Championing Freedom for Ranchers, Consumers, and American Fuel
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
May 2, 2025

BIG News

Heather and Charles Maude, fifth generation West River ranchers, faced up to ten years in prison over a fence line dispute with the Biden Administration’s U.S. Forest Service. Thankfully, under the leadership of President Trump, cooler heads prevailed. This week, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced the criminal charges against the Maude family were dropped.

Thanks to the advocacy of people like you, the Trump Administration, members of Congress, and more, we brought an end the to this political prosecution. I was honored to join Secretary Rollins, Secretary Noem, and the Maudes to celebrate this outcome.

 Click here or the image above to watch the press conference

BIG Idea

Transportation issues were the talk of the town this week. The House of Representatives debated and passed legislation blocking California’s zero-emissions requirements for vehicles. These mandates would force all vehicles sold in California to be zero-emissions (electric vehicles) by 2035. Because it’s inefficient for manufacturers to make different cars for different states, California’s mandates would effectively apply to the whole country. All Americans should have the choice to purchase the car the best fits their needs. The government should not make that decision for them.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, that I am a member of, considered its portion of the budget reconciliation bill. Our package reduces spending by more than $10 billion while making historic investments in the Coast Guard and air traffic control. Updates to our outdated air traffic control technology nationwide will be great for our towers at the Rapid City and Sioux Falls airports.

BIG Update

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the sale of year-round E-15 sales, just days after my colleagues and I sent a letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin asking for this waiver to be approved. This decision supports South Dakota producers, gives consumers a cheaper option at the pump, and bolsters our energy security.

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Attorney General Jackley Announces Pierre Woman Indicted on Charges to Defraud Medicaid Program 

PIERRE, S.D. – South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announces that a Pierre woman has been indicted on six felony counts of defrauding the South Dakota Medicaid Program of more than $588,000 in federal and state funds.

Sharon Laraye Monson, 48, is accused of stealing the money as the owner of At Home Nursing in Pierre. The charges occur from May 1, 2018 to Jan. 1, 2024.

“The defendant is accused of taking advantage of people who needed this type of service, and who relied on Medicaid to pay for it,” said Attorney General Jackley.

Monson is charged with three counts of Unlawfully Obtaining Benefits or Payments from a Medical Assistance Program, and one count each of Aggravated Grand Theft, Perjury to Obtain State Benefits, and Failure to Keep Necessary Records Upon Which Medicaid Claim is Based. She faces a combined maximum prison or county jail sentence of 42 years if found guilty of all six charges.

The defendant has not yet had an initial court appearance. She is presumed innocent under the U.S. Constitution.

This release is provided in compliance with the federal Stevens Amendment: The South Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award totaling approximately $1,002,576 for Federal Fiscal Year 2025. The remaining 25%, totaling approximately $334,188 for Federal Fiscal Year 2025, was funded by the State of South Dakota.

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I’m working on a little history project, in part for fun, and I stumbled across this news item from 1976, which I think could be oddly prophetic for the SDGOP as it is now:

July 14, 1976, as it appeared in the Mitchell Daily Republic, the Chairman Leo Thorsness and his Assistant Roger Meyer (you know the former chair in Yankton – still carrying water for the elephant 50 years later!) are burning the note to end the South Dakota Republican Party’s debt, which rose as high as $90,000 back in 1976.

In today’s dollars, that’s nearly $500,000 of debt that the party had racked up at one time and paid down. The SDGOP has had minor bank notes since, but this might have been the most massive debt the party had.

Which given the state of the South Dakota Republican Party’s current finances and inability to raise money as led by former Obama Democrat Jim Eschenbaum, we might see a return to the SDGOP carrying that kind of debt load if someone is willing to sign the note.

Visit Rapid City to Unveil President Trump Statue
Public is Invited to Meet the Latest Addition to the City of Presidents

Visit Rapid City is unveiling the latest addition to the City of Presidents – a bronze statue of President Donald J. Trump – on May 3 at the Elks Theatre, located at 512 6th St. in Rapid City.

“The City of Presidents is a vital part of Rapid City and a story of American history,” said Ally Formanek, interim CEO for Visit Rapid City. “We look forward to introducing the latest installment of this art project to the public.”

The following is an overview of the event:

• Time: 3-5 p.m.
• Doors open at 2:30 p.m.
• Bags may not be larger than 4.5” x 6.5” (no larger than your hand); clear bags are allowed (both are subject to search)
• 3-4 p.m.: Speakers to include Laurie Sutterer with Visit Rapid City, U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Rapid City Mayor Jason Salamun, Richard Purdue (son of the founder of City of Presidents, Don Purdue) Jim Maher (artist who sculpted the statue), the Bradsky Family and the Patton Family (statue donors)
• 4-5 p.m.: Photo opportunity with statue
• The event is open to the public, with seats available on a first come first served basis.

The City of Presidents was founded in 2020 and 2025 marks its 25th anniversary. A privately funded nonpartisan art project and trail of history, Visit Rapid City is responsible for the promotion and management of the presidents.

President Trump’s statue was commissioned after his term ended in 2021 and was completed before he was elected to a second term in November 2024. The statue was created by Jim Maher, a Rapid City artist.

Learn more about Visit Rapid City at VisitRapidCity.com.

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it sounds like the questions over Christopher Reder’s residency continued to linger, and may have hastened his departure from the South Dakota Legislature.  As Argus political reporter Dominik Dausch came to find, the more a person dug, the questions didn’t just continue to linger, but they continued to grow:

But questions around Reder’s fitness to serve as a state representative swirled once more when Pat Powers, a Republican blogger, scrutinized the Warner lawmaker’s status as a resident of South Dakota in April

 And..

The Argus Leader reached out to Reder April 9 with questions regarding his residency status in South Dakota and Minnesota, and the following questions were asked: “Could you clarify your residency situation in South Dakota?”; and, “Do you currently spend more time living in South Dakota or Minnesota since the sale of the Warner ranch?”

And..

…a person who gains residence in another state loses their South Dakota residence, and a person who moves from South Dakota to another state or territory “with the intention of making it the person’s permanent home” also loses their original residence.

And..

The Argus Leader sent a follow-up email asking if the then-legislator could clarify if he is a resident of Minnesota. Reder did not respond to either inquiry.

Read the entire story here.

And shortly thereafter, the resignation came about.  (It probably didn’t help with moving a branch of his organization into a rural District 3 location recently.)

Hot off the press from Hub City Radio, State Representative Chris Reder has announced that he’s resigned from the South Dakota State Legislature:

Representative Christopher Reder announced Thursday that he has resigned as legislator representing District 1.

Here is his resignation letter:

“Good afternoon, I am sending out this statement in reference to my decision I took this afternoon, to step down as the South Dakota House of Representatives, District #1 representative. This was not an easy decision but is due to personal and professional reasons.”

Read the entire resignation letter here.

Reder’s resignation comes after questions arose with regards to the Representative’s residency, and a residence that he had established in Minnesota.

South Dakota Democrats’ annual dinner is going to feature one of the highest profile speakers that they’ve had in a number of years, as they bring Minnesota Governor and former VP Candidate Tim Walz to Sioux Falls:

Gov. Tim Walz to be Keynote Speaker at SD Democratic Party Dinner

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1st, 2025

SIOUX FALLS, SD – The South Dakota Democratic Party is honored to announce Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as our keynote speaker for our annual McGovern Day dinner on July 12th in Sioux Falls.

Walz was first elected Governor in 2018 and won re-election in 2022. He is a proven leader in Minnesota, helping to create free school meals for students, strengthening voting rights, cutting taxes for the middle class, and expanding paid leave for workers. In 2024, Vice President Kamala Harris picked Walz as her running mate for the Presidential election.

Born in a small town in rural Nebraska, his parents instilled in him the values of public service, generosity toward your neighbors, and working for the common good. Those values continue to guide his commitment to Minnesota each and every day. Walz served in the Army National Guard before becoming a high school teacher and coach.

“We are really excited to welcome Governor Walz to South Dakota,” said SDDP Chair Shane Merrill. “He’s a true Midwesterner, growing up in rural Nebraska near the South Dakota border. He is a rural Democrat, who represented a rural Minnesota Congressional district before his governorship. I am excited to hear what he has to share with us during McGovern Day as we honor the late George McGovern who fought for all South Dakotans during his time in Congress.”

“We are thrilled to host Governor Tim Walz as our guest at McGovern Day,” said SDDP Vice Chair Jessica Meyers. “Walz and his administration continue to show their neighboring states what good governance looks like in the Midwest. It is an honor to have him visit us this summer.”

Tickets for the dinner will go on sale in June.

For questions, you can contact the SDDP Executive Director Dan Ahlers at dan@sddp.org or contact the state party office by phone at 605-271-5405 or 605-940-3071.

Rapid City business group ELEVATE Rapid City released their scorecard of legislators for the 2025 legislative session, and both Senators Helene Duhamel and Amber Hulse receiving glowing 100% scores from the pro-business group.

And at the same time freedom caucus leader Tony Randolph and GOP vice-chair Tina Mulally were cited for voting against business an incredible 82% of the time. Here’s the scorecard:

ELEVATE Rapid City 2025 Legislative Scorecard by Pat Powers on Scribd

Many of Rapid City’s legislators scored well on the business benchmarks set by the group to promote growth. But unfortunately, a certain number were notable for their anti-business stances. I highlighted the turkeys so you can take note:

As noted, Tina Mulally and Tony Randolph were joined by Phil Jensen for voting against business 82% of the time in this scorecard. Heather Baxter was almost as anti-business as they were, voting against business 64% of the time, with anti-business legislator Taffy Howard voting against the businesses in her community 60% of the time – even more than the lone Democrat in Rapid City Nichole Uhre-Balk.

The job creators in the Rapid City community really need to step up and figure out who they want to represent them in Pierre. People who want to support jobs and development, or those who vote against it.

Ugh, I hate myself for posting this.

But you need to see “4% Toby Doeden” try to convince a church congregation that he’s being advised by an invisible man who tells him things:

Toby claims that a few years back that he received a message from that he believes to be from God who says to him “it is time for you to serve South Dakota.”

Did the voices tell him that before or after he got over a million dollars of free money, courtesy of taxpayers?

Or did the the voices told him to serve South Dakota and run for office right before he put his home basketball court in?  Were those the same voices that told him to raise rent by 48% on the single mother?

The voice of the lord tells people a lot of crazy stuff.  Or maybe it’s how it’s being interpreted by the end user..?

Speaking of crazy stuff, word on the street is that Doeden will be announcing his plans on May 22nd, so we don’t have to wait long to find out what else the invisible voices are telling him.

Besides. Those voices telling him to do stuff don’t have the best track record.

The voices really whiffed it for Toby on the whole Mark “I’m a black nazi” Robinson thing.

Gov. Rhoden Appoints Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald to the Board of Education Standards

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden announced the appointment of Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards.

“Our students are the future of our state, and they deserve the very best education to get into the career of their dreams,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Dr. Tonia Warzecha and Greg Von Wald will be tremendous additions to the Board of Education Standards, and they will continue to help set our students up for success.”

Dr. Tonia Warzecha is an experienced educational leader, spending more than 25 years of her career in education and over a decade in district and building-level leadership roles. She currently serves as Superintendent of the Dakota Valley School District. Prior to this role, Dr. Warzecha was the Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the Tea Area School District, overseeing curriculum development, assessment systems, and federal programs. In 2021, she was recognized as South Dakota’s Curriculum Leader of the Year. Dr. Warzecha has also served in a leadership role for the Area II Superintendents’ Group and serves on several statewide education advisory boards.

“I am deeply honored by Governor Rhoden’s appointment to the South Dakota Board of Education Standards,” said Dr. Tonia Warzecha. “This is a responsibility that I will approach with a commitment to high-quality education, fairness, and careful stewardship of our students’ futures. I look forward to working collaboratively to uphold and strengthen South Dakota standards in a way that serves all learners and communities across our state.”

Dr. Warzecha holds a Doctor of Education and Specialist in Educational Administration from the University of South Dakota. You can find a picture of Dr. Tonia Warzecha here.

Greg Von Wald is the former President of Mitchell Technical Institute (MTI). He led the college through unprecedented growth, overseeing an enrollment increase of nearly 60%. Prior to his appointment at MTI, he served as CEO and General Manager of Golden West Technologies and Internet Solutions and CEO and owner of a telecommunications company in Aberdeen. Von Wald also has military leadership experience, having served as the head of the Operational Development Team and Faculty Member at the Marine Corps University. He was selected as part of the team that developed and implemented the Marine offensive plan during Operation Desert Storm.

“I would like to thank Governor Rhoden for his appointment to the Board of Education Standards,” said Greg Von Wald. “I believe in a well-rounded and challenging education for our children that encourages good character, solid principles, and a high ethical standard – keys to their and our country’s future success.  I look forward to contributing to this goal.”

Von Wald served as the Executive Director of the Skilled Workforce Advocacy Council, where he developed a campaign plan that elevated the importance of technical education in South Dakota. You can find a picture of Greg Von Wald here.

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