From my e-mail box:

A Race We Can and Should Win
By Sen. John Thune

The United States has experienced numerous technological revolutions throughout its relatively short history that have been so monumental that life as Americans knew it would never be the same. Henry Ford made automobiles and the assembly line a reality. Scientists helped American astronauts take “one giant leap for mankind.” And U.S. innovators and academics played a pivotal role in making the internet as integral to our day-to-day lives as it is today.

It was Americans’ desire to ask “what’s next?” that led to each of these technological revolutions in the past, and it’s already leading to those of the future. An easy example of this is the evolution in how we’ve consumed media over the last century and the technology that has allowed us to do it. We had books and newspapers, then radio and television, then color television, then VHS and VCRs, then DVDs and Blu-ray, and now with a few quick clicks, you can watch a movie from a wireless tablet on a chair in your backyard or on an internet-connected airplane at 30,000 feet.

When it comes to mobile broadband technology, in particular, of which media consumption is only one small part, I believe American innovators and entrepreneurs are at the doorstep of another “what’s next?” moment. I’m hopeful that lawmakers in Washington can help these new American pioneers cross the finish line faster and more efficiently, because if we don’t win this race, another country will.

In early 2016, I introduced the Making Opportunities for Broadband Investment and Limiting Excessive and Needless Obstacles to Wireless (MOBILE NOW) Act, bipartisan legislation that would lay critical groundwork for the next generation in wireless broadband technology. At the time, I said the MOBILE NOW Act would be our passport to a 5G future of gigabit wireless connectivity, and I believe it now more than ever.

While the Senate Commerce Committee, which I chair, easily approved this common-sense legislation a few months later, it unfortunately didn’t make it to the Senate floor before the end of the year. We were close, though, which is why I reintroduced the bill on the very first day of the 115^th Congress in 2017. Our hard work and persistence paid off. The committee passed it again, and, as part of a larger legislative package, so did the full House and Senate. Our multi-year effort culminated with the president recently signing it into law.

Now that it’s the law of the land, I hope we can move quickly to cut unnecessary and overly burdensome red tape so U.S. innovators can continue to move the ball down the field. By deploying newer, modernized infrastructure, like small cell technology, and making more of it available for broadband, including inefficiently used government spectrum, the airwaves over which mobile communications travel, we can achieve these goals.

My hope is that as this new technological revolution continues to take shape, states like South Dakota can play a leading role in making it a reality. Some might say, “why South Dakota?” And to them, I say, why not? It’s within reach.

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Helping South Dakotans Navigate the Federal Bureaucracy
By U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)

In the United States Senate, we spend much of our time working on legislation, attending committee hearings and making sure federal policies are working for families and communities in our state. But we also spend a great deal of time assisting individuals who are having difficulties dealing with federal rules, regulations or policies, and who may need help working with a federal agency. Our office can assist you in working with the federal government and try to help find a solution to the problem you may be dealing with, whether it’s with the Internal Revenue Service, the Department of Veterans Affairs or any other government agency.

Every day, I receive emails, letters and phone calls from South Dakotans sharing thoughts on legislation, policy issues or federal regulations that may be causing them problems. I appreciate hearing from you because receiving your feedback is critical for me as I seek to make the best possible decisions for South Dakotans. I travel across the state as frequently as I can, and always enjoy hearing what’s going on in your community.

Since the Senate requires us to be in D.C. during the week for votes and committee hearings, one way I am able to get feedback from South Dakotans is by having my staff members visit communities across the state and hold open mobile office hours. Folks in the area can stop by, have a cup of coffee and share thoughts, ask questions or request assistance in dealing with a federal agency.

If you follow along with me on Facebook, you may have seen that we post our mobile office hours ahead of time, so you know where we’ll be. We also share the time and location information with newspapers in the communities we’re visiting. We understand that your lives are busy and you may not be able to attend mobile office hours. To assist you, our offices in Pierre, Sioux Falls and Rapid City are open every week day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the phone numbers can be found on my website,www.rounds.senate.gov.

I know that navigating the federal bureaucracy can be difficult, frustrating and confusing. Our goal is to make sure that federal agencies are treating you with the respect and attention you deserve, and we’re here to help you work with them. The staff members working in my South Dakota offices are specially trained to help residents navigate the bureaucratic maze of the federal government.

It is an honor to work for South Dakotans. One of the best parts of the job is hearing from you. We invite you to make contact with us through any one of our offices or through our website. We know it’s important that there be a consistent and easily usable way for citizens to have contact with us on a regular basis. Your messages to us in person, by email or over the phone do make a difference.

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Your Story Can Change Policy
By Rep. Kristi Noem

Never underestimate the power of your story to influence policy. It’s advice I often offer those who ask what they can do to create change. Over the last month or so, dozens of South Dakotans have come to my Washington, D.C., office to do just that, for which I’m incredibly grateful.

South Dakota soybean producers, for instance, dropped by as I was preparing for an international trade meeting with President Trump. They shared concerns about recent tariffs and potential countermeasures from the Chinese government, which I conveyed to the president.

Later that day, FFA students opened up about how ag education in middle school and high school can inspire more kids to come home to farm and ranch. It’s an idea I agree with wholeheartedly.

Veterans also stopped by in March, raising concerns about VA care and the state’s mental health resources, while leadership from Ellsworth briefed me on the base’s role in meeting America’s long-term security needs.

Many of those visiting spoke about reforms within the education system – from early childhood education to graduate-level programs. School nutritionists discussed a bill I’m working on to grant them greater flexibility, ensuring kids have access to healthy, affordable and appetizing school lunches. Administrators from Hill City and elsewhere met with me about Impact Aid, a policy I support that helps make sure students in some rural areas have access to a good education. SDSU President Barry Dunn also updated me on the Wokini Initiative, which seeks to open more opportunities for tribal students to get a college degree. It’s an incredible program that deserves support.

Others visited with me about their support for Israel, the lifesaving work of first responders like Black Hills Lifeflight, and the work of the timber industry to improve the health of our forests.

Workforce development and Medicare fee schedules were the topics of discussion during a meeting with South Dakota clinical lab managers, who are struggling to provide timely service in rural communities.

And the Chairman and members of the Sisseton Wahpeton tribe shared their need for a new Justice Center, which I support and Congress funded a few weeks after our meeting. Without it, they are forced to let criminals go free.

I am truly grateful to those who took the time to stop in. It means the world to me and helps me do my job as your representative. We have offices throughout the state as well, but it if you’re ever in Washington, D.C., please contact my office and let us know. I’d love to meet with you, give you a tour, or be a resource to you while you visit. I hope to see you soon.

Expecting Another Busy Year For South Dakota’s Parks
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard:

It is officially spring and summer is around the corner. Now is a good time to plan a summer trip to one of our state parks. If not a week-long vacation, consider at least a weekend or weeknight stay.

State parks are great vacation spots to spend some quality time with family and friends. We’re fortunate to live in a state where beautiful outdoor opportunities are never too far away. We have an abundance of choices, too. We’re home to 56 state parks and recreation areas including West Whitlock, Good Earth, North Point, Lake Thompson and Custer State Park. Hiking, biking, fishing, swimming, kayaking, boating – you can do all those things right here in South Dakota.

Last year, more people camped in South Dakota’s state parks than ever before. Our parks hosted over 342,000 nights of camping for in- and out-of-state guests – up 3.8 percent from 2016. State park staff members expect this year to be just as busy.

Custer State Park takes reservations one year in advance. For other state parks, however, reservations open 90 days in advance. That means early summer dates are already available.  And, starting the first week of April, you’ll be able to make reservations for the Fourth of July weekend, which is the most popular camping weekend of the year.

Start planning your summer now so you don’t miss out. Make reservations for your favorite campground as soon as possible. To reserve your spot, visit gfp.sd.gov/camp or call 1-800-710-2667.

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EMBARGOED UNTIL SUNDAY, APRIL 1, 2018

Lost Documents Raise Dakota Statehood Questions

PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Dennis Daugaard announced today the authentication of historical documents proving North Dakota and South Dakota are actually one state. Overlooked addendums to the statehood proclamations of both states indicate the existence of a single state, “Dakota.”

“It’s the most incredible discovery; this raises a number of interesting questions,” said Gov. Daugaard, of the State Formerly Known as South Dakota. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to get this squared away, that’s clear.”

President Abraham Lincoln established Dakota Territory in 1861. Prior to the recent discovery, it was believed that the territory was divided into the states of North Dakota and South Dakota on Nov. 2, 1889, via a proclamation signed by then-President Benjamin Harrison.

A pair of historians conducting archival research in the Library of Congress uncovered identical addendums attached to both statehood proclamations that rescind the previously signed orders and establish a single, united state.

The addendum reads, in part, “I hereby affirm the creation of the state of Dakota; they were born together – they are one.”

Gov. Daugaard is undertaking a comprehensive process to determine how to proceed. He indicates that a special joint session of both state legislatures may be needed to determine whether to stay as Dakota, or return to their previous status as separate states.

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For Immediate Release

April 1, 2018

US House Candidate Neal Tapio Announces Suspension of Campaign, Changes Mind on $1 Trillion Deficits

Today, US Congressional Candidate Neal Tapio suspended his campaign for US House amid recent revelations that balancing the federal budget is unnecessary and actually bad for the economy.

“Senator Reynold Nesiba, D-Sioux Falls, an Economics professor at Augustana College, enlightened me during the Senate session this year in Pierre that it is not necessary to balance the federal budget,” Tapio said. “I used to think it was crazy that someone teaching our children would actually advocate for irresponsible and endless deficits, but Nesiba insisted we can run endless deficits and never have to pay the debt back. It wasn’t until watching the bipartisan $1.3 trillion Omnibus spending bill pass in Congress did it sink in that the entire Washington establishment actually agrees with professor Nesiba. If it is not important to balance the budget, it really isn’t worth my time to run for the US House.”

Tapio added he will focus his full attention on immediately implementing this novel concept into his already highly successful business. He plans to notify his employees about this revolutionary concept of not having to reconcile the bank account any more. He expressed disappointment that his accountant didn’t tell him about this concept before.

“I had this foolish notion that we have to live within our means and that in order to save our country for our children and grandchildren, we actually should do everything in our power to immediately end deficit spending. Had I been elected to Congress, I would have demanded a government shutdown until we addressed the endless deficit spending, largely caused by out of control socialism and an endless war with Islamic terrorism,” Tapio said. “With this new concept by an actual Augustana University professor, in concurrence with our Republican and Democrat leadership in Congress, I feel my willingness to face tough issues head-on just wasn’t needed.”

Tapio further explained that he used to be frustrated by politicians who would run for office promising to balance the budget, but once in office, continue to add $1 trillion to the deficit every year.

“Like other taxpayers and misguided voters stuck on such outdated concepts of balancing budgets, I was lied to and pandered to by politicians just wanting my vote, but it wasn’t until I realized that the entire Republican leadership wasn’t that concerned about endless deficits either, did it become understandable.”

“They were just making promises to get elected. They didn’t actually mean it. Why shut the government down, if deep down you actually agree with the nutty professor?” Tapio added, “now that I have stumbled onto the idea that endless deficits are actually good, while I still feel frustrated that I was lied to, there is no point in fighting a system that isn’t broken.”

For that reason, as of today, April 1, 2018, I am suspending my campaign.

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Neal Tapio

Candidate for US House

605-880-7449

www.nealtapio.com

From Facebook, just in case you didn’t realize that everyone was in on the plot to keep Terry LaFleur off the ballot, Terry LaFleur is announcing that, as well as the fact he’s running as a Constitution Party candidate for Governor:

In an article at the Argus Leader this AM where Dana Ferguson profiles several women running for office for the first time, apparently she had her anti-Republican bias glasses perched on her nose while writing it. Because of all the candidates mentioned in her article titled “Women see path for state’s first female-majority Legislature” not one was a Republican. Not one.

She profiled several Democrats, and stretched so far as to mention an independent. But a Republican? That’s apparently not in her wheelhouse.

Despite several female Republican candidates running for the legislature for the first time such as recently appointed State Rep. Marli Wiese in District 8, Tamera St. John for District 1 House, Maggie Sutton in Senate 10, Amber Mauricio in House 13, Tammy Enalls in House 25, Rebecca Reimer in House 26B, Scyller Borglum in House 32, Amanda Scott in Senate 33, Janet Jensen and Melanie Torno in House 33, or Jess Olson in House 34, apparently the Argus Leader’s phones don’t work when calling Republicans.

I’m probably missing someone, but that does give you an idea how many first time Republican women candidates are running. And how big the list of Republican candidates was that Ferguson ignored, (something you don’t get in the Argus Leader.)

Seeing the Argus’ continuous and shameless bias against Republicans and outright advocacy for Democrats just gets old. Do no editors review this stuff and say “It would balance your article if you profile a few Republicans as well?”

It would appear not.

I just hope Republican candidates remember that when it comes time to make decisions where to spend their advertising dollars.

I just had it confirmed from Kea Warne at the South Dakota Secretary of State’s office that Dr. Terry Lee LaFleur did not make the ballot.

Oh well. So much for steering the narrative.

Update – LaFleur speaks – he says all the signatures were good, but he’s being railroaded by Jackley… Noem… or MAYBE BOTH!:

(Or maybe he simply didn’t do as well as he thinks he did.)