Politics

Jon Hunter, publisher of the Madison Daily Leader, and Seth Tupper, enterprise reporter for the Rapid City Journal, joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed Tuesday's elections in Rapid City and Mitchell that saw losses by incumbent mayors; municipal election turnout; former Republican U.S. Senate candidate Annette Bosworth's conviction on election law violation charges; and U.S. Senator Mike Rounds' first speech on the Senate floor.

Madison Daily Leader publisher Jon Hunter and KELO-TV Rapid City reporter Kevin Woster joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed the state Public Utilities Commission's delay in the Keystone/XL Pipeline evidentiary hearing; the state legislature's summer studies; a bill introduced by Senator John Thune that requiring collaboration between federal and local officials before a prescribed burn on federal lands when fire danger is high; upcoming Rapid City elections; and determining Platte's next mayor by luck of the draw.

Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter and columnist Jonathan Ellis and Watertown Public Opinion managing editor Roger Whittle joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed President Obama's upcoming visit to Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown; a new marketing campaign comparing South Dakota to Mars; and the legacy of  "gentleman politician" Walt Conahan who died over the weekend.

Madison Daily Leader publisher Jon Hunter and Rapid City Journal enterprise reporter Seth Tupper joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed the announcement that President Obama will visit Watertown next month; the possibility of 2016 presidential candidates visiting the state; the likelihood of Republican Senator John Thune running unopposed in his re-election bid; and the rise of registered independents.

KELO-TV Rapid City reporter Kevin Woster and Black Hills Knowledge Network and South Dakota Dashboard editor Denise Ross joined Dakota Midday and discussed the latest in state politics. Topics this week included new leadership for state senate Republicans; controversy over the new 80 mph interstate speed limit; Democrats search for a candidate to oppose Senator John Thune in 2016; and the state congressional delegation's opposition to the listing of the Northern Long-Eared Bat as a threatened species.

This week in Pierre, the South Dakota High School Activities Association hosted the State Student Council Convention. Over 900 of South Dakota’s best and brightest high school students gathered in the state capital. As aspiring future leaders many of the students are keeping an eye on what’s happening in politics at the local and national level. 12 students shared their opinions on major government issues at the state and national level, including new youth minimum wage legislation, education funding and transgender policies.

Sioux Falls Argus Leader reporter and columnist Jonathan Ellis and Watertown Public Opinion managing editor Roger Whittle joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed veto day which wrapped up the 2015 session and the resignation of Senate majority leader Tim Rave and assistant majority leader Dan Lederman. Other topics included South Dakota’s status as the only state President Obama hasn’t visited during his six years in office and an invitation to Watertown.

Two bills passed by the legislature this session could see a challenge from voters in 2016 if the efforts to put them on the statewide ballot succeed.

Opponents to Senate Bills 69 and 177 submitted their intent to circulate petitions to the Secretary of State.
 
SDPB’s Charles Michael Ray reports that the issues deal with the minimum wage for teenagers and independent candidates who want to run for office.

Madison Daily Leader publisher Jon Hunter and Rapid City Journal reporter Seth Tupper joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed the petition reform and youth minimum wage bills signed into law by Governor Dennis Daugaard. Other topics included FAA approval of a plan expanding a bomber training area and a new political action committee formed by former Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Rick Weiland.

South Dakota lawmakers passed a $4.3 billion budget late Friday night. Despite lower than expected revenue projections, the budget provides for increases in Medicaid reimbursements, state employee salaries and education funding. Lawmakers also passed a bill that increases funding for roads and bridges. It raises the gas tax by six cents and raises license fees and license plate feed by 20 percent. Lawmakers return to Pierre on Monday, March 30 to consider any gubernatorial vetoes.

South Dakota lawmakers passed a 4.3 billion dollar budget late Friday night. Despite lower than expected revenue projections, the budget provides for increases in Medicaid reimbursements, state employee salaries and education funding. Lawmakers also passed a bill that increases funding for roads and bridges. It raises the gas tax by six cents and raises license fees and license plate fees by 20 percent. Lawmakers return to Pierre on March 30 to consider any gubernatorial vetoes.

South Dakota now has an interim United States Attorney this week after Brendan Johnson left office. Randy Sieler is leading the office for now. Multiple factors contribute to the appointment of a new permanent federal prosecutor.

The process of replacing a United States Attorney lies in the hands of the White House Administration. Sandy McKeown is an assistance professor in political science at the University of South Dakota. She says the president fills the US Attorney position with the advice and consent of the Senate.

Rapid City residents go to the polls on Tuesday to decide a proposed $180 million expansion of the  Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. If approved, the renovations would amount to the largest single expenditure of city funds ever undertaken. Supporters say it’s an investment in the city’s future that won’t raise property taxes. Opponents say the price tag is too high and alternatives need to be more carefully considered.

Watertown Public Opinion managing editor Roger Whittle and Rapid City Journal reporter Seth Tupper joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed proposals before state lawmakers, including bills exempting youth from the minimum wage hike, allowing cities to impose additional sales tax, and establishing water management districts in the northeastern part of South Dakota. Other topics included the selection of Pam Roberts as the new Republican state party chair and next week's election on expanding the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center in Rapid City.

Madison Daily Leader publisher Jon Hunter and KELO-TV Rapid City reporter Kevin Woster joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed President Obama's veto of a bill approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, the debate over transportation funding in the state legislature, the defeat of several concealed weapons bills, and Rapid City's upcoming vote on expansion of the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center.

Could former U.S. Senate candidate Rick Weiland be the next chairman of the state Democratic party? That's one of the questions discussed by Rapid City Journal reporter Seth Tupper on the Dakota Political Junkies. Other topics included the future Republican U.S. Senator John Thune and the latest in the unfolding EB-5 saga.

Along with victories by Dennis Daugaard, Kristi Noem and Mike Rounds in a Republican sweep of statewide races Tuesday, the GOP will also maintain their dominance in the state legislature with supermajorities in both houses. State Senate Majority Leader Tim Rave and State House Minority Leader Bernie Hunhoff joined Dakota Midday with their perspectives on yesterday's election results and what they mean for their respective parties.

Around 54 percent of South Dakota's eligible voters went to the polls yesterday for the midterm elections. In the most closely watched race, former Republican Governor Mike Rounds won his bid to become South Dakota’s next U.S. Senator. He replaces retiring Democrat Tim Johnson. Rounds’ win last night helped Republicans take control of the U.S. Senate.

Republican Kristi Noem won a third term as the state’s lone representative in the U.S. House of Representatives. Governor Dennis Daugaard was re-elected as part of a Republican sweep of all statewide offices.

Republican Kristi Noem says if she’s re-elected to Congress, she’ll focus on policies that would help grow South Dakota’s economy. She wants to overhaul the tax code to help job creators and repeal what she calls “job killing regulations.” Noem was first elected to serve as South Dakota’s lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010. She serves on the House Agriculture Committee and House Armed Services Committee. Noem faces a challenge from Democrat Corinna Robinson.

Since announcing his campaign for U.S. Senate last year, Democrat Rick Weiland has visited every town in South Dakota. He says government is not the problem, but a government controlled by what he calls “big money and special interests.” Weiland is a Sioux Falls businessman who worked for Senator Tom Daschle. He also served as regional director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and was state director for the AARP.

During a Dakota Midday interview, Weiland explained why he thinks big money has taken over government and how he plans to fix the problem.

On Wednesday members of the Government Audit Operations Operations met in Pierre to discuss the EB-5 program. Lawmakers reviewed written responses from former Republican Governor Mike Rounds and current Governor Dennis Daugaard to questions asked by the committee. Rounds is running for U.S. Senate and Daugaard is seeking re-election. Democrats have been making EB-5 an issue in the fall campaign and trying to link it to Rounds.

Kevin Woster, KELO-TV Rapid City bureau reporter, and Jon Hunter, publisher of the Madison Daily Leader joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed former EB-5 director Joop Bollen’s agreement to answer lawmaker’s questions in writing; Mike Rounds decision to skip a U.S. Senate debate sponsored by the Native Sun Times and United Tribes Technical College; and Larry Pressler’s “surging” independent U.S. Senate campaign.

Labor Day is often considered the unofficial start to the general election season. But in South Dakota the season got underway two weeks ago with debates at Dakotafest in Mitchell followed by State Fair debates in Huron. Today on Dakota Midday, Political Junkies Jonathan Ellis and Denise Ross discussed what's next in the campaigns for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and governor. Ellis is a reporter and columnist for the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader and Ross is web editor for the Mitchell Daily Republic.

South Dakota's campaign season made its unofficial start this week with the first general election debates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House and governor at the DakotaFest ag show in Mitchell.Republican Congresswoman Kristi Noem faced Democratic challenger Corinna Robinson on Tuesday. Republican Governor Dennis Daugaard took on Democrat Susan Wismer and independent Mike Myers today and all four candidates vying for the state's open U.S. Senate made their cases for why voters should them to Washington, DC.

Mitchell Daily Republic web editor Denise Ross and Sioux Falls Argus-Leader political reporter David Montgomery joined this week's conversation about the latest news in South Dakota politics. They discussed this past weekend's Libertarian convention and the nomination of Chad Haber as the party's candidate for attorney general. Other topics included the upcoming U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative and gubernatorial debates at DakotaFest in Mitchell which mark the kick-off the fall campaign season.

Jon Hunter, publisher of the Madison Daily Leader; and David Montgomery, political reporter for the Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, joined the Dakota Political Junkies this week. They discussed Democratic U.S. House candidate Corinna Robinson's struggles to raise funds in her attempt to unseat Republican Kristi Noem. Other topics included state Libertarian's upcoming convention and Chad Haber's plans to seek the party's nominee for attorney general. Haber is the husband of former Republican U.S.