Noem Pledges: No Tax Increases

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Kristi Noem today signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, making a written commitment to the taxpayers of South Dakota to oppose all tax increases.

“Over the years, I’ve not only opposed tax increases, but successfully fought to deliver one of the largest tax cuts in American history,” said Noem. “This month, taxpayers will see these tax cuts reflected in their paychecks, and for most, that means a pay raise. South Dakota has long been a low-tax state. We are just one of seven states without an income tax. We need to keep it that way. But we also need to fight proposed increases to the state property tax and the state sales tax. As governor, I pledge to veto any and all efforts to increase taxes. You’ve worked hard for your money. The government needs to respect that.”

February marks the first month in which the tax cuts Noem helped negotiate will be reflected in workers’ paychecks. The legislation not only protected taxpayers from a tax increase, but delivered a fairer tax code that is projected to increase the average family’s after-tax income by $4,000. Noem was also a member of the House Taxation Committee while serving in the state legislature.

# # #

The humor website Dakota Posts* is taking on the Campus Free Speech Bill, and the South Dakota Board of Regents’ reaction to it:

Read it all at Dakota Posts!

(* and for those who have asked or insinuated, no, Dakota Posts is not me. I have too many other irons in the fire to start a new website. But they do a good job!)

South Dakota Republican Party Endorses Campus Free Speech Bill

Sioux Falls – The South Dakota Republican Party today announced its support for HB1073, a bill to protect free speech on the campuses of South Dakota’s public universities. HB1073 was filed by GOP Representative Michael Clark after a string of incidents on South Dakota campuses and campuses around the nation where the right to free speech was undermined.

“As the party of freedom, we’re proud to stand up for the right to free speech on campus and against the liberal domination and control of South Dakota’s campuses,” commented South Dakota Republican Party Chairman Dan Lederman.

“The GOP is fighting for free speech rights and to make our campuses genuine marketplaces for ideas, not an echo chamber for liberals,” added Representative Clark.

The South Dakota GOP joins over thirty state legislators, the South Dakota College Republicans, U.S. Congresswoman Kristi Noem and Attorney General Marty Jackley in supporting the legislation.

Additional information about HB1073 can be found in this news story just published by the Washington Free Beacon.

Morning Consult is back at it again noting the “most popular” politicians in the country, this time our nation’s Governors. And not only are all of the top ten Republicans, South Dakota’s Governor Dennis Daugaard is in their ranks for January of 2018:

Read all about the rankings here.

From January 22nd at the humor Facebook page Dakota Posts:

From today:

I’m not sure you could have make that up.

Hot off the Press, House Bill 1259 is set to eliminate much of the purpose for State Political Party Conventions:

HB1259P by Pat Powers on Scribd

The short version is that it eliminates party nominations for the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, state auditor, state treasurer, commissioner of school and public lands, and public utilities commissioners.

For offices that many candidates struggle to raise $50,000 – $100,000 to run an abbreviated race after the nomination, this could put them on footing against gubernatorial contests in having to gather a couple thousand signatures, and campaigning up to a year or more ahead of time… or does it?

While it takes away the party nomination process, it really doesn’t give anything to replace the nominations with. I’d expect it would be done via petition, but the bill doesn’t really spell that or any process out.

It would be great for Republicans, as it’s doubtful many Dems lacking personal wealth who have to be talked into a race at convention would jump in to running that far ahead of time. But, for both political parties, it would cause a lot of change in their mission and timing.

I suspect Republicans would move to a caucus system ahead of the primary, similar to other states.

But would it be good for the South Dakota? I’m not sure what problem it’s trying to solve.

From my mailbox, it appears that previously announced Independent candidate for Congress George Hendrickson is switching from Independent to become a Libertarian.

George Hendrickson Press Release for US House

George Hendrickson, currently an Independent candidate for U.S. House of Representatives, announced Wednesday he will seek the Libertarian Party’s nomination for the office.

Hendrickson, a 47-year-old former police officer and small business owner, said in a release that he believes the Libertarian Party’s core philosophy of individual liberty mirrors his own ideals of Constitutional freedom.

Currently running unopposed in the Libertarian primary, Hendrickson said while he looks forward to working with party faithful, he remains committed to political independence and providing a sensible alternative to the two-party status quo.

“People are starting to realize that the two-party system of cronyism and power brokering is what has gotten us into our current mess,” Hendrickson said in a release.

“I am not a career politician or a member of the ‘good old boy network,’” Hendrickson said. “I am just a citizen answering the call for service. When my work is done, I’ll come back home.”

S.D. Libertarian Party chairman Aaron Aylward said the party is excited to welcome Hendrickson into the party membership. While the Libertarian Party does not officially endorse any candidate until after the primary, Aylward added that Hendrickson’s campaign platform of limited and accountable government certainly belongs in the SDLP.

“We love it when candidates, from any party, step up and fight for the cause of personal freedom,” Aylward said in the release. “George and his platform are welcome here, and if he is our nominee, we will throw all of our support behind him.”

Hendrickson said his priorities as Congressman will include fighting for congressional term limits, tax and bureaucracy reform, breaking the cycle of welfare recidivism, working toward a balanced budget, and federal descheduling of cannabis to help provide relief for the sick and disabled.

Hendrickson believes that the United States government was intended to serve the American people, not the other way around. That belief, he said, will guide the many tasks which lay ahead of him as South Dakota’s next Congressman.

“My campaign slogan sums it up,” Hendrickson said. “And that is, ‘Beholden only to you, the people of South Dakota.’”

The Hendrickson campaign has also scheduled a preliminary series of “town hall” meetings on both sides of the state, including:

Monday, February 5 – 6:30 to 7:30 Sioux Falls Library – Prairie West Branch 7630 W. 26th St. in Sioux Falls

Wednesday, February 7 – 6:30 to 7:30pm Sioux Falls Library – Ronning Branch 3100 E. 49th St. in Sioux Falls

Thursday, February 8 – 6:30 to 7:30pm Sioux Falls Library – Caille Branch 4100 Carnegie Cir. in Sioux Falls

Monday, February 12 – 6:00 to 8:00pm Belle Fourche Area Community Center 1111 National St. in Belle Fourche

Tuesday, February 13 – 6:00 to 8:00pm Location Pending – Rapid City

For more information about the Hendrickson campaign, visit http://georgehendrickson.com.

–30–

 

So, is that going to help?

Noem Calls for Constitutional Carry Legislation

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Kristi Noem today called for passage of constitutional carry legislation in South Dakota.

“The Founders believed our right to bear arms was so important to our country they enshrined it into the Constitution’s Second Amendment,” said Noem. “I believe enacting constitutional carry legislation will further protect the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding South Dakotans.”

Noem is not endorsing any specific constitutional carry bill, but supports the policy in principle. If elected governor, she will work closely with legislators and stakeholders, including law enforcement, to get a constitutional carry bill passed and signed into law.

An avid hunter and sportsman, Noem once owned and operated a hunting lodge near her home in northeast South Dakota. She has been a stalwart defender of the Second Amendment, fighting against Obama-era regulations that limited gun rights and strongly supporting policies such as national right-to-carry reciprocity, which passed the House of Representatives in 2017. Noem has an ‘A’ rating from the National Rifle Association, of which she is a lifetime member.

WATCH: Protecting the 2nd Amendment

​
# # #

Dusty Johnson had a good 4th quarter in 2017 according to his FEC Report:

Dusty Johnson 4q 2017 FEC Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

Johnson, one of the three Republican candidates for the party’s Congressional nomination posted his latest campaign finance report noting $116,715 raised, expenditures of only $43,131, leaving him $424,277 cash on hand to start 2018 campaigning in earnest.

South Dakota Republicans have full slate in District 34 with Partridge, Diedrich, & Olson;
going into 2018 with an abundance of candidates across South Dakota

South Dakota Republican Party Chairman Dan Lederman announced today that Republicans in State Legislative District 34 have a full slate of candidates already off and running to represent Rapid City in the coming election.  The South Dakota GOP has a filled slate of candidates in with Senator Jeff Partridge planning to run for his current seat this next election. Partridge will be joined in the election by State Representative Mike Diedrich, and newly announced House candidate Jessica Olson, C.E.O. of WellFully Adolescent Care Center in Rapid City.

“Republicans are bringing some great candidates in this upcoming election, especially in District 34,” Lederman said. “In District 34, we’ve lost both Representative Dan Dryden and Representative Craig Tieszen. I served with these gentlemen in the legislature, and I know how much they cared about their constituents. To honor their work, making sure we have good candidates to represent the party as they did is important to me.”

“Representative Mike Diedrich has hit the ground running this session and has his petitions out to continue his service as State Representative. While I wish we could talk Representative Lust into continuing, I know that Jessica Olson will do the party proud as she runs for his seat.”

Lederman also had high praise for Senator Jeff Partridge. “Jeff has been working closely with the GOP on party projects and has been great to work with as we tell the story of Republican Leadership in South Dakota. I know his constituents appreciate him, and it’s good for the GOP to be associated with Senators of his caliber.”

Lederman continued, “While Democrats are happy to announce when they have “a” candidate, we’re starting to prepare for primaries to emerge because of people’s interest in running under the GOP’s banner. It’s the strength of the party.”

“As I look at our candidate notes, with new and returning candidates we’re conservatively estimating we’re starting 2018 with 25 out of 35 Legislative Districts with filled legislative slates in both the House and Senate,” Lederman noted.  “We anticipate we’ll be identifying candidates for the few remaining districts within the coming weeks.”

The biggest question Lederman had regarding his opposition in the Democrat Party? “As they’re announcing their candidates one at a time, the question is how many candidates are Democrats going get to run as placeholders who eventually withdraw from the ballot?” he asked.  “We’re already hearing reports of placeholders being recruited to run.  If Democrats have to run people to give themselves more time to find someone, that might be an indicator that they should try conservative values, instead of trying to bring the values of Nancy Pelosi to South Dakota.”

###