Let Me Know What You Think
By Sen. John Thune
Each week the Senate is in session, I travel back and forth from my home in Sioux Falls to Washington, D.C., for hearings, votes, and other meetings. While I love representing South Dakotans in Washington, it’s no secret that I’m happiest when I’m home in South Dakota, hearing directly from you. So, as I head back to spend several weeks traveling the state and connecting with you, I wanted to share some of the big things we’ve accomplished in the Senate over the last 18 months and look forward to hearing what you think.
Our top priority has been to focus on policies that boost America’s economic security and strengthen our national security. We passed the first significant education reform bill since 2002, the first major trade promotion authority bill since 2002, the first significant reforms to Social Security since 1983, and the first major environmental law reauthorization since the 1990s. We worked hard to pass legislation that prevents states from imposing unworkable mandates on the food supply and protected the homeland by passing the National Defense Authorization Act, key cybersecurity reforms, and sanctions against the North Korean regime.
I knew serving as chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee would give South Dakota’s interests the national attention they deserve, and the results speak for themselves.
Congress passed and the president signed my bipartisan bill that makes landmark reforms to the Surface Transportation Board, the federal agency that oversees our nation’s rail system. These reforms will make the agency more accountable to the people who depend on rail transportation, like our agriculture producers. The president also signed the first multi-year highway bill since 2005 – the longest since 1998. And all Americans will benefit from the aviation security reforms I authored as well as the consumer protection provisions included in the bipartisan aviation bill that I helped get to the president’s desk. All of that is good news for states like South Dakota where a safe, reliable, and effective transportation system is critical.
While a lot was accomplished, there’s a lot more we tried to do. Unfortunately, Senate Democrats and President Obama have made it difficult to approve must-pass bills like the Department of Defense appropriations bill, which would fund our troops, and the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs appropriations bill, which would fund key infrastructure programs and support our veterans. Despite bipartisan attempts to reach an agreement, Democrats opposed a $1.1 billion funding bill that would have helped tackle the nationwide Zika threat. I’m most disappointed, though, that amid all of the threats we face from terrorist groups like ISIS, President Obama has yet to lay out a concrete and comprehensive plan to defeat the group and its radical ideology. These are important issues, and they deserve to rise above politics.
If our paths cross this summer, please stop and say hello. I can’t do my job without knowing what’s important to you, and your feedback on what I’m working on in the Senate is invaluable. If we don’t catch up in person, you can always call my office, write me a letter, or send me an email. Either way, I look forward to hearing from you this summer.
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‘If our paths cross this summer, please stop and say hello.’
As I’ve done in the past, if our paths cross I’ll be sure to ignore you and keep on walking. If I do not have anything nice to say to someone, I don’t say anything at all. But safe travels to you and your ego, Mr. Thune.
How’s your axe? Sharp enough now that you’ve ground it some more? I’m sure that Tim Johnson and Tom Daschle were much better senators.
Oh, you were trying to be witty and clever. Good one. You’re sure Tim Johnson and Tom Daschle were better senators? You’re sure? How sure? I have a feeling you would make a better senator than all three of them combined. If you make all your decisions based on being “sure” then clearly, the country needs you.
how true it is.
“Let Me Know What You Think” — You are an insult to the intelligence of the people of >S.D. and now conservatives are realizing it..
thanks for your hard work and commitment senator. if both the democrats and the far right wing hate you, you’re right about where the rest of south dakota is. but lets face it, you will never top tim johnson or tom daschle at the art of rubberstamping the national democrat agenda, and turning back straightfaced to us to sell it as the will of south dakotans.
Enquirer, just when I forget Johnson and Daschle represented me, you have to remind me. Without that ending, I’d have liked your post except Pat doesn’t have a like button. 🙂
“… but lets [sic] face it, you will never top yourself at the art of rubberstamping the national republican agenda, and turning back straightfaced [sic] to us to sell it as the will of south dakotans.”
There, that makes much more sense! But I am very disappointed that a former journalist would write a comment with misspellings. Shame, Mary.
So, where will we see Sen. Thune during August recess? Why not with his weekly column provide his schedule of where we can see the senator? What events/appearances/town hall events are planned? Anything?? For a senator promoting that he wants to be hearing from us, why are events/appearances so hard to find? Or is nothing planned?
I see them. He’s making a number of stops already.