Vote on motion to place impeachment on calendar, 51 yes, 16 no, and 3 excused. Taffy Howard skips another vote.

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There were 16 votes against placing impeachment on the calendar today – Dennert, Finck, Greenfield, Gross, Candidate for Governor Steve Haugaard, Kevin Jensen, Phil Jensen, Karr, Marty, May, Mills, Overweg, Randolph, Soye, Vasgaard, and Weis.

Excused were Scott Odenbech, who recused himself due to conflict, and Marli Wiese.

Also missing today – Congressional candidate Taffy Howard, continuing her unbelievable trend of missing votes.  After missing 14% of floor votes during session, so far during this special session she’s got an even worse batting average.

Rounds, Johnson Introduce Traveler’s Gun Rights Act

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Rounds, Johnson Introduce Traveler’s Gun Rights Act

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced the Traveler’s Gun Rights Act. This bill would update federal law to account for various residency-related issues facing full-time Recreational Vehicle (RV) travelers, individuals with multiple physical residences, active duty military personnel and military spouses. Companion legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congressman Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.).

“The Traveler’s Gun Rights Act removes an unfair prohibition facing Americans with unique living situations,” said Rounds. “This legislation will make certain that law-abiding citizens do not face a burdensome roadblock when trying to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”

“An address is an address – individuals who rely on a P.O. Box as their primary mailing address shouldn’t have their right to possess a firearm compromised,” said Johnson. “Our bill fixes that problem.”

Currently, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) requires firearm buyers to fill out paperwork listing an address. However, the ATF prohibits buyers from listing a P.O. Box or Private Mailbox (PMB) on this form. This prohibition unfairly hurts full-time travelers, many of whom live in their RV year round and utilize a P.O. Box or PMB in order to receive mail. These alternate addresses are able to be listed on driver’s licenses, but they cannot be used on the ATF paperwork.

Rounds led a group of 17 senators in introducing this bill, including Senators Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), John Thune (R-S.D.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.).

Additionally, Johnson’s companion legislation is cosponsored by 28 Members of Congress, including Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Don Bacon (R-Neb.), Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), Greg Steube (R-Fla.), William Timmons (R-S.C.), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Pete Sessions (R-Texas), Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.), Jake LaTurner (R-Kan.), Brian Babin (R-Texas), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Ben Cline (R-Va.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Chris Stewart (R-Utah), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Scott Perry (R-Pa.), Roger Williams (R-Texas), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Thomas Tiffany (R-Wis.) and Austin Scott (R-Ga.).

You can read the full bill HERE.

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Reporters on the scene noting atmosphere in the House tense, looking grim

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From Twitter:

And the day has hardly begun.

From the Constitution.. the sections governing impeachment. Majority to move forward from House, 2/3 if it goes to Senate.

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From the South Dakota State Constitution, here are the portions under ARTICLE XVI which cover impeachment which are of particular importance in the Jason Ravnsborg matter today:

§ 1. Power of impeachment in house—Majority required. The house of representatives shall have the sole power of impeachment. The concurrence of a majority of all members elected shall be necessary to an impeachment.

§ 2. Trial of impeachments–Presiding officer. All impeachments shall be tried by the senate. When sitting for that purpose the senators shall be upon oath or affirmation to do justice according to law and evidence. No person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected. When the Governor or lieutenant governor is on trial the presiding judge of the Supreme Court shall preside.

§ 3. Officers subject to impeachment–Grounds–Removal from office–Criminal prosecution. The Governor and other state and judicial officers, except county judges, justices of the peace and police magistrates, shall be liable to impeachment for drunkenness, crimes, corrupt conduct, or malfeasance or misdemeanor in office, but judgment in such cases shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold any office of trust or profit under the state. The person accused whether convicted or acquitted shall nevertheless be liable to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment according to law.

§ 5. Suspension of duties between impeachment and acquittal. No officer shall exercise the duties of his office after he shall have been impeached and before his acquittal.

The House will decide today by a majority of members whether they believe grounds exist to impeach, and send the matter to the State Senate for the actual trial of the impeachment.

And, if there is an impeachment, the AG would appear to be immediately suspended from the duties of his office until such time the Senate held a trial.

This is very new territory in South Dakota, so whatever happens, we will be watching precedent being made today.

Governor Kristi Noem fires back at Ravnsborg letter to legislators, calling it ‘bizarre’

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Governor Kristi Noem wasted no time this morning firing back at the Attorney General’s letter to legislators regarding his response to the investigation, telling legislators that they should ignore his “bizarre letter” and pay attention to the presentation from the Highway Patrol, instead.

The run up to today’s impeachment decision by the South Dakota House in the matter of Attorney General Ravnsborg

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This week has been moving fast in the form of pushback from Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg and his supporters in the face of today’s special gathering of the State House of Representatives.

In a facebook post on Sunday, State Representative Scott Odenbach, who has announced he will be abstaining from the proceedings,  reminded us that it was Palm Sunday, which is remembered as the final week of the life of a man who many of us view as the spiritual savior of humanity. And he was a man who faced two investigations:

And while we were being reminded of the fact that Jesus faced investigations, it appears that the Ravnsborg team was not idle, as bright and early this morning, Austin Goss of Dakota News Now posted multi-page documents from Team Ravnsborg on why they believe the matter does not rise to an impeachable offense:

But even more interesting, the document also seemed to take a right turn directly into the campaign for Attorney General, and contained a hard shot against his predecessor and competitor for the race, former Attorney General Marty Jackley, in perhaps a foreshadowing of the Republican Party convention showdown between the two:

Wow.. That was unexpected.  And I can’t help but point out that perhaps it was just a little unwarranted.  If the Current AG is going to throw out some smack talk as to the team who came before him, he’s going to have to point out what he changed in the office in response to these apparent concerns when he took over.

Going into the impeachment hearing appears to mark a bit more defiant Jason Ravnsborg in the face of his detractors.

And they’ll largely be facing off today in the House of Representatives as they make a decision as to whether sufficient evidence exists for the matter to be determined by the State Senate.

Kristi for Governor Announces Next Round Of Endorsements From South Dakota County Leaders

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Kristi for Governor Announces Next Round Of Endorsements From South Dakota County Leaders

April 11, 2022 Pierre, SD – Today, the Kristi for Governor campaign announced their second round of endorsements from elected leaders at the county and local level in South Dakota. This announcement follows the previous announcements of West River sheriffs, the first round of county commissioners, and the formation of the County Leaders Coalition.

Along with this announcement, Joe Desilets from Kristi for Governor stated the following:

“County leaders across South Dakota are lining up to endorse Governor Noem because she has prioritized their issues and what matters to them the most: our best in the nation economy, historic investments in education, and supporting our law enforcement officers who keep our communities safe. Governor Noem’s leadership and policies have delivered for South Dakotans, and the local leaders that represent us are supporting her for another term.”

List of sheriffs and county commissioners endorsing Governor Noem in today’s release (alphabetical by county):
Aurora County Commissioner Roger Hanten
Aurora County Commissioner Travis Clark
Beadle County Sheriff Doug Solem
Bennett County Commissioner Cole Blu Donovan
Bennett County Commissioner Jeff Slattery
Bennett County Commissioner Rod Kirk
Bon Homme County Commissioner Jason Kokes
Bon Homme County Sheriff Mark Maggs
Brookings County Commissioner Ryan Krogman
Brown County Sheriff Mark Milbrandt
Brule County Commissioner James Nesladek
Brule County Sheriff Darrell Miller
Butte County Commissioner James Ager
Campbell County Commissioner Brent Odde
Campbell County Commissioner Bryan Fjeldheim
Campbell County Commissioner Lynn Deibert
Campbell County Sheriff Lacey Perman
Clark County Commissioner Terry Schlagel
Clark County Sheriff Robert McGraw
Codington County Sheriff Bradford Howell
Corson County Commissioner Shawn Hinsz
Corson County Commissioner Steve Keller
Custer County Commissioner Jim Lintz
Custer County Commissioner Mark Hartman
Custer County Commissioner Travis Bies
Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr
Day County Commissioner Derek Sinner
Day County Commissioner Jim Walter
Deuel County Commissioner Gary Jaeger
Deuel County Commissioner Roger Kreutner
Deuel County Sheriff Cory Borg
Douglas County Commissioner Jerod Star
Douglas County Commissioner Marlin Maas
Douglas County Commissioner Nathan Ymker
Edmunds County Commissioner Chad Preszler
Edmunds County Sheriff Todd Holtz
Fall River County Commissioner Deb Russell
Fall River County Commissioner Joe Allen
Fall River County Commissioner Joe Falkenburg
Faulk County Commissioner Steve Rosland
Gregory County Commissioner Bob Hausmann
Haakon County Commissioner Michael Gebes
Haakon County Commissioner Thomas Radway
Hamlin County Commissioner Leland Roe
Hamlin County Sheriff Chad Schlotterbeck
Hand County Commissioner Gilbert Rodgers
Hand County Commissioner Greg Palmer
Hand County Sheriff Shane Croeni
Hanson County Commissioner Curtis Fox
Hanson County Commissioner Gary Schoenrock
Hanson County Commissioner John Bumgardner
Hanson County Sheriff Brandon Wingert
Harding County Commissioner Bill Clarkson
Harding County Commissioner Charles Verhulst
Hughes County Commissioner Connie Hohn
Hughes County Sheriff Pat Callahan
Hutchinson County Sheriff James Zeeb
Hyde County Commissioner Robert Bawdon
Jackson County Commissioner Jeff Willert
Jackson County Commissioner Ruby Sanftner
Jerauld County Commissioner Jeff Messmer
Jones County Commissioner Steve Iwan
Lake County Sheriff Tim Walburg
Lincoln County Sheriff Steve Swenson
Lyman County Commissioner Jared Scheiske
Lyman County Commissioner Zane Reis
McCook County Sheriff Mark Norris
McPherson County Commissioner Jeff Neuharth
Meade County Commissioner Richard Liggett
Meade County Commissioner Rod Bradley
Meade County Commissioner Ted Seaman
Miner County Commissioner Roger Wentland
Miner County Sheriff Rob Eggert
Moody County Commissioner Randy Hemmer
Moody County Sheriff Troy Wellman
Pennington County Commissioner Deb Hadcock
Pennington County Commissioner Ron Rossknecht
Perkins County Commissioner Mike Schweitzer
Perkins County Commissioner Rusty Foster
Perkins County Commissioner Todd Campbell
Potter County Commissioner Pat Everson
Potter County Sheriff Curtis Hamburger
Roberts County Sheriff Tyler Appel
Spink County Commissioner Brett Knox
Stanley County Commissioner Mike Kenzy
Sully County Commissioner Joe Fanger
Todd County Commissioner Marshal Tinant
Turner County Commissioner Lynn Van Hove
Turner County Commissioner Tony Ciampa
Union County Commissioner Michael Dailey
Union County Commissioner Milton Ustad
Union County Sheriff Dan Limoges
Walworth County Commissioner Jim Houck
Walworth County Commissioner Kevin Holgard
Walworth County Commissioner Scott Schilling
Walworth County Sheriff Joshua Boll
Ziebach County Commissioner Bill Henderson
Ziebach County Commissioner David Pesicka
Ziebach County Commissioner Ralph Lyon