The sun is a-risingTo welcome the day.High-ho!Come to the fair! When my brother and I heard those lyrics in crystal clear soprano, we usually pulled the pillow over our heads. It meant that our mother was trying to rustle us out of bed in the morning. She had a way... Continue Reading
During the 2008 presidential election, then-candidate Obama stated that under his policies, energy costs would necessarily “skyrocket.” That same year, when national gasoline prices hit an all-time high of $4.11 per gallon, then-candidate Obama also said that he “would have preferred a gradual adjustment” to higher gasoline prices. After three... Continue Reading
Job creation and economic growth continue to be the subject of national discussion as America’s unemployment rate has hovered over eight percent for the past 36 straight months and the national economy remains stagnant due to a crippling national debt, and excessive taxation and regulations on U.S. job creators. During... Continue Reading
A recent Gallup poll found that 85 percent of small businesses in this country are not hiring and when asked why, nearly half of those businesses said it was due to the president’s signature health care law and concern over new government regulations. I believe there is no better example... Continue Reading
There is an old political axiom that is attributed to Thomas Jefferson, and more recently Gerald Ford, that says, “A government big enough to give you everything you want, is big enough to take away everything you have.” Those words took on new meaning in January when we found out... Continue Reading
Family farms are woven into the fabric and culture of life in South Dakota. Most of us visited or worked on a farm growing up, or had friends and family that did. While working on a farm during the summer months as a teenager, I learned countless life lessons, including... Continue Reading
After being elected by my colleagues to serve as the Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference at the end of last year, I officially assumed the role and responsibilities of the Chairmanship on January 26th. In this new position, I will help lead our Conference’s efforts in communicating our positive... Continue Reading
While home in South Dakota during Congress’ winter work period, I traveled to several towns and held a series of six town hall meetings. These listening sessions were an opportunity for me to give an update on my work in the Senate and to hear South Dakotans’ thoughts on important... Continue Reading
January 20, 2012, marks the third anniversary of President Barack Obama’s inauguration. Over the past three years, Americans have experienced a difficult economic situation, which has only been made worse by the policies of the president and his administration. The numbers paint a clear picture of the economic reality that... Continue Reading
The South Dakota legislative session is upon us and legislators face a full plate of important issues that must be addressed. While new challenges are present at the start of every legislative session, perhaps the most important task the legislature must accomplish is balancing the state’s budget. South Dakota is... Continue Reading
The holiday season is upon us, and 2012 is right around the corner bringing new opportunities and challenges for our country. We have the chance in the coming year to show ourselves and the world that the American spirit remains unbreakable. Our nation faces high unemployment, a soaring federal debt,... Continue Reading
Fourteen years ago, I was a freshman member of the U.S. House of Representatives when my Republican colleagues on the other side of the Capitol fell just one vote shy of passing a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution. This was a disappointing moment for Congress and a missed opportunity... Continue Reading
