Boy.. with all this time on my hands now that I’m not doing the Republican party newsletter, I find myself exploring topics I never really had time for. You know, idle hands are the devil’s workshop. So I try to make productive use of my downtime.

Remember the story when Tom Pischke complained that he had some real issues with the amount of child support he was paying when it was proposed to raise the amount his children receive for food and living expenses? From KELOland in 2022:

Representative Tom Pischke, R-Dell Rapids, fought against the changes. “The non-custodial parents are already having a hard time paying,” he said.

Pischke currently pays about $1,200 for three children, he said, and his payment would go up about $300 under the new schedule.

“That’s going to hurt me personally,” he said, his voice cracking. 

Read that story here.

From the sounds of things, Poor Tom was financially strapped.  Thankfully since then, it appears that his fortunes have turned around as just a few months ago, he was singing the grammatically incorrect praises of his real estate agent as he dropped a bunch of cash on a 4-plex apartment complex:

And it wasn’t just a small rental. “Poor” Tom dropped about $300,000. And in case you were interested, here is the commercial property he found to spend his money on:

If you want to see a picture of it, you can find it on Zillow at this link.

Interesting that poor, destitute Tom who couldn’t afford $300 for his children’s welfare in that 2022 story is now a real estate mogul. I guess I never realized that, because his last statement of financial interest as an elected official – an official document filed with the state –  never brought it up.

And in fact, on his statement of financial interest that was just filed this last week as a candidate… it’s still not disclosed:

If you go looking, despite the fact he skipped that whole apartment complex stuff on his financial disclosure form, Tom has his name on an LLC filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State, which has been around since September of 2022 – three months before he filed the first form above. And where on the form it talks about income if his family controls more than 10% of the stock, they control 100% of it. So depending on what came in from it, there’s a good possibility his Real Estate Holding Company should have been on there.

On the Secretary of State’s website, you can pull up the documents for “Berkley Property, LLC.”

Berkley LLC by Pat Powers on Scribd

Kind of interesting this corporation has been around this long, but never mentioned, despite Tom being required to file financial disclosures in case he might have a conflict of interest.

So, despite the poverty he professed in 2022, Tom seems to have had enough money to start buying up apartment buildings. And maybe fudging about disclosing that fact. We’ll have to keep watching, and see what else he might not be 100% accurate on when he brings it up.

I know I’ve got the time on my hands to do some fact checking.

Weekly Column: Historic Wins and Looking Forward
by Senator Casey Crabtree, Senate Majority Leader

MADISON–The 99th Legislative Session officially adjourned this week and work has begun on the 2025 session and a celebration of the 100th regular Legislature Session. Looking back on 2024, the House and Senate enacted impactful policies and we collaborated in an unprecedented way with each other and the Governor. The result: 233 bills passed and 233 bills signed into law—no vetoes.

That’s right. For the first time in decades, South Dakota’s Governor didn’t veto a single piece of legislation. This is incredibly atypical and has only occurred a handful of times since statehood. I credit this to the work that both chambers did to put legislation in the best possible form before sending it to the Governor’s desk.

The credit for a smooth session process-wise without unnecessary drama and a full slate of new laws is a credit to the quality of the public servants in the Legislature. My thanks to all of the legislators–especially the Senators–who take time away from their families and careers to help make their districts and our state better.

If this Legislative Session had been a basketball game, it would not have been a nail biter. This session was characterized by hard work, sound judgment, and collaboration. It might not have resulted in splashy headlines, but it was full of good outcomes for the people of South Dakota. In the weeks ahead, we’ll dive deeper into policy areas and talk about the results of the Legislature’s hard work.

Work for the next session is also already underway. Two summer studies were approved this week for in-depth studies to produce a better understanding of issues and develop legislation as necessary. The first group will look into the methodology and the constituency of the application of property tax assessments.  While the Legislature has researched and enacted tax relief, we need to always make certain that property taxes are fairly assessed.

The second summer study group is regarding artificial intelligence and online age verification. This study will look into the state’s authority to regulate access by minors on global social media platforms and internet websites, including age verification applications. It will also examine if regulation is necessary for the use of AI by private citizens, corporations and even government agencies.

As we march forward with an eye to 2025, I invite you to reach out to me with your ideas and concerns facing our great state. Government in South Dakota works well because it’s close to the people. Your ideas can produce results, and I look forward to hearing from you in the weeks and months ahead.

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Todays legislative session was just like the episode of Seinfeld where they introduced the world to Festivus.  You know, Festivus, where among the many activities is an “Airing of grievances.”

So, just like Seinfeld, with equal sitcom hilarity, at the end of today’s extremely brief and veto-free session, Senator Julie Frye Mueller of the inappropriate breastfeeding and vaccination advice decided today was the day to strike back at Senate Leadership and air her grievances by reciting the Julie Frye-Mueller manifesto!

Even though, no one really cared. You can watch it here:

It starts around 8:40 in the video clip, where you’ll see Frye-Mueller is cut off by leadership, because no one really wants to sit and listen, and they’d rather hear a prayer, and adjourn.  But it doesn’t end there.

Because following sine die, about 11:30 in.. JFM gets up and continues to read her resolution, until Public Television turns off the cameras and goes home.

You never know. She could still be there barking in the wind, and declaring how she was wronged.  First by Senators Schoenbeck & Crabtree (and about everyone else in the Senate) and now by Public Broadcasting.

The lights turn off, and she’s talking to no one. Kind of an unglamorous ending to an unremarkable legislative career.

I’m updating my 2024 candidate list as quickly as I can.. That’s where you want to go for the latest.

And I’m sure it’s going to be coming fast & furious all week, with people dropping petitions in the mail, due to weather.  Right now, we have Senate primary contests in:

D3 Senate, D4 Senate, D8 Senate, D9 Senate, D11 Senate (Dems), D16 Senate, D17 Senate, D18 Senate, D21 Senate, D23 Senate, D25 Senate, D27 Senate, D28 Senate (If Peterson files), D29 Senate, D30 Senate, D33, D34 Senate & D35 Senate.

On the House side, it’s equally as nutty:

House Districts 1,2,4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 25, 28A, 29, 30, 32, and 34.

Hang on to your hats, and stay tuned!

Gov. Noem Calls for Audit of Federal Funding to SD Tribes 

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem called for the Biden Administration to conduct public and comprehensive single audits of all federal funds that have been given to South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes. The primary purpose of this audit would be to verify the need for additional law enforcement resources from the federal government on these tribal reservations. You can find Governor Noem’s letter here.

“Law enforcement in Indian Country is failing to meet basic safety needs,” wrote Governor Noem. “For years, the level of actual funding drastically underestimates the true breadth of the challenges of Indian Country, made worse by the failed border policies of the Biden Administration and exacerbated by the presence of drug cartel operations on South Dakota tribal reservations. To understand the funding level that is necessary to keep these communities safe, I am calling on the Biden Administration to conduct a comprehensive and public audit of all federal funds to South Dakota’s nine Native American tribes.”

The letter was sent to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland, and U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro.

“I stand ready to advocate for more public safety dollars and have even shown a willingness to use state resources to fill the gap that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has left. But there must be accountability and transparency to further these efforts,” concluded Governor Noem.

Last month, Governor Noem urged the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs to address public safety on Native American reservations across the United States.

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Referendum Would Only Hurt Landowners by Taking Away Landowner Bill of Rights

Referendum Would Only Hurt Landowners by Taking Away Landowner Bill of Rights(Pierre, SD) the ill-advised campaign committee working to refer SB 201 (The Landowner Bill of Rights) held a rally in Pierre today.  The referendum is anti-landowner and anti-agriculture because it would strip away the landowner compensation and protections in SB 201. Nearly 75% of the landowners on the proposed route have already signed voluntary easements with Summit Carbon Solutions.

“While claiming to be fighting for landowners, their effort will only hurt landowners if they are successful because defeating SB 201 would kill all of the landowner compensation and protections in the bill and the pipeline companies already have federal preemption over county ordinances.” said Jason Glodt, founding member of the SD Ag Alliance.

“A referendum of SB 201 makes no sense because it would only hurt landowners by killing the Landowner Bill of Rights,” said Rob Skjonsberg, founding Member of the SD Ag Alliance. “If the referendum is successful Summit will just sue in federal court and win and landowners will get nothing.”

Senate Bill 201 passed the Senate 24-10 and the House 39-31. The legislation includes the most significant sections in Landowner Bill of Rights with extensive protections for landowners and millions of dollars of reoccurring payments for both landowners and counties. The package does not change local control over zoning.

Landowner Bill of Rights

1. Compensation for Landowners: Requires carbon capture pipelines to pay landowners at least .50 cents per linear foot of pipeline through their property in the form of property tax relief (SB 201)
2. Compensation for Counties: Allows counties to collect $1.00 per linear foot of pipeline that runs through their county. At least 50% of the surcharge must be used for property tax relief for landowners on the route. The remaining revenue can be spent by counties at their discretion. (SB 201)
3. Indemnity for Landowners: Requires pipeline companies to indemnify landowners for liability. (SB 201)
4. Minimum Burial Depth: Requires pipeline to be buried at least 4 ft deep, exceeding federal regulations of 3 ft (SB 201)
5. Disclosure of Dispersion Models: Requires carbon pipeline companies to make dispersion modeling public. (SB 201)
6. Lifetime Drain Tile Repairs: Requires pipeline companies to repair any damage to drain tile (SB 201)
7. Impact Mitigation: Requires pipeline companies to file an impact mitigation plan. (SB 201)
8. Leak Liability: Makes carbon pipeline companies liable to the landowner for any damage caused by leaks.  (SB 201)
9. Land Surveyors Must be from SD: Requires land surveyors be South Dakota residents. (SB 201)
10. Bans Perpetual Easements: Limits easements to a maximum of 99 years (SB 201)
11. Information Disclosure: Requires carbon pipeline companies to report linear footage of pipes in counties and disclose if they claim a tax credit. (SB 201)

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Apparently, there’s an announcement today that over the course of the last month, District 15 State House hopeful Mike Zitterich was unable to secure 50 signatures to be placed on the ballot, and with about 5 hours left, he’s tapping out. Maybe if he spent less time writing manifestos, and actually did something, he would have had better luck.

But he didn’t, so that’s that.

This leaves Joni Tschetter, who came close last election, and Brad Lindwurm, who landed in D15 after scoping things out, and probably should not be on the ballot, carrying the banner for the GOP in the District 15 House Race.

Doing a rough count from my list, and I know I’m low.

Currently looking at 15 GOP Senate Primary elections, 1 Democrat Senate Primary, and 17 GOP House primaries at the moment.

Watch for this number to go up as the petitions continue streaming in.

Steve Duffy to seek reelection to State House of Representatives from District 32

Rapid City businessman Steve Duffy announced today he will seek a second term in the State House of Representatives from District 32 in this year’s election.

Duffy was elected to his first term in 2022 and served on House Commerce and Energy and House Transportation. “It has been an honor to serve the people of Rapid City and the entire state,” said the fourth generation West River South Dakotan.

“My mission is to help create conditions where more quality jobs are available for South Dakotans. This requires a low tax burden, reasonable regulations, affordable housing, and good schools,” explained Duffy. “Our area is growing quickly as folks from all over the country discover our region. This growth has created opportunities and challenges: affordable housing, and increased traffic, crime, and pressure on critical infrastructure.”

In Duffy’s first term he participated in passing legislation to provide significant tax relief, a fourth year of college and technical school tuition freeze, and funding for affordable housing infrastructure. He is most proud of his success in helping to establish state support of airport infrastructure, with a $1billion annual economic impact.

Duffy grew up in Fort Pierre, SD, and holds a bachelor’s degree from Arizona State University and a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of South Dakota. Duffy worked 35 years in broadcasting and cable TV and now owns several rental properties. He has lived in District 32 for more than 40 years.

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SDSU’s Coach “Stig” to deliver keynote at Ninth Annual Faith and Business Conference in Sioux Falls 

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Tickets are now on sale for the Ninth Annual Faith and Business Conference, hosted by the Catholic Men’s Business Fraternity. This conference, set for Thursday, August 15, 2024 aims to bring together CEOs, business owners, managers, community leaders, and individuals that seek to integrate their faith into the workplace.

This conference will feature John Stiegelmeier as the keynote speaker. Stiegelmeier, better known as Coach “Stig”, retired as the winningest head coach in South Dakota State University football history after winning the 2022 FCS National Championship.

“I’m honored to join the Faith and Business Conference this year,” said Stiegelmeier. “I’m excited to share the story of how my faith was crucial in my coaching career and the type of program SDSU football became.”

Taking what you experience on Sunday in church and applying it throughout the week at work can be a challenge. The Faith and Business Conference addresses those challenges, while giving attendees ways to learn how to integrate their faith into all aspects of their professional lives.

The Faith and Business Conference is open to everyone. To purchase tickets, visit: faithandbusinessconference.com. 

To learn more about the Catholic Men’s Business Fraternity, visit https://cmbfsf.org/.