Tamera Enalls, one of the Republican Primary Candidates for the House in District 25, has a video out talking about her background and her candidacy of Facebook this weekend. Check it out:

From my mailbox…

After 20 years of service, (Lincoln County) Sheriff Dennis Johnson will be retiring at the end of the year; and there is great interest in meeting the Republican candidates who want to replace him. We have all three candidates firmly committed, and Sheriff Johnson will be joining us as well.

The media and public are cordially invited to join us on Thursday, May 17th, 6 pm, at the Tea Pizza Ranch for a moderated forum via written questions submitted with timed answers. Our moderator is Justin Smith, attorney at law.

 

6-6:30 social mixer
6:30-7:15 Forum
7:15-8:00 social

Net Neutrality Needs Bipartisan Legislation, Not More Political Theater
By Sen. John Thune

I support net neutrality. I support rules that prevent blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization of internet traffic. I believe these principles should guide us on Capitol Hill as we work to expand broadband access to even the most remote and rural areas of the country.

You might be surprised to learn that most of my fellow senators believe this too.

Unfortunately, manufactured controversy often gets more attention in Washington than real solutions. We have seen this in recent months as some in Congress and outside groups have shaped an ominous narrative surrounding the way we regulate the internet.

The internet is too important for partisan politics. Congress must codify widely accepted net neutrality protections through bipartisan legislation.

Instead of crafting forward-looking solutions that protect internet users and promote innovation, however, Congress will spend time on more political theater.

Rather than voting for 21st Century rules to protect the internet, we’ll be taking a show vote on whether to look backwards and re-apply rules meant for the old Ma’ Bell phone system to the modern internet.

This is a mistake, and only delays concrete protections for a free and open internet.

The misguided decision to apply regulations created in 1934 for voice telephone services to the internet—adopted on a party-line vote by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in 2015—has, according to the FCC, slowed investment, preventing the improvement and expansion of services to the 39 million Americans living in rural parts of the country.

The uncertainty in the future of regulation, caused by the ever-shifting political winds, means investments to connect more Americans in states like South Dakota are likely to remain stagnant.

It doesn’t have to be this way. For years, I have called for bipartisan legislation—by elected representatives, not unelected bureaucrats at the FCC—that would permanently ban blocking, throttling, and paid prioritization by broadband internet providers.

The new leadership of the FCC has given us an opportunity to do just that, by freeing the internet from outdated, monopoly-era regulations.

If the Democrats are serious about long-term protections for consumers, they should look ahead towards a bipartisan solution, rather than looking backwards and trying to reverse the current FCC’s Restoring Internet Freedom Order.

Claims that this order would mean slower internet speeds have already been rebutted in a recent independent fact check.

The bottom line is, Congress should be spending time on a permanent solution that is not subject to Washington power shakeups—one that will spur all communities into the 21st Century and encourage a new wave of American innovation and competitiveness.

Regardless of how the Senate votes this month, the Congressional Review Act (CRA) effort will not provide Americans with lasting protections for the internet. If anything, the tempest over the CRA has stalled conversations among legislators on both sides of the aisle who have demonstrated eagerness to come together and find a bipartisan solution.

Once the latest showdown is over, we should set aside the fear mongering and manufactured hand-wringing and get to work on a solution that ends this debate and protects the economic engine of the internet for generations of Americans to come.

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Opening New Markets for South Dakota Producers
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

Agriculture is the economic engine for many communities across the upper Great Plains. Farmers and ranchers play a critical role in feeding and fueling a growing global population, and also in our national security strategy. When we can produce affordable, nutritious food here at home, we don’t have to rely on other countries to obtain it. However, ag income has been in decline over the past five years, in part due to low commodity prices. I recently introduced a bipartisan bill with Senator Angus King of Maine and Senator John Thune of South Dakota that would open up much-needed new markets for small producers and processers.

Our common sense legislation would allow meat and poultry products that have been inspected by a Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS)-approved state Meat and Poultry Inspection (MPI) program to be sold across state lines. Right now, there are 27 states with inspection programs certified by FSIS, which meet or exceed federal inspection standards. However, products processed at these FSIS-approved state MPI inspected facilities are not currently allowed to be sold across state lines.

Under federal regulations, state MPI standards must be “at least equal to” federal meat and poultry inspection programs. In South Dakota, state-inspected meat products such as beef and pork are limited to markets within South Dakota despite being subject to inspections equal to or exceeding federal inspection standards.

Our bill would level the playing field for meat and poultry products while maintaining the highest quality standards for consumers. Since the state inspection standards are required by law to be equal to or better than the federal inspection standards, it makes sense to allow products that pass state inspection protocols to be sold across state lines. This legislation will create new markets for producers and processers, give consumers more choices at the grocery store and continue to maintain the high quality and safety standards necessary to keep consumers healthy.

We’re happy to have the support of prominent ag groups such as the United States Cattlemen’s Association, the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, the South Dakota Farm Bureau, the American Farm Bureau, the South Dakota Pork Producers, the South Dakota Stockgrowers and the South Dakota Meat Inspection Program Director. We also appreciate the support of Governor Dennis Daugaard.

South Dakota farmers and ranchers consistently produce among the highest quality products in the world. Our bill opens up new markets for small South Dakota producers and gives them the opportunity to compete in markets throughout the United States. As Congress continues its work on the upcoming farm bill, we will be seeking to get our commonsense legislation included in this important legislation.

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No Matter the Call
By Rep. Kristi Noem

I am incredibly grateful for the work of South Dakota’s law enforcement officers. The job has never been easy, but with violent crime on the rise, a growing drug epidemic, and a looming mental health crisis, more is being asked of our men and women in blue than ever before.

Between 2005 and 2015, South Dakota’s violent crime rate doubled. Drug arrests are up. Aggravated assault and domestic violence is increasing. Sioux Falls has become more dangerous than Fargo, North Dakota, or Omaha, Nebraska. And people are feeling the impact. I hear all the time how our communities just don’t feel like they did 15 years ago; they feel less safe.

When President Trump was sworn in last year, he brought his profound respect for law enforcement into the Oval Office. Together, we’ve increased support for those in blue. For instance, we expanded Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants, which are used for hiring and training police officers and have provided $13 million in funding to South Dakota law enforcement in the last five years.

In South Dakota, much of the drain on our resources comes from a growing drug epidemic. In recent months, Governor Daugaard declared that meth use in South Dakota was at epidemic levels. Opioid abuse is on the rise as well. While I believe prevention is key, I introduced a set of bills to strengthen families during drug addiction treatment and amplify efforts to prevent the child abuse and neglect that can result from drug use.

Additionally, I’m working to cut off drugs at their source. President Trump’s border wall is critical to stemming illegal drug trafficking, and I’ve voted to fully fund his proposal. I’m also working on legislation to crack down on Mexican drug traffickers and those who help facilitate their illicit activities at the border.

Moreover, we need to fix the quirks in the law that make law enforcement jobs harder, which is what my CUFF Act intends to do. The bill is commonsense: it prohibits individuals with outstanding felony warrants or parole violations from receiving certain Social Security benefits. It’s not only unfair to ask taxpayers to pay people who are fleeing the law, but it’s self-defeating to subsidize someone’s attempt to shirk law enforcement. As Staci Ackerman, Executive Director of the South Dakota Sheriffs’ Association said, the bill would “limit [a wanted felon or parole violator’s] ability to avoid justice using taxpayer dollars to evade capture.” This bill was passed in the House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate.

Each of these tools aim to help law enforcement do their job better and more safely. This, in turn, keeps our communities safer. As we mark National Police Week on May 13 through 19, I ask that you find a way to thank the heroes who protect us every day as well as their families, who often wait anxiously for their loved one to return home each shift, not knowing what situations they faced that day.

Finally, on behalf of my family and I, please know that we’re praying for you and for your safety. I admire the work of our law enforcement officers and the courage required to respond no matter the call.

To The Classes Of 2018
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

Congratulations to the classes of 2018! To all high school, college and technical school students graduating in South Dakota, I commend you for reaching this milestone. After years of studying, taking tests and writing essays, you’ve finally made it. Congratulations on all you have achieved!

Most of you probably already have a good idea of what you’ll be doing next – what additional education you’ll seek or what career you’ll pursue. Whether you’ve decided to stay in South Dakota or pursue a career or education elsewhere, I hope you’ll ultimately consider a future here in our state. There are a number of reasons to consider living and working here.

First, the tax burden in South Dakota is low. We are among only a few states without an income tax, meaning you can keep more of the money you earn – money that can repay student debt, buy a house someday or replace that car you drove into the ground in school.

Second, not only do people keep more of the money they earn in South Dakota, but that money will buy more here than in other places. We don’t spend as much money on housing, insurance, food and the other everyday needs. In fact, we have some of the lowest costs in the nation. In California, New York, Washington, D.C., or many other places, you will find costs that are 13 percent, 15 percent, even 17 percent higher than the national average. In South Dakota our costs are 12 percent lower than the national average.

Now some people will say, “South Dakota may have a low tax burden and low cost of living, but I won’t get paid as much if I live there.” Actually when it comes to per capita personal income, we fare pretty well. Nationally, we rank in the top half. And, if you adjust the per capita personal income to add cost of living and taxes, we rank sixth in the nation.

Beyond the financial reasons, South Dakota is a great place to live because we have a good quality of life here. Our communities are safe, our public schools are high-quality and our people are friendly. We also have clean air, clean water and beautiful scenery.

More than anything, though, there are people here who love you. You can’t put a price tag on the love and support of your family and friends, here in South Dakota. At the end of your careers, and even at the end of your days on earth, the people who love you will be thousands of times more important than anything else in this world.

My hope is not that you will never venture outside of our state, but rather that you would consider a more permanent future in South Dakota. Your dreams can come true – right here at home.

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On a personal note, I wanted to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to my wife Michelle, who just a week ago was hooded at the University of South Dakota 2018 Commencement as Dr. Michelle Powers.

It has been a long time coming in the middle of raising seven kids, but my wife Michelle finally earned her Ed.D in Educational Leadership to go along with her Ed.S. in Educational Administration, and her M.A. in Special Education.

The kids and I now address her as Dr. Mom, and Dr. Wife, respectively.

Seriously though, she’s been working at it a long time, and we couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishments, especially coming right before a well deserved Mother’s Day.

A very Happy Mother’s Day to Michelle, and all the moms reading out there! Enjoy your day!

From my mailbox, I received one postcard from John Fitzgerald today, and two from Lance Russell, both candidates for Attorney General at the upcoming State Republican Convention:

I was up this morning delivering signs and I happened across a few of these signs in Redfield and Doland.

They got my attention, not because I could read it, but because it literally has the smallest type of any yard sign I have seen this primary election in South Dakota.

This is the sign at a full stop at the side of the road taking a picture. Imagine how unreadable it is at 35 to 65 miles an hour.

I did make my son get out of the car to go take a closer photo so you can actually read it:

It might’ve looked like a good idea on the screen, or at arm’s length. But in execution it just turned out to be a big waste of money.

From my mailbox, the fringe gun group “South Dakota Gun Owners” has jumped into the Brown County Sheriff’s race. And with their involvement comes brightly colored and somewhat misleading postcards from out of state to wallpaper the county:

Where have we heard of the group getting involved in attacking County law-enforcement before?

The Gun Owners group is going after long-time Sheriff Mike Leidholt, and leafletting homes in the Pierre area with a message that they call his office, and demand that he apologize for his position.

And…

It’s also a dumb move, as under Jordan Mason, the SDGO had been working towards a bit more respectability. But attacking a member of law enforcement who was reflecting the Sheriff group’s position on why they think we need pistol permits, and their ability to review and deny them?

Read it here.

I don’t know that postcards out of Columbus, Ohio attacking Sheriffs for wanting to deny pistol permits to crazy people, wife beaters or drug users in South Dakota has ever worked out well for the SDGO group.

We’ll just have to wait and see how it works for them this time.