Rounds, Working Group to Host AI Discussion on Workforce
Forum to Feature DSU President José-Marie Griffiths 

WASHINGTON – On Wednesday, November 1, U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and the bipartisan Artificial Intelligence (AI) working group will host a discussion focused on AI in the workforce. The forum will feature academic and industry experts, including Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, President of Dakota State University. The group will discuss the intersection of AI and the workforce and will aim to explore how AI will alter the way that Americans work. In addition to Rounds, the AI working group is comprised of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senators Todd Young (R-Ind.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).

“AI is leading to incredible advancements in our daily lives, including the way we work,” said Rounds. “From medicine and manufacturing to entertainment and hospitality, workers in all industries will feel the impacts of AI. I look forward to hearing from Dr. Griffiths and other top experts as we discuss the development of AI in the workforce.”

In addition to Griffiths, featured speakers include: 

• Allyson Knox, Microsoft – Senior Director of Education Policy and Programs
• Ameenah Salaam, Communication Workers of America – Secretary-Treasurer
• Anton Korinek, University of Virginia – Professor
• Arnab Chakraborty, Accenture – Senior Managing Director of Data and AI and Global Responsible AI Lead
• Austin Keyser, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers – Assistant to the International President
• Bonnie Castillo, National Nurses United – Executive Director
• Chris Hyams, Indeed – Chairman and CEO
• Daron Acemoglu, Massachusetts Institute of Technology – Professor
• Michael Fraccaro, Mastercard – Chief People Officer
• Michael Strain, American Enterprise Institute – Director of Economic Policy Studies
• Patrick Gaspard, Center for American Progress – President and CEO
• Paul Schwalb, UNITE HERE – Secretary-Treasurer of DC Local 25
• Rachel Lyons, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) – Legislative Director
• Rob Atkinson, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation – Founder and President

In May 2023, the working group was formed to pursue the opportunities and tackle the threats presented by AI. In order to provide additional information to members of the Senate, the working group has hosted a series of briefings. These briefings have included a first-of-its-kind forum that featured top tech leaders including Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates and a panel discussion comprised of academic and industry experts focusing on how AI is transforming health care.

###

MEDICAL MARIJUANA OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE TO MEET PIERRE

The Medical Marijuana Oversight Committee will hold its second meeting of the 2023 Interim on Monday, November 6, 2023, beginning at 9:00 a.m. (CT). The meeting is being conducted in Room 413 of the State Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota. The committee is chaired by Senator Erin Tobin (R-Winner) with vice chair Representative Roger DeGroot (R-Brookings). Members will hear from representatives of state agencies, medical marijuana establishments, health care providers, and the industry regarding the operational status of the South Dakota medical marijuana program. Public testimony will also be taken. The full agenda is available online.

In addition to Senator Tobin and Representative DeGroot, committee members include Senator Jim Mehlhaff (R-Pierre); Representative Curt Massie (R-Rapid City); and non-legislators Francine Arneson, Brian Doherty, Katie Kassin, Brian Mueller, Kristi Palmer, Jon Thum, and Rachel Waddell.

-30-

The Senate Republicans are ready for 2024!!! Thanks to all of our incredible supporters. pic.twitter.com/DanwY4kqQa

— Casey Crabtree (@CrabtreeCasey) October 29, 2023

While many were in the Sioux Falls area for the Governor’s Hunt this last weekend, on Friday, South Dakota Senate Republicans had their own event for fellowship, and to raise some funds to replenish the coffers of the Senate GOP committee to make sure Republicans come out on top in 2024. Looks like a great time was had by all at the event which also featured an appearance by Governor Kristi Noem!

Rob Port with InForum Newspapers in North Dakota, who broke the story on former NDGOP Executive Director Dave Roetman’s string of sexist and bigoted statements on twitter, has a story this afternoon on Roetman’s departure from the NDGOP after a whole weeks’ employment:

Roetman made dozens and dozens of ignorant social media posts, ranging from caddish digital gawking at women in various states of undress to jokes about women making sandwiches to a bigoted suggestion that Black Americans leave the country and move to Wakanda.

Roetman has been completely unapologetic about the posts. “I am a man who stands by his words,” he told me in response to an inquiry for the original story about them. Since my story published, he also made multiple posts mocking the controversy and liked another social media post suggesting it was a woman’s role to stay at home and care for children while men “provide and protect.”

Read the entire story here.

I’d think that Dave would have set his twitter to “private” by now.

Israel Should Not Tolerate Terrorists on Its Border
By Sen. John Thune

I recently returned from a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to the Middle East, including Israel. Our trip was in direct response to Hamas’ savage attack on innocent men, women, and children. We went to show our support for Israel and to deliver a clear message with one voice: The United States stands with Israel.

For nearly 20 years, Israel has had to live with a terrorist organization on its border whose sole mission is killing Jews and wiping Israel off the map. And during that time Hamas has loomed as a persistent threat to Israel, attacking, kidnapping, and killing Israelis. But the barbarism and brutality Hamas displayed in its October 7 attacks revealed an evil that had reached new heights.

During my recent visit, Israeli defense officials updated us on the war. They showed us video evidence of the unnerving atrocities committed against innocent people – horrific images that I will not soon forget. In Tel Aviv, we met with the families of hostages being held in Gaza, including Americans, who shared their painful stories. These experiences made crystal clear the imperative of Israel defeating Hamas once and for all.

Prime Minister Netanyahu made a point about the war that is especially chilling as an American. He pointed out that on 9/11, America’s enemies were thousands of miles away, but today, Israel’s enemy is only one kilometer away. Hamas represents an evil not seen in generations, and, for Israel, this threat is existential. Israel knows it has to eliminate Hamas. Their cause is just, their resolve is firm, and every peace-loving nation on earth should be on its side.

If Hamas and its reign of terror are allowed to continue, no nation in the region or beyond will be able to live in peace and security. It’s really that simple. We need to get hostages freed and Americans out of harm’s way and give Israel the space to get this job done.

The United States and the world also need to be clear-eyed about how Iran is involved in, and benefits from, this brutal bloodshed. Their goal is to bring chaos, violence, and death to anyone who does not share their extreme and militant religious ideology, which includes wiping Israel off the face of the earth. Ninety percent of Hamas’ military budget comes from Iran, and numerous other proxy terrorist groups in the Middle East are also financed, armed, and trained by Iran. Through its proxies, Iran is literally getting away with murder, and it must be made clear to Iran that if they do not stand down or if they escalate this war, the United States and our allies will have no choice but to respond forcefully.

Hamas’ atrocities against Israelis, including against children, their use of Palestinians as human shields, and their lies to undermine the civilian evacuation of Gaza, are truly depraved. Their actions cannot be rationalized yet we have seen some in our own country attempt to do just that in recent weeks. As Americans, we must be uncompromising in our rejection of antisemitism and hate in all its forms. And we must stand united in asserting that hate is not welcome in our communities, in South Dakota, or in any corner of America.

The world hasn’t seen this kind of evil in generations, and it has to be confronted. If it’s not, we will see death and destruction on a scale akin to the horrors of the last century. I will continue working with my colleagues in Congress to ensure the United States’ support of Israel is unwavering. Kimberley and I continue to pray for the victims of Hamas’ terrorism, for the success of Israel’s efforts, and for a lasting peace in Israel and the Middle East.

###

Fighting for South Dakotans
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
October 27, 2023

BIG Update

Mexico’s ban on imports of genetically modified corn from the U.S. and Brazil’s unfair tariffs on our ethanol are hurting producers who rely on exporting their products.

This week, I joined a group of Midwest Republican congressmen in a meeting with Doug McKalip, the Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. We talked about the need to reestablish markets with Brazil and Mexico and to encourage U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai to pressure Brazil and Mexico to end these policies. South Dakota exports around 40% of its corn—having these markets back online would benefit South Dakota producers.

We must work together to negotiate trade agreements that benefit U.S. agriculture.

BIG Idea

Most of us in South Dakota know how unrealistic the Biden Administration’s desire to make an immediate switch to electric vehicles (EVs) is for rural America. Our cold weather, long distances between destinations, and lack of charging stations make it almost impossible to switch to EVs. I met with South Dakota members of the Community Transportation Association of America to discuss rural transit services, propane buses, and how to best serve our communities.

BIG News

The House elected Speaker Johnson this week. No, not me, but Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana. I was proud to vote for him so we could restore order to the House of Representatives. I look forward to working with him as we pass legislation to secure the southern border, tackle the national debt, and avoid a government shutdown.

The House was in an unfortunate stalemate for three weeks. Our first action after installing Speaker Mike Johnson was passing a bill to support Israel and condemn Hamas for their acts of terror on our ally, Israel. Yesterday, we passed another appropriations bill, getting us one step closer to fully funding the government. I’m glad we’ve hit the ground running.

###

Buckle Down and Budget: Looking Forward to Legislative Session
By: Governor Kristi Noem
October 27, 2023

As we close in on the start of legislative session, I have been meeting with my team to discuss how we can deliver the best possible results for the people of South Dakota during those weeks.

I am also working on my budget. While South Dakota has seen unprecedented growth, we have not been immune from the burdensome regulations and inflation inflicted by the federal government, and America’s national economy continues to tank because of the extremist policies of the Biden Administration. Thanks to South Dakota’s conservative fiscal policies, our state economy is still strong. However, it is important to realize that this year’s budget will look more “normal” than it has the last several years.

South Dakota has had a balanced budget for 134 years. Now, our revenue rates are going back to normal, and we will have to rely on our tradition of smart money management to achieve our 135^th year with a balanced budget.

We are a state that values fiscally conservative policies. We have no state income tax. We have a AAA credit rating. We have one of the only fully-funded pensions in the country. We make it a priority to cut government red tape wherever we can. And we let the taxpayers keep as many of their hard-earned dollars in their pockets as possible.

South Dakota has reaped the benefits of those conservative policies. We have had record surpluses and sales tax revenue over the last several years – and we have been able to use those dollars to give back to the people of our state.

Our budget for Fiscal Year 2024 funded important needs like K-12 education, healthcare providers, and state employees. It also included funding for the operation of regional behavioral health centers, 100% tuition assistance for our National Guard soldiers, and targeted increases for our state employee workforce and community service providers.

The legislature also chose to give the people of South Dakota a sales tax holiday to ease the burden of inflation. While it’s no secret that this was not the tax cut I wanted to deliver for the people last session, I’m hopeful the legislature will make this tax cut permanent. Instead, there is already talk among legislators about repealing the sales tax holiday to free up money for more spending.

I point all of this out because there are many members of our state legislature that have not experienced a “normal budget year.” 51 of the 105 members of our legislature have only been serving since 2020. That means that 49% of South Dakota’s legislative body has not experienced a fiscal year without record-breaking economic growth. These legislators are used to having huge revenues and surpluses to spend on whatever they want. They have not had to do what more and more families across America are having to do – stick to a tight budget.

Don’t get me wrong, we’ve accomplished some great things with our revenues and surpluses, but now it’s time for us to get back to conservative spending.

We cannot raise taxes on South Dakota families. They deserve to keep their hard-earned dollars. They deserve a permanent tax cut. What we can do is limit government spending and focus on the needs of our people.

“Under God, the People Rule.” We need to remember those five words that make up our state motto all 38 days of legislative session. We work for the people of South Dakota, and we owe it to them to deliver the sound fiscal policies that have made our economy the strongest in the nation.

###

When you resign from being the Executive Director of the North Dakota Republican Party after a week on the job, the press release tends to be a bit short and sweet:

 

North Dakota GOP Executive Director Dave Roetman might be “a man who stands behind his words,” but after serving in the position barely over a week, apparently the NDGOP isn’t interested in what he has to say after Rob Port with the InForum newspapers in North Dakota uncovered dozens and dozens of offensive twitter posts that disparaged women, and in one case suggested that a black person should “move to Wakanda,” the fictional home of Marvel Comics superhero Black Panther.”

According to a story posted this afternoon by the Dakota Scout:

North Dakota GOP Executive Director Dave Roetman resigned from the post Monday after social media posts characterized as sexist and disparaging to women resurfaced following his hiring earlier this month.

and..

“I believe that the best path forward for the NDGOP is for me to take a different path,” Roetman said in a statement following his resignation. “I wish them all the best.” 

and..

Roetman, though, is not apologizing.

“I am a man who stands by his words,” Roetman told The Dakota Scout Monday.

Read the entire story here.

Now former NDGOP Executive Director Roetman apparently hadn’t managed to get much past the weekend after the number and degree of his twitter activity had been reviewed by the newspaper, before the pressure was on to “take a different path.”

We’ll see if any upcoming South Dakota campaigns are more tolerant of the words he chooses to stand by.

(Photo Credit Rob Port/Inforum)