TenHaken Campaign Announces Endorsement from Former Mayor Dave Munson

Attorney General Marty Jackley Issues Statement on Oral Arguments in Tax Fairness Case

PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley issues the following statement after oral arguments were heard this morning by the United States Supreme Court in South Dakota’s challenge to Quill decision in tax fairness case.

“Today I stood before the United States Supreme Court fighting for South Dakotans and to give our main street businesses an equal playing field with out-of-state companies. South Dakota is not asking for any new tax or asking out-of-state retailers to do more than what our local businesses do every day. “

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Noem Commits to Four Pillars of Protection
Key negotiator of historic federal tax cuts vows PROTECTION FROM TAX INCREASES as first pillar

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kristi Noem today pledged that as governor, she would uphold Four Pillars of Protection for South Dakotans: Protection from Tax Increases, Protection from Government Growth, Protection from Federal Intrusion, and Protection from Government Secrecy. Noem, who helped negotiate historic tax cuts last year, took Tax Day as an opportunity to highlight her first pillar: Protection from Tax Increases.

“President Reagan got it right when he said the government’s first responsibility is to protect the people, not run their lives,” said Noem. “Time and again, I’ve fought to repeal regulations, streamline government programs, and increase transparency and efficiency. When it came time for tax reform, I made sure we significantly cut taxes in order to lift the federal burden put on families and job creators. As governor, I would commit to the same fight.”

Noem served as a top negotiator of the historic tax cuts that President Trump signed in December 2017. The deal, which was the first successful tax reform package since President Reagan, simplified tax filing for many by doubling the standard deduction, significantly lowered rates for families and job creators, and doubled the Child Tax Credit. As a result, the average South Dakota family of four will keep an additional $2,431 annually. On top of that, many have received pay raises, bonuses, and better benefits because of the pro-growth changes made on the business side of the tax code.​
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4 PILLARS OF PROTECTION

Protection from Tax Increases. South Dakota is one of just seven states without an income tax – and we need to keep it that way. As governor, I pledge to veto efforts to increase taxes, and I’ve put that commitment in writing when I signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge.

Protection from Government Growth. Under my administration, there would be no new boards, no new commissions, and no new blue ribbon task forces. Instead, we would look to scrub each agency, refocusing and streamlining existing departments while cutting red tape.

Protection from Federal Intrusion. When the Army Corps attempted to charge South Dakota for use of our own water from the Missouri River, I successfully fought back as the state’s lone member of the House. When the Obama Administration wanted to close military bases like Ellsworth, I pushed to strengthen our national security. And when the federal government came after the Hot Springs VA, I advocated for our veterans. As governor, I would do the same, working with the congressional delegation and leveraging my own relationships with federal leadership to stop Washington’s intrusion into South Dakota’s way of life.

Protection from Government Secrecy. Voters have repeatedly supported government integrity measures at the ballot box. I hear you. As governor, I will build on the recent momentum, working to throw open the doors, not only of the state capital, but also encouraging county commission offices and school boards to give you unprecedented access to the government decision-making process at all levels.

 

Noem Statement on Tax Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today released the following statement as Americans filed taxes under the old tax system for the last time:

“When you sent in your 2017 taxes, you filed your last return under the old tax code. The next time Tax Day rolls around, the standard deduction and Child Tax Credit will be doubled, and the tax rates for individuals and job creators will be significantly lower because of the historic tax cuts I negotiated alongside President Trump. For many, the benefit on next year’s tax return will be only part of it. Millions across the country have received bonuses, pay raises, and better benefits. New companies are popping up, energy costs are going down, and people are feeling more confident about the direction our country is headed in. Tax cuts are already at work.”

When Congress negotiated tax reform legislation late last year, Noem served as one of only five House Republicans – and one of the only farmers – on the final negotiating team. Partnering with Ivanka Trump, Noem successfully worked to double the Child Tax Credit and maintain the Child Care Credit. Because of the doubled standard deduction and strengthened provisions for farmers, ranchers, and job creators, the average family of four in South Dakota is projected to receive a $2,400 tax reduction next year.

On Tax Day, Thune Highlights How Tax Reform Benefits South Dakota Families

“Under the new system, we are allowing American families to keep more of their hard-earned money.”

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), a member of the tax-writing Senate Finance Committee and a key voice during the tax reform debate, highlighted that today is the last day Americans will be required to file taxes under the old, burdensome system, and he outlined how they are already benefiting from tax reform.

“Today marks the last day that people have to file under the old tax code, and it’s out with the old, and in with the new,” said Thune. “We’re very happy and excited about that. Under the new system, we’re allowing American families to keep more of their hard-earned money. Just as an example of that, an average family of four making $73,000 a year will see their tax burden lowered by $2,000. They will get a tax cut of $2,000, which enables them to keep more of their hard-earned money.”

In addition to serving on the Finance Committee, Thune was one of eight Republican senators appointed to the conference committee that was tasked with negotiating the final tax reform bill.

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From my mailbox, the two delegates in the family (my daughter and I) received this letter from the Russell campaign asking for our support:

Russell Spouse Letter by Pat Powers on Scribd

State Senator Deb Peters who has done extensive work on Main Street fairness legislation has a historic ticket for the arguments in SD v. Wayfair being heard in the US Supreme Court today:

Got #1 ticket!!! pic.twitter.com/KyL6VPEZk7

— Sen Deb Peters (@DebPetersForSD) April 17, 2018

From Facebook, John Fitzgerald talks about his support for the Second Amendment:

Sometimes you can’t help but be embarrassed when you read the story the next day. This morning, Kevin Woster is writing about the reception he received at the Pennington County Lincoln Day Dinner:

“This year,” Ericks said. “We just have too much stuff going on within the Republican Party and outside of the Republican Party.”

I said I wasn’t sure what that meant. So Ericks continued, noting that the party is getting back to its conservative roots and following the path of great GOP leaders like Ronald Reagan in the past and Donald Trump today. He also said the party has important priorities like public-education campaigns on Sharia Law and Islamic extremists and the threats they present to the state and nation.

and..

I didn’t share that information with Ericks, thinking it might completely destroy my wounded chances of getting into the banquet room. But I did say:

“Honestly, I haven’t even seen Stan Adelstein in months.”

Which did not put Ericks at ease.

“I don’t know, I only have your word for that,” Ericks said. “But if you take any of that stuff I said and write something that isn’t true, I’ll find you and kick your ass.”

He glared at me, then laughed a little. So I think he might have been kidding. But I wasn’t quite sure. I don’t think he was kidding about the threat of Sharia law, so I guess I had to presume he might well have been serious about most things he said — including giving me a good old-fashioned pummeling.

Either way, I fired back: “I’m not sure you could. I’m pretty quick.”

Meaning foot speed, not fists, of course. I’m a writer, not a fighter.

Speaking of which, Ericks expressed a powerfully negative attitude about my chosen profession, and about the media outlets — the Rapid City Journal and South Dakota Public Broadcasting — for which I currently write. And after some dialogue on that and the butt-kicking comment, he and I seemed to grow weary of our conversation, which was beginning to seem circular.

and…

I mention my situation and Johnson expressed surprise, with just a hint of outrage. It seemed to him that they’d want all the publicity they could get at a Lincoln Day Dinner, which is how it seemed to me. Johnson offered to call Ericks and intervene, a notion we were discussing when Haugen emerged and waved for me to follow him through the now-closed doors.

Which I did, concluding my conversation with Johnson. Once inside Haugen told me that Ryan Nelson, Thune’s chief of staff and state director, had called and told organizers that the Thune team would cover the cost of my ticket.

I was grateful for that gesture, as I was earlier when a member of the Noem team offered to give me a ticket. And Marty Jackley also has my gratitude for inviting me to sit at his campaign table.

None of which I felt comfortable accepting or doing.

Read it all here.

Ugh. What on earth was Craig Ericks doing? Threatening to get physical with Kevin Woster, who has been a long-time reporter in Rapid City for the Rapid City Journal, KELO (and now Public Broadcasting) for the sake of reporting the news is beyond the pale, even in jest. Not that it seemed very funny.

(I don’t know where he’s coming from when he claims “The party has important priorities like public-education campaigns on Sharia Law and Islamic extremists.” There are those in the party who are concerned about those issues, but that’s not a party thing in general. But, one problem at a time.)

I’m not sure why the County Party wouldn’t want to show that the majority party in the state is open and welcoming. Republican Lincoln Day Dinners have always been pretty neutral ground, even among Republicans who might not care for each other very much. It has always been part Thanksgiving dinner to celebrate fellowship, even with a crabby uncle or two, and part debutante ball for presenting the new candidates for the season to the greater audience at large.

It’s actually not a bad thing to get the media to show up and pay attention. Usually we get irked when they ignore it. Tales as Woster related do not help the rest of us.

Thankfully, some of our statewide elected officials & candidates tried to salvage what was already a horribly embarrassing episode that should not have happened in the first place.

Kevin, on behalf of everyone who cares about the Republican Party, I would offer my apologies, as I’m sure there were people who did Saturday night.  I hope I can live long enough to say that was a once in a lifetime occurrence.

From the Paul TenHaken Campaign, State Representative Greg Jamison has endorsed his opponent for Sioux Falls Mayor: