From Facebook:

From my mailbox, the South Dakota Republican Party had a big thank you for it’s supporters who carried water for the elephant and contacted their legislators to oppose House Bill 1305 and House Bill 1259 this week:

Just darn me for pointing out political news. As told today by Representative Drew Dennert, apparently that’s ‘attacking.’

Yesterday the Rep. Goodwin Facebook thing came up, and I pointed it out. Then when Goodwin pointed out that it was not of his doing, I made sure I not just pointed that out as part of the original article, but I noted under the comment section that I observed another similar instance in support of the plausibility of his explanation.

Fast forward a few hours, and today, State Representative Drew Dennert made a point to launch after me on Facebook, claiming I was attacking Goodwin and beating him up in some manner by reporting political news. Just to be clear about it in case there was a misunderstanding, I offered him my response, and asked where he thought I was attacking anyone:

Representative Dennert’s response?

It consisted of blocking me on Facebook.

Oookay then. I guess next time I should ask an easier question?

President Orders Flags At Half-Staff For Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Victims

PIERRE, S.D. – President Donald Trump has called for flags at half-staff as a mark of solemn respect for the victims  of the terrible act of violence perpetrated at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Wednesday, February 14.

In accordance with the President’s order, Gov. Dennis Daugaard asks that flags across the state be lowered immediately and remain at half-mast until sunset on Monday, February 19.

– 30 –

After the Brookings GOP Luncheon on Monday, South Dakota Republican Congressional Candidate Dusty Johnson is planning on spending the afternoon on the campaign trail in Flandreau at the Bean & Vine. Here’s the announcement:

Got great news last night that someone who had noted they were looking at running for the State House is going to make the leap and do it. I had put a bug in their ear a while back, and said “you know, there’s a seat that you could run for…”

I think I can tell you without speaking out of turn that the State GOP’s recruitment efforts for the State Legislature are looking strong this year, and there’s already a great ‘freshman class’ of candidates, and it’s just getting better all the time.   And there’s always room for more.

The deadline to have petitions in is March 27th. Plenty of time, but it’s still a good idea to get things done early.

If you’re a Republican running for office, or thinking of running, drop me a note here. I’m happy to be a free resource. We can chat, and I’m happy to answer any questions in confidence, and it’s not going to cost you a dime or obligate you to anything.

Stay tuned – there’s a lot more to come.

Apparently, South Dakota’s first native-born Governor and the man who inspired Custer State Park, Norbeck Wildlife Preserve and Mount Rushmore National Memorial accomplished too much for South Dakota for one politician’s taste, according to the debate over Senate Bill 204. 

What was the problem? Apparently State Senator Jim Bolin tried to honor Norbeck with a kind gesture by naming a day in his honor. From the Watertown Public Opinion:

Bolin called Norbeck “probably the most important political figure in our state in the first 50 years of our history.”

and…

The only opponent to speak against Peter Norbeck Day was Sen. Stace Nelson, R-Fulton. “I’m sure the career politician was a fine gentleman,” Nelson said.

Read it here.

Well, just darn that Senator Bolin for trying to honor a well digger and farmer who did all that stuff for South Dakota with a day in his honor.

Somehow, I don’t think they’ll be naming anything for Senator Nelson anytime soon.

Update… THAT was fast!

Congresswoman Kristi Noem is having a grand opening for her Rapid City Office (1739 West Main Street, Rapid City) a week from today:

Planning to attend? Click here to register for the event!

Attorney General Candidate Unveils Immigration Initiative

ABERDEEN, SD (February 14, 2018) – Senator Lance Russell, South Dakota Attorney General candidate, will hold a press conference at the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Aberdeen at 10 a.m. (CST) Friday, February 16, to unveil his recent Immigration Enforcement Bill, SB 193.  This legislation will prohibit “sanctuary cities” and “sanctuary campuses,”  and will be heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee this coming Tuesday at 8 a.m. Senator Russell will also be unveiling his Immigration Plan as a South Dakota Attorney General candidate to address the ongoing issues of illegal immigration within the state.

This conference comes two days after the one-year anniversary of the passage of a “sanctuary campus” resolution by the University of South Dakota’s Student Government Association, passed on February 14, 2017. Senator Russell’s Immigration Enforcement Bill would make such actions illegal within South Dakota. It would also provide relief for South Dakota cities suffering the ravages of having law-breakers invited into the state.

WHAT:           Attorney General Candidate Russell’s Immigration Initiative
WHO:             Senator and Attorney General Candidate Lance Russel
WHEN:           February 16, 2018, 10 A.M. (CST)
WHERE:         Holiday Inn Express & Suites, 3310 7^th Avenue SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401

###

From KELO Radio:

A Rapid City state representative shared a photo of a woman with a plunging neckline along with a joke about the size of a woman’s breasts on his personal Facebook page.

and..

Here is a link to Goodwin’s Facebook page. Here is the link to the post he shared on his own page, which has been removed. Here  is the link to the original post he shared.

and…

Last month many—but not all–legislators and their staffs attended sexual harassment training in Pierre. The training was not mandatory.

Read it here.

Update….  Representative Goodwin notes that the post was not of his doing, according to the associated press:

Republican Representative Tim Goodwin of Rapid City says he was in “shock” when he saw the post and had to get a legislative page to take it down when he found out about it Wednesday. Goodwin says he did not post it.

and…