Rounds Receives Fiscal Hero Award from Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

WASHINGTON – The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget has designated U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) as a 2024 Fiscal Hero. This award honors lawmakers who prioritize improving the fiscal trajectory of the United States through legislation, votes and policy positions.

“I am honored to receive the Fiscal Hero award once again,” said Rounds. “The federal government should live within its means. It is our responsibility as elected officials to cut wasteful and unnecessary spending whenever possible for the good of the American people. Reducing spending now sets future generations up for success. I appreciate the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget’s commitment to this mission. We are on a trajectory to spend more on interest for our national debt than on our defense budget, which is why I’m fighting to reverse this dangerous fiscal trend.”

“Fiscal responsibility is a stewardship, not only for Americans today but for generations of Americans to come. We applaud this year’s Fiscal Heroes, including Senator Rounds, for having the courage to prioritize our fiscal health and work towards achieving a more sustainable debt trajectory,” said Maya MacGuineas, President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and head of Fix the Debt. “Through legislation, speeches, engagement back home, and tough political decisions, these Members of Congress have distinguished themselves as leaders on these key issues, and we are honored to recognize and applaud them for their efforts. We look forward to seeing how these Fiscal Heroes will build on the momentum in the past year to make even greater strides going forward.”

BACKGROUND (Courtesy of Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget):

Fiscal Heroes are awarded each Congress to recognize policymakers working to improve the nation’s fiscal situation and fix the budget process. Fiscal Heroes have distinguished themselves by pushing their party leaders to make debt a priority, leading bipartisan efforts to work through policy options to fix the debt and the budget process, taking responsible votes, participating in fiscally focused events, using their town hall meetings to engage and educate constituents, delivering floor speeches to raise awareness about the issue, advocating to keep tough choices on the table, and introducing legislation to improve the budget process and the nation’s fiscal position.

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The Biden Regulatory Onslaught Continues
By Sen. John Thune

With Democrats in control of the White House and the U.S. Senate, much of my efforts lately are focused on stopping the dangerous Biden-Schumer agenda in Congress. However, the Biden administration has abused the power of regulation to enact a slew of bad policies without a single vote in Congress. All of those executive actions bear costs and consequences for our country and for the American people. A recent spate of regulations has brought the total cost of the Biden administration’s new rules to a whopping $1.47 trillion, which will be felt by workers and families across the country.

One of the areas where the Biden administration has been most prolific with new regulations is in the energy sector. For example, the president’s new power plant rule would force electric generation facilities to spend millions of dollars on carbon capture systems or be forced to close, while adding significant cost burdens for new natural gas-fired power plants. The so-called “Good Neighbor” rule would also drive up the cost of producing energy and manufacturing by imposing onerous emissions standards, likely resulting in a less reliable energy supply. And there’s the president’s inexplicable decision to pause permits for liquefied natural gas exports at a time when our allies depend on American natural gas.

At the same time, President Biden is pushing costly environmental regulations on the American people. There was his now-dashed attempt to revive the Obama administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that would have forced farmers, ranchers, and private landowners to spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars on environmental strictures on their land. Now he’s pushing a tailpipe emissions rule that is an effective mandate for more expensive electric vehicles. And new requirements on certain federally connected homes will add an estimated $7,000 to the cost of construction.

The Biden regulatory regime also extends the heavy hand of government to job creators. Take for example the new overtime rule, which imposes a 65 percent hike in the overtime exemption threshold. Small businesses are likely to face the difficult choice of raising prices, reducing the number positions, or lowering workers’ pay. I don’t see any of those as good for workers, customers, or business owners.

Unsurprisingly, a number of regulations coming out of Washington demonstrate a lack of understanding about life in places like South Dakota. WOTUS was simply unworkable and unreasonable for farmers and ranchers. South Dakotans aren’t eager to switch to electric vehicles, especially with our harsh winters and the demands we put on our cars and trucks. And last year, the Biden administration tried to prevent hunting and archery education programs from receiving federal funding. Thanks to congressional action, that regulation was stopped, but the fact that it was proposed at all is emblematic of Washington bureaucrats’ overreach and their lack of understanding of our way life.

The Biden administration has not been shy about using its regulatory power. The sticker shock of $1.47 trillion in regulatory costs is a lot, but it’s even worse when you consider that President Trump had actually reduced regulatory costs at this point in his administration. Even compared to President Obama, President Biden’s regulations cost almost five times as much. I shudder to consider how many more costly regulations the Biden administration is dreaming up for the future.

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Celebrating Mothers
By: Governor Kristi Noem
May 10, 2024

Being a mom and a grandma has been the biggest blessing of my life. My kids and my grandkids are motivation to get up every single day and fight for a better future for all South Dakotans.

My number one goal as Governor has always been to be able to pass down a nation that the next generation can be proud of – that my grandchildren’s grandchildren will love. With every bill that comes to my desk, every Executive Order that I sign, and every decision that I make, I always think about how it will impact the next generation.

I know I’m not the only parent that feels this way. Every mother I know inspires me because they constantly think about how the decisions they make will impact their kids’ futures. Every parent wants their kids to have a better life than they did. And we all make decisions with that goal in mind.

The mothers in our lives make sacrifices for their children constantly. They don’t get to be selfish – their kids always come first.

I have felt that unconditional love from my own mother my entire life. She taught me how God sees me, that I am “the head and not the tail,” and that I “will only be above… not underneath.” (Deuteronomy 28:13) She taught me how to be strong, how to be a leader, and how to care for other people.

I am also blessed with an incredible mother-in-law who inspires me to be a better person each day. She brings joy to everyone who knows her.

I have watched my own daughter grow into an amazing, loving, nurturing mother over the last few years. She and her husband just welcomed a third little baby into the world. I am so proud of the woman and the mother she has become.

Our state has the highest birth rate in the nation – that means we have a lot of moms in South Dakota! It warms my heart to know we have so many moms our there working hard, dedicating themselves to their families, and making our state thrive.

Mothers are the strongest, toughest people I know. First Lady Elanor Roosevelt once said, “a mom is like a teabag. You can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.”

As we celebrate Mother’s Day, I encourage you to thank the moms in your life for their strength. I want to thank all the mothers out there for all that you do to help lift your families and our entire state up.

Happy Mother’s Day, and God bless you.

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Tractors and Tantrums
by Congressman Dusty Johnson

BIG Update

It was great to chat with Agriculture Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) about the upcoming Farm Bill. We’re getting closer to having the final text introduced, and I look forward to committee action on the bill to provide necessary updates to our ag industry. The last Farm Bill was written in 2018, before COVID-19, before inflation, and before global conflicts like Russia and Ukraine began.

My discussion with AEM was during the “Ag on the Mall” event on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Equipment manufacturers and ag retailers set up booths with views of the U.S. Capitol and Washington Monument to showcase all the new technology agriculture has to offer.

BIG Idea

The Midwest Honor Flight is an incredible organization that helps our past service members visit D.C. The veterans tour D.C. to see the war memorials that honor their service and sacrifice. For many, it’s the first and only time they will get to see these memorials. The Honor Flight does a great job connecting veterans and guardians and organizing a whole day trip.

This week, 84 South Dakotans and Iowans were on the Midwest Honor Flight. I had the pleasure of meeting these veterans and thanking them for their service as they saw the World War II Memorial.

BIG News

You may have seen Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene force a vote to remove Speaker Mike Johnson from the Speaker’s office this week. Her motion failed, which is for the greater good. Removing Speaker Mike Johnson from office would cause instability in the House and in America. When I’m in South Dakota, I often hear from people who want the Republican party to stick together to accomplish real wins for real Americans and want politicians to stop playing D.C. power games. I joined an overwhelming number of House Republicans to move past the Motion to Vacate so we can continue legislating. Check out this interview I did earlier this week about the vote.

Minnehaha Commission candidate Dan Kippley was advocating for local constituents in Washington DC recently, and is pictured here with a staffer for Congressman Dusty Johnson.

(She looks kind of familiar.)

This evening, after I did my post today on Brown County candidate and far-right winger Kyler Dinger, I had a call on my phone, which I ignored, followed by a text message which I also ignored until I went back down to my computer, with both of them from appearing to originate with former legislator and Brown County commissioner Drew Dennert, as he was forcing some after-dinner whine to go with the enchiladas my wife made:

With Dennert squarely in winger Dinger’s camp, he’s trying to minimize and brush off the action by Brown County a couple of years ago against his buddy’s illegal dumping violation as simply a mere “citation.”  Of course, he’s trying to over-simplify it, but Dennert’s trying to entirely poo-poo winger Dinger‘s illegal dumping would not appear to be entirely accurate.

While on the UJS system it uses citation as a shorthand catch-all term, under South Dakota Law it appears that the technical term used for a misdemeanor or petty offense is “Summons and Complaint,” noting SDCL 23-1A.

Like back in 2012, when Drew was cited/arrested for hunting during a closed season, he was issued a Summons and Complaint form where he pled guilty by POA (Power of Attorney) to a class 2 misdemeanor and was fined $220 as well as losing his hunting license for a year.

So, armed with that information, I will annotate the prior post noting winger Dinger was issued “a summons and complaint” for his offense.

Not quite what Drew was hoping for in his deflection, but I can certainly strive for accuracy.

It might be Aberdeen, but there will be an opportunity to forget dumpster fires and dumping candidates for at least one night.

In case you hadn’t heard, there’s going to be a REAL REPUBLICAN PARTY in Aberdeen on Thursday, May 16th at the Zoo Bar from 5 to 9 PM.

With no need for an AED, this event is skewing younger than some of them held lately with music by the Lizzy Hofer Band. The event with young professionals and families in mind and getting people registered to vote, will let voters get up close & personal with the top Republican Candidates running in Brown County this primary, with a rock and roll soundtrack in the background!

Featuring District 1 House Candidate Tamara St. John, District 3 Senate candidate Katie Washnok, District 23 Senate candidate Steve Roseland, D23 House candidate JD Wangsness, and Brown County Commission candidate Mike Carlsen, the candidates will be there to enjoy the evening along with the crowd, and to talk about what they hope to do in Pierre and at the county courthouse.

Put it on your calendars to be in Aberdeen on May 16th and head over to the Zoo Bar from 5-9 pm for snacks, candidates, and a REAL REPUBLICAN PARTY!

(And you can be a Zoo Rat too!)

Here’s an interesting one I came across today.

Brown County Commission candidate Kyler Dinger has a thing about rats.. and in the Brown County Republican Candidate Forum held this past Thursday at the Aberdeen Pizza Ranch, he had some choice words for Republicans he’s campaigning against.

From Hub City Radio:

“Yeah.. I think to say that there’s a line drawn in the sand, and on the right side of the line, you have one group, and on the left side, uh of the of the line, you have the other group, and um, I don’t think that in this election there’s going to be much crossing of that line to be honest.

If you’re the conservative Republican, you will vote for Carl Perry, you’ll vote for Logan Manhart and Chris Reder, and me….  

If you’re on the left side, and you’re going to go to the zoo, and going to support the Zoo Rats, you’re going to vote for Mike Carlsen, you’re gonna vote for Katie Washnok, and you’re gunna vote for Steve Roseland and JD Wangsness.. and I think it’s pretty clear, you know, where everybody stands… “

Hub City Radio story, final audio clip.

I’m not sure why Mr. Dinger has a thing about rats..  Could it be an illogical fear of them, where he tries to avoid them? Because if you do a little looking on this character, there’s an item that pops up right away, where he avoided the landfill, a place you might expect to find the oversized mice:

Back just a couple of years ago, Kyler Dinger was arrested issued a summons and complaint and fined for illegal dumping in Brown County. 

Illegal dumping? Who does that?  That’s one of those crimes where you have to scratch your head and wonder what the person was thinking, because it’s such a low-class, slob thing to do.  And now he wants to be a commissioner in the county that prosecuted him for such a slob crime.

I can’t imagine why someone couldn’t drive a short distance to the local landfill unless something was holding them back.. such as a possible fear of rats. Why else would he fixate on his opponents to call them zoo rats?

Maybe Brown County residents need to remind Kyle that he should keep America Beautiful, instead of running for the County Commission (1970’s advertising interlude..):

If you’re out in the hills on Monday, at 6pm at the Branding Iron Steakhouse and Saloon in Belle Fourche, you can meet two of the three Republican candidates running for the House of Representatives; Susan Peterson for Senate and Travis Martin for District 28B House.

[Belle Fourche, SD] — Susan For South Dakota and Brad Jurgensen warmly invite the community to “Pints and Politics,” a candidate meet and greet event with District 28 candidates Susan Peterson and Travis W. Martin. This engaging evening will take place on Monday, May 13th, at the Branding Iron Steakhouse & Social Club, starting at 6 PM. Attendees can enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks from a cash bar while discussing vital community issues with the candidates.

Susan and Travis are committed conservative voices eager to represent your interests in Pierre. Learn more about their platforms and visions for South Dakota by visiting their websites at susanforsouthdakota.com and traviswmartinforhouse.com.

Join us for a night of polite political discourse and find out how we can achieve great things together!

(The address is 19079 US-85, in Belle Fourche. Check it out! – pp)

In case you weren’t getting your daily allotment of lunacy, D30 Republican House candidate Matthew Monfore responded to the post about the post the court having to evict him from his rent-free situation.

And well, you judge if you want him to represent people in District 30:

4. This hole legal issue with Black Hills Advocate [BHA] (owned by a leftist, literal [redacted]) stems from a liberal judge named Judge Connolly who persecuted my Mother and myself when my Mother sued for Guardian and Conservator of my grandma (yes, you read that right) because of my Uncle’s immoral and criminal behavior into 2022. (The Uncle was also recently divorced by his wife because of his gambling and financial woes; and fled Arizona after living there for decades, to come live in a guest house owned by my Mother, which is on my Grandma’s property). The Uncle, Roger Flyte is a Leftist Democrat who wanted to grow Marijuana on my Grandma’s property and was asking for $ thousands of dollars.

5. Roger Flyte assaulted me, Matthew Monfore, on May 7th, 2022. This was because his immoral ways were not tolerated, and were also exposed.

Go read his manifesto trying to justify why he isn’t a squatter kicked out by the court here in the comment section.

You know what they say about giving people enough rope..  As one attorney friend noted to me “That is not going to help his case before the judge.”