An article from Christopher Vondracek this morning in the Forum News Service/Grand Forks Herald doesn’t exactly paint a bright portrait of how things are progressing in the House Select Committee for Impeachment in the case where they’re attempting to bring action against the Attorney General:

“This is way beyond the scope of anything we’ve done,” said Jensen, who added he was just “trying to figure out how to get things done in a timely manner.”

And..

Moreover, the Legislature’s select committee hasn’t been keeping the most brisk of calendars. After meeting more than two weeks ago, they’ve yet to meet since. On Tuesday, Nov. 23, Gosch told Forum News Service that “likely next week” would be when the team next meets.

And..

On Wednesday, Nov. 24, the committee’s vice-chair, Rep. Mike Stevens, R-Yankton, also said he’d yet to hear a meeting for next week confirmed. Asked if they’d hired the special counsel yet, Stevens said, “You’d have to talk to the speaker about that.”

Read the entire article here.

Considering the AG pled No Contest to minor traffic offenses (a lane change violation and using his phone while driving a few miles before the accident) this whole impeachment business might be a lot more complicated than people think.

2014 South Dakota Democrat Congressional candidate Corinna Robinson is apparently a candidate for Congress again. Except, this time she is running in Florida’s 18th congressional district.

In 2014, Robinson ran as a pro-second amendment Democrat against incumbent Congresswoman Kristi Noem, and lost 66.5% to 33.5%.

Robinson is running for the seat currently held by Republican Congressman Brian Mast, who defeated his last Democrat opponent 56% – 41%.

Gov. Noem Announces Department of Corrections Staffing Changes

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem announced several staffing changes at the South Dakota Department of Corrections (DOC). Doug Clark, Deputy Secretary of Corrections and Acting Warden of the State Penitentiary, will be the new Interim Secretary of Corrections. Interim Secretary Tim Reisch will be stepping down, effective December 8.

Governor Noem has also appointed Daniel Sullivan to serve as Warden of the South Dakota State Penitentiary, effective December 13.

“We are tremendously grateful to General Reisch for stepping in during a time of great need for DOC. Doug also stepped up and steered the Penitentiary through a challenging period,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “Our top priority continues to be the safety of the men and women who work at our DOC facilities and those who are confined there. Daniel Sullivan will bring fresh eyes and a wealth of experience to our State Penitentiary, and we are glad to have him on the team.”

Daniel recently retired as an associate warden at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sandstone, MN. He has served as a correctional officer, case manager, unit manager, complex case management coordinator, associate warden, and acting warden during his 23-year career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Daniel served nearly 10 years in the United States Navy Reserve, attaining the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He was mobilized to active duty in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2006-2007 at Lackland Air Force Base as the Leading Petty Officer at the Naval Corrections Academy.

Daniel has earned multiple degrees in criminal justice, including a Master of Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts-Lowell.

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Governor Noem Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Amendment A

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem issued the following statement in response to the Supreme Court’s decision regarding Amendment A:

“South Dakota is a place where the rule of law and our Constitution matter, and that’s what today’s decision is about. We do things right – and how we do things matters just as much as what we are doing. We are still governed by the rule of law. This decision does not affect my Administration’s implementation of the medical cannabis program voters approved in 2020. That program was launched earlier this month, and the first cards have already gone out to eligible South Dakotans.”

You can read the Supreme Court decision here.

To learn more about South Dakota’s medical cannabis program, which was not affected by today’s ruling, go to:medcannabis.sd.gov.

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BREAKING: The South Dakota Supreme Court has BLOCKED Amendment A. By a vote of 4-1, the court says it violated the single subject rule.

— Austin Goss (@AustinGossSD) November 24, 2021

I’m pretty sure the State’s Legislative Research Council warned the Amendment A proponents that it would probably have constitutional issues, and after a multi-million dollar campaign, shocker, the Supreme Court has ruled Amendment A violated the single-subject rule.

After they’ve announced they’re moving print production to another state, Gannett Newspapers are already finding ways to save money. By charging subscribers for three days worth of newspapers when they’re only sending one. At least, that’s what the e-mail they just sent out seems to say:

We want to inform you the Argus Leader will combine the Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25 editions into a singular, expanded holiday edition that will be delivered on Thursday, Dec. 23. No separate editions will be printed Friday, Dec. 24, and Saturday, Dec. 25. For purposes of your subscription, this expanded edition will count as three editions.

Similarly, for the New Year holiday, the Argus Leader will combine the Dec. 30, Dec. 31, and Jan. 1 editions into a singular, expanded holiday edition that will be delivered on Thursday, Dec. 30. No separate editions will be printed Friday, Dec. 31, and Saturday, Jan. 1. For purposes of your subscription, this expanded edition will count as three editions.

Wait, what?

So, next month for people who have subscribed to the print edition, they will be delivering two editions instead of the six they’re charging you for? (But now you can get the crossword puzzle on-line.)

 

Thune, Colleagues Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect, Expand Rural Broadband Access 

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Communications, Media, and Broadband, Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), and John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the funding mechanisms for the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) Universal Service Fund (USF), which promotes universal access to broadband and other telecommunications services.

“It is crucial that rural communities across South Dakota have access to reliable broadband services,” said Thune. “For years I have fought for predictable and sufficient support for broadband providers to help enable the continued deployment of these services throughout our communities. I’m proud to support this legislation that builds on those efforts to ensure that the FCC’s Universal Service Fund remains sustainable in the future.”

The USF – which includes programs to support broadband access in rural communities, facilitate rural health care, and expand access to affordable broadband service for low-income families, schools, and libraries – is largely funded by fees imposed on landlines. As the use of landlines continues to decline, this places a disproportionate impact on seniors, who are significantly more likely to use a landline than younger adults.

The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act directs the FCC to initiate a rule making proceeding to reform the contributions system, taking into account the fairness and the relative burden any changes in fees will have on consumers and businesses, as well as the impact the proposed changes to the contribution system will have on seniors.

The Reforming Broadband Connectivity Act builds on several efforts by Senators Thune and Klobuchar to modernize the FCC’s USF’s High Cost Program. In May 2014 and May 2015, Senators Thune and Klobuchar called on then-FCC Chairman Wheeler to modernize support for rural broadband carriers by allowing carriers to be eligible for support under the USF when providing broadband-only services to consumers. In December 2019, Senators Thune and Klobuchar led nearly half of their Senate colleagues in urging then-FCC Chairman Pai to prioritize sustainable rural broadband networks when the FCC established the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) proceeding – the most recent round of funding made available in the High Cost Program. In January 2021, Senators Thune and Klobuchar urged then-FCC Chairman Pai to redouble its efforts to review applicants in the RDOF, consistent with the goals of the USF High Cost Program.

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KELO Radio updated their earlier story today, and confirmed with the candidate that Lora Hubbel intends to run for Governor as an Independent candidate.

What does this mean? According to the Secretary of State, with Hubbel running as an Independent, that means she will have to collect 3,393 signatures (1% of the total vote for governor in 2018 – 339,214).

I’m a little skeptical whether she’s going to go out and do the work. But, we’ll see.

Build Back Better?  Better Add Hyde!!!
By Dale Bartscher, Executive Director, South Dakota Right to Life

South Dakota Right to Life condemns the passage of President Biden’s “Build Back Better” reconciliation bill that was pushed through the House Friday, November 19, as part of Nancy Pelosi’s agenda.

The House of Representatives passed the “Build Back Better” spending bill in a vote of 220 to 213 with no Republican support.

Despite overwhelming taxpayer opposition to paying for abortions, the Democrats’ spending spree deliberately excludes Hyde Amendment protections with the goal of expanding abortion on demand paid for by your tax dollars.

We thank US Representative Dusty Johnson for his pro-life values and for voting to defeat this bill on the floor of the House.  Shortly after the House Vote he wrote: “I voted no on this legislation.  If made permanent, this spending bill will skyrocket the deficit by $2.5 trillion more every decade …. Additionally, this bill fails to include the long-standing pro-life protections from the Hyde Amendment.”

Carol Tobias, president of the National Right to Life Committee stated, “Abortion is not healthcare and, until this Congress, the Hyde Amendment enjoyed 45 years of bipartisan support.  The Hyde Amendment is widely recognized as having a significant impact on the number of abortions in the United States saving an estimated 2.4 million American lives. Yet, today, the Hyde Amendment is being targeted at every turn by pro-abortion Democrats.”

President Biden’s “Build Back Better” spending spree would:

• Mandate abortion funding in Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) plans in 2024 in states that have not expanded Medicaid.
• Fund abortions via reinsurance payments and cost-sharing funding to states.
• Extend the Obamacare expansion from the Covid-19 American Rescue Plan Act. This would further subsidize Obamacare exchange plans that cover abortion and subsidize millions of individuals’ taxpayer-funded plans that cover abortion on demand.
• Direct billions of dollars to various public health grants without Hyde Amendment protections.

We respectfully urge US Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds to defeat this massive bill as passed by the house. If this bill should happen to see the light of day, it must include the Hyde Amendment which stops taxpayer funding of abortion and has saved millions of American lives.

(From my mailbox – PP)

 

After heartfelt and prayerful consideration, it is with great joy and excitement that I am announcing my candidacy for the House of Representatives in District 14. My wife, Erika, and I believe Sioux Falls is an amazing community and that South Dakota is the best state to raise our growing family. Now is our time to serve the people of southeast Sioux Falls as their voice in the Legislature.

Erika and I are the proud parents of Emmett (1) and we are expecting our second child in April. Like many families in District 14, we relate to the daily joys and challenges of balancing our careers and raising a family while also being engaged in improving our community. As a father and young professional, I will bring this unique perspective to South Dakota’s House of Representatives. As a conservative, I will also bring our shared values to the policymaking process. For me, this means being responsible with our resources and continuing South Dakota’s successful record as a business-friendly state. Above all, I will put people first as their legislator.

Although 2022 will be my first time as a candidate for public office, I am no stranger to public service. I have served on community service boards including the Sioux Falls YMCA board of directors; Rotary Club of Downtown Sioux Falls; and numerous other state boards and commissions, including the Senate Bill 55 Taskforce for Higher Education. I also currently serve in the Office of U.S. Senator Mike Rounds as the Southeast Regional Director, leading the senator’s Sioux Falls office, and as the office’s State Director of Tribal Affairs.

I am looking forward to working hard, knocking on doors, and earning the vote of my neighbors, but first I need your help to run a successful campaign in a potential primary as well as in the general election.

Your financial support will help my campaign get my name out to the voters of District 14. Other ways you can help is to mention my candidacy to your friends and family in the area, hosting a coffee or event with District 14 voters, or perhaps put up a yard sign at your home or business. Any help or support would be greatly appreciated as we launch this new adventure.

If you have any questions about my background or positions on issues, or would like to visit with me further, I welcome your calls at (605) 381-8105 or feedback at tylertordsen.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks for your support and consideration.

Sincerely,

Tyler Tordsen
Candidate, District 14 House