My wife and daughter were featured in a story that appeared on KELOland last night about some changes that were made in recent years to the federal standards on how High School Diplomas are awarded, which can negatively affect the ability to achieve an actual diploma by some students receiving special education:

My wife was interviewed on some of the technical aspects of the change, because Special Ed is her area of expertise, as well as the fact we have a daughter with Autism who is in her first year of high school, who could be affected by the changes in federal guidelines.

Year-end campaign finance reports are starting to be posted at the Secretary of State’s website, and Governor Kristi Noem is already gearing up for a strong Gubernatorial re-election effort in 2022:

Kristi Noem 2020 YE Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

Noem, who has become a hot commodity on the national stage this year started out the year in her state account with $817,788.31 cash on hand, to which she added $966,792.54, against expenses of $396,663.10. Her ending balance is a healthy $1,387,877.75.

Not too shabby, especially compared to one possible opponent, Billie Sutton, who ends the year with $43,465.15 in the bank.

Governor Noem Introduces Legislation on Price Transparency in Healthcare

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem introduced legislation to empower South Dakota consumers by providing them transparent healthcare costs.

“We know that healthcare can be expensive. We can make this burden a little lighter for consumers by giving them transparent information about the cost of healthcare services,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “By empowering consumers with the knowledge of the actual cost for planned procedures, we can give them the tools they need to plan their future finances.”

Governor Noem’s legislation:

• Gives consumers the ability to see in-network and out-of-network provider rates for services;
• Provides real-time information on consumers’ cost sharing requirements such as deductibles, copays, and information on bundled services; and
• Gives accurate information on the cost of prescription drugs.

This information will be made available to consumers via a website, paper form, email, or by phone.

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Standing Up for Life
By Sen. John Thune

On January 22, we observed the 48^th anniversary of Roe v. Wade – the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion through all nine months of pregnancy. It’s a somber day every year, as we contemplate the millions of lives lost to abortion since the Roe v. Wade decision.

But I’m always encouraged by the tens of thousands of Americans who travel to Washington, D.C., around the Roe v. Wade anniversary to participate in the annual March for Life. Americans from every state in the union, of every political persuasion, of every religion (or none at all), come together in D.C. to stand up for the dignity and value and humanity of the unborn child.

Abortion advocates would like to obscure the fact that unborn babies are human beings, but they face an uphill battle. Because every person knows, on some level, that when we’re talking about abortion, we are talking about killing a human being.

Take one look at an ultrasound, at a baby girl sucking her thumb or a baby boy kicking his feet, and it’s pretty hard to argue that that’s just a clump of cells. And I believe that this is why, despite years of fierce abortion advocacy from the far left, the majority of Americans do not believe in unrestricted abortion – because they know that the unborn child is a human being, and they know that human beings deserve to be protected.

Like many things during this pandemic, this year’s March for Life looked different. Instead of gathering in Washington, D.C., Americans around the country gathered in spirit – and on the internet – to stand up for life. But their enthusiasm was undimmed.

I’m proud of all the South Dakotans who participated in the virtual March for Life this year – and all the South Dakotans who stand up for life throughout the year. Because as important as the March for Life is, the biggest work of the pro-life movement happens outside the March for Life. It happens in churches and on college campuses and at maternity homes and crisis pregnancy centers – everywhere Americans pray and advocate and educate and offer help and hope and support to moms and dads facing difficult or unexpected pregnancies.

I will continue to work in Washington to protect the right to life of unborn human beings. I recently joined a number of pro-life colleagues to co-sponsor the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. It is unthinkable that it is legal to allow unborn babies capable of feeling pain to be killed by abortion. I’ve co-sponsored this legislation in previous Congresses, and I will continue to co-sponsor it until the day we can get it signed into law.

I am proud to stand beside all those who work to secure the right to life of unborn Americans. I know that it is not always easy. But I am confident that in the end, right and justice will prevail. Because we have the truth on our side – the truth that every human being, born and unborn, old or young, of every race and religion and political persuasion, is created in the image and likeness of God and has infinite dignity and value.

So keep standing up for the babies. And I will continue to join my efforts with yours so that one day soon, the right to life of unborn human beings will be protected in law.

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Rounds: WOTUS was Illegal Power Grab; New Rule Must be Upheld

Biden Administration has attempted to roll back protections for landowners through executive order

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, joined Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and a number of their colleagues to introduce a resolution that expresses the need for the U.S. Senate to stand with workers, farmers, ranchers, landowners, manufacturers and businesses by upholding the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection rule, which replaced the Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule.

“We must uphold the previous administration’s Navigable Waters Protection rule, which gives farmers, ranchers and landowners the clarity they need to know when the Clean Water Act applies to them and when it does not,” said Rounds. “The Obama administration’s Waters of the U.S. rule was an illegal power grab by the federal government, which was why it was tied up in the court system for so long. It infringed upon the rights of South Dakota landowners. We strongly urge the Biden administration to keep the Navigable Waters Protection rule in place.”

In addition to Rounds and Ernst, the resolution is supported by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), James Risch (R-Idaho), John Barasso (R-Wyo.), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), MikeCrapo (R-Idaho), Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).

Background:

In 2015, the Obama administration finalized a rule that expanded the definition of the Waters of the United States. This rule created confusion and burdensome red tape for South Dakota’s agriculture industry and many others. When the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the WOTUS rule, Rounds introduced legislation, which was passed by committee, to stop it.

In 2018, the Trump administration released a proposed rule to replace the Obama administration’s 2015 WOTUS rule with a new rule that provided much-needed predictability and certainty for farmers by establishing clear and reasonable definitions of what qualifies as a “water of the United States.” The new Navigable Waters Protection Rule was finalized last year.

On day one of his administration, President Biden signed an executive order that would roll back the Trump Administration’s executive order which began the process of rescinding Obama’s WOTUS rule. This is why Rounds joined the resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the Navigable Waters Protection Rule should not be withdrawn or vacated.

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Life and Down Syndrome
By: Governor Kristi Noem 

Anyone who has met a child or a person with Down syndrome knows that they are a gift from God. Their beautiful smiles and unique personalities bring such joy and warmth into our lives. And yes, God saw fit to bless these children with an extra chromosome.

Unfortunately, not everyone recognizes these wonderful children for the gift that they are. Recent media reports share the sad reality that some European countries, like Iceland and Denmark, have virtually eliminated children with Down syndrome by aborting nearly every child that has it.

We want to protect children with Down syndrome in South Dakota from being similarly discriminated against just for having an extra chromosome. That’s why I introduced legislation to ban abortions based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome.

Research estimates that two out of every three Down syndrome pregnancies in the United States end in an abortion. And tests to diagnose Down syndrome can be conducted as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy. In South Dakota, we’ve already worked to ban abortions after 20 weeks, and my proposal would protect children with Down syndrome even before that.

The Declaration of Independence summarizes what we all know in our hearts to be true: God created each of us and endowed all of us with the right to life. This is true for everyone. It’s true for every preborn child. And it’s true for those with an extra chromosome.

I look forward to the day when the Supreme Court recognizes that all preborn children inherently possess this right to life, too. Until that time comes, I am asking the South Dakota legislature to pass this legislation.

Science continues to reinforce the pro-life cause. It seems that every time we learn something new in developmental science, we discover that babies develop even faster than we previously realized. I am confident that as the science continues to develop, we will find more and more proof that preborn children are just as human as you and me, and they are just as deserving of constitutional protections.

I will continue to fight every day to protect the lives of preborn children. Just like I promised you all, I assigned an Unborn Person Advocate in my office to recommend legislative and policy changes that protect life.

When I gave my State of the State address earlier this year, I invited two families who I have known for years: the Fite family from Platte, South Dakota, and the Duffy family from Wisconsin. Two of their children, Cody Fite and Valentina Duffy, have Down syndrome. Cody and Valentina’s presence in Pierre that day brought a delight to the Capitol that is seldom seen.

We will continue working to pass this and other proposals in the future to protect children like Cody and Valentina. Let’s make South Dakota a symbol of hope, justice, and love for them and so many other children yet to be born.

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The Associated Press has a somewhat meandering article on-line which cites “deep skepticism” of media coverage at the same time they try to stir up discontent about “Republicans” on either side of the Trump divide.

In reading the article, when they’re interviewing “Republican figures,” they take a jaunt through the distant past.

• “Longtime South Dakota Republican voter Jim Thompson is ready to leave the GOP, hoping that an exodus of Donald Trump supporters like him will punish the state’s preeminent politician, Sen. John Thune, for defying Trump….”
• “A private Facebook group called “Primary John Thune in 2022” has attracted over 3,000 members. One of them, Bruce W. Whalen, said Thune’s refusal to support Trump’s claims of fraud has fueled interest….”
  …”Whalen, who in 2006 had enough GOP support to represent the party in a statewide race for Congress…”
• “In the meantime, some longtime state Republican figures are frustrated with their senator’s hesitation to convict Trump.
  “He deserves to be convicted,” said David Volk, a former state treasurer.”

Read the entire story here.

You know, I like and enjoy former State Rep. Jim Thompson just fine.. but didn’t he leave the party once when he was in the State House back in April 1995 (and started an independent caucus with a couple of the liberal democrats)? Not in office since 1997.

Bruce Whalen was talked into running for Congress in 2006. There was no primary. The reporter characterizing his “enough GOP support to represent the party” was actually “party officials assisting with getting sufficient signatures” so the race had an opponent. Nevermind that Bruce Whalen hasn’t been a Republican official – even at the county level – for a while.

And again, while I’ve always found Dave Volk to be friendly and personable.. he hasn’t held office as a Republican in over 30 years, and he seems to jump the fence and endorse Democrats as much as ‘Republican’ Larry Pressler; (Volk endorsed Billie Sutton in the last Gubernatorial election).

This is not a group of people I’d argue are recognized as “Republican figures” in 2021.

And really, while the article mentioned people wanting to punish Thune, did they actually talk to Thune, or any Thune staff members? Did they chat with any current SDGOP executive board members, or at least any party officials, as opposed to those who last ran 15-30 years ago?

I was informed they spoke with at least one current legislator who gave the reporter a quote for the story (as related to me by the legislator).  But, did it make it to print? No. Not at all.  Instead, it seems they took time machine into the distant past and otherwise cherry picked out what would fit in their notion of an article.

It’s not unlike what happened in the Governor’s press conference this last Friday:

.@stephengroves good job doing what @ChrisVondracek tried to do LIVE during the press conference.@govkristinoem herself said it best “What you should report is what I actually said.” pic.twitter.com/0yDZq2ZGzi

— Ian Fury (@IanTFury) January 28, 2021

It just seems that it doesn’t fit the narrative the reporters want to portray, or the specific story they want to write, it doesn’t make it to print, or as Governor Noem found, they’ll just write what they want, and ignore what the person they’re writing about actually said.

And some reporters wonder why they find those with a “deep skepticism about the mainstream media coverage?”

Governor Kristi Noem appeared on NewsmaxTV recently speaking on a number of topics, including the past election, how the GOP failed, and how we need to reassess, and other topics:

Who’s running for statewide office in the SDGOP in 2022?

Here’s the newest version of my “Tale of the Tape, infographic, in the “too early to be thinking of 2022” edition: