Kimberley and I do our best to maintain a healthy diet. We eat our fruits and vegetables, we consume many high-fiber foods, and we try not to eat too many sweets. Part of our well-balanced diet and exercise also includes a good source of protein. We always enjoy eating a... Continue Reading
Our country is headed for a fiscal cliff. We’re also headed for a national security crisis thanks to one large component of this fiscal cliff — the $1.2 trillion automatic budget sequestration due to go into effect Jan. 2, which would disproportionately cut funding for our defense needs. The sequestration... Continue Reading
National headlines are filled with stories about getting people back to work and stimulating the economy. Increased media attention has put a spotlight on some of the best business climates and practices throughout our country, and South Dakota continues to resurface in the national dialogue as a great place to... Continue Reading
It is tough to live in South Dakota and not find yourself spending some time on the open road. As South Dakotans, we grow up making trips to neighboring towns for sporting events, visiting family, and sometimes even a trip to the nearest airport. Additionally, ranchers, farmers, and businesses frequently... Continue Reading
For many of us, summer is a time for fun around the campfire and enjoying the outdoors. It is a time for kids roasting marshmallows and parents exchanging stories and keeping a watchful eye to make sure no one gets hurt. However, for others, summer fires mean quick moving grassfires... Continue Reading
Across our country on Independence Day, families and friends gather around patriotic symbols of freedom and liberty. Every year thousands of people flock to the National Mall in Washington, DC, Independence Hall in Philadelphia, and right in our own back yard to Mount Rushmore National Monument. With the faces of... Continue Reading
Representing South Dakota as a Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee is a privilege and responsibility I take very seriously. I was pleased the Senate recently passed its version of the 2012 Farm Bill by working through more than 70 amendments. This bill will provide adequate risk management for crops... Continue Reading
Two years ago this week, the Obama administration hailed the advent of the “Summer of Economic Recovery.” The president’s stimulus bill had passed a Democratic-controlled Congress just over a year before, accompanied by rosy predictions on job creation from the administration. President Obama claimed that “the economy is headed in... Continue Reading
In recent weeks, I have had the great privilege of meeting with various veterans groups throughout South Dakota. Whether I’m speaking to the Disabled American Veterans, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, or others, representing veterans is a highlight of my job as an elected official and a... Continue Reading
“Remembrance and Renewal” is the theme this weekend as residents of Rapid City and the Black Hills reflect upon the flood that forever changed their lives and communities 40 years ago. South Dakotans throughout the entire state should take pause as well to remember that night in 1972 when over... Continue Reading
American companies currently face the highest corporate tax rate in the world, putting them at a significant disadvantage in the global marketplace at a time when our nation desperately needs companies to create new jobs. But at least the corporate taxes companies are facing are being levied by a body... Continue Reading
This year marks the 150th anniversary of the South Dakota National Guard (SDNG). Formed on January 27, 1862, the SDNG has proudly served our state and nation for the past century and a half, dating back to the Dakota Territory. To celebrate the SDNG’s accomplishments and dedication throughout the years,... Continue Reading
