Congressman Dusty Johnson’s Weekly Column: Creeping Threat

Creeping Threat
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
April 22, 2020

“Fighting Escalates in Eastern Ukraine, Signaling the End to Another Cease-Fire.”

“Russia seems to be preparing to invade Ukraine but it’s not clear whether Putin will go through with it.”

Those were two major headlines splashed across U.S. newspapers this week. It’s easy to skip past them – after all, Russia is 5,010 miles from South Dakota. So why do these headlines matter? First, Russia is not our friend. Putin is a power-hungry egomaniac – and his attempts to influence American politics is unacceptable.

Ukraine, a country that teeters between the East and the West, encapsulates the tale of being stuck in the middle of opposing ideological, cultural worlds. Since the turn of the 20th century, the Ukrainian government has sided with the Western world, becoming steadily more like Europe after centuries of being influenced and governed by the Soviet Union. Putin has set his sights on Russia’s neighbor to the southwest, looking to gain back control of the land its ancestors once claimed and undermine Ukraine’s growing Europeanization.

For nearly a month, Russia has been deploying more than 150,000 troops to the border of Ukraine, escalating tension and causing destabilization within the region. There’s one reason for this escalation: power.

While Russian aggression towards Ukraine is nothing new, we haven’t seen this scale of escalation since 2014 when Russian forces were successful in their annexation of Crimea – a clear violation of international sovereignty that remains status quo today.

Russia is too powerful, and any expansion of territory will not be good for the world. Any war with Ukraine threatens access to the Black Sea, threatening freedom of navigation. We can’t risk the spread of Russia’s malign influence on the world.

These threats are legitimate and national security issues aren’t limited to Russia. During a briefing this week, I learned of China’s continued violations of Taiwan airspace, North Korea’s continued research into ballistic missile development, and Iran’s increased uranium enrichment. America must stay vigilant, and while we cannot engage in every international conflict, one thing should be clear to President Putin: America is watching.

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Governor Kristi Noem’s Weekly Column: Joe Biden’s First 100 Days – Disunity and Partisanship

Joe Biden’s First 100 Days – Disunity and Partisanship
By: Governor Kristi Noem
April 23, 2021

When Joe Biden was sworn in as President of the United States on January 20, 2021, he declared that “my whole soul is in this: bringing America together . . . and uniting our nation.” He pledged to be a President for all Americans.

Now almost 100 days into his Presidency, Joe Biden has failed in that pledge.

He has signed (as of this writing) an astonishing forty Executive Orders. These actions have infringed on Americans’ second amendment rights by implementing gun control measures. He has revoked a number of President Trump’s actions that strengthened our economy and supported businesses. He has mandated mask use on federal property. He has expanded welfare programs, weakened our voting process, and made it easier for illegal immigrants to enter the United States.

Most recently, he has created a commission to review the size of the Supreme Court, with the clear intention of expanding the number of Justices. The United States Supreme Court has had nine Justices since 1869 – more than 150 years. The President once called this court-packing effort a “bonehead idea,” but now supports it so he can continue to implement his radical agenda.

His misguided policies on immigration have led to a situation that seemingly grows worse by the day. Our nation is less safe as a result, as terrorists have been apprehended crossing the border.

His energy policies have resulted in the elimination of thousands of jobs across the country, including many right here in South Dakota. It’s no coincidence that gas prices are skyrocketing as a result.

In March, President Biden signed an unprecedented $1.9 trillion federal spending package, more than the federal government’s discretionary budget for an entire year. This irresponsible bill received zero Republican support in Congress, only passing because Vice President Kamala Harris cast the deciding vote to begin Senate debate. This stark partisanship is telling, because all previous COVID-related measures received bipartisan support.

President Biden is also proposing more than $2 trillion in new spending on a broad swath of programs he’s calling the “care economy.” This astonishingly large package is being marketed as an infrastructure bill, but it includes billions of dollars in expanded social programs. Massive tax increases over the next 15 years would cover only a portion of this wasteful proposal and it would dramatically drive up our existing $28 trillion national debt.

And on top of all this new spending, President Biden is also proposing to increase the “regular” federal discretionary budget by an additional 8 percent.

It’s no wonder that the President has reversed course yet again and urged the elimination of the filibuster in the Senate – an important part of our democracy that ensures a measure of bipartisanship in Congress – because political gamesmanship is the only way he can pass these huge spending increases.

After 100 days, Joe Biden’s partisanship has sewn disunity and made it clear that he is not a President for all Americans.

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Governor Noem Joins Lawsuit against President Biden over ‘Social Cost of Carbon’

Governor Noem Joins Lawsuit against President Biden over ‘Social Cost of Carbon’

PIERRE, SD – Yesterday, Governor Kristi Noem joined Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry and 8 other state attorneys general in suing to prevent the Biden Administration from establishing a damages value to the “social cost of greenhouse gases,” which would kill thousands of American jobs and impose more burdens and harms to the American people.

“After a year of misguided lockdowns in response to the COVID pandemic, the last thing that America needs is more burdensome regulation that will cripple our economy,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “President Biden’s attempt to implement a ‘social cost of greenhouse gases’ value will result in government sticking their hands into virtually every aspect of our day-to-day lives. With this lawsuit, we are committed to fighting off such unconstitutional overreach.”

In a recent Executive Order, President Biden established a “working group” to establish a damages value based upon global environmental damages from climate changes. This value would be called the “social cost of carbon,” as well as methane and nitrous oxide. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide are by-products of everyday activities in America, because they are among the most common and prevalent by-products of human economic activity. The President further required federal agencies to immediately begin applying such value in regulatory actions and other decision-making.

The Biden executive fiat has wide-ranging impacts on decisions made by virtually every federal agency, including the Departments of Interior, Commerce, Energy, Transportation, Environmental Protection, Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury. These values have the ability to fundamentally transform the entire regulatory structure of the federal government, which would have devastating impacts on the lives of everyday Americans.

In addition to Louisiana and South Dakota – the following states joined in the lawsuit filed this morning in the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Texas, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

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Candidate for Governor says facebook claim that “ET’s living & working with government,” and “AIDS being injected through Vaccines” is “thought provoking”

Former, current, and perpetual candidate for Governor Lora Hubbel is back for a weekend dose of wackiness, as she posts a video…

So, after she takes to facebook to declare she’s running for Governor, Lora Hubbel directly states that a facebook video making claims from an alleged “MIB Whistleblower” over “ET’s living & working with government,” and that “AIDS being injected through Vaccines” is “thought provoking?”

Not sure what you do with that..

Neal Tapio on Facebook basically saying “If it hadn’t been for those meddling kids…”

This morning 2018 GOP Congressional primary candidate Neal Tapio is on Facebook attacking Congressman Dusty Johnson for no particular reason. As well as deriding those who worked to get Johnson elected as “brainwashed teenage staffers” 

Attention brainwashed teenage staffers that work for Rep. Half Dusty (and the fully grown staffers that work for Sen. Thune and Rounds.)
Your bosses have no courage.

Just because Dusty volunteered as your camp counselor doesn’t make him a political leader.

Read that here.

More Neal Tapio name-calling because Dusty sent him away like a scalded dog with the assistance of those “brainwashed teenage staffers,” as they helped the now congressman kick his tail on a nearly 2-1 basis.

Now, Neal didn’t do himself any favors when he raged at an interfaith group at the State Capitol at the onset of the campaign.  And claiming that he would win if there was a terrorist attack before the primary didn’t do his campaign a lot of good either.

But as the villain always declared on Scooby Doo – If it hadn’t been for those meddling kids

Democrat Party vetting candidates for their “second choice” for federal judge.

This was just posted to the South Dakota Democrat Party’s website:

South Dakota Democratic Party accepting applications for U.S. District Judge appointment

For immediate release
Contact: Randy Seiler, Chair

SIOUX FALLS, SD (April 22, 2021) The South Dakota Democratic Party is accepting applications for the position of United States Judge for the District of South Dakota that will be vacated by Justice Jeffrey Viken. Augustana University President Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin has announced she will not seek a federal bench nomination.

“We will move with both great care and expediency to offer insight and to recommend a potential nominee to fill the upcoming judicial vacancy that the Biden administration will fill,” said Chair Randy Seiler. “We thank President Herseth-Sandlin for her consideration and respect her commitment to the work of Augustana University.”

Chairman Seiler announced that he has assembled a committee to review applications and make the recommendation to the Biden administration. The committee is a diverse group committed to submitting the best nominee for the job.

“This is a very important position and a big decision. We will take every step to ensure a qualified candidate is submitted. We don’t take these appointments lightly,” said Seiler.

Along with chairman Seiler, the committee will include:

  • Julian Beaudion, state law enforcement officer and Director of the SD African American History Museum
  • Neil Fulton, former federal public defender
  • Nikki Gronli, Democratic Party Vice Chair
  • Troy Heinert, South Dakota State Senator
  • Brendan Johnson, Attorney, and former U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
  • Peri Pourier, South Dakota State Representative

Applicants need to submit their resume by 5:00 PM (MT) on Friday, May 7, 2021. Qualified applicants can apply by emailing a cover letter and resume to randy@sddp.org. Anyone who has previously sent a resume need not resubmit their application and will be considered for the nomination.

Please direct questions to Chair Randy Seiler via email at randy@sddp.org or by phone at (605) 222-8877.

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The selection of these positions had in the past at least had the appearance of being a semi-official function of office for the federal delegation making recommendations.

But since Democrats are unable to elect anyone, this appears to have been turned over entirely part and parcel to the Democrat party as a political function as chosen by Democrat Party leadership.

Of course, Democrats had to make it weird as well, by announcing as part of their RFP that anyone applying is their “second choice” after Stephanie Herseth Sandlin took a pass on the position.

What are your thoughts?

Johnson: I Am Opposed to D.C. Statehood, But Not Suffrage

Johnson: I Am Opposed to D.C. Statehood, But Not Suffrage

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) spoke on the U.S. House floor today in support of his bill, the D.C.-Maryland Reunion Act, a proposal that would merge the residential portions of the district with Maryland. Johnson opposed H.R. 51, legislation Democrats passed today to provide D.C. with statehood and full voting representation in Congress.

Click here to watch the full clip.

Argus: Herseth Sandlin not taking a federal judgeship

This was an interesting development with one of our state’s last Democrat elected officials. Former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is NOT going to take a position on the federal bench:

President Stephanie Herseth Sandlin is staying at Augustana University.

and..

“My place is at Augustana,” she said in a statement. “I have indicated to the White House that I do not wish to be further considered for or appointed to the federal bench.”

Read it here.

The biggest takeaway is that by skipping a judgeship, it leaves her in play in the future for running for office.

Thune, Brown Reintroduce Bill to Protect Remote and Mobile Workers from Unfair Tax Bills Caused by the Pandemic

Thune, Brown Reintroduce Bill to Protect Remote and Mobile Workers from Unfair Tax Bills Caused by the Pandemic

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight, and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today reintroduced the Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act (S. 1274), bipartisan legislation that would ensure that mobile workers, including medical professionals from around the country, who supported areas hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic do not face unexpected or increased state income tax bills. The bill would also address potential problems remote workers are facing during the pandemic, including the possibility of having their state income taxes become out of balance because they worked from home in a different state than their ordinary place of employment during the pandemic.

“Frontline workers should not have to worry about facing a higher or an unexpected tax bill because of their work and sacrifice to help Americans throughout this crisis,” said Thune. “Doctors, nurses and other workers who voluntarily crossed state lines to help during the pandemic deserve a debt of gratitude, rather than an unexpected tax bill. This bill ensures these mobile workers are not unfairly taxed, while also providing greater tax certainty for those who are working remotely.”

“Healthcare workers have been on the frontlines of this pandemic for months now,” said Brown. “Not only are they combatting this virus in their own communities, but many of them have travelled across state lines to help in areas that have been hit hardest. A surprise tax bill is the last thing they need. We should make it easier for these mobile workers to support themselves and their families.”

The Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act would:

  • Provide uniformity in state and local income tax assessment and withholding obligations for employees that may travel on behalf of their employer to work in a state that is different from the state where they reside. The legislation would establish a permanent 30-day threshhold before any income tax obligations can be enforced by the non-resident state. For the tax years 2020 and 2021, the threshhold is set at 90 days to help ensure that medical professionals and other workers who traveled to support areas hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic do not face unexpected or increased state income tax bills from these states.
  • Preserve the status quo by allowing employers to continue to assign the income for employees temporarily working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic at their pre-pandemic work location versus the location where they may have been working remotely. For example, if you are generally taxed in North Carolina because your job is there, but you live in South Carolina, your tax situation wouldn’t change simply because you worked from home during the pandemic. These provisions provide much needed certainty by placing states, employees and their employers in the same position they would have been in pre-pandemic. These provisions are only applicable for the 2020 and 2021 tax years.

The legislation is built off of Thune and Brown’s Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Simplification Act, which they introduced last Congress. The Remote and Mobile Worker Relief Act is supported by the South Dakota CPA Society and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA).

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Thune: H.R. 1 Designed to Increase Democrats’ Power, Not Election Integrity

Thune: H.R. 1 Designed to Increase Democrats’ Power, Not Election Integrity

“This legislation is an unacceptable federal takeover of elections that would undermine election integrity and substantially curtail First Amendment rights.”

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

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today discussed H.R. 1, the Democrats’ federal elections takeover bill that is designed to increase Democrats’ chances of maintaining their tenuous hold on power. Thune expressed that protecting the right to vote and preserving the integrity of our election systems are essential, but that H.R. 1 is simply a power-grab attempt by the left.