We Can Accomplish More By Working Together
By Sen. John Thune

One of the most fundamental jobs we have in Congress is to ensure that the federal government – including the military and the brave men and women who support it – is funded and operational. Unfortunately, Congress recently failed this basic legislative function because a significant number of my colleagues in the Senate chose to use the government’s operating status as a bargaining chip for an entirely unrelated and non-urgent campaign for federal policy on illegal immigration.

Congress has the constitutional responsibility to fund the government, and when it comes to the current congressional budget process, I’m not a fan. It’s broken, and it needs to be reformed. Rather than having a long-term funding plan in place that provides certainty to the American people and our military, it’s this flawed budget process that has led Congress to funding the government using one short-term bill after another without the opportunity to truly debate the merits of federal spending.

While it’s irresponsible to govern this way, and it’s something I’m working with my colleagues to fix, it’s far more irresponsible to hang a “closed” sign on the government’s door and leave our troops and children’s health care hanging in the wind simply because one political party didn’t get its way. We can do better than that.

During the recent government shutdown, critics were quick to point out that Republicans control the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate, which is accurate. In the Senate, though, we have 51 Republican votes, and for some of the bills we consider, including those to fund the government, the rules require 60 votes for them to advance. So, even if every Republican senator voted yes, we would still need nine Democrats to join us to send something to the president.

While a majority of the Senate, including a handful of Democrats, supported keeping the government open so negotiations on other issues could continue, more than 40 Democrats voted to shut it down. Thankfully, realizing a government shutdown would do nothing to advance their cause, cooler heads prevailed and they voted to reopen the government a few days later. I hope it’s a sign that Democrats are willing to work with us on the big issues of the day.

By obstructing at all costs, my Democrat colleagues have been missing opportunities to help deliver positive results to the American people. Tax reform is a great example. The immediate effects of it becoming law are undeniable, and I predict they will only get better. Business after business is announcing higher wages, bonuses, and other benefit enhancements for employees as a direct result of tax reform. This is a good law, and while Democrats could have joined us to make it even better, they decided to take their ball and go home, which was disappointing.

It’s not only tax reform, though. Think about everything else that could be stronger, including America’s confidence in Congress, if we worked together more often. Washington’s political scoreboard, which people inside the Capital Beltway are far too obsessed with these days, is meaningless to the rest of the country. Working together will deliver the best results and put points on the only scoreboard that really matters: the American people’s.

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With the Unnecessary Shutdown Over, We Can Get Back to the Important Issues Before Congress

By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

I’ve been frustrated with Washington’s broken budget process since coming to the Senate three years ago. Under our current system, rather than debating and passing appropriations bills to fund the government for a full year at a time, we have been operating under short-term, stopgap funding measures called “Continuing Resolutions” to keep the government open for just a few months or weeks at a time. Continuing Resolutions (CR) largely extend last year’s spending levels and fail to provide long-term certainty and stability. Of particular concern to me is the impact that short-term funding bills have on our military.

This broken process, coupled with partisan, political gamesmanship from our Democrat colleagues, recently led to a three-day “government shutdown.” Even though Senate Democrats did not disagree with the contents of the CR, which would have funded the government through Feb. 16 and reauthorized the Children’s Health Insurance Program for six years, they voted to shut down the government, thinking it would give them more leverage to pass DACA legislation. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and refers to the children of illegal immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as young children. DACA has been part of a set of issues we are working on to strengthen border security and reform the H2B visa program, among other immigration-related matters.

This strategy of shutting down the government over DACA never made much sense because there was already broad bipartisan support to making permanent changes to the law for DACA recipients as well as the other immigration and border issues. I have been deeply involved in discussions that seek to find a way forward on immigration. Throughout these conversations, my focus has been on border security and H2B visa reform, which is very important to South Dakota’s seasonal tourism and construction businesses.

After three days, our Democrat colleagues agreed to end the shutdown and pass a Continuing Resolution through Feb. 8, 2018, citing assurances from Senate Majority Leader McConnell that we would consider DACA legislation, something we had all agreed we must take up in the near future anyway. While I don’t understand why some senators felt they needed to demand something that was already in the works, I’m pleased the unnecessary crisis ended.

Now we can focus again on bipartisan H2B visa reform, border security and DACA talks, fixing our broken budget system and adequately funding our troops. I’ve been working daily with a growing group of bipartisan senators on an immigration and spending proposal, and we continue to make progress on these important issues.

While we are moving forward with these immediate issues, we must reform our broken budget process as a whole and stop governing from crisis to crisis. Short-term CRs are no way to run a government and I will continue to work toward reforms to our budget process so we don’t get ourselves into this mess again. With our country’s 250th birthday just eight years away in 2026, the time is now to address the inefficient way that Congress manages taxpayers’ dollars.

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Continuing the Rollback
By Rep. Kristi Noem

Step by step, we are reducing the size and scope of the federal government. Yes, a lot of work remains, but over the last year, we’ve worked with President Trump to cut 1,600 regulations, repeal Obamacare’s onerous individual mandate, and deliver a massive tax cut to the vast majority of Americans. As a result, consumer confidence is at a 17-year high, 1.7 million new jobs have been created, and many families are getting a raise for the first time in years.

It’s beyond encouraging to see the economy boom again, and I’m hopeful that progress will help fuel another round of economic reforms. For instance, I’d like to see us improve our poverty programs, streamline federal agencies, roll back additional Obama-era regulations, and continue cutting regressive taxes, like the Health Insurance Tax (or HIT).

The HIT was put in place by Obamacare. While it is supposed to be a direct tax on health insurance providers for the services they provide, the tax is actually passed on to consumers in the form of substantially higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.

The HIT also costs jobs. In fact, the National Federation of Independent Business Research Foundation found the HIT could cost between 152,000 and 286,000 jobs by 2023. Most of those jobs would be lost within small businesses.

I firmly believe Obamacare must be fully and permanently repealed. I fought to see the House pass legislation repealing and replacing Obamacare but was deeply disappointed when the Senate couldn’t pass it as well. So, until we can get a full repeal through both houses of Congress, I’m committed to taking it apart piece by piece, with the next step being a repeal of the HIT.

After hearing from many South Dakota small businesses about the devastating impact the HIT was having on them and their employees, I introduced legislation to repeal the tax. While it seems like everything in government (especially when it involves Obamacare) is partisan, even Democrats could jump on board in support of this repeal. We continue to push this legislation toward passage, but I was thrilled to put the tax on pause for 2019, which will help individuals save as much as $500 on the cost of their healthcare premiums that year.

Ronald Reagan, whose birthday we celebrate in February, famously observed that “as government expands, liberty contracts.” He was right. Big-government taxes and regulations stunt our prosperity and limit our freedoms. Over the course of the last year, that regulatory burden has begun to lift. Families have more money in their pockets because of tax reform. And in 2019, many will reap the financial benefits of a HIT delay. We must capitalize on this momentum, continue to shrink government, and watch liberty expand as a result.

Improving Our Medicaid Program

A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

South Dakotans believe in self-reliance.  The pioneers who settled this state over a century ago, as well as the natives who preceded them, understood the need for self-reliance. In fact, they knew no other way. Those who came to Dakota sought freedom and a fresh start. They understood, though, that freedom requires responsibility, because they could only survive by taking care of themselves.

As a second key value, South Dakotans believe in hard work. It is simply a part of our culture. When we promote South Dakota as a good place to do business, we promote the work ethic of our people.  Those who do business in South Dakota and elsewhere will attest to the fact that South Dakotans know how to work. There’s also a sense of pride that comes with having a job to do and being able to provide for your family.

The Trump Administration recently indicated it is willing to consider state work requirements for Medicaid participants.  The federal government just approved a work requirement as part of Kentucky’s Medicaid program, and I have asked the Department of Social Services to pursue a work requirement for able-bodied adult South Dakotans enrolled in Medicaid here.

This would not apply to every South Dakotan on Medicaid. Our Medicaid program today covers roughly 82,000 children; 23,000 aged, blind or disabled persons; 1,000 pregnant women; and 13,000 very low-income parents. The work requirement would apply only to very low-income parents who aren’t already working or caring for a young child. This would place the work requirement on approximately 4,500 individuals in South Dakota.

By July 1, South Dakota will submit a proposal to seek approval for the work requirement, starting with a two-year pilot. If approved, we will begin with 1,300 Medicaid recipients who reside in Minnehaha and Pennington counties – where there is the greatest availability of employment and training resources. Pending approval, we will begin a voluntary program in these counties in July.

The Department of Labor and Regulation will enroll participants automatically for individualized employment and training services to help them find jobs. For those who earn enough to transition off of Medicaid, we will provide assistance – such as child care subsidies – to ensure their long-term success.

All work has dignity, and work is an important part of personal fulfillment. By making this adjustment to our Medicaid program, we will continue to help persons in need, while helping find jobs for those able to work, and also find that sense of pride and accomplishment which accompanies work.

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I’m hearing through the grapevine that Republican Candidate for Governor Lora “stick a knife in that outlet” Hubbel has her petition signature collection moving… but what I’m told is that she’s doing so with at least one paid circulator.

If I could offer a suggestion for anyone she’s paying based on her hundred dollar campaign finance report? Cash up front.

Along the lines of Hubbel’s campaign cash…

It looks like the first ‘Hubbel House’ she claims to be using to finance her campaign is going on the market.

Putting my REALTOR hat on, unless someone shows up with a cash offer with no appraisal, normally that’s going to take her anywhere from 30 to 45 days to close in part because of disclosures and notices that have to be provided by a lender to the person taking out the loan. Not to mention the amount of time to get an appraiser in there.

If she were to get an accepted offer this weekend, figure she would likely not have a check in hand until sometime in March at the earliest.

That’s a long time to run with no campaign funds. Or maybe a better way to put it is “it is unlike any campaign I have ever seen.”

And not in a good way.

South Dakota College Republicans Endorse Campus Free Speech Act

South Dakota College Republican Chairwoman, Emily Novotny, announced today that she has endorsed House Bill 1073, otherwise known as the Campus Free Speech Act. This bill is scheduled to have its first hearing in the House Judiciary Committee in the coming week.

“Our Universities should be institutions of free thought where debate should be open and free, not ‘safe spaces’ where people pass rules to avoid being challenged. If we can’t openly have conversations, explore different ideas, and debate at our Universities, where on earth can we have these conversations?”

The measure, which was introduced by Republican State Representative Michael Clark, was introduced because of incidents across the country where various speakers have be shut down on campuses for differing opinions.

Representative Clark along with many others in the State Legislature want to ensure that South Dakota does not become a place where free speech is suffocated.

Novotny said, “South Dakota needs to be a state that promotes free speech everywhere, whether we agree with that speech or not. My hope is that this bill will pass through the State Legislature as a sign of support and insurance of the enduring right to free speech throughout the great state of South Dakota.”

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Lora Hubbel raised $100 for her campaign. That’s not $100k, but $100. I’m not sure what more you say about that.

Hubbel for Governor 2017 Year End Financial Report by Pat Powers on Scribd

Interestingly, Hubbel is claiming she didn’t spend anything, despite procuring a web domain, and having someone put up a website for her.  But that’s pretty minor in comparison to the fact a candidate for Governor is claiming she only raised $100 total in all of 2017.

Noem Refuses Corporate Contributions, Announces Campaign Finance Reform Proposal

Noem leads by example in fight to restore integrity and transparency in SD politics

Sioux Falls, S.D. – Citing the need to restore transparency and integrity in the South Dakota electoral process, Rep. Kristi Noem today announced her campaign has not and will not accept corporate contributions nor will the campaign take funds from Political Action Committees that were established with the intent to circumvent individual contribution limits. Click to view Noem’s campaign finance agenda.

“Current campaign finance laws in South Dakota contain loopholes that could allow corporations and individuals to shatter campaign contribution limitations,” said Noem. “While reforms are needed to address these problems, I will not wait to act until the campaign finance laws catch up to what’s right. I will lead by example. And if elected as your governor, I will work with the legislature to close these loopholes. If we are going to change the culture of South Dakota politics, we need to set a standard of genuine accountability from the very beginning.”

KRISTI NOEM’S CAMPAIGN FINANCE AGENDA

Ban corporate contributions. Big money in politics often leads to bigger government, conflicts of interest and potentially scandal. I will lead from the front on this issue. While corporate contributions became legal in South Dakota in 2017, I have not and will not accept them.  If elected Governor, I will push to once again prohibit corporate campaign contributions.

Limit Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions to a candidate committee. Individuals are under strict limitations as to the amount they can legally contribute to a political candidate in South Dakota. PAC contributions are currently unlimited. Moreover, there is potential for PACs to be created with the sole purpose of evading the individual contribution limits and attempting to obscure the source of campaign funds from public scrutiny. Like both individual contributions and PAC contributions to federal candidates are, PAC contributions to state candidates should be limited.

Close the loophole that allows donors to shatter individual contribution limits. Under current law, an individual can contribute $4,000 to a candidate committee each calendar year. At the same time, they can write a $10,000 check to a PAC each calendar year. There are currently no safeguards in place to ensure individuals don’t contribute $4,000 directly and then another $10,000 through a PAC that was established with the intention of circumventing South Dakota’s contribution limits.

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It is Not a Woman’s Consent That Matters, It is God’s https://t.co/yjwKgRiMbQ

— Lora Hubbel (@LoraHubbel) January 25, 2018

Dusty Johnson Continues to Break Fundraising Records
Raises Over $100,000 for Fifth Consecutive Quarter; Exceeds $600,000 Raised in Total

MITCHELL, SD – The Dusty Johnson for Congress campaign announced today that it raised $115,000 in contributions during the fourth quarter of 2017. This raises Dusty’s overall fundraising sum to a record-breaking $600,000 in South Dakota’s Republican primary. $600,000 is more than any previous challenger or open seat candidate for Congress at this stage in the race and Dusty Johnson is on pace to continue setting South Dakota fundraising records.  Dusty has raised more than $100,000 for five consecutive quarters.

“I think this is a clear indication that South Dakotans are looking for a solutions-oriented candidate to represent them in Washington,” said Dusty Johnson. “Whether it’s answering your questions through my ‘Ask Dusty’ videos on Facebook, meeting for coffee to listen to your concerns about our nation, or shaking hands outside of the farm show – South Dakotans are learning that I’m the only candidate for Congress that has the know how to get Washington back on track.”

Dusty Johnson grew up in a working-class family in central South Dakota and graduated from the University of South Dakota. A former policy staff member for Governor Mike Rounds, Dusty learned early on he had a passion for public service. After serving on the Public Utilities Commission, Dusty became Governor Daugaard’s Chief of Staff and helped lead the state out of a $127 million deficit. Dusty currently works as Vice President at Vantage Point Solutions in Mitchell where he helps telecommunication companies deploy fiber and broadband into rural communities.

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