Thune Supports Bipartisan Legislation to Help Combat Coronavirus Outbreak

“Like many Americans, the Senate is closely watching the coronavirus outbreak, and I am glad that we have taken swift and bipartisan action to address it.” 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation to help combat the coronavirus by dedicating federal resources to research and development efforts and tools that will help medical professionals across the country treat this disease and address the outbreak.

“Like many Americans, the Senate is closely watching the coronavirus outbreak, and I am glad that we have taken swift and bipartisan action to address it,” said Thune. “This critical legislation will provide funding to help medical professionals get the tools they need to address the outbreak, and it invests in important research and development projects that are already underway. While the coronavirus should not be taken lightly, there are several common-sense steps to avoid transmission, including by washing your hands regularly and covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze. I encourage anyone looking for the latest information about the coronavirus to visit www.CDC.gov and be aware of any local updates from state or community leaders.”

Thune addressed the coronavirus, particularly as it relates to air travel in the United States, yesterday during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing, which can been seen here. 

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 – Important Update: Rep. Zikmund IS running for Senate – 

Apparently, the whole impetus for this post is based on a clerical error.

I just had a note from the Secretary of State’s office confirming that State Representative Larry Zikmund IS running for State Senate. And that the SOS website noting he was running for the House was an ‘Oops.’

The SOS office reached out and noted “An election division staff selected the house race instead of the senate race when adding him to to the candidate list.” and they “want to confirm that Rep. Zikmund is running for state senate not state house.”

So, I’ve got to go update this in a couple of places. And it’s game on in the D14 Republican Senate race!

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Original post:

Plans change.  And running for the Legislature involves strategy as much as anything.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in District 14 where after noting his his interest in running for the State Senate a while back, today State Representative Larry Zikmund filed his paperwork to instead run for another term of office in the State House of Representatives.

This sets up a House primary election between Zikmund, former State Representative Tom Holmes, and Brad Lindwurm who had earlier declared his candidacy for the office in November, as well as others who may enter the race in the next few weeks.

With former ELCA Bishop Dave Zellmer having filed a statement of candidacy for State Senate a week ago, the stage was set for a significant primary between he and Zikmund. But, by remaining in his current seat, the incumbent Zikmund is the power player in a House primary instead of facing a difficult and potentially uncertain challenge to Zellmer, who is well known across the state.

We’re just a little less than 4 weeks until the deadline for filing signatures with the Secretary of State to run for the Legislature. I’m sure we’ll see many more chess moves before the deadline arrives.

Stay tuned!

Yesterday, Alexander Martin, a candidate running for District 20 State Senate as a Libertarian filed paperwork with the Secretary of State to kick off his race. Currently, Democrats only have 4 candidates total who have filed for the State Legislature.  (Just FYI, GOP is at 74 and counting)

When Libertarians have one quarter of the number of people who have filed for office that Democrats do…   That’s probably not a good sign for the Democrat Party.

Johnson Votes in Favor of Coronavirus Funding

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved $7.8 billion in emergency supplemental appropriations to assist the response to COVID-19, also known as the Coronavirus:

“The U.S. must continue to act swiftly to combat the Coronavirus,” said Johnson. “America needs a vaccine and treatments, and our clinics need test kits. This emergency funding will allow the U.S. continue to prepare expediently. I’m thankful Congress put politics aside to deal with this public health crisis.”

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Remember when the “Theresa Stehly blocks people on Facebook” story broke a few months back? And just when it had moved through the news cycle, she couldn’t resist throwing some gasoline on the issue, so it would hang around another couple of days.

Of course, Sioux Falls City Councilor Stehly is back throwing gasoline on an issue again.

After I wrote a post questioning why multiple paid advertisements she did were not part of her campaign finance disclosure statement, the Argus Leader did a story on it.

As part of that story, Stehly had to begrudgingly concede there were some website expenses she didn’t disclose, and indicated she would be amending her erroneous report to add the omission.  But not for any of the paid advertisements or mailers she sent (or the attack robocall), because she claimed they “were intended to keep her constituents apprised of city happenings, not to better position herself for reelection.”

Ok… So that’s her position, and she was going to stick to it, despite Sioux Falls City ordinance noting (emphasis added):

§ 38.005 PERSONS AND ENTITIES REQUIRED TO SUBMIT CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURES; TIME FOR SUBMISSION.
(a) A campaign finance disclosure whose contents are specified by state law shall be signed and submitted to the city clerk’s office by the treasurer of every municipal candidate or candidate campaign committee, municipal or nonmunicipal political action committee, municipal ballot question committee, and municipal public office holder pertaining to city elections. Any statement pursuant to this section shall be consecutive and shall cover contributions and expenditures since the last statement submitted.

And nevermind the statement in her most recent newsletter talking about the election…

Nope. Nevermind… Her newsletters have nothing to do with running for office at all. nothing at all....

So, Theresa took the position she certainly doesn’t have to report anything to the public on all that folderol. And that was that…

But then a funny thing just happened today..  Theresa figuratively went out to her shed and got the old gas can, so once again, she could fire that flame that had died down back up into a roaring blaze:

However, City Clerk Tom Greco and City Attorney Stacy Kooistra have declined to clear up the matter by offering their interpretations of campaign finance rules as it relates to political communications for office holders and candidates. Instead, it’s the Sioux Falls Board of Ethics that would need to provide a ruling under city charter, Kooistra said.

and…

That’s the same answer Stehly got. But rather than wait for someone to file a formal complaint, Stehly is asking for an advisory opinion instead.

Read it all here.

So, not only has Councilwoman Stehly thrown gasoline on the story to extend it an extra few days, she’s putting it to the Sioux Falls City ethics board to ask the question as to whether she should have disclosed the hundreds if not thousands of dollars she’s spent on “the Stehly Report” showing up in shopping news paid advertisements, and 4-page tabloids distributed to the public.

And she’ll manage once again be able to inject a few more days into that story’s life.

BTW, with Stehly’s request for an opinion on all that spending do I dare mention another Sioux Falls Ordinance?

35.057  ADVISORY OPINIONS; ELECTED OFFICIALS AND CANDIDATES.

…The “self-reporting” on past incidents shall not act as a bar against possible sanctions for that conduct, but may be considered in mitigation of any possible penalties otherwise imposed.

Probably not.

Thune Previews Legislation to Protect U.S. From Digital Infrastructure Corruption   

“Unfair trade practices of communications equipment suppliers owned or controlled by a foreign government should not be tolerated. Period.” 

Click here or on the picture above to watch Thune’s remarks.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation, and the Internet, today previewed new legislation to ensure U.S. communications infrastructure security is a clear negotiating objective of our country’s trade policy. During a Commerce Committee hearing on 5G supply chain security, Thune questioned a panel of experts on additional steps the United States should take to effectively secure our communications network, particularly as we begin nationwide deployment of 5G infrastructure.

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Increase Access to Respirators  

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) joined Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) to introduce legislation to help make sure manufacturers and distributors can produce respirators during health crises, such as the current COVID-19 epidemic. Respirators are masks worn over the mouth and nose to prevent the inhalation of noxious substances, including viruses and diseases that can spread through the air.

“As the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 rises in the U.S., making sure South Dakota communities have access to reliable equipment is vitally important,” said Rounds. “These respirators will help keep South Dakotans and all Americans healthy and safe should we need them.”

Background:

Current law allows the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue a declaration granting limited liability protection to manufacturers and distributors of certain countermeasures against diseases—which includes respirators—when the government calls up that equipment to be used in the event of an outbreak or epidemic. However, respirators which are overseen by NIOSH—an office within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—are not currently eligible for that protection.

This legislation would amend current law to make certain that all NIOSH-certified respirators are eligible for the same federal liability protections as other medical products vaccines, and drugs.

Representatives Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Paul Tonko (D-N.Y.), and Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), introduced corresponding legislation in the House of Representatives.

Aberdeen, South Dakota, is home to one of two facilities owned by 3M, the world’s leading manufacturer of respirators.

Click here to view the text of the bill.

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In December, District 24 Republican Mike Weisgram had announced he was intending to run for the State House of Representatives, noting as part of his qualifications his experience in local government.

What qualifications do you bring? The candidates seeking this office all have unique characteristics and qualities that are their own. I like and respect all of them; the electorate has very good people to choose from.

And..

In working for the state of South Dakota, there will be give-and-take, and I am very familiar with that reality. Christian business principles and local government experience are my qualifications.

Read that here.

In a news report I’m reading just today, it appears Weisgram is not just a House candidate, but has also filed petitions to extend that city government experience and again run for Ft. Pierre City Council at the same time he’s running for the legislature.

Challenging LaRoche are Carl Rathbun and Scott Deal. Rathbun has previously served on the Fort Pierre City Council. Deal has previous time spent as a Stanley County Commissioner, resigning in 2017 to become manager of the Stanley County Fairgrounds. The terms of Council members Larry Cronin, Mike Weisgram and Mayor Gloria Hanson were also up this year. All three submitted petitions and will retain their terms as no one turned in petitions to challenge those spots on the Council. The Fort Pierre City Council election will be April 14th.

Read that here.

Technically, its legal under the law, as per prior Attorney General opinion city council is not incompatible with holding a state office such as the House of Representatives. However, there could be potential conflicts where he would have to recuse himself.

The larger question is really up to the voters of District 24; as to whether the voters of the District think there are so many offices available for public service that someone needs to double up.

SJR 501 is on the agenda of the State House of Representatives today, after session convenes at 2pm.  The Joint Senate Resolution notes that it is “Proposing and submitting to the voters an amendment to the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, providing for wagering on sporting events and to revise provisions regarding certain municipal proceeds of gaming revenues.”

So far, it has rolled through the Senate with little opposition (5-2 in committee, and 24-10 on the Senate floor), and passed through House Committee on a 7-5 vote yesterday:

It’s hard to guess how this is going to fall out on the floor. Both the Speaker of the House and House Majority Leader opposed it in committee along with two majority whips… yet the Speaker Pro Tempore, Assistant Majority Leader, and another Majority Whip voted yes, as did the House Minority Leader.

Looking at the breakdown overall, I believe it’s going to be a close vote in the House.  But if I were a betting man I, I would wager it’s going to squeak through, and we’ll be seeing it on the ballot this fall.

What are your thoughts?

Update – Argus is reporting that I was correct…

Senate Joint Resolution 501, which called for putting the question on the ballot, received it’s final approval with the House’s 36-27 vote on Tuesday.

Read that story here.