Turning Blue for World Autism Awareness Day.

@SoDakCampaigns

If you notice the splash of color, we’re turning blue for World Autism Day – April 2, 2015.

And this is specially poignant as this year South Dakota  became the 40th State to pass some form of Autism Insurance reform, as you’ll see from the ceremonial bill signing photo that took place on the last day of session (when everyone else was busy resigning…)

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I’m reminded of the letter I sent to State Representatives last year as we were working hard to get a measure moved forward.  Looking back, it remains an important reminder of how far we’ve come in South Dakota:

I’m writing you this morning not on a partisan matter, but on a personal one. I’m writing you today to encourage your strong support for the passage of House Bill 1257, an act to clarify certain autism spectrum disorders insurance coverage.

…

In committee, my wife Michelle spoke about our daughter, Delaney, and some of the challenges we’ve faced in our journey raising our daughter, and our plight in finding an effective treatment that allowed her to finally move forward, only to have our insurance carrier yank the rug out from under us and to inform us that they were ceasing coverage solely because South Dakota is one of only a handful of remaining states which do not require it.

I realize I cannot tell you my family’s whole story on a short email, but please know in the past seven months, these therapies have made all the difference for my daughter who suffers from violent outbursts and dangerous behaviors that will impact her entire life if she is not able to continue with her therapies until she has acquired the skills to cope with her world.

….

There aren’t any heroes or villains in this matter, just problems that require leadership to help families find hope and at least a temporary respite. Autism Spectrum Disorders are ailments that affect entire families, because every member of the family plays their part in caring for their child, sibling, niece, nephew, brother, sister or grandchild.

In the meantime, on behalf of my family, I thank you for your time today, and would welcome and greatly appreciate your support of House Bill 1257 this next week and beyond. Thank you for caring about the children in this state with autism and the families who love them.

Regards,

Pat Powers

What has happened since I sent this in 2014? Insurers came to the table in 2015 with a measure in hand, and eventually, it was amended to a point where both sides could call it progress.

People working together towards a common goal. Who would have thought?

The important point is that, it’s not a partisan thing. Autism does not choose among Republicans or Democrats.  And as noted, Autism Spectrum Disorders are ailments that affect entire families, because every member of the family plays their part in caring for their child, sibling, niece, nephew, brother, sister or grandchild.

When you see that out of control child having an intense meltdown in WalMart, or wrestling with their mom as she tries to get through the check-out. Or the kid who is loud and acting out in a restaurant – think before you speak. There’s a good chance those kids may suffer from Autism Spectrum Disorder.

So, please, have a little patience. We’re all trying to do the best that we can for our families.

And it’s looking like a fun June for me….

@SoDakCampaigns

I found out this week that in addition to going to the Eagles concert (the one with the ridiculously priced tickets) in early June, that it looks like I might get to go to Washington DC.

I had hoped to go a month or two back for CPAC, but a death in the family and other obligations altered those plans. This opportunity kind of popped up out of the blue, so it’s looking like I get to go about June 15th.

Last time I went, I managed to hit Ford’s Theater, The Newseum, the Smithsonian World History and American History Museums, the Washington & Lincoln Memorials, and the Capitol.

What else is worth putting on my bucket list?

Press Release: Governor Proclaims Oglala Lakota County Name Change

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Governor Proclaims Oglala Lakota County Name Change

PIERRE, S.D. – Following voter approval and a resolution from the Legislature, Gov. Dennis Daugaard has proclaimed that Shannon County be renamed as Oglala Lakota County.

The name change will be official on May 1, 2015.

State law requires the governor to publicly proclaim the new name of a county by issuing an executive proclamation. The name change becomes official on the first day of the next month.

Last fall, Shannon County voters approved the name change by more than the required two-thirds majority. The state House and Senate then passed House Joint Resolution 1005 during the 2015 Legislative Session to adopt the new name.

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Delegation Concerned by Misguided ESA Listing of Northern Long-Eared Bat

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Delegation Concerned by Misguided ESA Listing of Northern Long-Eared Bat

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) expressed continued concern over the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (FWS) misguided approach to addressing the decline of the northern long-eared bat population by listing it as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). A fungal disease, white-nose syndrome, not habitat loss, is the primary cause of northern long-eared bat deaths that have resulted in a sharp decline in population throughout many states in the bats’ range.

“I’m disappointed by today’s announcement because the FWS’ approach does not focus on the real problem, which is that northern long-eared bat deaths are due to white-nose syndrome, not habitat loss,” said Thune. “This is why I recently introduced legislation that would prohibit FWS from listing the northern long-eared bat as threatened under the ESA.”

“This is another example of federal overreach by this Administration,” said Rounds. “I applaud Sen. Thune and Rep. Noem for being leaders on this issue and will continue to work with them to rectify this misguided decision.”

“While I am relieved to see South Dakota land outside the buffer zone for now, I remain concerned that the Fish and Wildlife Service continues to elevate an unproven environmental agenda rather keeping the focus on a disease that truly jeopardizes the long-eared bat’s population in certain areas of the county,” said Noem. “It’s a disappointing conclusion that will pull critical and limited resources from the real threats facing the species.”

In 2011, the FWS reached a secret sue-and-settle agreement with two radical environmental groups to require listing determinations on more than 250 species across the United States, including the northern long-eared bat. While this syndrome has been found in 22 states across the country, it has not been found in South Dakota. Today’s listing was accompanied by an announcement of publication of an interim regulation with a 90-day public comment period under Section 4(d) of the ESA for the northern long-eared bat. This interim rule will be published in the Federal Register on April 2, 2015. Under the interim 4(d) rule, because the white-nose syndrome is not present in South Dakota, forest management restrictions are limited; however, if the white-nosed syndrome is detected in South Dakota, far-reaching timber management restrictions will be imposed on the Black Hills timber industry, impacting 1,500 jobs and $119 million in revenue to Black Hills economies.

On October 14, 2014, Thune and Noem sent a letter to the FWS encouraging the agency to withdraw its proposed listing of the northern long-eared bat as endangered, and to refocus its attention on combating white-nose syndrome. On January 14, Thune and 12 of his Senate colleagues called on the FWS to revise the misguided and harmful forest management restrictions accompanying the endangered species listing released in 2014, and instead issue a regulation to allow normal forest management practices and minimize economic impact on states. On March 4, Thune introduced legislation to prevent the FWS from listing the northern long-eared bat under the ESA, and on March 24, Noem introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

The FWS has not listed a U.S. species as threatened or endangered with disease as a primary cause of widespread death loss for more than ten years. FWS acknowledges that the white-nose syndrome is the primary cause of devastating northern long-eared bat deaths.

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Isn’t there a residency requirement? Cory Heidelberger trying to tell Aberdonians what to do already?

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Back in state how many weeks, and Cory Heidelberger is already trying to tell Aberdeen residents what to do?

Four people filed nominating petitions for open spots on the Aberdeen Public Board of Education and three others turned in petitions for the Aberdeen City Council.

and…

Petitions for the City Council were submitted by incumbents Laure Swanson and David Bunsness who represent the southeast and southwest districts, respectively. Challenging Swanson in the Southeast District is Cory A. Heidelberger.

Read it here.

Update – Always good to see Cory make my arguments for me regarding his carpetbagger status…

I took up residency in Aberdeen the night of February 2. I registered to vote in Brown County on February 3. The city election is June 2.

Read that here.

Press Release: Senate Majority Leader Rave To Resign; Governor Invites Public Input

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(And it’s official…. -PP)

Senate Majority Leader Rave To Resign; Governor Invites Public Input

PIERRE, S.D. – State Sen. Tim Rave has announced his resignation from the South Dakota State Senate. Rave, a Baltic Republican who serves as senate majority leader, is resigning to accept a position with Sanford Health as enterprise vice president for public policy.

“I am very sorry to see Sen. Rave go,” said Gov. Dennis Daugaard. “Tim is widely respected by his peers, who chose him to serve as speaker of the House and as senate majority leader. As Dell Rapids natives, Linda and I were always proud to have Tim as our legislator. I wish him and his family the very best.”

Rave has served in the state Senate since 2011, after serving four terms in the state House. He served as speaker of the House from 2009-11 and as senate majority leader since 2013, making him the only South Dakota legislator to have held both positions.

Rave represents District 25, which includes north and east Minnehaha County, including the cities of Dell Rapids, Baltic, Garretson, Colton, Lyons, Valley Springs and Rowena. It also includes the area in eastern Sioux Falls near South Sycamore Avenue and East 26th Street.

The resignation was effective March 31 and will create a vacancy that will be filled by gubernatorial appointment.  The Governor is asking the public to nominate candidates to fill the position.

Those wishing to be considered for the appointment, or to offer nominations, should contact Grace Kessler in the Office of the Governor at 605-773-3661. Nominations should include the candidate’s name, current address, telephone number and relevant background information.

Gov. Daugaard expects to name an appointee by late spring or early summer.

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With Rave and Lederman gone from the Senate, where do they seek their rudder?

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With the twin resignations of Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dan Lederman, and Majority Leader Tim Rave coming like a 1-2 punch, there’s a new void in Senate Legislative Leadership that even the Democrats couldn’t have envisioned were they competent or effective in winning elections.

President Pro Tempore Corey Brown is still there as leader of the Senate, but there’s no one to help steer the Republican Caucus. It’s as if the steering mechanism has now come off of the ship, leaving Senate Republicans in a position where they now need to seek amongs themselves the people who will be their rudder.

Will they look to their current whips, Senators Holien, Ernie Otten, or Deb Soholt?  Or will they look to the ranks of the Senators – many of whom have significant experience, but aren’t in one of the six official leadership positions?

Who else does that leave for them to choose from?  The list….

Jenna Haggar, Blake Curd, Bob Ewing, Brock Greenfield, Terri Haverly, Phyllis Heineman, Phil Jensen, Jeff Monroe, David Novstrup, Craig Tieszen, Larry Tidemann, Alan Solano, Bruce Rampelberg, Betty Olson, David Omdahl, Ernie Otten, Deb Peters, Art Rusch, Bill Van Gerpen, Jim White, Gary Cammack and Mike Vehle.

If you peruse the list, the thing that strikes me is that there’s a lot of new people there. As well as some busy ones.

Blake Curd might be a choice, but given how busy he is with his own new position, I’m somewhat doubtful he has an interest in dividing his time further. Tieszen, Vehle and Tidemann had ran or expressed interest in leadership positions previously.  And you have people like Deb Peters, who while not leadership at the moment has been a point person on caucus election efforts – some of these Senators are Senators because she made it happen.

There’s a particular political functionality and increased level of partisanship that goes with the leadership positions. They have to be able to build a coalition within the caucus between those that lean to the middle, as well as those that are hard right. They are peacemaker, as well as messenger for the gods… or at least the one that resides on the second floor.

Depending on what happens, with the departure of the Majority & Assistant Leaders, this caucus could also become more prickly, depending who is in charge. There are definitely a few possibilities who march to the beat of their own drummer, and interpret the Republican Party Platform in a more strict fashion.

What do you think? With the voids to be filled, who will emerge to lead the State Senate Republican Caucus?  Where do they seek their rudder?

BREAKING: SD Senate Majority Leader Tim Rave resigning, effective immediately for promotion at Sanford.

@SoDakCampaigns

An announcement is coming this morning that District 25 State Senator and Senate Majority Leader Tim Rave has resigned from the South Dakota State Legislature, effective immediately.  This comes on the heels of Senate Assistant Majority Leader Dan Lederman on Monday after session, leaving a large void in Senate Republican Leadership.

In a note that went out last night from Rave to his colleagues, Rave noted:

raveRecently, the position of Enterprise Vice President of Public Policy at Sanford Health became available and I was honored to be offered that promotion.  As I weighed this opportunity, I gave careful consideration to the fact that this new role would mean I could not continue my public service as an elected official.

After much thought, I decided to accept the promotion to Enterprise Vice President of Public Policy effective April 1st, 2015.  Accordingly, I am hereby resigning as a member of the South Dakota State Senate effective March 31st, 2015 at 11:59 PM.

It has been an honor and privilege to work with all of you, and to represent and serve the citizens of District 25 and the State of South Dakota for thirteen legislative sessions.  The relationships I have built and experience I have gained during my years of service have been exceptional.  I am a better person for it.

I spoke with Rave this morning, who is already moving at a more frenetic pace. Regarding his resignation, Tim noted to me:

The job is right in my wheel house doing public policy for Sanford health both at the state and federal level  The timing of the opportunity could’ve been better had it waited a couple years, but I couldn’t pass it up. I’ve done my public service for 13 years and decided it was time to move on and do what was best for my career and for my family.

The Governor’s office is set to issue a press release at 10 AM to note the resignation officially, and to speak to the processes they will follow in making a replacement appointment.  Current house members in the district are Representatives Kris Langer and Roger Hunt.

With both Lederman and now Rave leaving a massive void in Senate Leadership, sources inside the Senate indicate to the SDWC that the caucus will be be meeting sometime in the next few months to select a new Majority Leader and Assistant Majority Leader as they move to the 2016 elections; an election cycle which will start far earlier for 2016 as a result of the passage of petition reform legislation this past session.

At the SDWC, we wish Senator Rave the best, both thanking him for his years of service for the time he’s given to the people of South Dakota, and congratulating him on the opportunity.