Rounds: TRUST Act ‘Important Step Toward Addressing Debt Crisis’
Legislation Receives Endorsement from Deficit-Reduction Leaders Simpson and Bowles

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D) announced today that he is cosponsor of the Time to Rescue United States’ Trusts (TRUST) Act, which would create congressional committees specifically tasked to develop legislation to restore and strengthen endangered federal trust funds. Without legislative action, the government’s trust funds – Highway, Medicare Hospital Insurance, Social Security Disability Insurance, and Social Security Old-Age and Survivors Insurance – will be exhausted in the next thirteen years.

The TRUST Act was endorsed this week by former Senator Alan Simpson and former White House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, leaders in debt-reduction efforts and former co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, a bipartisan Presidential Commission on deficit reduction.

“I’ve said countless times that we must take bold action to get our debt under control,” said Rounds. “Our legislation takes an important step toward putting our federal trust programs on a sustainable path and addresses our debt crisis, allowing Congress to actively manage federal trust funds. Congress must check the growth of mandatory payments, which make up around 70 percent of all federal spending and include important trust funds, if we are ever to begin reducing our debt. The debt crisis is preventable and these trust funds are savable – but we must begin to act now.”

How the TRUST Act works:

• Treasury would have 45 days upon passage of the legislation to deliver to Congress a report of the government’s major, endangered federal trust funds.
• Congressional leaders would appoint members to serve on “Rescue Committees”—one per trust fund—with the mandate to draft legislation that restores solvency and otherwise improves each trust fund program.
• Rescue Committees would make sure there is bipartisan consensus by requiring at least two members of each party to report legislation.
• If a Rescue Committee reports a qualifying bill, it would receive expedited consideration in both chambers. While 60 votes would be required to invoke cloture for final passage in the Senate, only a simple majority would be needed for the motion to proceed, which would be privileged.

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Release: Jack Kolbeck Announces His Re-Election for the Senate Seat in District 13 (Sioux Falls)

Jack Kolbeck is announcing his re-election for the District 13 Senate Seat.  Jack has been a businessman and involved with Sioux Falls for over 44 years. South Dakota has much to be proud of and we look forward to Jack for continual support for Sioux Falls and the State of South Dakota.

Jack Kolbeck is an active member in the Sioux Falls community. He is a 35 plus year member of the Sioux Falls Downtown Lions Club, A Board Member for The Legends for Kids, a member of the South Dakota Softball Hall of Fame, is active with Senior softball in Sioux Falls and South Dakota.  He has worked for family-owned, independent, and small businesses his entire life.

Jack Kolbeck has a unique vision for South Dakota. He believes in a balanced budget for South Dakota. He is concerned that taxes in both Sioux Falls and South Dakota are growing too fast. He believes in the right to work. Besides wanting a balanced budget, Jack thinks government is too big and will vote for less government from Pierre. He is an avid hunter and is Pro-2nd Amendment.  In Pierre, Jack will fight for quality education for the children of Sioux Falls and South Dakota. Jack is Pro-life. He believes in quality Medical attention and long-term care for the elderly and our veterans.

Jack has been in in the Senate for 3 years and is looking forward to 2020 with his position on the Joint Appropriations Committee as well as the GOAC Committee.

Jack Kolbeck was born in McCook County South Dakota and raised on a family farm. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University where he earned his degree in economics and Political Science.  Jack and his wife Muriel have been married for 41 years. They have 3 children and 9 grandchildren

Managed to find a great pin for my collection this week – the 1935 Governor Tom Berry Inaugural Ball pin.

I haven’t had one of these before, and it’s one of the toughest to find. It’s the second South Dakota Inaugural Ball pin, and the first to feature the picture of the South Dakota Governor-elect.  And as an added bonus, it’s in excellent condition.

Thune, Wyden Introduce Bill to Improve Child Support Enforcement for Native American Tribes

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee’s Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, today introduced legislation to improve child support enforcement for Native American tribes by allowing the 61 tribes that currently operate their own child support agencies to access the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program to collect past-due child support from non-custodial parents. It would also create parity between tribes and states by allowing tribal child support agencies to obtain other identifiable information of non-custodial parents that can be used to enforce child support.

“State child support agencies have access to federal programs that assist them in collecting past-due child support from non-custodial parents,” said Thune. “By ensuring tribes operating their own child support agencies have access to these same programs and information provided to states, we can help families in Indian Country receive child support payments that are past due and help put tribal and state programs on equal footing.”

“Tribal governments in Oregon and across America should have access to the same child support enforcement programs as state agencies,” said Wyden. “Equal access to these important resources and tools means more families and children will get the support they need.”

“By giving tribal governments the same child support collection tools and safeguards available to their state partners, the bill is a great collaborative effort to further enhance state and tribal programs and the children they serve,” said Tanguler Gray, president of the National Child Support Association. “The National Child Support Enforcement Association has long-sought the improvements contained in the bill and supports them whole-heartedly.”

“The NATCSD is extremely pleased by the introduction of the Tribal Child Support Enforcement Act,” said Susan Smith, president of the National Association of Tribal Child Support Directors. “Our sincere thanks to those who have persistently and tirelessly worked for the introduction of this Bill. We look forward to ‎the passage of this Bill as it will assist Tribal IV-D agencies in collecting child support arrears due to tribal families.”

“On Behalf of the National Tribal Child Support Association and our 400 colleagues, we are extraordinarily pleased that federal lawmakers are addressing the current disparity in our efforts to collect child support arrearages on behalf of tribal children,” said Marsha Harlan, president of the National Tribal Child Support Association. “Passage of this Act will allow Tribal IV-D programs to have equal access to the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program that states have had for many years. Tribal access to these funds ensure our programs can capture refunds of non-custodial parents and apply those dollars directly to collections for children who are desperately in need of support.”

States have several enforcement methods at their disposal to enforce child support, one being the Federal Tax Refund Offset Program. With this program, when a non-custodial parent is due a refund but owes past-due child support,Treasury can withhold the tax refund and send it to the state child support agency to get it to the family.

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Had someone send me this picture today as they received in their mailbox, noting that this might dispel any rumors that Mike Rounds might not be running.

From my mailbox:

In case you wanted to watch the video on what went on last night at the informational portion of the Sioux Falls City Council meeting, where Councilwoman Theresa Stehly demanded the censorship of an article, here’s video on part of what happened, as well as the response of Matt Paulson who was the person being attacked by Stehly:

Rounds Statement on Iran Attack on U.S. and Coalition Forces in Iraq

WASHINGTON—U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on Iran’s attack on U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq:

“Tonight, the Department of Defense confirmed that Iran launched missiles at U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq. As we learn more about the events unfolding and determine an appropriate response, we remain concerned about the safety of our men and women in harm’s way. The safety and security of Americans is our top priority. I look forward to learning more about the situation during tomorrow’s Member briefing with Defense Secretary Mark Esper, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, CIA Director Gina Haspel and others.”

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Theresa Stehly strikes again!

In today’s Informational Meeting for the Sioux Falls City Council, while a presentation was boing given by partner organizations, specifically the Sioux Falls Development foundation, City Councilor Theresa Stehly went on a tear against an article on the SiouxFalls.Business website, and specifically against Matt Paulson claiming that Paulson and the article were an “attack” on her by “big business” because they want to see someone else in her seat on the Sioux Falls City Council.

How did all these people conspire to attack Theresa Stehly?

The Sioux Falls Development Foundation sponsored an article – and is sponsoring a series of articles –  to talk about business in Sioux Falls, specifically highlighting education and success stories. The latest article features Matt Paulson and his path “From techie kid to DSU grad to entrepreneurial success.”  And Theresa Stehly believes this was an attack on her.

The article’s sin in Stehly’s eyes is that buried deep, deep in the article, Paulson is asked about his civic activities, where he notes:

These days, my work in different organizations tends to blend into a mosaic of business development efforts and community service projects. I often have 10 to 15 meetings each week and will frequently put effort toward three or four different organizations each day. When I’m not in meetings, my work time is split between Queen City Bakery, my office on East Eighth Street and the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship. Organizations and businesses that I am currently involved with include 1 Million Cups, Alex Jensen for Sioux Falls, Downtown Rotary, Faith Baptist Fellowship, Falls Angel Fund, GoGo Photo Contest, MarketBeat, the Sioux Falls Ministry Center, Sioux Falls Seminary and the Zeal Center for Entrepreneurship.

Read that here.

Did you see the dirty underhanded attack against Theresa?  Right there!  Of course you didn’t. Because there wasn’t one.

Except in twisty corridors in Theresa’s mind.

Sioux Falls Development Foundation sponsored the article, and is granted a few dollars by the City of Sioux Falls among their funding sources.  Paulson happened to note that among his dozen or so activities, he is involved with Alex Jensen for Sioux Falls.

And because of that, Stehly wants the article taken offline, because while “she’s not a declared candidate yet” it’s an attack on her.

Which left many scratching their heads.

City Councilor Christine Erickson spoke out against Stehly’s attempts at paranoia, pointing out that “Theresa was demanding censorship and trying to intimidate” Sioux Falls Development Foundation.

Stehly crabbed back at Erickson going on about how she donated to Alex Jensen, to which Erickson proudly fired right back “Sure have.”

The official from Sioux Falls Development Foundation diplomatically promised to look into their guidelines.

Theresa Stehly demanding censorship and removal of an article on a website sponsored by a group because the feature of the article mentioned his volunteering for a campaign among a long laundry list of group is… well, it’s just looney.

And further evidence that while Stehly is “not a declared candidate,” she’s still feeling the heat and pressure of her opponent’s campaign. Just because it exists.

*Update* 

It sounds like people are starting to collect stories of Theresa’s intimidation tactics, where she’s used her position of authority to threaten or intimidate people:

They apparently have an e-mail set up at [email protected] where you can relate your story.

Minnehaha County Commission Announces State’s Attorney Candidates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 7, 2020

Sioux Falls, SD – Today the Minnehaha County Commission released the names of the final three candidates who will be interviewed for the Minnehaha County State’s Attorney appointment.  The candidates, in alphabetical order, are:

• Paul Bengford, graduate of Creighton University School of Law and currently serves as an Assistant City Attorney for Sioux Falls.
• Daniel Haggar, graduate of University of South Dakota School of Law and currently serves as an Assistant City Attorney for Sioux Falls.
• Crystal Johnson, graduate of University of Kansas School of Law and currently serves as interim State’s Attorney, as appointed by Judge Houwman.

“All candidates have prosecutorial experience.  We look forward to the interviews,” stated Commission Chair Jean Bender.

The Commission expects to make a final decision by the end of the month.  The appointment will fill the remainder of a four-year term that is up for election in November this year.

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