Rounds Statement on Meeting with President Biden to Discuss COVID-19 Relief

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding a meeting he and nine of his Republican colleagues participated in with President Biden to discuss COVID-19 relief.

“South Dakotans sent me to Washington to stand up for our principles and get results. It’s important to be in these discussions to advocate for our state and work to keep out the bad policies that will hurt our families and businesses. As the saying goes – ‘if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu.’

“Even though President Biden and I disagree on many issues, I’m grateful for his willingness to listen to our ideas and be open to compromise. Everyone in today’s meeting has shared goal of eliminating COVID-19 and providing relief to families who are truly struggling. It is better to build consensus and find a bipartisan path forward, rather than a massive, partisan bill that congressional Democrats are currently proposing.

“My primary goal in any COVID-19 relief package is to make sure that it is targeted and directly addresses the pandemic itself. And we must keep out provisions unrelated to COVID-19 – such as raising the national minimum wage – that will kill jobs and hurt the economy, especially at a time where we’re trying tirelessly to get people back to work.

“We agreed to keep talking on these important issues and I look forward to continue working together on areas in which we can find consensus.”

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Governor Noem Signs Two Bills into Law

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem signed two bills into law.

Senate Bill 40 revises certain references to the Internal Revenue Code.

Senate Bill 46 allows for the consideration of certain instruction to count towards the minimum number of hours required in a school term during a declared state of emergency.

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Governor Noem’s Broadband Initiative
by State Representative Trish Ladner

For many of us, gone are the days of families living and working in the same communities as their grandparents. Simple things like going to Grandma’s house for Sunday Supper or to your Uncle’s to help him rebuild an engine. For many of us, our families are spread out across the nation. Broadband allows all of us to connect: watch your Granddaughter’s soccer tournament via skype or just chat face-to-face on your phones with face-time. It also gives us access to a whole new world that allows medical conferencing and virtual meetings with colleagues around the world. It allows students of all ages to complete their homework, participate in distance learning and access online resources that enhance their education.

Speaking from firsthand experience, my husband and I work “in the cloud,” and have for the last 15 years. This allows us to work with and service our clients that are spread out across America. It gives us freedom to take a road trip, go fishing or visit family at their ranch in Leola, South Dakota, all the while working on our laptop and maintaining our business and income. The flexibility is wonderful!  In fact, while I am in Pierre doing legislative business for our state and District 30, my husband Bobby is with me, busy working remotely on his laptop maintaining our business. We never missed a beat.

Broadband creates jobs, expands careers and enables workers to live anywhere in the state and work remotely or start a small business of their own and live in rural communities like you find throughout South Dakota.

Historically, our government has worked hard to connect our nation, funding projects in order to move us forward. Let’s look back at history:

• The railroads of the 19^th century transformed America. Beginning with the First Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. In 1883 a politician was quoted to say, “The railroads have been built and the means of communication have been extended.”
• In 1956 President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed into law the ”National System of Interstate & Defense Highways.” This 41,000 mile system of interstate highways connected our nation from sea to shining sea.
• Governor Noem’s Broadband Initiative will provide the electronic highway system that gives ALL South Dakotans the opportunity to work locally and reach out and connect with the world around us while enjoying the benefits of living in South Dakota.

Recently, I attended a virtual briefing by the Public Utilities Commission. In that briefing we were shown a map that indicated locations that have no or inadequate reception (broadband and/or cell). The Black Hills is one of the most affected regions in South Dakota.

I met with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and according to them, roughly 135,000 South Dakotans still do not have access to broadband that meets their needs and that includes District 30!  They also explained that the state’s portion of the cost for the project is $100 million. The balance will be made up of federal and private investments totally an additional $100 million. The funding for Governor’s Broadband Initiative comes from a combination of state, federal and private investment dollars. The good news is that this year there are state dollars available to take this project over the finish line.

Like it or not, society is moving forward towards a digital world and away from the paper system we have all been accustomed to. It’s time to hop on the “train” (so to speak), or be left behind!

Thank you all for your support and God Bless you, the great state of South Dakota and the United States of America!

I value your comments. Please free to contact me at trish.ladner@sdlegislature.gov

Trish Ladner
Representative District 30

A resolution I had warned you about has passed from the House State Affairs committee to the House floor after a 8-5 vote this morning.

House Joint Resolution 5002 seeks to take away the Governor’s ability to appoint for legislative vacancies, because some think they should be… more political?

The South Dakota Constitution currently gives the governor responsibility to fill legislative vacancies. With HJR 5002, the Aberdeen Republican wants the Legislature to go the voters and request the chance to set a different way.

The only requirement Dennert seeks is the replacement must be from the same political affiliation, if any. He personally favors using the same process state law now sets where local party officials choose a replacement candidate, but he would leave the decision up to the Legislature.

Read it all here.

I’m not sure why I have to keep pointing out that no one has asked for the constitution should be changed because Rep. Dennert wants to usurp the power of appointment from the Governor, and give it to a local political committee.

Article IV, Section III of our South Dakota State Constitution, is pretty specific that our state’s founders had granted the Governor the power of appointment. Not the legislature. And certainly not a local committee.

And honestly, leaving the process stand as it has actually opens the process to more business leaders and community leaders who otherwise stay out of partisan politics.

The Republican and Democrat parties have their place and time in the replacement process, especially when it’s in the election mode where we nominate candidates.

But to appoint legislative vacancies… That’s not a change that anyone has asked for.

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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