WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune was elected Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference today by his fellow Republican Senators. Thune will officially assume the position of Senate Republican Conference Chairman in late January when Senator Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) steps down from the position. The Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference is... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune, ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation Subcommittee, made the following statement regarding today’s Agriculture Committee investigative hearing focused on MF Global’s bankruptcy: “Many farmers in South Dakota and throughout the nation depend on futures contracts to hedge against... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), ranking member of the Commerce Committee’s Aviation Operations, Safety and Security Subcommittee, today introduced a bill, the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme Prohibition Act of 2011, to prevent the European Union (E.U.) from adding a tax on flights traveling through U.S. airspace. Starting on... Continue Reading
Senator John Thune participated in a press conference earlier today with some of his Republican Senate colleagues in support of legislation that would force the Obama Administration to issue a construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline project within 60 days. President Obama recently delayed this $7 billion job creating... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune today issued the following statement on the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction’s failure to produce a plan to reduce the nation’s deficit: “Instead of joining Republicans in making tough decisions to address our nation’s runaway entitlement spending, Democrats would rather increase taxes on America’s job... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune today introduced the Access to Capital for Job Creators Act (S. 1831) to reduce regulatory burdens facing small businesses by updating Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations, making it easier for businesses to raise capital. The House of Representatives passed this legislation on November 3rd with... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mark Begich (D-Alaska) and John Thune (R-S.D.) today spearheaded a bipartisan letter signed by 58 of their colleagues to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward DeMarco and Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner objecting to the recent news that nearly $13 million in bonus pay was approved... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune today criticized the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) admission at a U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing that the Obama Administration has spent “just under $5 million” on the implementation of Obamacare’s failed Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. The CLASS... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune today applauded the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for listening to Republican opposition and abandoning Obamacare’s fatally flawed Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act. “This is a victory for the American taxpayer and future generations. After ignoring repeated warnings from my Republican... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune has been invited to participate in a hearing being held next week by the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee regarding the management of water levels along the Missouri River prior to this year’s historic flooding in South Dakota. The hearing, “A Review of the... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune has introduced “The Buffett Rule Act of 2011” (S.1676) to create an option for individuals who believe they are under-taxed to voluntarily send extra money to the U.S. Treasury for the purpose of paying down the national debt. Thune’s legislation is co-sponsored by 29 of his... Continue Reading
WASHINGTON, D.C.–Senator John Thune today introduced legislation that would add teeth to the budget process by requiring Congress to pass a biennial binding joint budget resolution, and the president to sign the budget resolution into law. Thune’s legislation, The Budget Reform Act of 2011, was included in a larger budget... Continue Reading
