Johnson, O’Halleran, Rounds RESPECT Heads to President’s Desk

 Washington, D.C. – Today, the Repealing Existing Substandard Provisions Encouraging Conciliation with Tribes (RESPECT) Act passed the U.S. House by 349-80. This bill repeals discriminatory federal laws targeting Native Americans and was led by U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ), and Tom Cole (R-OK) in the U.S. House and sponsored by Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) in the U.S. Senate.

“Repealing these laws is a step in the right direction to right the wrongs against Native Americans,” said Johnson. “There is no reason these archaic and discriminatory laws remain on the books. Senator Rounds’ leadership on this bill was key to getting it passed in the Senate, and I am proud to help usher the RESPECT Act across the finish line in the House.”

Background:

The RESPECT Act repeals eleven federal laws, found here, that discriminate against Native Americans. One of which is the “Indian Reform Schools” that forcibly removed Native American children from their family and placed them in boarding schools.

The RESPECT Act is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Association (GPTCA) and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI).

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Governor Noem Announces State Office Openings and Closures for Thursday

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem ordered state government offices to be closed in Davison County and opened in several regions of the state on Thursday, December 15, 2022:

• In the southeastern part of the state, offices will open in Brookings, Lake, Miner, and Moody Counties;
• In the western part of the state, offices will open in Custer and Fall River Counties, as well as in the western portion of Pennington County (including Hill City, Keystone, and Rapid City).

“Although offices are open in these counties, state employees should be smart. If they live rurally and need to travel on roads that have ‘no travel advised’ by SD511, they should work with their supervisors to work remotely,” said Governor Kristi Noem.

Offices will remain open in Bon Homme, Clay, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Turner, Union, and Yankton Counties.

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

Officials continue to closely monitor the storm which features heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds. A decision on state government office availability for Friday will be made Thursday.

Citizens are encouraged to stay home Thursday if possible. If they must travel, they should checksd511.org or the SD511 mobile app.

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Governor Noem Closes State Offices Wednesday in All but 11 Counties

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem ordered all state government executive branch offices statewide, except in 11 southeast counties, to be closed Wednesday, Dec. 14, because of the winter storm that continues to impact the majority of the state.

State offices will be open for normal business hours in Bon Homme, Clay, Davison, Hanson, Hutchinson, Lincoln, McCook, Minnehaha, Turner, Union and Yankton Counties. Officials say weather and travel conditions are not as severe in those counties as they are elsewhere.

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

Officials continue to closely monitor the storm which features heavy snow, freezing rain, and high winds. A decision on state government office availability for Thursday will be made Wednesday.

Citizens are encouraged to stay home Wednesday if possible. If they must travel, they should check sd511.org or the SD511 mobile app.

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Rapid City Councilwoman Laura Armstrong has thrown her hat into the ring to run for mayor of that community, according to the Rapid City Journal.

If elected, she would be the first woman to serve as mayor in Rapid City’s 146-year history.

Or should I say, she’s “thrown her mask into the ring,” as it wasn’t so long ago she as making the news for a website she created to shame Rapid City Businesses who weren’t requiring masks during the early days of the COVID pandemic.

Rapid City Council President Laura Armstrong is under fire from business owners and residents after they hand delivered nearly 100 complaints to the City Attorney Joel Landeen.

It all stems from a Facebook page called “The Caring Businesses of Rapid City” that highlights businesses that enforce a mask mandate in their establishment, versus those that do not. The rolodex of businesses not requiring masks has been dubbed the “naughty list.”

The complainants accuse Armstrong of creating or supporting the page and are asking she be removed from the Council.

Read that story here.  And more on the story here.

I have this feeling this campaign isn’t going to go very far.

If she had left it at praising those who required it, I don’t think it would have been a big deal. But when as an elected official you go out of your way to shame businesses that don’t agree with you politically, that’s behavior that people are not going to forget very quickly.

Gov. Noem Announces Plan to Restrict Foreign Purchases of Ag Land

 PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and legislators announced proposed legislation to restrict foreign purchases of agricultural land in South Dakota. The plan creates a new board, the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States – South Dakota (CFIUS-SD), which will investigate proposed purchases of ag land by foreign interests and recommend either approval or denial to the Governor.

“With this new process, we will be able to prevent nations who hate us – like Communist China – from buying up our state’s agriculture land,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to continue to buy up our nation’s food supply, so South Dakota will lead the charge on this vital national security issue.”

The prime sponsors of the legislation will be Senator Erin Tobin (R-Winner) and Representative-elect Gary Cammack (R-Union Center).

“For those of us who have lived and worked on the land, we know that it’s our past, but also our future,” said Senator Erin Tobin. “We grow the world’s food, and we need to protect the security of that food supply for our kids.”

The CFIUS-SD board would be made up of three ex officio members: the Governor’s General Counsel (who would serve as board chair), the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Director of the South Dakota Office of Homeland Security (part of the South Dakota Department of Public Safety). The board would also include two governor’s appointees: an agricultural industry expert who owns at least 160 acres of agricultural land in SD, and a national and/or state security or foreign policy expert.

“With vital national security resources like Ellsworth Air Force Base, we cannot afford for our enemies to purchase land in South Dakota,” said Representative-elect Gary Cammack. “We want to keep this land in the hands of South Dakota agriculture producers. I look forward to working with Governor Noem and my colleagues to guarantee the continued security of our state and nation.”

The jurisdiction of CFIUS-SD would cover transactions on or after July 1, 2023, including:

• Any transaction of any number of acres – including a land transfer, purchase, grant, devise, descent, or inheritance of agricultural land – involving a “foreign entity” (any foreign person, foreign government, foreign business, or any organization controlled by a foreign person, government, or business);
• Any lease of agricultural land to a foreign entity for a period of one year or longer; and,
• Any transaction previously considered by the federal CFIUS board.

Currently, South Dakota has a law on the books limiting aggregate foreign ownership of agricultural land to 160 acres.

Two weeks ago, Governor Noem signed an Executive Order banning TikTok for South Dakota state government. Since then, the number of states banning TikTok for state governments has risen to eight.

Last week, Governor Noem called on the South Dakota Investment Council (SDIC) to immediately review all state investments for potential ties to nations that hate America, like Communist China. The SDIC has already divested from multiple Chinese holdings as a result of that call.

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Governor Noem Closes State Government Offices Statewide

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Gov. Kristi Noem ordered all state government executive branch offices statewide to be closed Tuesday, Dec. 13, because of the winter storm expected in South Dakota.

The National Weather Service forecast calls for freezing rain, heavy snow, and high winds to occur throughout South Dakota. Travel will be impacted in those areas.

Officials continue to closely monitor the storm. A decision on state government office availability for Wednesday will be made Tuesday.

Citizens should be prepared to stay home Tuesday if possible. If they must travel, they should check sd511.org or the SD511 mobile app.

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From Twitter:

Friday, our team said goodbye to two more reporters. We are now nine, not including myself.

Today, I'm furloughed for the week, the first of three weeks of mandetory furloughs @argusleader.

Re-upping this thread, because here's what that means for you:https://t.co/qrYWoN4T7E https://t.co/Osh6jH1c0f

— Shelly Conlon (@Shelly_Conlon) December 12, 2022

Statewide elected officials endorse John Wiik for South Dakota Republican Party Chairman

BIG STONE CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA – John Wiik announces endorsements from statewide elected officials and outgoing Republican State Party Chairman.

“South Dakota has set an example for the nation that conservative principles work.” Said Governor Kristi Noem “John Wiik has a vision that our state party can set that example too – and the work ethic to make it happen.”

“John Wiik understands what it takes to win and conservative values can make our state and nation stronger.” Said Congressman Dusty Johnson “He has the connections and work ethic to make a great party chair.”

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

• Governor Kristi Noem
• Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden
• 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
• Republican State Party Chairman Dan Lederman

John Wiik also announces the addition of Mary Fitzgerald for Vice-Chair of the South Dakota Republican Party. “Mary is a dedicated county party chair and state legislator.” said John Wiik “She knows a lot about long days of hard work in public service and will be a great addition to the leadership team.”

“It is an honor to be chosen by John Wiik to run as his Vice-Chair.” said Mary Fitzgerald “We look forward to working with every republican in South Dakota to move our party forward”

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

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Apparently, it’s good to be Speaker of the House. Because even when you’re on the way out the door, you get to approve sending yourself to Hawaii on the back of the taxpayer:

Gosch, as well as Rep. Jamie Smith, both went on a trip to Hawaii to attend the Council of State Governments’ national conference in Honolulu. They were among a dozen South Dakota lawmakers to attend.

But neither Gosch nor Smith are returning to the Legislature in January. Both are lame-duck lawmakers.

And..

“As God is my witness, I can think of no justifiable reason for the outgoing House speaker, with less than 30 days left in his term, to be at a taxpayer-funded legislative conference in Hawaii,” Hoffman said. “My constituents will not be pleased to hear of it.”

Read the entire story here (subscription required).

According to the story, Gosch would have approved his own travel to the legislative conference where he learned about topics important to South Dakota.  Such as the cliff jumping which caused Gosch’s leg injury.

The cliff-jumping session for Gosch must’ve been in-between his important session on bouncy houses and the all important luau round table.

Understandably, legislators are not happy about Gosch sending himself and Jamie Smith on a Hawaiian junket a month before they’re out of office. Not the last we’ll hear about that one. Especially when the final bill is available.

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“I don’t find Jamie Smith extreme in anything, and I wouldn’t call him a liberal Democrat, I really wouldn’t … he’s just the kind of guy that everybody loves, he’s a guy who’s really hard not to love. When he talks to you he really listens and he really cares.”

— Republican Speaker of the House Spencer Gosch. SD News Watch 10/19/22

Victory for our Servicemembers
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
December 9, 2022

On Thursday, the House voted with bipartisan support to pass the annual defense bill—the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill has been passed on time for 62 consecutive years. This is a pillar of defense policy and funding, a critical way to protect national security.

There’s a lot in these bills, so I have highlighted some wins:

After a year-long push for a repeal of the COVID-19 vaccine requirement for servicemembers—the NDAA removed that requirement. In recent years, we have seen a decrease in recruitment and retention in our military. Requiring servicemembers to get a vaccine they are not comfortable with limits the pool of qualified applicants. Some of these individuals may have natural immunity but have not been allowed to join the military because of this vaccine requirement—I’m grateful we were able to get this done.

The NDAA authorized a pay raise for our troops. Inflation has hit families hard over the past year and it’s no different for servicemembers and military families. I am thankful for those who have chosen service and sacrifice—this is just one small way to thank them.

Funding for Ukraine has been a point of contention over the past several months. The NDAA authorizes funds for the Inspector General to audit and account for the U.S. dollars being spent for Ukraine. Assisting Ukraine in their fight against Russia’s invasion is a noble cause, but we must ensure the dollars are being used wisely and as they were intended by Congress. Having this audit and account of federal dollars will give the public and elected officials transparency.

Great news for South Dakotans, the NDAA provides necessary funding for the B-21 Raider that is coming to Ellsworth Air Force Base. This is a huge investment in our nation’s Air Force, national security, and the Ellsworth community. I was excited to see the unveiling of the first B-21 Raider in California last week. The incredible, cutting-edge technology will ensure our military continues to be the best of the best for generations. I am grateful South Dakota was chosen to be home of the Raider.

I was proud to vote in support of the NDAA, a vote that supports our nation’s military, something we should all agree on.

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