Thune Statement on Confirmation of Gina Haspel for CIA Director

“With more than 30 years of experience serving in posts overseas and in CIA leadership, Gina Haspel is an outstanding choice for CIA director.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today issued the following statement regarding the Senate confirmation of Gina Haspel to be the director of the CIA:

“With more than 30 years of experience serving in posts overseas and in CIA leadership, Gina Haspel is an outstanding choice for CIA director. Her long and distinguished record of service speaks for itself. Her confirmation is also a historic moment for our country, as Haspel becomes the first woman to lead the CIA in its 70-year history.

It’s unfortunate that, at a time when our country faces a wide array of threats, Democrats chose to play unnecessary politics with this nomination. But now that the Republican-led Senate has confirmed her, I look forward to the good work she and the agency will continue to do to keep Americans safe.”

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I think I picked a good seat for Shania Twain!

 Thune-Rounds-Enzi Bill to Double Size of Black Hills Veterans Cemetery Heads to President
Years-Long Project Is One Step Closer to Completion

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) issued the following statements after the U.S. House of Representatives passed their bill, the Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act (S. 35), legislation that will facilitate a permanent land transfer of approximately 200 acres of Bureau of Land Management land to expand the Black Hills National Cemetery outside of Sturgis, South Dakota. The bill, which the senators reintroduced during the first week of the 115^th Congress, passed the Senate by voice vote in December 2017. Their bill now heads to the president for his signature.

“Our veterans deserve a resting place as majestic and solemn as the Black Hills National Cemetery, and I’m glad this important, years-long initiative that will help to continue honoring our heroes – now and for generations to come – is finally nearing the finish line,” said Thune. “It’s a small yet meaningful gesture for the men and women who gave far more than we’ll ever be able to repay.”

“It’s important that South Dakota’s veterans know there will be space for them to rest peacefully at the Black Hills National Cemetery,” said Rounds. “I am pleased that our commonsense legislation to expand the Black Hills National Cemetery passed the House today, and will now head to the president’s desk to be signed into law.”

“Wyoming is one of the few states without a VA National Cemetery, so I am glad that Congress was able to pass this legislation to ensure we are working to provide a resting place for Wyoming’s veterans,” said Enzi. “Veterans and their families deserve to know that there will always be a place where their families can honor their legacy for generations to come. I look forward to President Trump signing this legislation into law soon.”

Under current law, the Federal Land Policy and Management Act limits transfers like this one to a lifespan of 20 years. The Black Hills National Cemetery Boundary Expansion Act will make this particular transfer permanent.

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Tapio Calls for Immediate End of Mueller Probe, Pledges Support for Hillary Prosecution 

(Wednesday, May 16, 2018) South Dakota GOP Congressional candidate Neal Tapio today issued harsh criticism against former FBI Director Robert Mueller, calling for an immediate end of the Mueller-Rosenstein investigation of the Trump White House that is now entering its second year. Tapio today promised that if elected, he will strongly support an end to the ‘Russian Collusion,’ investigation that he says is a proven political assassination plot against the President and also promised that he would fully support a Congressional investigation into the actions of Hillary Clinton and Clinton loyalists who have been proven as the origins of the Mueller probe against Trump.

“What the American people are watching is nothing less than a litigation Coup d’tat against a sitting President of the United States. This is what happens when the criminal machinery of Washington D.C. fights back against an outsider hired by the American people to fix a broken government,” Tapio said.

“For more than a year and at millions of dollars of taxpayer expense, the powers of the Department of Justice are being used to punish a duly elected President for disrupting their game and their agenda of tearing down the American nation on the road to a globalist system,” Tapio said.

Tapio  also expressed hope that revelations contained in the famous ‘Nunes Memo,’ and an emerging  chain of evidence suggesting fraudulent origins of the infamous Steele Dossier used to begin the investigation of Donald Trump would eventually lead to full fledged prosecution of a host of players involved in the plot to unseat Donald Trump and overturn the results of the 2016 election. Tapio says it’s clear that Democrats are planning to impeach Trump if they gain control of Congress in the 2018    election.

“It should send shivers up the spine of every American citizen that on the basis of fraudulent and phony documents, police-state surveillance under the orders of Hillary Clinton loyalists can be used against an anti-establishment candidate for higher office, in a deliberate attempt not only to defeat Donald Trump politically, but to ruin him publicly, financially and personally for having the gall to take on the Washington machine,” Tapio said.

“Nothing less than the Presidency is at stake in the 2018 election,” Tapio said. “That’s why it’s important not only that Republicans maintain control of both houses of Congress, but that we choose people who will stand strongly with President Trump in the face of this onslaught,” Tapio said

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Yankton Attorney Steve Huff Endorses Ravnsborg for Attorney General

YANKTON, SD: Yankton Attorney Steve Huff endorses Attorney General Candidate Jason Ravnsborg.

“I believe, from my experiences with Jason, he is fair, direct, to the point and follows up on key issues and so, for that reason, I certainly think he has the best temperament for the practice side of the Attorney General’s job.” Steve said. “Additionally, because of his substantial military experience, I believe Jason is also best suited for the administrative aspects of Attorney General.”

Steve stated “For all of those reasons I strongly support his candidacy and I would urge you to support Jason moving forward as the next state Attorney General.”

Steve has been an attorney since 1999 and is currently a partner with the law firm of Marlow, Woodward & Huff Prof. LLC in Yankton, South Dakota.

This endorsement letter was in Mailboxes today from the mayor of Edgemont to Republican Delegates today urging their support of Lance Russell for Attorney General:

Congressional hopeful Shantel Krebs has a new campaign commercial up. And you can watch it here:

Bon Homme County States Attorney Lisa Rothschadl Endorses Ravnsborg for Attorney General 

TYNDALL, SD: Bon Homme County States Attorney Lisa Rothschadl endorses Attorney General Candidate Jason Ravnsborg.

“Jason is a skilled lawyer whom I have had both jury and court trials along with many hearings for over a decade in both criminal and civil matters.” Rothschadl said. “Jason is honest, hard working and always represents his clients zealously.”

“Jason has also been a valuable resource through the years in various points of the law.” Rothschadl stated. “I know I will be able to work with Jason as Attorney General, as I have been able to work with him in the past. I look forward to working with Jason as our next Attorney General, he has my full support and endorsement.”

Bon Homme County States Attorney Lisa Rothschadl has been the Bon Homme County States Attorney since 1997.

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Noem Releases Family First Initiative
Mom of 3 commits to a strengthening families and preserving SD values

CASTLEWOOD, S.D. – Kristi Noem today released her Family First Initiative, which aims to strengthen families and preserve South Dakota values.

“My husband, Bryon, and I are blessed with three incredible kids, who are surrounded by aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents that love them and continually invest in their education and upbringing,” said Noem. “Our faith and that strong family unit has helped us get through the tough times, and in many respects, compelled me to leave college after my dad’s death, return to the farm and ranch full-time, and dedicate my life to building on the dreams my parents had for their children. If elected, I’m committed to being a family-first governor, fighting to strengthen the family unit and preserve the values South Dakota has long embraced.”

• Defend family values from the very beginning. I am pro-life, something my record will always reflect. In Congress, where I earned a 100 percent rating from National Right to Life, I’ve worked to systematically toughen abortion laws. As governor, I want to make sure South Dakota can play a leading role in that effort, a commitment that’s earned the endorsement of the conservative Susan B. Anthony List. If elected, I will:

  • Assign an Unborn Person Advocate within the governor’s office to monitor, report, and recommend legislative and policy changes;

  • Actively pursue all available legislative options to stop abortion and protect the lives of unborn babies;

  • Oppose any efforts to legalize physician-assisted suicide; and

  • Work to proactively defend South Dakota’s pro-life policies, engaging the top legal minds to litigate on behalf of our values, if necessary.

• Protect religious liberty and traditional marriage.

• Decrease dependency by making it easier for parents to work. More specifically, I will:

  • Encourage flexibility for parents pursuing new skills at South Dakota tech schools and universities;

  • Help give parents the support needed to choose the child care that fits their family structure;

  • Strengthen work requirements; and

  • Increase child support accountability.

• Recognize good parenting is a learned skill. I’d like to expand family education programs to better prevent domestic violence and intervene before it occurs in the home. My administration would also encourage high schools to invest in family and consumer science programs, sharing the value of strong family units and building an understanding of the responsibilities that come with a household.

• Respect parental rights.

• Support military family readiness programs.

• Expand residential and family-based drug treatment options.

• Connect incarcerated moms and dads with parenting education and employment resources.

• Make strong families a priority in all government activities. Strong families create strong communities. Because of this understanding, I will not raise taxes on families, grow government, or allow federal bureaucrats to tell us how to live. Family must remain the central figure in our public policy.

Read the full plan here.

GOP Gubernatorial candidate Neal Tapio just dropped a TV commercial out on YouTube which is also started running as a radio ad today on KELO Radio.

It’s well-produced spot with a professional voice-over. And it arguably represents the first real attack ad of any campaign this primary season.

In the advertisement, he goes after his opponents, singling out Shantel Krebs as helping to implement Obamacare, and attacks Dusty Johnson as having worked for the “scandal ridden” Daugaard administration:

Tapio might elicit a response from his opponents with this one. Or possibly the administration. But there’s no doubt he’s taking the gloves off, if they were ever on.

Tapio is scheduled to appear alongside his GOP primary opponents tonight at the Union County Lincoln Day Dinner.