Press Releases - Senator John Thune

Senators Introduce Bill to Limit Use of “Official Time” in Federal Workforce

Today, U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), Lamar Alexander (R-TN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Richard Burr (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Enzi (R-WY), James Inhofe (R-OK), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Mike Lee (R-UT), Rob Portman (R-OH), Jim Risch (R-ID), Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Thune (R-SD) and David Vitter (R-LA) introduced the Federal... Continue Reading

Burr, Coburn, Thune Introduce Public Employee Pension Transparency Act

Today, U.S. Senators Richard Burr (R-NC), Tom Coburn (R-OK), and John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Public Employee Pension Transparency Act, legislation that will enhance transparency for state and local pensions and establish a clear federal prohibition on any future public pension bailouts by the federal government. Congressman Devin Nunes (CA-21),... Continue Reading

Senate Democrats’ Budget Grows Government, Not Economy

Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, issued the following statement regarding the budget proposal unveiled by Senate Democrats this evening: “After four years and nearly $6 trillion added to our national debt, today the Senate Democrats finally unveiled their budget blueprint. Republicans hoped that the Democrats’... Continue Reading

Thune Questions Whether Decision to Close Wind Cave National Park Campground is Politically Motivated

Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today sent a letter to National Park Service (NPS) Director Jonathan Jarvis questioning whether the NPS is playing politics in deciding to close Wind Cave National Park’s 64-site Elk Mountain Campground. The NPS decision to close the Elk Mountain Campground came following the implementation of sequestration... Continue Reading

1,400 Days Later, Still No Senate Budget

U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, today made the following comment regarding the Senate Democrats’ failure to pass a budget for 1,400 days: “Today marks the 1,400th day since the Democrat-led Senate last passed a formal budget. American families and small businesses are required to... Continue Reading

Thune Reaction to State of the Union

Below is and exerpt of Senator John Thune’s reaction to the State of the Union: “Tonight we heard the president’s State of the Union speech and as is always the case when I hear the president speak I’m really struck by the fact that we really need to see not... Continue Reading

Thune Re-introduces Bill to Transform Broken Budget Process

U.S. Senator John Thune (R-S.D.) today reintroduced legislation that would transform Congress’ broken budget process. The Budget Reform Act of 2013 (S. 280), based on a plan first introduced by Thune in 2010, would require Congress to establish a biennial budgeting timeline in which Congress would pass a two-year biennial... Continue Reading

Thune, Grassley on Purchase of Stimulus-Funded Battery Manufacturer by Chinese Company

Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) released the following statements today regarding the purchase of failed stimulus-funded battery company, A123, by China-based investor, Wanxiang Group Corp. Thune and Grassley have taken the lead in seeking answers from both the Obama administration and A123 on the use of taxpayer... Continue Reading

Thune, Sessions Raise Concern over Abuse of SNAP Benefits by Paid Government Volunteers

Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Ranking Member of the Senate Budget Committee, today sent a letter to Wendy Spencer, Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), a government entity responsible for matching volunteers with local community... Continue Reading

Thune, Grassley Press for Review of Foreign Investment in A123 Bankruptcy Financing Deal

U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) continue to press for answers about the failed stimulus-funded battery company, A123. Thune and Grassley, who have taken the lead in seeking answers from both the Obama administration and A123 on the use of taxpayer dollars to fund the now-bankrupt green... Continue Reading

Thune, Grassley Question Obama Administration on Taxpayer Funding of Faltering Battery Manufacturer Following Planned Chinese Investment

U.S. Senators John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference, and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today sent a letter to the Obama administration’s Department of Energy (DOE) questioning the use of taxpayer dollars to shore up another faltering stimulus-funded company, A123 Systems Inc.... Continue Reading

Thune Denounces Senate Failure to Protect Small Businesses and Middle Class Families

Senator John Thune (R-S.D.), Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference and a member of the Senate Finance Committee, today denounced the Senate’s failure to protect small businesses and middle class families from looming tax increases scheduled to take place at the beginning of next year. The Senate today voted on... Continue Reading