the KRG based on the troubling operational situation in large portions of Iraq, the dedication of the Kurdish Peshmerga in their fight against ISIL, and KRG support provided to the over 1.6 million displaced persons within their territory.”

Full text of the letter:

November 2, 2015

The Honorable Ashton Carter
Secretary of Defense
1000 Defense Pentagon
Washington, DC 20301

Dear Secretary Carter:

We write to you today to raise concern regarding our coalition effort to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) and support to our Iraqi Kurdish partners.

We recently returned from meeting with U.S. servicemembers and foreign leaders throughout Iraq and Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the picture provided to us in theater is starkly different from that which is provided to the American people, and to us as elected officials in the Senate and members of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Specifically, it does not appear that coalition efforts are having the Administration’s desired “degrade and destroy” effects against ISIL.

While visiting Iraq, our meeting with foreign officials painted a grim picture of the U.S. and coalition effort against ISIL. In particular, our time on the ground did not alleviate our long-standing concerns about inadequate U.S. support to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) and their Peshmerga forces.

While meeting with our KRG allies in Erbil, we were again informed the military support promised to them from Baghdad is far from being provided, and the level of support, such as adequate stocks of small arms ammunition, is not enough to effectively defend their territory against ISIL. Furthermore, the coalition’s piecemeal supply of various Russian and NATO weapons and ammunition makes resupply extremely difficult for Peshmerga forces—as it would for U.S. forces if faced with a similar logistical situation. The KRG also informed us that they require heavier weapons, more equipment in general, and protective gear—as already provided to ISF units for a number of years—to more effectively defend their territory. As this is something we specifically worked to achieve via the NDAA, we have heightened concerns for the needs of our allies on the front lines against ISIL.

In conclusion, we ask the Department to strengthen its support to the KRG based on the troubling operational situation in large portions of Iraq, the dedication of the Kurdish Peshmerga in their fight against ISIL, and KRG support provided to the over 1.6 million displaced persons within their territory. Specifically we ask your views on what additional measures the United States can take to support our Kurdish allies.

Sincerely,

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Former Employee of South Dakota Secretary of State Office
Charged with Theft in Original State Flag Case

PIERRE, S.D – Attorney General Marty Jackley announced today that Garrett Darwin Devries, 26, Washington D.C., has been charged with one count of theft having a value in excess of four hundred dollars, class one misdemeanor.

“As with any charging decision and potential resolution, I am balancing the nature of the crime with the level of cooperation and acceptance of responsibility. Our ‘Original State Flag’ is an important part of our history, and its recovery without damage or further incident is an important consideration,” said Jackley.

This charge stems from Devries employment at the South Dakota Secretary of State’s Office during the time between December 2012-November 2013 and the theft of an ‘Original State Flag’from his place of employment.

A tentative plea hearing is anticipated for November 23, 2015, in Hughes County.

-30-

If you were listening to the chatter this last week… recall the three devices that were lost from the Secretary of State’s office….

Three of 30 iPad minis also were reported lost before Jan. 2, 2015.

Gant said that the 30 iPads were among about 100 devices his office purchased when it was testing and revamping an overseas military balloting system. The devices were used across the state to test the system.

Read it here.

And now, read what Bob Mercer related about the story:

The audit work questioned a variety of practices and identified problems such as three missing laptops that were purchased for the iOASIS system.

Read it here.

So, three mini-ipads have been inflated and exaggerated by Mercer to become three laptop computers.  Yeah. No bias there..

And if Bob ever asks to sell you a laptop, make sure you look at it first.

Update – Bob responds. And Bob claims….. well, you read it.

I referred to three missing iPad minis as three missing laptops. I stand accused by a blogger that was bias on my part. No bias meant. 1/2

— Bob Mercer (@pierremercer) November 2, 2015

I confess I never held an iPad or iPad mini or priced them or looked at them. To me iPads, tablets and laptops are like grades of SUVs. — Bob Mercer (@pierremercer) November 2, 2015

And Bob’s excuse? He claims he called them laptops….. because he didn’t know what an iPad is.  Yes, really.

We might not celebrate Columbus Day in South Dakota anymore, but I didn’t think there were any prejudices held against Italian Americans.  But then I read Democrat Rep. Shawn Bordeaux’s comments coming from a State-tribal committee hearing:

Bordeaux also drew a parallel with casinos on Indian lands. When they first came, people feared the worst.

“When gaming first came out, they said there’s going to be mafia, and all the Indians are going to have all this crime. It’s going to be all over the reservations,” he said. “I ain’t seen one Guido yet … those folks who are supposed to be the mafia folks haven’t showed up.”

Read it here.

“Guido?”  Yeah, that’s not a compliment. It’s an ethnic slur.

I question whether it was done in ignorance, which would seem to be underlined by his statement.  “I ain’t seen one Guido yet?”  – yeah…. I’m not hearing anything but ignorance when that uttered forth from his mouth.

The Pot Legalization effort is going no farther this year as petition sponsor Ryan Gaddy confirms to KCCR Radio that they’re not going to make the required number of signatures for the ballot:

South Dakotans Against Prohibition Founder Ryan Gaddy says although they won’t see their issue on the ballot in 2016, they did see an uptick in registered voters thanks to their push.

Gaddy adds that the reason why they were not successful this year strictly had to do with dollars…

As the date nears on South Dakotans with the opening of the Flandrea Santee Sioux Tribe’s Marijuana Lounge on New Year’s Eve, Gaddy says the decriminalization law might not die as early as some think. He says that with all the issues surrounding the enforcement of marijuana possession amongst non-natives, state lawmakers will have to pass some type of decriminalization law.

Read (and Listen) to it all here.

Apparently last night, it was good to be the king.

People who look a lot like @MattLG & Karen Michels are greeting trick-or-treaters at the Govs Mansion @SDGovDaugaard pic.twitter.com/NtxFPdFCKM

— Tony Venhuizen (@Tony_Venhuizen) October 31, 2015

I posted a similar photo 2 years ago, and noticed it got a bit of chatter, so I grabbed this from facebook  when I saw Ted Cruz is back in Iowa hunting with Dan Lederman again this year.

Culture Change Needed at the IRS
By Sen. John Thune

There are few, if any, federal agencies that elicit a more visceral reaction from the American people than the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The IRS wields an enormous amount of power – enough to topple businesses or crush families. When that power is used improperly or outside the scope of the law, it can have a devastating impact on everyone left in its wake. As a result of its egregious abuse of power, including the unfair targeting of conservative groups, the IRS is in desperate need of a top-to-bottom culture change that would help restore its credibility to a level that the American people both expect and deserve.

As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the IRS, I recently had the opportunity to raise some of these concerns directly with IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. My primary recommendation to the commissioner was to fully implement the provisions of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Enhancement Act, a bill that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and I introduced earlier this year.

Our bill would create new protections for taxpayers, strengthen and update safeguards against abuse that are already on the books, and punish bad actors at the IRS. Specifically, the bill would significantly increase civil damages and criminal penalties for improperly using or accessing taxpayer information. Americans should not have to fear that politics could play a role in their confidential tax information being disclosed to an unauthorized third party, that they will be targeted based on their political beliefs, or that the IRS will not retain its employees’ emails, like we saw with Lois Lerner.

I also believe that IRS employees should be held to a higher standard, which is why I co-sponsored the No Bonuses for Tax Cheats Act, which says to hard-working Americans that the federal bureaucrats who collect their taxes have the same responsibility they do in fulfilling tax obligations. The bill would withhold bonuses and pay increases from IRS employees who are willfully cheating on their taxes or otherwise engaged in misconduct.

According to a 2014 Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration report, the IRS doled out nearly $3 million in bonuses and paid leave time to tax-delinquent IRS employees or employees who had documented cases of improper behavior. Rewarding such behavior defies logic, and I’m hopeful this common-sense legislation will become law.

The American people have every right to be skeptical of federal government agencies like the IRS because they haven’t given the American people any reason to think differently. That’s one of the biggest problems facing the federal government today – a lack of trust and credibility. We can do better. The American people deserve better. Passing common-sense bills like the Taxpayer Bill of Rights Enhancement Act and the No Bonuses for Tax Cheats Act would be a big step in the right direction.

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