In January, we added a mere 113,000 jobs to the U.S. economy and the labor force participation rate reached a 35-year low, the lowest level since Jimmy Carter occupied the White House. CBS News reported in February that the economy would have to gain an average of 285,000 jobs per... Continue Reading
South Dakota farmers and ranchers are all too familiar with the harsh temperatures of our hot, dry summers and cold, wet winters. In 2012, South Dakota producers experienced the worst drought in nearly half a century, facing devastating loss of crops, pasture, rangeland, and forage, which resulted in more than... Continue Reading
Some of you have heard me say that because I’m Scandinavian, I believe life is supposed to be hard. How much my heritage has to do with it may be an open question, but the fact remains that when I was growing up, I sort of adopted the view that... Continue Reading
South Dakotans are no strangers to cold weather. The extreme cold temperatures and rather unpredictable weather patterns this time of year have caused us to prepare for most things that come our way. However, this year the brutally cold weather has left farmers, families, tribes, and businesses feeling the pinch... Continue Reading
On January 14th, the U.S. Forest Service announced that the Black Hills National Forest would receive $1.5 million for additional timber harvest this year, the highest amount allocated to any National Forest in the Rocky Mountain Region. This funding came as the result of an October 19, 2013, letter I... Continue Reading
Each month, I receive dozens of emails and phone calls from people all across South Dakota struggling under the weight of ObamaCare’s broken promises. From dropped coverage to higher premiums and deductibles, ObamaCare is placing a tremendous financial burden on South Dakota families. For several months, I have been calling... Continue Reading
The frenzy of the holiday shopping season may have come to a close, and while I still do most of my shopping locally, the growing importance of digital goods and services proved once again to be one of the key economic drivers of the holiday shopping season. According to a... Continue Reading
South Dakota’s landscape has significantly changed since the first block of native sod was turned over by a horse-drawn plow more than 150 years ago. These changes include native grasslands converted to fertile croplands that can now produce more than 250 bushels of corn per acre; massive herds of bison... Continue Reading
As we reflect on the highs and lows of 2013, we begin to chart course for the start of a new year. Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” While the partisan divides of Washington remain a barrier to stimulating the lagging... Continue Reading
South Dakota’s Ellsworth Air Force Base’s 28th Bomb Wing is home to two of the three combat squadrons operating the B-1B strategic bomber. Of the three aircraft that currently comprise our bomber fleet, the B-1B has the highest payload, the fastest maximum speed, and operates at the lowest cost per... Continue Reading
Like many South Dakotans, our family always enjoys looking back at many of our Thune Family Christmas cards from years past. While our daughters like to poke fun at the hairstyles and outfits of days gone by, the best part of looking through the annual Christmas cards is the opportunity... Continue Reading
Our increasingly mobile workforce has created opportunities for businesses to grow and expand throughout the nation. Employees can begin their day on one side of the country, travel several states away and still make it back home in time for dinner. Temporary work assignments for people whose jobs require them... Continue Reading
