If you know my wife, (hopefully soon to be Dr. Powers in a couple of months) she’s more concerned about education than politics.

However there are a few things that get her Irish up, and one of them is the tax opt-out proposed for Brookings that could bring a massive raise of 675% to the school portion of property taxes, increasing the tax levy from 34 cents per $1,000 in valuation to $2.295 per $1,000.  Most of the increase is dedicated to staff, and a good portion of that is administrative staff.

Not to mention that the school board didn’t look at any cuts to the budget before they proposed their wish list to voters.

As such, my wife is on Facebook pointing out a few of those things, and is letting her opinion be known about the pay bump being given to the Superintendent one month before the school board came to voters with their hand out asking for more:

Brookings resident? Make a point to Vote NO on April 10th, and encourage the School Board to live within their means.

Former Watertown Police Chief Jo Vitek Endorses Jackley for Governor

WATERTOWN, SD: Former Chief of the Watertown Police Department Jo Vitek is adding her name to the growing list of law enforcement community members supporting South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley for governor.

“Marty is South Dakota through and through,” Vitek said. “He’s done an outstanding job as attorney general, the men and women on the front lines of law enforcement know and trust him, and we’re confident that he’s prepared to be governor on day one.”

Vitek served as Watertown’s police chief for seven years from 2005-2013. In addition to her service to the police department, Vitek has worked as an adjunct professor at Mt. Marty College in Watertown and a consultant for Lake Area Technological Institute’s law enforcement program.

Jackley has also received the endorsement of Codington County Sheriff Brad Howell and 60 other county sheriffs in South Dakota.

“Having someone with Jo’s experience on our team is an incredible asset,” Jackley said. “She’s a selfless leader with a servant’s heart, and I hope to follow her example as we campaign across South Dakota.”

You can watch Vitek’s endorsement video at the following link:

Noem Releases Transportation and Infrastructure Agenda

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kristi Noem today released her transportation and infrastructure agenda. The proposal is designed to maximize existing resources, increase safety for South Dakota families and communities, and encourage greater collaboration between state, county, and local governments.

“South Dakota does a lot of things right, but with some smart infrastructure investments, strong partnerships, a larger skilled workforce, and the right leadership, we have a real opportunity when it comes to our transportation system,” said Noem. “Modernizing our roads, bridges, and rails will increase safety for our families and communities, but it will also help fuel our agriculture, transportation, and manufacturing economies. By collaborating with private contractors, counties, and local governments, I’m confident we can lay the groundwork for a stronger South Dakota.”

As a member of the U.S. House, Noem helped move the decade’s first fully-funded, long-term transportation bill to passage. Signed into law in 2015, the legislation cut red tape, increased support for South Dakota projects by 10 percent, and gave state and local governments more flexibility to address their unique infrastructure needs.

Click to download Noem’s transportation and infrastructure agenda.

AGENDA: BUILD SOUTH DAKOTA

Prioritize road repairs. While recent investments have helped improve overall conditions, many South Dakota roads are still in need of repair. We can meet these needs without raising taxes. As governor, I will direct the South Dakota Department of Transportation to collaborate with local and county governments in prioritizing road repairs. It’s critical the state respect local input during this process, working hand-in-hand to achieve even greater efficiency and always moving toward improved safety and the freer flow of commerce.

Maximize Bridge Improvement Grant resources. Nearly one in five South Dakota bridges were rated “Structurally Deficient” by the U.S. Transportation Department in 2017. While maintaining full funding of the Bridge Improvement Grant program, my administration will work directly with counties and local governments to build greater efficiency, where possible, into their project plans and remove roadblocks. In this way, we will stretch existing resources as far as possible.

Enhance railways to support farmers and grow the economy. While serving in the U.S. House, I strongly and successfully advocated for federal TIGER Grants that supported South Dakota projects. These grants enabled the rail upgrades necessary to move commodities to market more quickly. Under a Noem administration, we will make it a top priority to compete for and win these grants to further enhance rail service and lower the basis for grain products, putting more money in the hands of hardworking farmers and growing the South Dakota economy.

Protect South Dakota’s small and regional airports. Like our highways and roads, air service is a network. Ensuring South Dakota remains connected through our smaller and regional airports must be a priority. As governor, I will protect infrastructure investments for our aviation network, as I’ve done while serving in the U.S. House. Additionally, I will work to ensure the South Dakota Civil Air Patrol, which often provides essential services during state emergencies, and the general aviation community continue to have access to the airports they need to operate.

Equip South Dakotans to fill good-paying infrastructure jobs. We already face a labor shortage, and still, even greater workforce demands are on the horizon. In South Dakota, the average tradesman is 41 years old, meaning many will be at or near retirement by the end of the next decade. To meet our long-term needs, I’m committed to:

• Bolstering Governor’s Office of Economic Development investments in programs that build awareness of the industry’s career potential and aid in recruiting new talent;

• Expanding access to experience-driven technical training at the high-school level; and

• Strengthening partnerships between state technical schools and employers to graduate 25% more apprentices by 2022. This will enable us to grow our skilled workforce and better fill good-paying infrastructure jobs with South Dakota workers.

Keep the regulatory burden low. President Trump has made the streamlining of infrastructure regulations a goal of his administration, and what an incredible story South Dakota has to share on this front! As governor, I will lead by example and partner with President Trump to streamline federal permitting processes that weigh down South Dakota developers. In doing so, I will always keep five goals in mind: (1) provide clarity to project managers regarding the process, (2) improve the timeliness of project completion, (3) offer flexibility on implementation while upholding strict outcome standards, (4) reduce costs, and (5) maintain safety.

Leverage experience to maximize federal resources. More than half of South Dakota Department of Transportation funding is federal. Simply put, it is in the country’s interest to have a well-maintained national transportation network. My work on highway legislation gave me firsthand insight into how federal highway dollars flow to South Dakota. The unmatched experience I bring to the table, along with the deep relationships I’ve built with national leaders and the Trump administration, will serve South Dakota well. I will work to maximize these federal resources, defend the formula going forward, and fully justify why it is essential to continue investing in America’s Heartland.​

From the campaign comes Marty Jackley’s upcoming appearances for the next week on the campaign trail as he pursues the office of Governor:

Upcoming Events and Press Availability

• The Grand Opening of the West River Campaign Headquarters will be held March 9 in Rapid City from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. The address is 706 St. Joseph St.
• Team Jackley will have information booths at the Black Hills Home Show and the Sioux Empire Home Show this weekend.
• Jackley is holding a Meet & Greet on March 10 in Whitewood at the Mill Iron Coffee House from noon to 1:00pm.  The address is 1338 Laurel St.
• Jackley will meet with business and community leaders from Chamberlain, Kimball and White Lake for an economic round table on March 12. The lunch will be held at 11:45 a.m. at Club Vega in Kimball.
• The afternoon of March 12, Jackley will attend the AGC Gubernatorial Forum in Oacoma.
• Jackley will be in Sioux Falls on March 13 for various meetings with business and community leaders, including the City Council.
• Jackley will meet with business and community leaders from DeSmet, Lake Preston and Arlington for an economic round table on March 14. The lunch will be held at noon at the DeSmet Community Center.
• On March 14, Jackley will meet with SDSU College Republicans and Brookings supporters at Jack’s Place in the basement of the Student Union at 6:00 p.m.
• On March 16, Jackley will have lunch with USD College Republicans and Vermillion supporters at noon in the Muenster University Center.

Stay tuned!

 

Jackley to Host West River Office Grand Opening Friday

RAPID CITY, SD: On Friday South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley will welcome supporters to the grand opening of his West River campaign headquarters in Rapid City.

“We’re thrilled with the support we’ve seen West River and can’t wait to launch the official kickoff of our ground game there,” Jackley said. “Our West River campaign headquarters will be a place where volunteers can get to know one another and help spread the word about our positive campaign by South Dakotans for South Dakotans.”

The event at 706 St. Joseph St. in Rapid City will run from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.

“Every community in our state should have a voice at the table,” Jackley said. “Friday’s office opening is a chance to spend time in one of those communities hearing feedback on our policy initatives, energizing volunteers as we hit the most important stretch of this important campaign and saying thank you to everyone who is supporting us along the way.”

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Just a few minutes ago, I got a text informing me former legislator and commercial airline pilot Hal Wick is about to embark on his greatest ride into the sky as he succumbed to cancer earlier today.

Hal was first elected to the House in 1976 and last served in the House in 2014. In many ways, Hal embodied the concept of a citizen legislator. He’d come to Pierre serve, “retire,” come back for a few terms, “retire”, come back. He served 20 years and “retired” four times.

Because I was planning to graduate high school mid-year, I was looking for something to do and in Pierre in the winter, being a Legislative intern was ideal. But, I wasn’t yet in college so LRC wasn’t hiring me. Somehow my mom’s college sorority sister and Redfield State Senator Mary McClure found out about these two Junior House members not in leadership who wanted a private intern they’d pay personally out of their own pocket.

So, the night before session started, I went to the King’s Inn and met a lawyer from Kimball named Ron Miller and a Sioux Falls airline pilot named Hal Wick. After Ron told me how he read every bill every night, he would give me his notes and wanted me to type up his amendments. Some of which were clean-up, some of which were substantive, some he submitted, and some he didn’t.

Hal then said he was exactly the opposite. He was not going to know a little bit about everything but had a single focus on State Constitutional and legislative limits on regulations and tax increases. Additionally, he was going to promote a federal Balanced Budget Amendment and to show its viability he was going to point out how our less frugal approach to “federal dollars” was a betrayal of fiduciary to our nation.

While I loved working for Ron Miller and came to appreciate how he was a under-appreciated contributor to good government, what Hal told me sounded like I was going to change the world. It was a great session working for Hal. While other interns were sitting in boring committees, I was over at the State Library pulling economic articles written by Friedman, Laffer, and Hayek and transcripts from Bill Buckley’s PBS show.

The instructions were fuzzy- “I think about 8 years ago, Buckley had this guy on his show and he said something like this. I need the exact quote” or “Milton wrote about this. I need that article.”

At the end of the week, he took everything with him home to write his speeches. They weren’t really speeches but short points prepared to make a single point. For the life of me, I’d look at the calendar and not even imagine when he was going to use the research. But, sure enough, somebody would make an argument that sounded good but was economically unsound. And, when Hal rose to speak, half the body groaned because it wasn’t going to be short and many didn’t want to hear what he had to say.

But Hal didn’t care about being popular. He not only enjoyed a bit of his gadfly status, Hal was convinced he was saying what needed to be said. So he said it and said it and said it. And, I was so proud to be his intern.

And, the next year when I was at Augustana, I ran into Hal he told me wasn’t running again. Ronald Reagan was President and all he had to say was better said by Reagan. Plus, I think he just didn’t like the process of legislating. It wasn’t like flying Boeing 707’s. This was the first time I had a glimpse of Hal’s humility. He could walk away and it didn’t matter.

So, after I moved to Sioux Falls in 1993 (13 years after he first retired), I was surprised when he told me he was going to run again. He won in 1994 and began his off and on period of serving until he retired for what ended up being for good in 2014. As he and I lived in the same district, I teased him I expect him to serve again until they put him in the nursing home.

Now, with that background, I want to tell you about what I know about the man I knew.

Hal Wick was a very simple man.

• He loved his wife, Jane, and family. My dad was absent but Hal was one of the men who showed me what a husband and father was supposed to be.
• He loved his God and took his faith seriously. I don’t think I ever heard him try to sell a public policy by invoking God but I do remember him telling me integrity was about having a unified life. Not just being against abortion, Hal believed every policy he advocated was a brick in building God’s kingdom on earth.
• He was a good friend. During my darkest period, Hal Wick checked in on me and told me he was praying for me. I heard that a lot but with Hal’s simple integrity, I knew it was true.

Probably because his confidence in his brilliant intellect and copious research (which probably is also why he was a pilot), Hal struggled with humility. The first thing he asked me after every speech was “What came across as arrogant.” How many people do you know who know their weakness and work hard to overcome it? I can tell you not many in politics aspire to humility but Hal Wick did.

In addition to missing Jane when he served, I think it is his pursuit of his personal holiness “required” him to step away from politics. I think that is what he meant after one of his “retirements” when he told me his not being in the Legislature is “better for me.” Hal certainly loved politics, serving in the Legislature but it wasn’t who he was. Hal Wick is a child of God, a husband and a father. It was a privilege to have had him to look up to since I met him 39 years go.

With sadness, Hal now joins Bill Grams, Harold Halverson, and Joe Barnett on my personal Legislature Mt. Rushmore. May the soul of Hal G. Wick, by the Mercy of God, Rest in Peace.

Attorney General Marty Jackley’s office sent out a trio of press releases today on the Attorney General joining legal challenges against the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act, against a challenge to States’ authority to limit dismemberment abortions, and to ask Congress to Support Victims of Child Pornography.

You can read all the releases in the window below:

Jackley Joins Challenges by Pat Powers on Scribd

Noem Showcases Experience in First Statewide Ad Campaign

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kristi Noem today announced a statewide radio, television, and online advertising campaign. The 60-second ad, which is set to begin running Friday, highlights her experience as a farmer, rancher, business owner, mother, and conservative policymaker.

“Ask people about Kristi Noem and they’ll tell you: She embodies South Dakota,” explains the narrator. “She grew up on her family’s farm and ranch, doing the jobs that build character. A farmer, rancher and small business owner, Kristi passed that same strong work ethic on to her three children. In Congress, Kristi’s taken a no nonsense, conservative approach to problem solving, making every decision with South Dakota families in mind.”

Noem grew up in rural Hamlin County. When her father died in a farming accident, she returned home to run the family’s ag operation. In the years that followed, Noem opened a hunting lodge, helped manage her mother’s restaurant, and owned an insurance business with her husband.

In 2006, Noem was elected to the state legislature and in her second term was chosen by her colleagues as Assistant Majority Leader.

In 2010, South Dakotans elected Noem to serve as the state’s lone representative in the U.S. House. Promising to serve less than a decade, Noem got to work, passing a five-year Farm Bill, reducing regulations, reversing the Democrats’ spending splurge to save nearly $1 trillion, and working with President Trump to enact historic tax cuts. In President Trump’s words, he and Noem were “warriors together” in the battle to enact a tax reform package that left more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans.

That experience has prepared Noem to lead South Dakota, reduce violent crime, improve our schools, and grow the state’s economy to keep the best and brightest in South Dakota. Click to view the ad: https://youtu.be/0kDHkifsNVo

Looks like Cyberbullying is now improper conduct by lawmakers. From the Argus Leader:

South Dakota lawmakers on Thursday voted to outlaw cyberbullying among their ranks.

The Joint Legislative Procedure Committee voted unanimously to expand their rules barring harassment or offensive behavior to include electronic communication and social media.

and…

Mickelson said the measure wasn’t aimed at any situation in particular, but to prevent problems in the future.

Read it here.

How long do you think it’s going to be before someone gets zapped on that one?

Apparently, there’s a new entrant into the Congressional race.  From the Brandon Valley Newspaper:

According to his web site, here’s a partial list of reasons why he’s running:

I am declaring my candidacy for the US House of Representatives to give a voice to the people of South Dakota.  A voice that will represent the values, integrity, morality and character of the people that makes up this great State.  Of course “Job One” will be to look out for the best interests of our State.  Beyond that, I will work diligently to get this country back on track according to our mid-western values, while at the same time endeavoring to ensure our rights to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.

Our Constitution is under attack like never before.  The First Amendment only seems to work for the Liberals in many cases these days.  Conservative speakers are no longer welcome to speak at some of our major universities and other venues as well.  So, no opposing view and therefore no forum for civilized reason.  It is even worse with the Second Amendment.  Every time there is a horrible shooting in this country it is the “gun” that did it.  There is little said in the media about solving the real problems like violent movies, video games, mental illness, poor parenting and other social ills.

As stated, Job 1 for me is South Dakota. In the case of the United States leadership, Job 1 for the President and the Congress is National Security. I pledge to support National Security and the required means to achieve it. This includes walls on our boarders as needed for security, human trafficking, drugs and fair commerce.

As your US House Representative I will give my full support to President Trump in his effort to “Drain the Swamp.” Bureaucrats need to be productive and efficient. All Federal employees, regardless of their lofty office need to be held accountable to the citizens of this country and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law when they act against it. I will also fight to end Obama Care and to repeal Executive Orders that were made to circumvent Congress. Immigration reform is a high priority.

Read it all here.

We have 19 days to see if he’s able to collect enough signatures to make the ballot.  (Put me in the doubting thomas category).