The first week…
Old John Wiik January 18, 2016 0
Our first week of session has already come and gone. Things started with the State of the State, the State of the Judiciary, and the State of the Tribes. The State of the Tribes address given Thursday marks the first time in the history of South Dakota that a... Read more
Back to the Legislature: 2016 Session Begins
Old Fred Deutsch January 18, 2016 0
Greetings from Pierre! The whirlwind of session has begun. Last Monday I drove to Pierre, unpacked my car and got ready to begin. On Tuesday, the Governor outlined his top priorities, including a proposed half-cent sales tax increase to generate over $107 million in annual revenue to increase teacher... Read more
Rounds Joins Colleagues in Letter Urging Secretary of State Not to Placate Iran
Old Senator Mike Rounds January 15, 2016 0
PIERRE—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, this week joined his colleagues in a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry regarding his recent assurances to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif that new Visa Waiver Program (VWP) restrictions would not impact Iranian interests.... Read more
The Year To Act On Education
Old Governor Dennis Daugaard January 15, 2016 0
The 2016 Legislative Session began this week. This year, I am proposing that South Dakota address the issue of teacher pay. We all know that the key to student achievement is an effective teacher. We also know that South Dakota’s teacher salaries are lowest in the nation and have... Read more
With Noem Support, WOTUS Disapproval Hits President’s Desk
Old-Representative Kristi Noem January 13, 2016 0
Representative Kristi Noem today joined the House in passing legislation disapproving of the EPA’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. If today’s legislation is enacted, the controversial rule expanding EPA jurisdiction to small ditches, prairie potholes and even seasonally wet areas will have no force or effect. With approval... Read more
Rounds: Tonight’s Speech a Missed Opportunity to Reach Across the Aisle
Old Senator Mike Rounds January 13, 2016 0
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) tonight made the following statement on President Obama’s final State of the Union Address. “An overwhelming majority of South Dakotans – and all Americans – are dissatisfied with the direction of our country, and tonight’s speech lacked any serious ideas for working together to... Read more
Thune Reacts to President Obama’s Final State of the Union Address
Old Senator John Thune January 13, 2016 0
WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) provided the following reaction after President Obama delivered his seventh and final State of the Union address: “For the seventh year in a row, President Obama used his State of the Union address to lecture the American people about the failed top-down, government-knows-best... Read more
It’s Go Time…
Old John Wiik January 12, 2016 0
As most of you read this, I’ll be back in Pierre for my second legislative session. I spent last week’s space here giving a bit of a preview with some of the legislation that will make the news, and a few things that probably won’t. This week, I’d like... Read more
Noem Reacts to President’s Final State of the Union Address
Old-Representative Kristi Noem January 12, 2016 0
Representative Kristi Noem today issued the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s final State of the Union address: “The picture President Obama tried to paint tonight is a starkly different image than what most people see in their own backyard. We live in a world where wages are... Read more
Rounds Statement on VA Inspector General
Old Senator Mike Rounds January 12, 2016 0
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today made the following statement after the committee approved the nomination of Michael Missal to be Inspector General of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): “The VA hasn’t had a permanent Inspector General for over two... Read more
