Governor Noem Vetoes Senate Bill 76

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem vetoed Senate Bill 76. The Governor’s veto message to the legislature reads as follows:

Dear Mr. President and Members of the Senate,

I respectfully return to you Senate Bill 76 with my VETO.  Senate Bill 76 is an Act to revise certain provisions regarding the minimum amount of a lottery prize that is subject to setoff.

When the Lottery was created, a debt setoff system was established where debts could be deducted by the amount won by a winning lottery ticket.  Some of those debts are past due child support payments.  While this bill may appear harmless, increasing the setoff amount will have consequences on families and helps people avoid their obligations.

In the last two years, 44 prizes from winning lottery tickets were under $599 and helped pay past due child support obligations.  This resulted in South Dakota families receiving resources that were due to them.  Under this legislation, those families may not have received that support to buy essentials.

While I support the current law for efficiency purposes, increasing that amount automatically paid to $599 goes too far.  South Dakota must stand as an example for the rest of the country that we put the well-being of our children before convenience.  Our focus must be on leading for South Dakota’s next generation.

For these reasons, I oppose Senate Bill 76 and ask that you sustain my veto.

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Gov. Noem to LA County Cops: “Come to South Dakota”

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem invited Los Angeles County law enforcement officers who are facing potential firing over their personal health choices to move to South Dakota. 4,000 Los Angeles County officers are facing potential firing over their vaccination status.

“South Dakota honors our law enforcement officers, and we respect personal freedom. In particular, we appreciate the tireless work that law enforcement does to defend our freedoms,” said Governor Noem. “In South Dakota, you will not be fired for making personal health decisions. We are working on legislation to protect your right to medical, religious, and natural immunity exemptions to COVID-19 vaccinations. We would love to have you come join us.”

In October 2020, Governor Noem launched a campaign to recruit law enforcement officers to move to South Dakota. The campaign led to hundreds of law enforcement officers being hired in South Dakota.

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Thune: Biden Prioritizes Pet Projects Instead of Addressing Rampant Supply Chain Crisis

“The administration’s hostility to traditional energy production has helped drive energy prices up, which is aggravating our supply chain and inflation crises.”

Click here or on the picture above to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today called out the Biden administration for focusing on pet projects instead of addressing the country’s rampant supply chain crisis. Thune noted that some ocean carriers are refusing to transport certain goods, such as South Dakota agricultural products, and he discussed his recent legislation that would address the problem and create a more level playing field for producers.

I have a bad feeling about this.

State Representative and Gubernatorial wannabe Steve Haugaard has new legislative measure that he wants South Dakotans to vote on. And anyone who has seen the Star Wars prequel trilogy knows that it’s just opening up a can of worms.

2022 South Dakota Legislature
House Joint Resolution 5003

Introduced by: Representatives Haugaard (prime), Jensen (Phil), and Randolph and Senator Frye-Mueller

A JOINT RESOLUTION, proposing and submitting to the voters at the next general election a new section to Article VI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, relating to the definition of a human being.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of South Dakota, the Senate concurring therein:

Section 1. That at the next general election held in the state, the following amendment to Article VI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, as set forth in section 2 of this Joint Resolution, which is hereby agreed to, shall be submitted to the electors of the state for approval.

Section 2. That Article VI of the Constitution of the State of South Dakota, be amended with a NEW SECTION to read:

§ 30. Human being–Definition. The term, human being, means each member of the species homo sapiens, at all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization or cloning, or other moment at which a member of the species comes into being.

Read that here.

Haugaard’s measure proposes to recognize all members of the species homo sapiens at all stages of life including the moment of fertilization or cloning.  Did Haugaard never see Star Wars Episode 2, Attack of the Clones?

The whole thing is about a secret clone army commissioned by the Jedi being grown in tanks. When the Jedi forces were overwhelmed by the droid army, Yoda shows up with the clone army to save the day… Only to have the pre-programmed clones ordered by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to kill the Jedi in the next movie, Star Wars Episode 3.

And from there it led to the downfall of the Republic, and into 2 decades of rule by the Empire.

Does that all sound kind of dumb? It should. Because Episode 2 easily had the worst writing of all the Star Wars movies, and Episode 3 was only marginally better.

But it’s still not as dumb as asking for cloning to be put in the South Dakota State Constitution.

Thank you, Mr. President. I appreciate your friendship and support over the years.

We’d love to have you back on July 4th for fireworks! pic.twitter.com/u1cpizP9wu

— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) February 8, 2022

President Donald J. Trump Endorses Governor Kristi Noem For Re-Election

FEBRUARY 8, 2022 – Pierre, SD – This afternoon, President Donald J. Trump announced his endorsement of Governor Kristi Noem for re-election in 2022.

Statement released by President Donald J. Trump in making this endorsement:

“Kristi Noem has done a great job as Governor of South Dakota. She is strong on Borders, the Second Amendment, preserving land and Energy Dominance, Medical Freedom, and kept South Dakota open during COVID. She fully supports our great Law Enforcement, Military, our wonderful Vets—and is a fighter for the incredible people of South Dakota. Kristi has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Accepting the endorsement, Governor Noem stated the following:

“I am incredibly honored and humbled to have President Trump’s endorsement. While in Congress, I worked alongside President Trump to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that lowered taxes on South Dakotans and led to the greatest economy in American history. Since being elected Governor, I have worked to bring President Trump’s America First agenda to the state level in South Dakota by cutting burdensome regulations, keeping government out of the way of South Dakota small business owners and job creators, and supporting South Dakota law enforcement. I look forward to continuing to fight for our shared agenda if elected to serve a second term as Governor of the great state of South Dakota.”

Petitions are coming in at a pretty good clip since yesterday, but no surprises, as all had previously filed committees or announced in the run up to turning them in.

I do notice there’s no democrats so far this week.

No Democrats have filed for State Senate so far, and only three in the House.

Looking like a good year for the GOP.

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State Rep. Mark Willadsen turned in petitions today to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office to run for District 9 State Senate. Willadsen had previously announced his intention to run for the seat late last month.

Willadsen, a Republican, has owned and operated the Willadsen Insurance Agency for 39 years, and has a long history of civic service in the Sioux Falls community, including 14 years in the State House of Representatives. 

He will be running to replace State Senator Wayne Steinhauer who is retiring from the South Dakota legislature.

Willadsen is a graduate of Leadership Sioux Falls, past president of the Sioux Falls Morning Optimist club, the Southwest Optimist Club, Crime Stoppers, and the Sioux Falls Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. Willadsen is a past chairman of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce Tax Council.