Johnson, Spartz Introduce Congressional Gold Medal Bill Recognizing the Defenders of Ukraine

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN), along with 16 bipartisan colleagues introduced the ‘Defenders of Ukraine Congressional Gold Medal Act’. The bill will collectively award the distinguished Congressional Gold Medal (CGM) to the defenders or people of Ukraine, in recognition of their crucial role in the defense of democratic values and against Putin’s aggression.

“The Ukrainian people are truly resilient,” said Johnson. “Despite looking down the barrel of the Russian military, thousands of Ukrainians answered the call to defend their homeland and volunteered to protect their republic. The United States stands behind Ukraine and is opposed to Putin’s act of war – our House Resolution makes that clear.”

“Those fighting for democracy in Ukraine, and for regional security in Europe, deserve this medal,” said Rep. Spartz. “Putin, his generals, and his cronies must know the United States Congress stands firm behind all those fighting against his illegal and unprovoked war in Ukraine.”

The medal would be presented to the democratically elected government of Ukraine on behalf of the Ukrainian people.

The CGM is an award bestowed by Congress and is the highest civilian award in the United States. The decoration is awarded to an individual, or group of individuals, who perform an outstanding deed or act of service for the security, prosperity, and national interest of the United States.

For legislative text, click here.

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Gov. Noem Signs Public Safety Bills into Law

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed 19 public safety and criminal justice bills into law, including SB 53, which will facilitate the building of a community work center for female offenders in Rapid City.

“My top priority as Governor is keeping South Dakotans safe, and that is what these bills will help us do,” said Governor Noem. “We’re starting to address the needs of our prison system by purchasing land and moving forward with planning for the new women’s work center in Rapid City.”

Governor Noem also signed the following public safety bills into law:

• SB 22 revises a reference to the Division of Criminal Investigation.
• SB 33 authorizes the Department of Corrections to make healthcare improvements at the South Dakota Women’s Prison and makes an appropriation therefor.
• SB 51 makes an appropriation to support firefighter training equipment and recruitment efforts in the state.
• SB 77 enhances the penalty on registered sex offenders who commit sexual contact without consent from a person capable of consenting.
• SB 81 revises the definition of sexual contact for purposes of sexual contact with a child under eighteen by a person in a position of authority.
• SB 83 modifies when a motion for expungement of an arrest record may be made.
• SB 119 prohibits sexual contact between prison employees and prisoners.
• SB 120 includes intentionally manipulated images or recordings in the crime of invasion of privacy by recording.
• SB 136 revises and clarifies certain processes for emergency detainment related to drug and alcohol abuse.
• SB 144 creates the incarceration construction fund for the capital construction of such facilities.
• SB 195 establishes the burden of proof after a claim of immunity.
• SB 199 revises provisions related to a name change for certain crime victims.
• HB 1068 clarifies the processing of sexual assault kits performed on individuals ages sixteen and seventeen.
• HB 1099 revises provisions related to courtroom modifications for child witnesses.
• HB 1100 revises provisions related to the video recording of certain victim testimony at a preliminary hearing or disposition.
• HB 1162 defines a loaded firearm.
• HB 1174 revises requirements for sales of catalytic converters to scrap metal businesses.
• HB 1328 requires law enforcement to report certain seizures of property.

Governor Noem has signed 147 bills into law and vetoed one this legislative session.

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Had an unexpected envelope in my mailbox yesterday that made my day.

If I would have known I was getting a picture taken with the Governor last week, I might have dressed up. And gotten a haircut. But aside from how awful I look, it was a very nice gesture. Thank you Governor Noem!

Rapid City Businessman Steve Duffy announces bid for District 32 South Dakota House

Steve Duffy, longtime Rapid City businessman, announces today his candidacy for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives for District 32.

With Rep. Chris Johnson recently announcing he would not seek reelection, several current and former Republican leaders from around the state encouraged Duffy to run for the open seat. After talking with family, the fourth generation South Dakotan is excited to announce his candidacy. “I’ve watched the legislature up close for the last three years and believe I can make a difference,” says Duffy.

Smart growth in Rapid City and South Dakota will be his main priority. “I have worked with so many small businesses over a 40-year career in Rapid City and am a small business owner myself,” explains Duffy. “There are many challenges and risks for these self-reliant job creators. As a small business owner, I always found it easier to do business with free-market policies in place that promote sensible economic growth.”

Duffy worked 23 years as a television advertising executive and sales manager. He also managed South Dakota Cable and now owns several rental properties.

“If elected, it would be an honor to serve my city and state, promoting economic growth, balancing business interests with quality-of-life issues, always striving to keep the tax burden low.” Duffy continues, “This includes good-paying jobs, work-force housing, reliable transportation, quality education and much more.”

Steve Duffy is married to Helene Duhamel. With their three children they have lived in District 32 for nearly 40 years.

Hot out of my instant messaging, Joe Kippley in Minnehaha County is having a fundraiser on March 30 in support of his candidacy for Minnehaha County Commission. Check it out:

 

Gov. Noem Blasts National Park Service for Denying Mount Rushmore Fireworks Permit

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, in a letter to the South Dakota Department of Tourism, the National Park Service (NPS) denied Governor Kristi Noem’s permit application for the 2022 Mount Rushmore Fireworks Celebration.

“Mount Rushmore is the best place in America to celebrate our nation’s birthday – I just wish President Biden could see that,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Last year, the President hypocritically held a fireworks celebration in Washington, D.C., while denying us our own event. This year, it looks like they are planning to do the same.

“NPS announced this denial less than 24 hours after we reminded the court that this year’s permit application was still pending,” continued Governor Noem. “Many of the reasons presented for their denial have been previously addressed, indicating that these reasons are not in good faith. We will move forward with our litigation and urge the court to help us come to a speedy resolution.”

Under Governor Noem’s leadership, the Fireworks Celebration was returned to Mount Rushmore in 2020 after being canceled for more than a decade. The 2020 Celebration incorporated NPS’ regular programming that was referenced in the letter.

Governor Noem is currently in litigation with NPS over the rejection of the 2021 Celebration and future annual celebrations. The lawsuit currently is in front of the United States Eighth Circuit. The name of that lawsuit is Noem v. Haaland.

The Fireworks Celebration would occur in conjunction with the Memorandum of Agreement signed on May 6, 2019, between the Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior and Governor Noem.

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I don’t know why, but this candidate event announcement that just came out today has me wondering.

So.. do they want to know you’re attending, because you get a coupon for a free soda? Because if you get a free soda with your Bruce, that might draw a couple of more people in.

And really, this might be your last chance to see him, because I don’t believe he’s going to get on the ballot.

As I was dropping off my daughter in Vermillion yesterday afternoon after running some signs to that area of the state, I checked for an update on who was filing for office. And one of the latest entries on the candidate filings yesterday afternoon list shocked me somewhat.

Is that former State Republican State Representative Tom Holmes who just filed to run as a Democrat for County Auditor?

Well, the address is correct. And according to the live database..

After being defeated in 2018 when attempting to return for a third term of office in the House, Holmes ran again in 2020, coming in second in a 3-way contest for 2 seats in the primary, but still posting third place in the general. If memory serves, late in that election a Biden sign was in his yard, which caused quite a bit of chatter among the Minnehaha GOP circles.. and might have served as foreshadowing for his migration to another party.

It certainly appears that he has swapped parties to run against the (newly) incumbent County Auditor, Republican Ben Kyte, who was appointed to the position, taking over for Bob Litz, who left with 2 years to go on his term of office.  Kyte has already announced.

Having come in third in the House race, I’m not sure what switching parties earns Tom in terms of advantage of running for the office of County Auditor. I don’t suspect there are deeper pockets on that side to raise funds to run. And given Biden’s approval ratings, and spotty candidate placement above him, there doesn’t seem to be goodwill flowing from the top of the ticket.

Having helped a number of candidates do so, I can tell you that running a Minnehaha County-wide race is not like running a legislative race. It’s tougher. Far tougher. Everything is more.  More mailers. More signs. More media. And MORE expensive.   In his last race, Tom spent $15-18k.  He might have to double that or more to cover things county wide.

Tom was always cordial and likable, but after 2 losses, I’m not sure what running as the Dem Candidate for County Auditor gains him, except a place on the ballot, and a far bigger bite to to try to chew.

*Update* This was originally mis-entered on the system. He is a candidate for County Commission.

As many rocks that get thrown at Governor Kristi Noem, the incumbent Governor fared far better than the people who would like to replace her, according to a KELOland news story today:

As for Haugaard, the former House speaker saw lawmakers in one chamber or the other vote down all but one of his proposals.

and..

His one note of success was the annual resolution expressing South Dakota’s status as a sister state of Taiwan.

Smith also fared poorly. None of his three bills made it past the first hearing. One proposed expanding the scope of soil conservation. Another would have reduced penalties for ingestion of controlled substances. The third would have regulated school resource officers. He tabled his concurrent resolution supporting the initiatives of the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate.

Read the entire story here.

However, Steve did find a different way to earn plenty of press otherwise.

 

Thune to President Biden: An Iran Agreement Without Broad Congressional Support Will Not Survive

“By every indication, the Biden Administration appears to have given away the store.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today joined his Republican colleagues in telling the Biden administration that he will not support any revived Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with Iran that fails to materially curb Iran’s malign agenda. According to public reports, the Biden administration is negotiating a renewed agreement with Iran that would weaken sanctions for Iran’s state sponsorship of terrorism and lesson restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

“According to press reports, the Biden Administration may soon conclude an agreement with Iran to provide substantial sanctions relief in exchange for merely short-term limitations on Iran’s nuclear program,” the senators wrote.

“By every indication, the Biden Administration appears to have given away the store. The administration appears to have agreed to lift sanctions that were not even placed on Iran for its nuclear activities in the first place, but instead because of its ongoing support for terrorism and its gross abuses of human rights. The nuclear limitations in this new deal appear to be significantly less restrictive than the 2015 nuclear deal, which was itself too weak, and will sharply undermine U.S. leverage to secure an actually ‘longer and stronger’ deal. What is more, the deal appears likely to deepen Iran’s financial and security relationship with Moscow and Beijing, including through arms sales.

“The administration has thus far refused to commit to submit a new Iran deal to the Senate for ratification as a treaty, as per its constitutional obligation, or for review under statutory requirements that passed on a bipartisan basis in response to the 2015 deal. Additionally, despite earlier promises to the contrary, the administration has failed to adequately consult with Congress.

“Republicans have made it clear: We would be willing and eager to support an Iran policy that completely blocks Iran’s path to a nuclear weapons capability, constrains Iran’s ballistic missile program, and confronts Iran’s support for terrorism. But if the administration agrees to a deal that fails to achieve these objectives or makes achieving them more difficult, Republicans will do everything in our power to reverse it. Unless Iran ceases its support for terrorism, we will oppose removing and seek to reimpose any terrorism-related sanctions. And we will force the Senate to vote on any Administration effort to do so.

“We strongly urge the administration, our Democrat colleagues, and the international community to learn the lessons of the very recent past. A major agreement that does not have strong bipartisan support in Congress will not survive.”

The statement was also signed by U.S. Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Shelly Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), John Kennedy (R-La.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.).

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