Cutting the Pork
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
April 11, 2025 

BIG Update

The House passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act to strengthen election security. The SAVE Act requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and requires states to remove noncitizens from existing voter rolls. Only U.S. citizens should be voting in U.S. elections.

For too long, the federal government has been spending money we do not have. Continuing on this road is not an option. On Thursday, the House took a significant step to reduce out-of-control spending by passing a budget resolution, which is a key step in the reconciliation process to extend the Trump tax cuts, unleash American energy, and keep our borders secure.

BIG Idea

I met with the South Dakota Pork Producers this week to discuss fixes to California’s Proposition 12 policy (livestock housing regulations), potential tariff impacts, and more. Consistency and clarity are important for our pork producers as they make decisions about their operations. Prop 12 has resulted in higher costs for consumers and has the potential to price out small farms. I’m committed to supporting our pork producers and using my position on the Ag Committee to reverse Prop 12 – protecting producers and lowering pork prices across the country.

Johnson and South Dakota Pork Producers

BIG News

After more than 70 countries reached out to the White House to negotiate down their tariffs, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on many reciprocal tariffs. As I’ve said in the past, I do not support high tariffs across the board, especially for a prolonged period of time. However, tariffs targeted to key strategic industries can be good policy, and tariffs can also be an effective negotiating tool.

China, however, has not initiated a negotiation but has raised the bar by implementing retaliatory tariffs against the U.S. China now faces a 145% tariff on imported American goods. Let me be clear – China is not our friend. Not only has China evaded our shipping laws and customs enforcement to make a buck, but they have employed slave/forced labor, smuggled fentanyl and illicit vapes into America, purchased farmland near U.S. military bases, and consistently hacked U.S. Agencies and telecommunications companies like Verizon and AT&T.

President Trump is sending a strong signal to China – don’t take advantage of the U.S. I urge President Trump and China’s President Xi to come to the negotiating table quickly and agree on a trade policy that protects American producers and consumers – a deal that China must uphold.

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Just had this sent over to me..

Even the Libertarians think wanting to shoot down airplanes over make believe chemtrails is nuts.

And also a good reminder that Anthony – Arch Beal’s favorite object to cane-poke – who fronts for libertarian group Young Americans for Liberty is not a Republican.  From another post:

Yeah. That’s not code for Republican.

From Facebook:

From Facebook, West-river conservative group South Dakota Strong is announcing their schedule of upcoming events, including Congressman Dusty Johnson addressing the group, as well as hosting a series on economic development in the Black Hills:

(No word on whether Rep. Odenbach is planning a protest at the Black Hills development events.)

Gov. Rhoden and Colleagues Urge EPA to Increase Renewable Fuel Levels

PIERRE, S.D. –  Yesterday, Governor Larry Rhoden and three fellow governors wrote Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin, urging him to set higher Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels. You can find the letter here.

“Over the past several years, the biofuels industry has made significant investments to expand domestic production capacity and strengthen feedstock supply. Unfortunately, the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) levels set by the previous Administration failed to reflect this growth,” wrote Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “As a result, an increasing number of biofuel producers…have been forced to slow or cease operations, costing rural communities jobs and weakening key markets for American farmers.”

The Governors specifically requested that the EPA establish a 2026 RVO of no less than 15 billion gallons for conventional ethanol and 5.25 billion gallons for biomass-based diesel. These higher volumes would be reflective of the growth within the U.S. biofuels industry and would create greater long-term stability throughout our rural economy.

“Setting higher volumes will send a strong, long-term signal to the market giving biofuel producers and American farmers the confidence to invest, grow, and sustain their operations,” continued Governor Larry Rhoden and his colleagues. “For our multi-generational farm families, a strong RVO is more than policy – it’s a critical foundation for their future. Our states look forward to continuing our critical role in achieving the Trump Administration’s goal of American energy dominance.”

Governor Rhoden was joined in signing the letter by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe, and Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen.

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The word is there was NO announcement from Jason Williams last night at the Brown County Lincoln Day Dinner, despite the event promotion claiming there would be “a statewide candidate announcement” by the Brown County GOP.

Deputy Treasurer Williams was set to announce he is running for State Treasurer, but apparently his family was unable to make it, so he passed on pulling the trigger.  Which… we’re not running with a lot of GOP dinners, so not sure when he’s planning on doing this. Constitutional offices are the only office where it’s potentially worth going to these events.

Anyone else? It’s not as if anyone’s going to change how they vote based on a Lincoln Day dinner.

Senator Tom Pischke was in attendance expressing pointed regrets to former Brown County Chair Katie Washnok who is on vacation in Mexico. But he might need to go to the clinic for the burn he received:

And apparently, Rep. Logan Manhart kept up with his High School Band instrument sufficiently to whip it out for the GOP Dinner:

And good for him for having an interest in the arts. Now, if someone would explain to Rep. Manhart that school vouchers divert funding away from public schools, potentially reducing resources available for extracurricular activities like band programs.

Just when you thought no one took the Minnehaha GOP seriously under R. Shawn Tornow:  Korry Petterson and Marsha Symens say “hold my beer!”

What am I referring to? It looks like the allies of Senator Tom Pischke are all “pischke’d off” at Korry Petterson, the chairman of the Minnehaha County Republican Party, for yesterday’s censure of “Sticky Tom.”

If you recall…

The Senator was chided for his conduct in noting that a Committeewoman “has issues,” and the Minnehaha GOP chair spanked him with a public censure.

Today, Senator Pischke’s allies have struck back in an e-mail they sent out complaining that the chair didn’t have the authority to act in such a manner:

 

The Minnehaha chair better watch out – they (as I’m guessing Tom’s allies) are telling people that “We stand united.”  Or at least, I’m guessing there’s a few who are united.. until they aren’t.

Next up – will someone put them in time-out, since they’re all getting along like a group of kindergartners?

We shall see.

From Twitter:

Most Popular Governors (net approval)

🔴 Phil Scott (VT): +58
🔴 Kelly Armstrong (ND): +49
🔵 Andy Beshear (KY): +43
🔵 Josh Stein (NC): +38
🔴 Brian Kemp (GA): +34
🔴 Larry Rhoden (SD): +34
🔴 Mark Gordon (WY): +34
🔵 Josh Green (HI): +33
🔵 Josh Shapiro (PA): +32
🔵 Ned Lamont… pic.twitter.com/akwUGjPyA0

— InteractivePolls (@IAPolls2022) April 10, 2025

Thune, Cortez Masto Introduce Bill to Alleviate Burdensome Tax Requirements for Individuals Working in Multiple States

 WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) today introduced the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation that would simplify and standardize state income tax collection for employees who travel outside of their home state for temporary work. Under current law, individuals and employers face different state income tax reporting requirements in almost every state that vary based on length of stay, income earned, or both.

While some states require state income tax filing for as little as one day of work in the state, this legislation would establish a common-sense 30-day threshold to help ensure that an equitable tax is paid to the state and local jurisdiction where the work is being performed while alleviating burdensome tax requirements for employees and employers.

“It is complicated and unfair for an individual who lives in a state like South Dakota, with no state income tax, to have to file income taxes in multiple states for simply temporarily working in those states – in some cases, for as little as 24 hours – and not be able to recover any income tax payments he or she has to make,” said Thune. “The current framework is overly burdensome, and our legislation would provide much-needed relief by creating a common-sense, across-the-board standard for mobile employees who spend a short period of time during the year working across state lines.”

“Mobile workers who temporarily work outside of their home state should not find a surprise tax bill come April,” said Cortez Masto. “I’m proud to introduce this common-sense bill alongside Senator Thune to cut red tape and protect workers across the United States.”

“The Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act offers much-needed clarity and consistency in state income tax obligations for remote and mobile workers,” said Tommy Pollema, executive director of the South Dakota CPA Society. “As CPAs, we support this legislation because it simplifies compliance for employers, reduces administrative burdens, and protects employees from undue taxation in states where they spend only a limited number of days. A uniform federal standard is essential in today’s flexible workforce landscape, ensuring fair treatment for taxpayers while supporting the business community with clearer, more predictable rules.”

“The Mobile Workforce Coalition applauds and enthusiastically supports Leader Thune and Senator Cortez Masto on their reintroduction of the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2025,” said Maureen Riehl, executive director of the Mobile Workforce Coalition. “As an increasing number of companies and employees continue to be challenged by punitive nonresident state income tax rules, it is clear that a national 30-day standard legislative solution is necessary. Since its formation in 2011, the more than 300-member Mobile Workforce Coalition of diverse industries and organizations has advocated for uniform legislation at both the state and federal level, and this solution has enjoyed widespread bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress. The time is now for this to finally become law.”

“The U.S. Chamber of Commerce applauds Leader Thune and Senator Cortez Masto for reintroducing the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, which would establish a uniform 30-day threshold for the application of state nonresident income tax withholding and information reporting requirements,” said Watson M. McLeish, senior vice president of tax policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “This long-sought, common-sense standard would simplify state tax jurisdiction questions and reduce compliance and reporting burdens on employers and employees alike.”

“The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) is pleased to endorse this bipartisan measure that achieves a reasonable balance between states’ rights to tax income and the needs of individuals and businesses to operate efficiently,” said Melanie Lauridsen, vice president of tax policy and advocacy at AICPA. “We are grateful to Senators Thune and Cortez Masto for their leadership on this issue. The AICPA endorses this legislation and urges other members of Congress to support American taxpayers and businesses by passing this bill.”

“On behalf of our corporate members, we are quite pleased to support Majority Leader Thune and Senator Cortez Masto in their efforts to reintroduce and enact the Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act of 2025,” said Pat Reynolds, president and executive director of the Council on State Taxation (COST). “The legislation, which would simplify reporting requirements for traveling nonresident employees and their employers, is long overdue, and will bring much needed clarity to an area that fosters widespread confusion and noncompliance. Since 2019, COST has been actively pursuing similar legislation on a state-by-state basis, and a federal bill would greatly enhance and augment those ongoing efforts. We look forward to working with Senator Thune to reconstitute the broad coalition of interested parties needed to see this federal effort to fruition.”

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Rounds Introduces Legislation to Prevent Smuggling of American AI Chips into China

Legislation would create a whistleblower incentive program at the Bureau of Industry and Security

 WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) today introduced legislation to prevent the smuggling of American-made artificial intelligence (AI) chips into China. The Stop Stealing our Chips Act would amend the Export Control Reform Act to create a whistleblower incentive program at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). The program is designed to increase reporting of illegal exports.

“The United States has taken extensive measures to prevent American-made AI chips from falling into the wrong hands, particularly China,” said Rounds. “Unfortunately, China continues to utilize back-door methods to smuggle these chips into their country, creating a grave national security concern. Our legislation would strengthen BIS’s export control enforcement by rewarding whistleblowers with credible information on illegal actions to come forward. We must do a better job protecting Americans and preventing the flow of illegal chips into China.”

“U.S. export control laws serve a crucial purpose in protecting our national security, restricting our adversaries’ access to cutting-edge U.S. goods and technology,” said Warner. “Unfortunately, too often, violations of these laws go unreported and undetected. This legislation would create an incentive for whistleblowers to report the bad actors that are breaking these laws, allowing BIS to better prevent the diversion of export-controlled goods and safeguard our national security.”

BACKGROUND:

The smuggling of cutting-edge AI chips from the United States into China is a growing national security concern, as China intends to use advanced AI systems created with these chips for military applications and advanced surveillance systems. Reporting has indicated that at least eight Chinese smuggling networks have conducted transactions exceeding $100 million each. Reports also indicate that these chips often reach sanctioned Chinese entities, including military research institutions and companies linked to the People’s Liberation Army. The United States has taken measures to restrict China’s access to these materials, but despite these measures, black-market networks and intermediaries have exploited loopholes to funnel restricted chips into China.

Specifically, Rounds’ legislation would:

• Require BIS to create a public, secure platform for submitting whistleblower reports.
• Establish a fund, financed by fines collected from export control violations, to cover whistleblower rewards and program operations.
• Includes confidentiality guarantees and anti-retaliation safeguards to protect whistleblowers.

Whistleblowers providing original information leading to fines against violators can receive 10 to 30 percent of collected fines, with exceptions for known terrorists and criminals as well as federal employees acting within the scope of their duties. Reports deemed credible must lead to formal investigations within 60 days, with whistleblowers receiving status updates every 30 days. Any remaining funds from fines will be returned to the Treasury. No new funds are appropriated for this program. This program is modeled after the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Whistleblower Incentive Program.

Click HERE to read full bill text.

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