Gov. Noem Says GAB Board Made the Right Decision

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem issued the following statement on the Government Accountability Board’s (GAB) decision to dismiss the frivolous complaint regarding her use of the state airplane to conduct state business.

“From the beginning, this was a political attack by a disgraced, impeached, and removed former Attorney General who killed a man, lied about it, and abused his office to try to cover it up,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I have always used the state airplane according to state law and the precedent set by previous governors. The GAB Board made the right decision to dismiss this frivolous attack.”

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Governor Noem Closes State Government Offices Statewide for Winter Storm

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem ordered all state government executive branch offices statewide to be closed Thursday, Dec. 22, because of the winter storm in South Dakota. With offices already closed on Friday and Monday for Christmas, state offices are planning to be open on Tuesday.

While executive branch offices in the rest of the state will be closed, employees will be working remotely.

Blizzard and near blizzard conditions will impact the entire state beginning today and through the day Thursday.

Citizens should be prepared to stay home Thursday if possible. Many state highways already have no travel advised, and numerous roads are physically blocked. If they get stranded or have vehicle maintenance issues, the situation may become life-threatening. If they must travel, they should check the sd511.org or the SD511 mobile app.

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Gov. Noem Announces Next Steps on State Investments in China

PIERRE, S.D. – Governor Kristi Noem has announced the next steps that she is taking in her effort to stop state taxpayer dollars from being sent to nations that hate us, like Communist China. Governor Noem wrote to the United States Congress asking them to pass legislation endorsing state efforts to divest from China.

“I am requesting that Congress pass legislation to authorize state and local governments to divest assets or prohibit the investment of assets in China,” Governor Noem wrote in her letter to Congress, which can be found here. “Congress has an opportunity to prioritize our nation’s security. States stand ready to act, and legislation endorsing divestments from China would be a great tool to help us do that.”

Governor Noem also wrote to Vanguard asking them to create an emerging markets fund that does not include investments in Communist China.

“I am requesting that Vanguard create a new emerging markets fund that does not include China. This would provide states the opportunity to safely invest our state trust fund and pension dollars without exposure to the threat of the CCP,” Governor Noem wrote in her letter to Vanguard, which can be found here.

According to the review conducted by the South Dakota Investment Council (SDIC), no internally managed funds are invested in Chinese companies any longer. The SDIC has already divested from three Chinese companies.

Approximately 1.3% of the SDIC’s portfolio is invested in Chinese companies through an emerging markets index ETF. Another 0.7% of the portfolio is invested in Chinese real estate through external real estate and private equity partnership funds.

Governor Noem has called on the SDIC to provide alternative options for these investments.

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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.”

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(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.