From Dakota Posts, another cartoon (via Facebook). This one is about Investigator Stace checking out the voter records of his enemies, which I hear has been happening a bit too often this session. And not just with Dave Zimbeck.
Thune’s Commerce Committee Activity Report Details Positive Effect on South Dakota
“Serving as chairman of the Commerce Committee provides me a unique opportunity to create real change and achieve substantive results for communities in South Dakota.”
Click here to download a copy of the report.
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), who has served as chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation since 2015, today released an activity report that highlights a portion of the committee’s work over the last two congresses, particularly the legislative initiatives that have had a direct and positive effect on South Dakota. The report details, for example, Thune’s effort to expand cybersecurity research at Dakota State University, enhance Ellsworth Air Force Base’s strategic value, address unique needs for agricultural transportation, and help University of South Dakota’s Derek Miles gain long-overdue Olympic recognition.
“Serving as chairman of the Commerce Committee provides me a unique opportunity to create real change and achieve substantive results for communities in South Dakota,” said Thune. “Additionally, my work on the Commerce Committee has positively impacted the everyday lives of all Americans in broad sectors of the economy such as aviation, the internet, highways, railroads, and mobile phone service. While my work on other Senate committees, which set tax and agriculture policy, as well as my other duties as your senator benefit our state, many of my Commerce Committee accomplishments have led to specific results for South Dakota.
“In this report, I wanted to share some of these examples of how the time I put into my duties at the Commerce Committee helps our state. I hope you find this report informative.”
Thune-led efforts, as detailed in the activity report:
In 2017 alone, the Commerce Committee had 10 proposals enacted into law (including Thune’s Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act), 20 additional proposals passed by the full Senate, 47 bills approved by the committee, 20 confirmed nominations (including two cabinet officials and the Federal Communications Commission chairman), 63 hearings, and eight legislative markups.
For more information on Thune’s role on the Commerce Committee, please visit www.commerce.senate.gov.
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From Facebook, two new editorial offerings from Dakota Posts:
and..
Tapio: Florida School Shooting is Failure of Obama Era Criminal and Juvenile Justice Reforms Not Gun Problem
(Pierre, February 27, 2018) State Senator and GOP Congressional Candidate Neal Tapio sounded the alarm today saying South Dakota’s recently reformed criminal and juvenile justice system are philosophically identical to the system in Florida that ignored the shooter’s multiple threats to fellow students in the months before last week’s rampage that killed 17 people.
Tapio says South Dakota is following the exact same model of justice reform that has sought to minimize incarceration, regardless of identified risk, leaving the state’s schools and communities vulnerable to similar tragedy.
“The shooter had identified himself on facebook as a ‘professional school shooter.’ He had over 30 contacts with the Sheriff Department. Multiple people called the authorities, yet he was still out walking around and able to carry out his deadly plan,” Tapio said.
“Blaming guns is a misdirection effort designed to hide the failure of justice reforms pushed by the Obama Administration and implemented across the country, which set goals to reduce prison populations, not to reduce crime,” Tapio said. “The Broward County Sheriff was a huge proponent of these toothless reforms.”
Senator Tapio expressed concerns South Dakota schools are wide open to the same kind of tragedy witnessed in Florida, because justice reforms virtually dictate to our law enforcement to do everything they can to keep from dealing appropriately with dangerous kids.
Tapio says South Dakota’s implementation of justice reform provisions outlined in Senate Bills 70 and 73 which passed in 2013 and 2015 respectively, coincided precisely with Broward County, Florida’s adoption of the PROMISE program, which followed the federal reforms driven by the ESSA (Every Student Succeeds Act) Program under the Obama Administration. South Dakota “reform” legislation was authored primarily by the liberal think tank, Pew Charitable Trust, in conjunction with the ACLU and NAACP, and other leftist organizations coordinated by the Obama Administration.
“The Florida program went so far as using federal incentive grants to reward law enforcement for the arrests they didn’t make. There was a financial incentive to not arrest the Florida shooter, and thousands of others just like him, because increased incarceration rates would indicate a failure of the program.” Tapio said. “Touting lower incarceration numbers was how the Florida Sheriff measured success and how he got re-elected.
“I have tried to shine a spotlight on the failures of similar justice reforms in South Dakota, only to have our Governor say these programs are performing, ‘right on track.’ These programs are failing our communities, parents, their kids and making our schools less safe. School Superintendents, States’ Attorneys and Sheriffs need to speak out about their concerns with these programs.” Tapio said. “These programs embrace a dangerous philosophy which becomes a ticking time bomb and an unnecessary tragedy waiting to happen.
“Blaming these tragedies on guns is preposterous. When the leftist political class tries to blame the bogeyman, in this case, the NRA, you have to wonder how deep this failure and coverup goes.”
“It’s time to expose this lie.”
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Pre-video release, regarding the (now known to be verbal) dustup State Representative Lynn DiSanto had with State Representative David Johnson, this past weekend she was claiming to be made of stern stuff:
I’m not weak or a snowflake. I’ve engaged in hundreds of debates and heated battles with men and women. That is part of the job, and I’m equipped to battle anyone that way.
And after her show of machismo and bravado, DiSanto adopted a more conciliatory tone:
Many of you and my colleagues also expressed concern regarding the situation and felt that it needed to be addressed. It was a very unfortunate event and for me it was a scary event. I believe that his behavior was unacceptable and unprofessional.
He has acknowledged that his behavior was wrong. Representative Johnson has made a personal apology to me and I have accepted that apology.
Listen/watch that here (about 30 min in).
In fact, to the media, the face that DiSanto put on made it sound like things were down right cordial:
“I wish Rep. Johnson nothing but the best of luck moving forward and I would like to publicly say Rep. Johnson is not just my colleague, but he is my friend,” DiSanto said.
And then the video of the legislator’s back and forth unhappiness was released. So much for friendliness. From all reports, much of that cordiality disappeared. And while legislators were in session, DiSanto was elsewhere, popping back into session around 3:15-3:30.
It sounds like it was only a day trip DiSanto took to Pleasantville, with a detour on the way back through grumpy town. Instead of being friendly with her new friend Representative Dave Johnson, he’s once again a villain in her fairy tale, at the same time she’s also attacking Republican Leadership:
The two representatives say they are upset with the way Speaker of the House Mark Mickelson handled the whole situation.
DiSanto says she felt pressured to let it go by leadership and was trying to take the “high road.”
and…
DiSanto says she felt she was doing what was right for the caucus when told the House she accepted Johnson’s apology and said it was not necessary to form a committee to investigate him further.
“I wish Rep. Johnson nothing but the best of luck moving forward and I would like to publicly say Rep. Johnson is not just my colleague, but he is my friend,” DiSanto said on the House floor on Monday..
KELOLAND News asked DiSanto how she could say someone who called her those kinds of names was her “friend.”
and..
“The video does not show the rage that was in his voice,” May said.
“I think my biggest concern is an event like this occurred at our capitol and there was very little support, from leadership and people we look to handle these types of situations,” DiSanto said.
We reached out to House Speaker Mark Mickelson for comment. Mickelson says the House formed a committee to investigate Johnson’s conduct as a legislator and the committee was disbanded at the request of Representative DiSanto.
Honestly, it is just me that thinks this went way, way farther than it ever should have in the first place? If there actually was an issue and/or Representative DiSanto was serious about resolving her differences in the first place, then why has it been a non-stop media tour, and barfing of things out on social media?
People were crabby. People had strong words. One of the people apologized. The reaction was strong, but it was finished. It’s time to stop the silliness parade and the drama circus, along with the accompanying publicity tour. Legislators can be done with the distractions now, and get back to work.
From Facebook comes a new Dusty Johnson for Congress video:
Thune: List of Tax Reform Good News Just Keeps Growing
“Thanks to tax reform, good news for American workers seems to pour in daily, whether it’s lower utility bills, new jobs, bonuses, or, as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced last week, lower rate increases on health insurance.”
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, today discussed the many ways in which tax reform is already working for American families. One of Thune’s examples was the lowering of utility rates across the United States, including in Rapid City where Black Hills Energy is working with regulators to pass tax savings on to South Dakotans.
Noem Provisions to Crack Down on Internet Sex Trafficking Pass House
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Kristi Noem today led the House in passing the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act. If enacted, the legislation would enhance criminal enforcement efforts, make sex trafficking less profitable for bad actors, and expand opportunities for states and victims to bring cases against those who facilitate sex trafficking online.
“In 2013, a sting operation around Watertown resulted in more than 100 responses to undercover ads placed on the Backpage website,” said Noem. “This is not a major city. This is a hometown. It’s a place with a strong sense of community – a place built around families and a sense of right and wrong. Yet even in this community, websites like Backpage have been able to facilitate the buying and selling of our children. It needs to end, so I’m proud this legislation takes unprecedented steps to crack down on internet sex trafficking.”
Today’s legislation, which was cosponsored by Rep. Noem:
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Attorney General Jackley’s Data Breach Bill Passes Full House
PIERRE, S.D. – Attorney General Marty Jackley confirms the SB 62, a bill that requires the reporting of data breaches of personal information to consumers and to the Attorney General has unanimously passed the full House on a vote of 64-0.
“Thank you to our legislators for passing this very important piece of legislation protecting South Dakota consumers and businesses. The internet and social media play a vital role in our daily connectivity to one another, but with this comes an increased risk of theft and fraud. We will continue to see an increase in cybercrime and we need the tools to combat these breaches and thefts of our personal information,” said Jackley.
Under the proposed legislation, upon discovery of a breach of a system security, the information holder must disclose the breach to any resident of South Dakota whose personal or protected information was acquired by an unauthorized person within 60 days of that discovery. Furthermore, if that breach of the security system exceeds 250 South Dakota residents, the Attorney General must also be informed within 60 days.
The notice by the information holder may be by written notice, electronic notice, or substitute notice. A failure to comply with the notice requirement would be a Deceptive Act under existing South Dakota law (§37-24-6) for purposes of criminal and civil enforcement. The Attorney General may also bring an action to recover civil damages of not more than $10,000 per day per violation.
Here’s something that’s good for a laugh this afternoon.
Apparently Facebook is acting as a Jiminy Cricket-like conscience to Lora Hubbel.
