And that’s why SD ranks towards the top.
Ed testimony: unemployment rate of South Dakotans with Bachelor Degree = 1.2%
— Fred Deutsch (@FredDeutsch) January 21, 2015
Ohio’s John Kaisch in Pierre yesterday preaching the gospel of the balanced budget.
From the Pierre Capitol Journal, Governor Daugaard and Republican legislators visited with John Kaisch over the need for a balanced budget amendment at the federal level:
But he did praise state Republican leaders who dominate this state like the party dominates no other after November’s election.
“It’s fantastic what you are doing here with 3 percent unemployment. That’s great,” he said. “Don’t blow it.”
He talked about himself easily, and how the Republicans blew the surplus he helped win 20 years ago in Congress.
He preached a brand of compassionate conservatism, saying he won’t ignore the needy but that “if you don’t cut taxes and don’t grow the economy, nothing else gets done. “
“I’m not in this to get anywhere,” he said.
Rather he’s touring six Western states this week to whip up more support for holding a constitutional convention to add an amendment requiring Congress to balance the federal budget, he said. It’s the only way Congress ever will find the discipline to stop deficit spending, he said, pointing out that South Dakota, like Ohio and many states, has similar state laws for legislatures.
“I’m in this to get something done.”
SOTU Address: What did you think?
We’ve heard what the political heavyweights in South Dakota have to say about the President’s address. What is your take on it? Sound off in the comment section.
Release: AFP South Dakota Responds to the State of the Union Address
AFP South Dakota Responds to the State of the Union Address
President’s “Robin Hood Plan” An Unserious Fairy Tale
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Americans for Prosperity South Dakota Director Ben Lee issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s State of the Union address:
“In tonight’s speech, the President made it clear he isn’t serious about addressing the biggest problems our nation is facing. The President’s tax-the-rich “Robin Hood” plan ignores a clear mandate from voters that rejected Obama’s big-government fairy tale in favor of real reforms that create jobs and opportunity for everyone.
His plan would raise taxes on job creators and hurt economic growth. If the economy is recovering as the President says it is, then why is the country’s workforce the smallest it’s been in 37 years? The President’s proposals are more of the same tax-and-spend policies that, over the last 6 years, have failed to create wealth and opportunity for everyday Americans.
AFP South Dakota will be focusing on real efforts to create prosperity for all Americans which includes restoring the 40 hour work week, ending the gas tax, approving the Keystone Pipeline, preventing Medicaid expansion and cutting government spending.”
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Press Release: Rounds Statement on President’s State of the Union Address
Rounds Statement on President’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) made the following statement on the President’s State of the Union Address:
“I appreciate the fact that the President at least acknowledged the need to work together to solve our country’s most pressing issues,” Rounds said, “but he must do more than pay lip service to bipartisanship in order to move our country forward. If the proposals he laid out tonight are any indication, I’m afraid he is not serious about working with the new Republican Congress. Instead, he offered more of his same failed policies and proposals that will raise taxes on American families, add to our already bloated debt and stifle energy and economic growth.
“Most troubling of these proposals is his plan to raise taxes on hard-working Americans – to the tune of $320 billion dollars. The President might want you to think these tax increases will only affect the Warren Buffetts of the world, but don’t be fooled. The tax plan he proposed tonight would impact South Dakota small business owners, farmers, ranchers and entrepreneurs. The people who will be hit by this are your friends, your neighbors and Main Street store owners who provide good-paying jobs and essential services in South Dakota communities.
“Americans made very clear in the last elections that they are tired of the same old Washington practices that have made government too burdensome, too big and downright ineffective. What South Dakotans are telling me is that they want us to work together on ideas that will make government more efficient and accountable. Republicans have already rolled up their sleeves to work on commonsense, bipartisan efforts to get government working again. It will be up to the President decide whether he wants to join us in that conversation.”
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Press Release: Noem Responds to President Obama’s State of the Union Address
Noem Responds to President Obama’s State of the Union Address
South Dakota Deserves Action, Not More Politics, Says Noem
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today issued the following statement in response to the President’s State of the Union Address this evening:
“South Dakotans deserve to hear about opportunities, but unfortunately, most of tonight’s speech was about politics. I believe we can produce real results that give South Dakotans the peace of mind that if they work hard and play by the rules they’ll be given opportunity and security. That means we can’t be increasing taxes on Middle Class families trying to save for college or adding billions of dollars to the deficit, which our kids will be responsible for.
“We should, however, enact new trade agreements that create more opportunities for South Dakota commodities and products to be sold overseas. We should eliminate some of the burdensome regulations that make it difficult to do business in America. We should cooperate on real solutions that strengthen cybersecurity, simplify the tax code, secure our nation, and accomplish much more. But to do that, we have to put politics aside. Only then can we create an opportunity economy with higher paying jobs and an accountable, efficient government.”
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Press Release: Thune Reacts to President Obama’s State of the Union Address
Thune Reacts to President Obama’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) tonight issued the following statement on President Obama’s sixth State of the Union address:
“America’s new Congress is focused on a reform agenda to fight for the middle class with policies to help create jobs, increase wages, and lower health care and energy costs. The president tonight laid out an agenda of top-down policies of the past to tax, to spend, and to regulate.
“South Dakotans know that bigger government doesn’t mean better government, but that’s exactly what the president proposed tonight, new ways to expand Washington’s already-overextended bureaucracy. After six years of the same stale policies, it’s time for new ideas.
“Republicans will turn Congress’ focus back to Americans’ top priorities: stimulating economic growth and improving the lives of middle-class Americans. This includes policies important to South Dakotans like approving the Keystone XL pipeline, reining in burdensome regulations, enacting trade agreements to put American goods on an equal playing field in the global market, and acting on other bipartisan jobs bills that have passed the House but were stuck in the United States Senate.
“Republicans believe in tapping into the potential of the American people, not the government, and we hope the president will finally join us.”
Click here for the YouTube video of Thune’s remarks and here for the high resolution file. Audio of his remarks is available here.
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Thune Offers Remarks Ahead of Tonight’s State of the Union Address
Thune Offers Remarks Ahead of Tonight’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today offered remarks on what he hopes to hear from President Obama ahead of the State of the Union address tonight:
“President Obama’s State of the Union address will play an important role in setting the tone for the next Congress and I hope he will outline a new path forward working with Republicans to rebuild our economy from the ground up, creating jobs and strengthening the middle class. Americans want to know if the president will promote a positive, bipartisan agenda and join Republicans on working to find solutions to increase economic opportunity for all. Or, based on his rhetoric from the past few weeks, will he deliver yet another unserious political speech that overpromises and under delivers the same failed policies that grow government at the expense of the hard-working American taxpayer?
“The economy is a top priority for the majority of Americans. Although the recession officially ended more than five years ago, too many Americans are still struggling to make ends meet. Wages have remained stagnant, and median household income has dropped almost $3,000 since the president took office. And the president’s response to this is: more burdensome taxes that will hurt small businesses, farmers, and ranchers; more spending to pile debt on the back of the next generation; and more top-down regulations to stifle innovation and economic freedom.
“While the president’s message remains the same, South Dakotans have a reason to be hopeful.
“The new Republican majority is focused on a future that embraces and fights for the potential of Americans, not the government.
“We are fighting to reform the tax code so it’s simpler, more efficient and fairer.
“We are pushing to approve common-sense, bipartisan jobs bills, starting with passing the Keystone XL pipeline legislation.
“Republicans will also take up other bipartisan jobs measures that were stuck in the Democrat-led Senate for far too long, including repealing the job-killing medical device tax and reinstating the 40-hour workweek that was shortened by ObamaCare.
“In addition to passing job-creating legislation, Republicans will also make oversight a priority in the new Congress.
“The Obama Environmental Protection Agency has proposed regulations that would drive Americans’ energy prices through the roof and result in the loss of tens of thousands of American jobs.
“Americans’ priorities are Republicans’ priorities. We have a reform agenda to strengthen the middle-class, create jobs, increase wages, and lower health care and energy costs. Not the failed, top-down approach the president repeats year after year. We are eager to get to work on behalf of the American people and we hope the president will join us in this effort.”
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