A Challenge To The SD Ag Foundation
A column by Gov. Dennis Daugaard: 

This past week, on Tuesday, March 20, we celebrated National Ag Day. It was a day proclaimed by the President to recognize the “preeminent role that agriculture plays in our daily lives” and “agriculture’s continuing importance to rural America and our country’s economy.”

I was fortunate to spend part of that day at POET headquarters in Sioux Falls where we celebrated the creation of the South Dakota Agriculture Foundation. The Foundation was authorized in the 1970s by the state Legislature, but the law sat on the books for several years before anything came of it. It was our former Secretary of Agriculture, Lucas Lentsch, who saw the statute and came to me with the idea of creating a private funding source for ideas and projects to benefit agriculture.

In 2016, the Ag Foundation got its start and began work to provide economic development assistance, sponsor youth programs and encourage philanthropy within the industry. The Foundation already has a number of supporters, including POET, which announced a $250,000 contribution on National Ag Day. To spur more generous donations, I have joined with the South Dakota Community Foundation and issued a challenge to the Ag Foundation. If the Foundation can raise $4 million in the next five years, the State of South Dakota and the Community Foundation will each contribute $500,000 to the fund for future grants and programs.

The landscape of agriculture in South Dakota is changing. We need to look beyond today, and adapt to those changes. To thrive, we must be in a position to seize opportunity when it arises. That is what the Ag Foundation will help us to do as a state. It will serve as a funding source for the ideas and projects that we can’t even imagine yet.

Ultimately, the Ag Foundation will serve to protect and enhance our state’s number one industry.  In South Dakota, agriculture isn’t just a means to make a living; it’s a way of life and the bedrock of the values that we have passed on from generation to generation.

If you would like to make a donation to the South Dakota Ag Foundation, visitsdcommunityfoundation.org.

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Marty Jackley will be available to the press at the following upcoming events.

Mar 23 Spearfish Economic Development Roundtable

Jackley will hold an economic development round table in Spearfish at 11:00 a.m. MST.

Mar 23 Belle Fourche Economic Development Roundtable

At 2:00 p.m. MST Jackley will hold another round table discussion in Belle Fourche.

Mar 24 Meade County Lincoln Day Dinner

Jackley is a featured speaker at the Meade County Lincoln Day Dinner, held at the Sturgis Armory on Main Street at 5:30 p.m.

Mar 25 Palm Sunday Brunch

Jackley will attend the Catholic Social Services Palm Sunday Brunch at the Rapid City Ramkota at noon MST.

Mar 27-30 Washington, D.C.

Jackley will be in Washington, DC to prepare for the SD v Wayfair Supreme Court case.

Noem to Launch Kickstart the Economy Tour Monday

WATERTOWN, S.D. – Kristi Noem will launch her Kickstart the Economy Touron Monday, March 26, highlighting her agenda to get South Dakota’s economy booming again. During the tour, Noem will meet with a number of students, job creators, and young professionals.

“South Dakota does a lot of things right, but our economy is falling behind,” said Noem in announcing the tour. “In fact, in the latest Bureau of Economic Analysis report, South Dakota ranked last for both GDP and personal income growth. We can do better. As governor, my goal will be to kickstart our economy – and not through more boards, commissions, or blue ribbon committees. Instead, I will lift the government burden from entrepreneurs, make it easier to work, and create new opportunities for South Dakotans to prosper.”

MONDAY, MARCH 26: Keeping South Dakota a Low-Tax State

WHAT: Listening Session with Sioux Falls Small Businesses
WHEN:Monday, March 26, 11:00AM
WHERE: University of Sioux Falls, McDonald Center Conference Room (1101 W 22nd St., Sioux Falls)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Noem was one of just five representatives from the 435-member House to negotiate a historic tax cuts package in 2017, which left more money in the hands of hard-working South Dakotans.

WHAT: Sioux Falls Retirement Roundtable
WHEN: Monday, March 26 – 2:30PM
WHERE: The Clubhouse at Grand Prairie (7100 South Edinburg Place, Sioux Falls)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: South Dakota is frequently ranked as one of the best places to retire, in part because it is a low-tax state.

TUESDAY, MARCH 27: Building the 2025 Workforce

WHAT: Tour of Northeast Technical High School
WHEN: Tuesday, March 27 – 10:00AM
WHERE: Northeast Technical High School (1311 Third Ave. NE, Watertown)

WHAT: Meet and Greet with South Dakota Young Professionals
WHEN: Tuesday, March 27 – 11:30AM
WHERE: Harry’s Restaurant (16 W Kemp Ave, Watertown)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: As a young entrepreneur herself, Kristi helped her mom run this restaurant when it was still Past Times.

WHAT: Listening Session on Keeping Kids in South Dakota
WHEN:Tuesday, March 27 – 1:30PM
WHERE: Lake Area Tech, Room 433 (1201 Arrow Ave. NE, Watertown)

WHAT: Watertown Campaign Headquarters Open House
WHEN:Tuesday, March 27 – 4:00PM
WHERE: Noem Campaign Headquarters – Watertown (1333 9th Ave. SE, Watertown)

THURSDAY, MARCH 29: Strengthening South Dakota Ag

WHAT: Ag Producer Listening Session
WHEN:Thursday, March 29 – 1:30PM
WHERE: South Dakota Corn Growers, Board Room (4712 S Technopolis Dr., Sioux Falls)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: With an annual economic impact of $25.6 billion, agriculture is South Dakota’s number one industry. Learn more about Noem’s plans to strengthen the industry in her Agricultural Growth Initiative.

FRIDAY, MARCH 30: Helping South Dakotans Prosper

WHAT: Listening Session on Housing Challenges
WHEN: Friday, March 30 – 11:00AM
WHERE: Stomping Grounds (700 N. Vandemark Ave., Hartford)

WHAT: Biotech Roundtable
WHEN: Friday, March 30 – 1:30PM
WHERE: USD GEAR Center (4800 N. Career Ave., Sioux Falls)

WEST RIVER RANCHERS BACK NOEM IN NEW WEB VIDEO
“South Dakota’s had a lot of good governors. Kristi has the potential to be a great governor.”

Rapid City, S.D. – West River ranchers today endorsed Kristi Noem for Governor in a new web video. The video features Kalie and Conrad Kjerstad, who farm near Wall, as well as Union Center rancher Larry Rhoden, who serves as the Majority Whip in the state House, and his wife Sandy. A lifelong farmer and rancher, Noem grew up in rural Hamlin County. After her dad died in a grain bin accident, Noem put her pursuit of a college degree on hold, returned to the farm and ranch full-time, and helped stabilize the operation. Noem was named the South Dakota Outstanding Young Farmer in 1997.

“She’s a rancher, farmer, mom and wife,” said Sandy Rhoden. “She can’t fake that. I think that’s very exciting to think about having a governor who has those characteristics.”

“It would be great to have someone in the governor’s office that has done farming and ranching, because they know what the struggles are like and know what needs to be implemented to help them out,” said Kalie Kjerstad.

“It’s kind of nice to have someone with that kind of experience to relate to,” said Conrad Kjerstad. “She sure seems she’d have a great voice for agriculture that would affect everybody.”

“She has the understanding of what it takes to make a living – an understanding of the negative impact of government regulations on small businesses and agriculture,” said Larry Rhoden. “I think we’ve had a string of good governors in our state. I think Kristi has the potential to be a great governor.”

Washington Fails South Dakota on Internet Sales Tax Fix—Again

PIERRE, SD: Efforts by Attorney General Marty Jackley, the South Dakota Legislature and state businesses to bring fairness to Main Street are more important now than ever following Washington’s inability to provide a fix on the question of internet sales tax.

The repeated failure to solve the problem is garnering national attention.

“Washington’s omnibus budget deal supported by Congress contained 2,232 pages and $1.3 trillion in spending but no solution for the problem that states have been facing for 26 years,” Jackley said. “That’s why here in South Dakota, we’re taking the matter into our own hands and leading where Washington will not.”

Jackley has been joined in the South Dakota v. Wayfair case by the Trump administration more than 40 other state attorneys general. The president’s solicitor general will sit next to Jackley when he argues the case before the United States Supreme Court on April 17.

Conservatives were just three votes short of defeating the omnibus bill during a procedural vote held Thursday morning.

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The 2018 South Dakota Legislative session is almost in the books. This seems to be a good time to go over the good, the not so good, and the really ugly.

Over the past year, I learned some very important lessons. First, work with the Legislative Research Council early. This makes sure you have the very best bill. Second, support for a bill can come from unexpected sources. Third, never underestimate the Governor’s staff.

I worked with the Legislative Research Council, American Legislative Research Council, Freedom for individual Rights in Education, Americans for Prosperity, previous and current legislators and some other interested people and came up with the Campus Free Speech bill, HB 1073. What I was completely unprepared for was the intensity of resistance from the Board of Regents. The debate on HB 1073 and SB 198 was some of the best debates this year; it even included Skype® testimony. While both bills were sent to the 41st day, it wasn’t a total loss, the right people are now talking to each other, with the promise to update the policy.

Lessons learned. Time to move on.

I arrived in Pierre a day before session. This gave me time to get settled in, press my shirts, pick up keys, and few other things that needed to get done. I also got a chance to check out the remolded restroom behind each chamber. This year, there was some office space in the capitol that was set aside for legislators. Not really an office, more of cubicle, or rather half a cubicle, in the basement. it is a quiet place that allows me to research, get things done without interruption, and get away from some of the lobbyists. There is access to a printer, copier, coffee and a land line telephone. Still, I miss my dual monitors, full sized keyboard, and all the little things I normally use.  Our Pictures got mounted on the wall of the house this year.  It is more than a little humbling to have my face displayed  for the next 20 years on these walls.

Last year I spoke of walking up the capitol steps, and how it was a humbling experience. This year was no different. I have to admit I didn’t use the front entrance as much as I would have liked. The weather made the steps a bit slick. An Intern found that out the hard way, and ended up with a bruised wing. I have been informed the front steps can be really hard.

Speaking of the weather, most weekends I made the trip back home, except for one. The weather forecast indicated 6+ inches of snow with some wind. I didn’t want to find myself in a bad situation, so I opted to spend the weekend in Pierre. It was the weekend of The Farm and Home show. So, I had something to do, besides laundry. I also found firsthand how some Pierre residents treat ‘outsiders’.

Keep your hands to yourself

This year we had sexual harassment / professionalism training. Anyone who has worked for a major company knows this training well. Boiled down, guys need to act like gentlemen, and gals need to act like ladies, beyond a handshake, keep your hands to yourself. Given the press coverage with #MeToo and ‘Time’s Up Now,’ this training had some special importance. The Argus Leader has several stories related to sexual abuse in the capitol city. The press took roll and noted anyone who came in late and left early.

Johnson vs. DiSanto

I hoped everyone watched the video. With a few exceptions, few people even reacted to the incident. The whole thing was mishandled, and there is enough blame to go around for what did and didn’t happen. I’m not going to start pointing fingers. I have been told this incident has been closed, and there is nothing more to say. Beyond this incident, I will say, serving in the legislature can be tough, if you let it, it can become an emotional pressure cooker. Anyone thinking of serving should know this, and make sure you have an outlet to vent your frustrations, before you circulate your petitions.

Time to re-up.

Two years ago, I thought it would be an easy task to collect signatures for my petitions to get on the ballot, because everyone was in Pierre, that left my district all to myself. I found as an incumbent it was much easier. I had people who wanted to help me. I had a couple who wanted to use this as a teaching tool, to show their kids the process of getting elected.  Senator Peters, Representative Steinhauer and myself got together and believed it would be best if the Senior Representative made the move from the House across the rotunda to the Senate. Mrs. Peters would come over to the House of Representatives. It appears we are not going to have a primary. There is one Democrat who has filed petitions for District 09. I got my petitions signed, notarized, and delivered in to the waiting hands of the Secretary of State. No, she really wasn’t wait for my petitions. However, I can tell you that the turnaround time from petitions being turned in to being posted on the website was much quicker.

Given the some of the names popping up, this is shaping up to be an eventful election season.

Checking on the third-party candidates for Governor.. you know, the ones that get a percentage point or two and never seem to go much further than that.. I stumbled across something fairly interesting.

It appears there is a strong possibility that the Libertarian candidate for Governor, who has been campaigning as a Libertarian for several months now, might not actually be a Libertarian.

CJ Abernathey of Eureka is listed on the national libertarian party website as their candidate for Governor in 2018 for South Dakota, and has been calling himself a candidate for the libertarian nomination for that office since about December:

But as I search for this person (using the proper spelling, which the National Libertarian Party seems to have wrong) I only come up with one person spelling his name that way in the entire state.

And according to the South Dakota Secretary of State’s voter records as of this afternoon, I’m not finding a Libertarian by that name. But I am finding a Republican:

I suppose one can call themselves the Libertarian candidate for the nomination as long as they actually change their party by the time of the party convention (where based on a recent court decision they can nominate constitutional candidates in a few weeks).

But if someone was going to go to all the trouble of having been running as the Libertarian party candidate since early December, especially if they are posting things such as ‘proud to be a libertarian,’ you would’ve thought they might’ve actually taken 10 minutes to go down to the local courthouse to change their party registration before they made the announcement.

Details…

Every year at the end of each session, legislators submits proposals for a summer study.  The executive board pick two or three then assigns legislators to study the topic and possibly produce bills for the next year.

Here are the summer studies that were submitted for 2018:

Study A

Title of Requested Study: Overcoming Obstacles to Workforce Integrations and Development: Non-English Driver License Materials and Examinations

Scope of Requested Study:
Is the lack of the ability of non-English speakers to get a driver license a workforce development problem in South Dakota? Is it keeping potential workers from moving to South Dakota? Is it a public safety issue? If so, how can these issues be remedied and at what cost? How do other states manage this? The focus of this study is to understand how other states provide for driver’s license educational materials and testing (both the knowledge and skills components) in a language other than English. The committee will explore explicit costs as well as possible revenue sources and opportunities for federal or non-profit cooperation or assistance. The committee will explore the numbers of individuals and firms affected, including the affects on following spouses and family members of those moving to South Dakota from outside of the US. The study should include an inquiry into the success rates experienced by other states regarding non-English speaking residents to maintain employment thus decreasing their need for state or federal assistance programs. Does the ability to gain a driver license speed integration into American Society? The study will be limited to all those in SD legally.

Requested By: Senator Ernie Otten, Chair of Senate Transportation

Study B

Title of Requested Study: The economic impact of illegal immigration on the State of South Dakota

Scope of Requested Study:

Requested By: Senator Phil Jensen on behalf of the Senate Commerce and Energy Committee

Study C

Title of Requested Study: Wind Energy Permitting, State and County requirements, PUC requirements. Federal and State subsidies applied if applicable.

Scope of Requested Study:
Study the cost of a kilowatt hour. What factors have contributed to the increase in the cost to the consumers? Consumers were told in 2013 that “Wind Energy Savings” would be passed on to the consumers in the future. This has not happened.

Requested By: Senate Commerce and Energy Committee

Study D

Title of Requested Study: Zoning Study for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations and Wind Farm Development in Certain Counties in South Dakota

Scope of Requested Study:
Develop guidelines for counties to use regarding the development of a zoning plan for above mentioned developments. Issues to be addressed related to each type of land use and how to streamline the procedure to accommodate economical developmnet within each county.

Requested By: Senator Kolbeck, Chair of Commerce and Energy Committee

Study E

Title of Requested Study: Mental Health and Safety in K-12

Scope of Requested Study:
As the nation is faced with increasing violence in our schools, exploring the multifaceted nature of mental health and safety in our K-12 school system is warranted. However, while violence is now in the headlines, this is a much deeper issue. The mental health issues in our classrooms overall interfere with successful learning, diminish the learning environment for all students and influence the overall health of the school. This is also an issue for the overall community, as school culture and health directly affects everyone. At this time no entity is clear on how to meaningfully change the trajectory as multiple factors are in play. This study would be a deep dive understanding of the following in our K-12 schools: Status of mental health to include, but not limited to, issues of adverse childhood experiences (ACES), bullying and suicide ideation; Status of adverse behavior issues that lead to discipline; Management of discipline behavior issues; Access to counselors and mental health professionals, along with meaningful interventions; Safety policies that restrict open access to schools; Response policies to violence in our schools. This study should assess the baseline of these topics in South Dakota K-12 schools, explore benchmark practices for same, and develop possible statute(s) to address.

Requested By: Senate Health and Human Services

Study F

Title of Requested Study: Review of the Brand Board

Scope of Requested Study:
A review of the authority, structure, and operations of the Brand Board. Review the related laws and administrative rules. Review the brand registration process. Review the costs associated with the brand book publication and investigations of livestock theft and fraud.

Requested By: House Ag and Natural Resources

Study G

Title of Requested Study: Effect of Trust Land on County Revenue and Expenditures

Scope of Requested Study:
Explore alternative funding sources for counties. Review of relevant federal and state laws and court cases. Review of state, county, and tribal jurisdictions. A review of county revenue and expenditures. Review the purpose of trust acquisitions, the process by which land is converted into trust, and the implications for county governments.

Requested By: House Ag and Natural Resources

Study H

Title of Requested Study: SD 4-H

Scope of Requested Study:
There are problems in 4-H in South Dakota. We need new leadership in SD 4-H. We need to stay with the SD Dream. 4-H is made for our South Dakota children to develop their skills not to fight over. Our extension service must be in control.

Requested By: Rep. Jim Schaefer

Study I

Title of Requested Study: Drug Court and Substance Abuse Treatment for the Homeless

Scope of Requested Study:
To study the funding and infrastructure needs to create pilot programs in Rapid City and Sioux Falls to address drug addiction treatment for the homeless. These individuals currently cannot participate in the drug court treatment program. These individuals are ineligible because they lack a permanent address and/or stable employment. If these individuals could qualify for the drug court program, the state could realize savings in the Department of Corrections and Correctional Health.

Requested By: Representative Dan Ahlers

Study J

Title of Requested Study: Extraordinary Cost Fund for Special Education

Scope of Requested Study:
The specific issue to be addressed is the increasing need for special education and related services in the schools in our state and how to adequately fund special education in light of that increased need. One of the main concerns is that the state aid dollars currently being set aside for the extraordinary cost fund for special education are not adequate to meet the demands on that fund.

Requested By: Representative Tim Johns

Study K

Title of Requested Study: Access to Mental Health Services

Scope of Requested Study:
The study shall include a review of mental health services available in the state: How persons with mental illness are treated and continuum care; The facilities, locations, resources, treatment options, and services available for treatment of persons with mental illness; The financial costs to the state and its political subdivisions.

Requested By: Senate State Affairs

Study L

Title of Requested Study: A study to allow political subdivisions of the state to be participating members of the state health plan as outlined in SB143

Scope of Requested Study:
The study shall include a review of the ability and costs to expand the coverage of the state health plan to the employees of the political subdivisions of the state, including: A review of the laws, regulations, and policies regarding the state health plan; The additional administrative costs that will be incurred; and, The amount that the political subdivisions must contribute to participate in the state health plan.

Requested By: Senate State Affairs

Study M

Title of Requested Study: Budget Realignment Study

Scope of Requested Study:
In 2011, Governor Daugaard proposed a 10% across the board budget cut. The initiative forced all government to re-assess priorities. While the final % cut varied, all agencies did accept a decrease with the total cut equal to $41.3 million. Instead of waiting until we have to do this, why not force the question? The goal would be to re-align the $ to current priorities. The study could start with a look back to 2011 (while the Daugaard administration is still here to explain). Then study what has happened since. Then pose a “what if” question to each department saying “If your department/agency had to cut __% (insert number) what would you do?” With all of this information, the summer study group could recommend whatever re-alignment of resources they felt appropriate — cuts to some and enhancements to others, re-aligning to current needs and priorities. This would help establish legislative priorities that could be useful with coordinating or directing the priorities of a new administration.

Requested By: Representative John Mills

Study N

Title of Requested Study: School District Capital Outlay

Scope of Requested Study:
Analysis of school district capital funding needs as compared to the funding systems provided under state law.

Requested By: Representative Wiese

Study O

Title of Requested Study: REAL ID Act

Scope of Requested Study:
The study will examine how the federal REAL ID Act impacts South Dakota. It will examine the security of personal data and vital documents and the risks of identity theft.

Requested By: Representative Frye-Mueller

 

Noem Presses US Trade Rep on Ag Uncertainty

WASHINGTON, D.C. – During a Ways & Means Committee hearing with U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week, Rep. Kristi Noem raised concerns about the sunset provisions being debated in the NAFTA renegotiations. If implemented, these provisions would require each country to renew its commitment to the deal every five years, potentially creating high-levels of uncertainty for South Dakota agriculture. Noem noted that 73 percent of commodities grown in South Dakota are exported to either Mexico or Canada, and that trade deals, meant to foster trust, are unreliable when saddled with arbitrary expiration dates.

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