Stronger and Safer Election Laws for 2024
by Senator Casey Crabtree
Senate Majority Leader

MADISON–The third week of session was a good week for conservative principles in your South Dakota legislature. We took action on tax reductions, election integrity, and infrastructure investments.

This week, Republican lawmakers introduced the Stronger and Safer for 2024 legislative package. It includes proposals to secure ballot tabulation machines, create a postelection audit process, establish distance requirements and poll watchers’ rights, ban unmonitored drop boxes, ban ballot harvesting activities, and clean up the state’s voter rolls. If enacted, these measures will strengthen South Dakota’s already strong election laws and further protect South Dakota’s reputation for fair and honest elections.

Senate Democrats advocated for more folks to be on unemployment during debate on HB 1011. Republicans recognize that workforce recruitment is one of our biggest challenges. The solution is incentivizing work, and keeping more money in the hands of taxpayers. We are proud to deliver this $18 million tax cut.

On Monday, the House will hold its first hearing on a joint resolution I sponsored with Rep. Tony Venhuizen (R-13). HJR 5004 would allow the state to impose a work requirement for able-bodied adults on Medicaid at the expansion level poverty mark. As South Dakota expands entitlement programs per the will of the voters, it’s important that we incentivize able-bodied adults to work and contribute to the success of our state.

Lastly, a proud moment for me this week was the final passage of SB 41, my housing bill to help fund infrastructure for new housing. This session the Legislature made revisions to open the fund up for disbursements to qualifying communities. I’m excited for the bill to be signed by Gov. Noem ahead of the 2023 construction season.

Looking ahead to Week 4, the Legislature has its deadline to file legislation, so we will know what’s on the table for consideration this year. So far, 168 Senate bills and 177 House bills have been filed. As your District 8 Senator, I’ll continue to keep you updated on the important matters as the Legislature works hard for the people of South Dakota.

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When the Senate took action today against State Senator Julie Frye Mueller, Mueller seemed to have a little less bravado than when she earlier proclaimed  “It is a sad day in America when advancing freedom becomes a crime,” and the Senate wasted little time in taking action as a regular employer would in investigating a matter of workplace harassment.

As noted in a statement issued today from Senate Majority Leader Casey Crabtree:

We were made aware of serious personnel allegations. Based on the nature of that allegation we needed to act quickly and prudently to protect the person involved. We will have due process in public with a goal to complete the process early next week.

Unfortunately, this whole circus interrupts a tremendous amount of progress that the legislature has been making on it’s own proposals. But hopefully, things will get back on track in short order.

This afternoon, the South Dakota State Senate moved forward with motions to give them the ability to suspend Senator Julie Frye Mueller, while they form a Select Committee to investigate her conduct with a LRC Employee which resulted in her being stripped from her Committees and kicked out of the Republican caucus.  The motion was brought by Senate Majority Casey Crabtree so a committee could be convened and the matter could be investigated. The suspension pends her duties, as an employer would suspend a supervisor while an employment violation is investigated, but does not remove her from office.

However, it was immediately opposed by Senator Tom Pischke, Julie Frye Mueller’s seat mate, claiming it’s a she-said/she-said situation.

Senator Frye Mueller also stood up in response to the motion, complaining she had not been presented with evidence, and claimed there was “an agenda” against her, and that she’s “always gotten along with people from the LRC.”

Lt. Governor Larry Rhoden spoke from the podium, objected to the suspension of the rules to suspend Frye Mueller as premature, and ruled the motion out of order.

Senate President Pro Tempore Schoenbeck appealed the rule of the chair, and was supported, which brought the matter to a recorded vote, which required a 2/3 vote.  26 yeas to 6 nays and 2 excused moved the motion forward over the objections of the chair.

More coming on this…

This is interesting.  2 different news outlets, and what appears to be two different versions of the story which has caused Julie Frye Mueller to be stripped of her committees and her membership in the Senate Republican caucus (for the moment).

First, Dakota News Now:

Frye-Mueller acknowledged that the reason for the controversy stemmed from a conversation that she had earlier this week with a Legislative Research Council (LRC) staffer, but said that that conversation did not revolve around the COVID-19 vaccine and it’s efficacy, as has been speculated in the State Capitol.

Read that here.

Next Sioux Falls Argus Leader:

“It has come to my attention that the issue may involve a conversation I had with staff, where I promoted my well-known stance on medical freedom and the ability of individuals to choose the best courts of medical treatment for themselves,” Frye-Mueller said.

Read that here.

So, which version of the story are people supposed to believe?  I suspect we’ll find out.

Did they ever get sound on all of those cameras in the State Capital?

Leading Nat’l Pro-Life Group Adds Seasoned PR Pro to Its Growing State Affairs Team

Washington, D.C. – Former South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s communications director, Kelsey Pritchard, has joined SBA Pro-Life America as the organization’s first-ever director of state public affairs.

Pritchard spent seven years working in the governor’s office, serving as the administration’s communications strategist and press secretary. She comes to SBA Pro-Life America after spending four years in the private sector. Pritchard worked in the ad industry for Bozell in Omaha, Nebraska, where she led the PR and social media department, and she served on the executive leadership team as marketing director for Dream Design International.

Pritchard says she was eager to join the pro-life organization known for its strategic political acumen in furthering protections for the unborn:

“Thanks to the Dobbs victory, states are now an extremely crucial battleground for saving unborn lives and ensuring women and families receive the support they need to flourish. I’m joining SBA Pro-Life America with full appreciation that this is the organization’s most critical chapter to date and complete recognition of the life-saving work that is yet to be done in the coming days, months and years.”

Pritchard joins SBA Pro-Life America’s growing state affairs team which includes regional directors who partner with local advocacy groups to further state protections for women and the unborn.

SBA Pro-Life America’s President Marjorie Dannenfelser welcomed Pritchard to the organization, saying:

“We’re excited to have Kelsey join our growing team at this moment of greatest potential for life in generations. Year one of the Dobbs era presents extraordinary opportunities to work with our allies in the states to set an ambitious pro-life agenda and it is essential to communicate a winning message. The gifts and experience Kelsey brings will truly have a life-saving impact as we move forward into a brand new phase of the pro-life movement.”

Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America is a network of more than one million pro-life Americans nationwide, dedicated to ending abortion by electing national leaders and advocating for laws that save lives, with a special calling to promote pro-life women leaders.

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Legislators Announce “First Woman Governor” Bill and Constitutional Amendment

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Rep. Jess Olson (R-34) and Sen. Erin Tobin (R-21) announced bothHB 1175 and SJR 505 to reflect the fact that South Dakota has its first woman Governor. Both the bill and constitutional amendment change references to the Governor and other officials in state statute and the South Dakota Constitution to acknowledge this fact.

Governor Kristi Noem opened her 2023 State of the State address by citing Article 4 § 3 of the South Dakota Constitution: ‘The South Dakota state constitution requires the Governor to begin each legislative session by ‘[giving] the Legislature information concerning the affairs of the state and [recommending] the measures he considers necessary.’ Notice I didn’t say ‘she.’ The Constitution doesn’t say that. We’re going to fix that.” You can find video of these remarks here.

HB 1175 amends instances in state statute that refer to the Governor of South Dakota as “he” to now read “the Governor.” Similar changes are made for other state officials. SJR 505 makes the same changes in the South Dakota Constitution.

“We have a long history of strong female leaders in South Dakota,” said Representative Olson. “It’s time for our laws and Constitution to reflect the leaders that the people of South Dakota have elected to represent them.”

“Just over 100 years after women obtained the right to vote in South Dakota, we are finally coming forward with this language change,” said Senator Tobin. “I am excited to work with our first woman governor on this. My daughter will never have to question her place at the table because of this positive legislation.”

Kristi Lynn Noem is the first woman Governor of South Dakota.

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Gov. Noem Announces Paid Family Leave Proposal

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem and legislators announced a two-part paid family leave initiative. HB 1151 enhances paid family leave benefits for state employees and provides an affordable opportunity for entities in the private and public sectors to offer the same benefits. SB 154 establishes a $20 million grant program to help private businesses offer these enhanced benefits to their employees.

“Our families are the heart and soul of South Dakota,” said Governor Noem. “These bills together will strengthen families by extending paid family leave opportunities across the state. It is more important than ever that we continue to build strong families – because stronger families create a stronger South Dakota.”

Three years ago, Governor Noem proposed and signed SB 186 to cover 60% of the cost of family leave for state employees for up to 8 weeks following the birth or adoption of a child. These proposals together expand those opportunities.

The prime sponsors of HB 1151 are Representative Mike Weisgram (R-24) and Senator Jessica Castleberry (R-35).

“In addition to building stronger families, this legislation puts us in a position to attract top talent to state government,” said Representative Weisgram. “This bill not only extends benefits for new births or adoptions, but also covers instances where a spouse or parent suffers from a serious health condition, or where a spouse is called to active-duty military service. This is exactly what the families of South Dakota deserve.”

HB 1151 allows the Bureau of Human Resources to accept proposals from insurance companies to offer paid family and medical wage replacement coverage for all state employees. This insurance policy will cover 80% of a state’s employee salary for up to 12 weeks in a one-year period for:

• The birth of a child, placement from foster care, or adoption of a child;
• Care for a sick spouse, child, or parent who has a serious health condition; and
• Military exigency which requires leave due to a family member being on active duty.

The remaining 20% of an employee’s salary will be covered by the state through their agency’s budget, so state employees will receive 100% of their salaries while utilizing paid family leave. Private sector businesses, as well as other public sector entities, will be able to join the state’s insurance risk pool and purchase a policy that fits their needs from the state’s insurance provider – and receive a much lower premium rate than they otherwise would.

“As a mother and a business owner, I know how difficult it can be to balance taking care of both your child and your business,” said Senator Castleberry. “This paid family leave initiative takes the pressure off of parents and businesses by giving them the flexibility they so desperately need.”

The prime sponsors of SB 154 are Senator Tim Reed (R-07) and Rep. Becky Drury (R-32). This bill appropriates $20 million in one-time dollars for grants to encourage businesses to enroll in the paid family leave program and grow the insurance group size.

“We are facing a workforce shortage in every industry across the state,” said Senator Reed. “This grant program will empower private businesses – particularly small businesses – to offer paid family leave benefits to their employees, helping them recruit and retain their workers moving forward.”

The paid family leave grant program will be capped at $5 million per year for four years. As more businesses join the program, it will save reduce premium costs for both the state and private sector businesses even after the grant program expires.

“Too many South Dakota families have to make the difficult choice between staying home with a new child and their career. With this legislation, far more South Dakotans won’t have to make that choice,” said Representative Drury. “I am excited that we have the chance to extend this opportunity.”

Together, both of these bills enhance paid family leave in our state and help our small businesses thrive. These pieces of legislation are critical to ensuring that we can continue building stronger families right here in South Dakota.

Governor Noem discussed this initiative during her State of the State Address. You can find the video of that portion of the speech here.

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Republican State Senator and (IMHO) awful person Julie Frye Mueller has issued a poorly worded & canned statement to the media which tries to downplay the negative interaction she had with an employee of the Legislative Research Council which got her stripped of her legislative committees and booted from caucus:

From Dakota News Now:

In a statement to Dakota News Now/KOTA Territory, Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller (R-Rapid City) accused Senate President Pro Tempore Lee Schoenbeck (R-Watertown) of “stripping the people of District 30 of representation on important topics that effect (sic) our district.”

and..

Frye-Mueller acknowledged that the reason for the controversy stemmed from a conversation that she had earlier this week with a Legislative Research Council (LRC) staffer, but said that that conversation did not revolve around the COVID-19 vaccine and it’s efficacy, as has been speculated in the State Capitol.

and..

“It is a sad day in America when advancing freedom becomes a crime,” Frye-Mueller said

Read the entire story here.

Aside from the fact that she’s denying it had anything to do with vaccines, I wonder who wrote this for her….  effect is a noun.  I probably don’t have to wonder, but I’ll wonder out loud anyway.

Did her ghostwriter actually say “It is a sad day in America when advancing freedom becomes a crime” in response to the accusation of Mueller being verbally abusive to a legislative employee?

With her defiance, I think we’re watching her dig a bigger hole for herself which is demanding that a Select Committee on Discipline be called in response.

(Here’s a soundbite that’s going to be played again and again.)

Today in the Democrat Leadership press conference, Democrat Assistant Majority Leader Erin Healy of Sioux Falls, whom no one would mistake as bring pro-life, referred to abortion as the “killing of a fetus”

Yes, abortion is “killing.” Thanks for saying the quiet part out loud, @SoDakDems.

No, women will not be prosecuted in South Dakota. Doctors who break the law will. pic.twitter.com/dnRgWyXYmR

— Ian Fury (@IanTFury) January 26, 2023

The Dakota Scout is reporting a bit more detail today regarding what I had mentioned in a comment last night, that “there was an interaction between an LRC staffer and JFM that left this person pretty upset.”

Sen. Julie Frye-Mueller was removed Wednesday from her assignments on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee and Local Government Committee after a legislative staffer complained that Frye-Mueller had been verbally abusive about the staffer’s family vaccination decisions.

Read that here (subscription required).

Julie Frye Mueller is accused of being verbally abusive? Perish the thought.

My question is that if they convene a Select Committee on Discipline, will Frye-Mueller’s attorney be R. Shawn Tornow or Steve Haugaard?