Thune: Effective Use of Federal Broadband Funds Will Help Bridge the Digital Divide

“Oversight of how federal broadband dollars are being spent is necessary to ensure that agencies aren’t mishandling billions of taxpayer dollars and, most importantly, to make sure the funding is going to areas that are actually unserved.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed his nationwide broadband oversight effort that will hold agencies accountable and ensure that previously authorized broadband funding is being used in the most efficient way possible to protect taxpayer dollars. Thune noted that in the last two years, Congress has allocated nearly $80 billion in funding for broadband-related services, which is split among 133 programs at 15 different agencies.

As part of Thune’s effort, he recently sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Inspector General Peggy Gustafson for her failure to fulfill congressionally mandated oversight of previously authorized broadband funding. Thune also sent a letter to a diverse group of stakeholders, including broadband associations, public interest groups, and free-market think tanks to seek their input on the current broadband regulatory structure.

Additional statewide elected officials endorse John Wiik for South Dakota Republican Party Chairman

BIG STONE CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA – A head of the January 14th Chairman vote, John Wiik announces endorsements from statewide elected officials, outgoing Republican State Party Leadership, and State Central Committee Members.

“John Wiik is the right man for the job and a strong voice for conservative values and common sense leadership,” said Senator John Thune. “John will be an experienced and committed executive for the state party and I fully endorse and support him as our next GOP chairman.”

“John and I have talked about his vision for the South Dakota Republican Party.” Said Senator Mike Rounds “I’m confident John’s conservative values and leadership skills will help lead our party to even greater success. John will make a strong chair and I’m proud to endorse him as our next GOP Chairman.”

The following statewide elected officials have endorsed John Wiik’s race for GOP state party Chairman:

• Governor Kristi Noem
• Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden
• Senator John Thune
• Senator Mike Rounds
• Congressman Dusty Johnson
• Attorney General Elect Marty Jackley
• Treasurer Josh Haeder
• Secretary of State Monae Johnson
• Auditor Rich Sattgast
• Public Utilities Commissioner Chris Nelson
• Public Utilities Commissioner Gary Hanson
• School & Public Lands Commissioner Elect Brock Greenfield

The following 78 GOP Leadership and Central Committee members have endorsed John Wiik for GOP state party Chairman:

• Republican State Party Chairman Dan Lederman
• RNC Committeeman Ried Holien
• State Republican Party Vice Chairman Linda Rausch
• State Republican Party Treasurer Justin Bell
• State Republican Party Secretary Marilyn Oakes
• Aurora County Chairman Dan Hargreaves
• Aurora County Vice Chairman Marlene Hargreaves
• Aurora County Committeewoman Estelle Konechne
• Aurora County Committeeman Mike Konechne
• Beadle County Vice Chairman Nancy Ziegeldorf
• Beadle County Committeeman David Wheeler
• Brookings County Chairman Jim Gilkerson
• Brookings County Vice Chairman Stephne Miller
• Brookings County Committeeman Jim Schade
• Brookings County Committeewoman Lillian Hellickson
• Brown County Chairman Katie Washnok
• Brown County Committeewoman Jen Hieb
• Brown County Committeeman Wayne Bierman
• Brule County Vice Chairman Patti Geibink
• Codington County Chairman Bret Holien
• Codington County Vice Chairman Brenda Hanten
• Codington County Committeeman Byron Callies
• Custer County Chairman Lea Anne McWhorter
• Custer County Vice Chairman Fred Mills
• Custer County Committeewoman Marilyn Oakes
• Davison County Chairman Josh Klumb
• Deuel County Chairman Mary Klockman
• Deuel County Vice Chairman Eli Pieper
• Edmunds County Chairman Julie Johnson
• Edmunds County Committeeman Vaughan Beck
• Grant County Chairman John Wiik
• Grant County Vice Chairman Carol Halverson
• Grant County Committeewoman Cheri Meagher
• Grant County Committeeman Chris Giesen
• Haakon County Chairman Stephen Clements
• Hamlin County Chairman Randall Frederick
• Hamlin County Vice Chairman Cynthia Frederick
• Hamlin County Committeeman Brock Brown
• Hamlin County Committeewoman Stephanie Sauder
• Harding County Chairman Betty Olson
• Hughes County Chairman Jason Williams
• Hughes County Vice Chairman Terra Larson
• Hughes County Committeeman Mike Mehlhoff
• Hughes County Committeewoman Lorian Naasz
• Lawrence County Chairman Mary Fitzgerald
• Lawrence County Vice Chairman Gary Coe
• Lawrence County Committeewoman Karen Brandt
• Lincoln County Chairman Nathan Block
• Lincoln County Committeewoman Dee Van Deest
• Lincoln County Committeeman Justin Smith
• Lyman County Chairman Rebecca Reimer
• Lyman County Vice Chairman Christian Skunk
• McPherson County Chairman Charlie Hoffman
• McPherson County Vice Chairman Linda Schauer
• McPherson County Committeewoman Cindy Flakoll
• McPherson County Committeeman Herb Flakoll
• Meade County Chairman Linn Hendrickson
• Meade County Committeewoman Sandy Rhoden
• Minnehaha County Chairman Maggie Sutton
• Moody County Chairman Les Heinemann
• Moody County Vice Chairman Anne Beal
• Moody County Committeewoman Lisbeth Heinemann
• Moody County Committeeman William Beal
• Pennington County Chairman Jeff Holbrook
• Pennington County Vice Chairman Lauri Davis
• Pennington County Committeeman Ed Randazzo
• Perkins County Committeeman Shane Penfield
• Spink County Chairman Larry Nielson
• Spink County Committeewoman Julia Ratushny
• Tripp County Committeewoman Abby Jorgensen
• Tripp County Committeeman Cody Jorgensen
• Union County Chairman Dan Lederman
• Union County Committeewoman Bonnie Lohry
• Union County Committeeman Dirk Lohry
• Walworth County Chairman Dana Randall
• Yankton County Chairman Debra Bodenstedt
• Yankton County Committeeman Greg Adamson
• Ziebach County Vice Chairman Gary Cudmore

The South Dakota Republican Party will vote for Chairman on January 14th, 2023.

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From end-of-year deadlines, performance reviews, next-year planning, data analysis, end-of-year budgets, businesses do a lot to close out the calendar year. This year, it seems Congress has one thing in common—the budget.

Although the fiscal year ended on September 30, Congress didn’t complete negotiations to pass a full spending package. Instead, Congress passed a continuing resolution to keep last year’s funding levels until December 15. It didn’t surprise many people when yet again, Congress couldn’t negotiate by the deadline and extended it another week.

By now, most people have finalized their important end-of-year projects and are spending time with family, prepping for Christmas parties, baking cookies, and drinking hot chocolate. However, Congress is back in Washington, D.C. to vote on an omnibus spending package to keep the federal government open and funded through the rest of the fiscal year.

Don’t get me wrong, I know passing a budget is necessary, which is why I introduced the GET IT DONE Act. This bill would motivate Members of Congress to work to pass a budget on time, and without repeated extensions, like how it has been done for years.

If a small business can pass a budget on time and before its deadline, Congress should too. Year after year, we watch the can get kicked down the road. And it’s usually a pretty expensive can.

In the end, I’m confident Congress will keep the lights on, but it shouldn’t have to be this way. I’m hopeful that in the new Congress, a Republican House Majority will pass a budget on time, just like South Dakota businesses do.

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Attorney General-elect Marty Jackley announces leadership team

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General-elect Marty Jackley has announced the eight-member leadership team that will join him when he takes office next month.

“This is a team of professionals that I have worked with in the past, and I believe can handle the challenges ahead of us,” Jackley said. “These are the kind of dedicated leaders that belong in the Attorney General’s Office because of their experience and commitment to public service.”

Former Attorney General Mark Barnett returns to the office as the Chief Deputy. He began in that office as an Assistant Attorney General 42 years ago and served three terms as the South Dakota Attorney General. He also served 12 years as a Circuit Court Judge.

“This office and the people in this office have always been special to me,” Barnett said. “I am honored to be asked by the Attorney General to join him when he takes office.”

Jackley also has named:

• Brent Kempema, Deputy Attorney General, Criminal Division.
• Tony Mangan, Director of Communications.
• Charlie McGuigan, Deputy Attorney General, Civil Division.
• Chad Mosteller, Assistant Director, Division of Criminal Investigation, Field Operations.
• Dan Satterlee, Director, Division of Criminal Investigation.
• Tiffany Stoeser, Assistant Director, Division of Criminal Investigation, Administrative Operations.
• Sarah Thorne, Deputy Attorney General, Appellate Division, which handles all Of the state’s criminal appeals.

(For those of you looking for the official release on the “drag show” controversy. – PP)

SOUTH DAKOTA BOARD OF REGENTS TO MEET ON WEDNESDAY

PIERRE, S.D. – The Board of Regents President Pam Roberts announced that the Regents will meet telephonically on Wednesday, December 21, to discuss the recent “drag show” at South Dakota State University. The special meeting follows the Regents’ regular meeting, held earlier this month, where the issue was raised.

“We respect the First Amendment, but none of us are happy about children being encouraged to participate in this event on a university campus,” said President Roberts. “I have asked our presidents to place a moratorium on minors attending events sponsored by student organizations on campus, for now. In addition, I have instructed our staff to work with the administration and legislative leaders on legislation to clarify the law in this area.”

-30-

(In case anyone out there wants to be chair of the Democrat Party….)

SDDP Announces 2023 Officer Elections

The South Dakota Democratic Party will hold elections during its first quarter State Central Committee meeting at Arrowwood Resort Cedar Shore in Oacoma on February 25, 2023. The meeting will begin at noon central time.

Elections will be held for SDDP state chair, vice chair, treasurer, and secretary; regional representatives to the SDDP Executive Board; and officers of the Oceti Sakowin Caucus.

As required by the SDDP Constitution, the votes for the state party officers will be weighted. Each county will cast the number of votes equal to the county’s proportionate vote for the Democratic candidate for governor in the last gubernatorial election. The chair, vice chair, and two committeepersons from each county party equally split the votes entitled to the county.

Party officers (state chair, vice chair, treasurer, and secretary) are elected to four year terms that begin on May 1, 2023.

Individuals seeking any elected position at the February meeting should fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/JjvBDHbQdd9k5SXA9.

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If you have the inside track on anyone running, drop me a note here. – PP

Dakota News Now notes that the Secretary of State’s office is rather tight lipped about informing a number of staff members that they are no longer employed a week before Christmas:

Warne confirmed the news to Dakota News Now/KOTA Territory in a statement Monday.

and..

Johnson refused to respond to inquiries about Warne leaving the office, and also opted not to respond to rumors that others were also asked to leave the office.

Johnson announced that former Speaker of the House Tom Deadrick would be her Deputy Secretary in November.

Read the entire story here.

I’m sure we’ll continue to hear more about it as the weeks go by, regardless of whether the Secretary of State chooses to comment.

That’s the thing about going in and firing nearly half the office. People will tend to talk.

After meeting on it earlier this month, the Board of Regents is responding to a student group claiming their drag show was “Kid-Friendly,” by temporarily pausing minors attending Student organization events on state university campuses:

“We respect the First Amendment, but none of us are happy about children being encouraged to participate in this event on a university campus,” Roberts said in a statement.

Read the entire story here.

Sometimes the wheels of government aren’t as nimble as we’d like, but I’d also say it looks like they have it handled as they should.

(Congratulations and thanks to Joan on her dedication to the people of South Dakota – PP)

Secretary Joan Adam Announces Retirement

 PIERRE, S.D. – Today, South Dakota Department of Health Secretary Joan Adam announced her retirement.

“My time with the Department of Health has been very rewarding. The dedication of the Department’s employees is impressive and will continue to serve the state well. I am looking forward to focusing on family and personal commitments,” said Joan Adam.

Joan and her husband Karl live in Pierre, SD, where they have raised their five children. Their family also includes a son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and one grandson.

Joan remains active in the Pierre community and has served as a Board Member and President of the Pierre/Ft. Pierre Community Foundation, Co-Chair of the Helmsley Cancer Center Fundraising Committee, and is currently serving as the Vice President of the Pierre School Board.

“Joan has lived a life of service to the Pierre community and to the people of South Dakota,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “She has been able to put families first because she recognizes the importance of her own family. I am grateful for her advice and wish her the best on everything that she does.”

Joan has served at the South Dakota Department of Health for a combined 20 years, including as Division Director for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention, Division Director for Administration, and Secretary of Health. In between her division director roles, Joan returned home to raise her growing family.

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Rumors from my spies in the State Capital (Don’t set it in stone yet, as this is just what I’m hearing) is that newly sworn Secretary of State Monae Johnson is wasting no time after last Friday’s series of pre-Christmas firings, and in the process of putting her new hires in place at the office, specifically in the Elections Department.

I’m told today that the new Director of Elections will be Elaine Jensen, whom I believe had been at the office previously, and is a former Butte County Auditor.

Another hire might just be a shift of positions (checking on that), but I’m told the most recognizable hire in the elections office is Logan Manhart, who had been a candidate for District 1 State House this past election. You’ll probably recognize the name as he had withdrew when it was determined that he had not been a resident of the state for two years.

I’ll update this as I hear more.