Bluestem Prairie

AP: Ethics; or, Government Accountability Board keeps ‘action’ secret on complaint against Noem

Last Saturday, we posted Noem silent about ethics probe response. Flight to daughter’s wedding part of official business.

Apparently, that sort of silence is an important part of ethics investigations in the Rushmore State. 

Reporting for the Associated Press, Stephen Groves writes in Ethics board keeps ‘action’ secret on complaint against Noem:

South Dakota’s ethics board won’t publicly disclose the “appropriate action” it took after finding evidence Gov. Kristi Noem intervened with a state agency to influence her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license, a lawyer for the board told The Associated Press.

The state’s Government Accountability Board was created to provide a check on any misconduct by state officials, and the question of whether to discipline the Republican governor presented its first major test.

A lawyer hired by the board, Mark Haigh, responded to an open records request by telling the AP this week that the board’s response would remain “confidential.”

The board’s three retired judges considering the complaint voted unanimously last month to find that there was evidence that Noem, who is considered a potential 2024 White House contender, engaged in a conflict of interest and malfeasance when she held a meeting in July 2020 that included her daughter, Kassidy Peters, and key decision-makers in Peters’ licensure just days after the agency had moved to deny her a license. After the meeting, Peters got another opportunity to demonstrate she could meet federal standards and was ultimately awarded the license.

But the board appeared to let Noem decide whether to defend herself in a public hearing, known as a contested case hearing, or simply accept the “appropriate action” and let the matter quietly die. As a deadline passed last week to contest the board’s finding, Noem stayed silent, and the board’s lawyer says the case remains closed.

“This all looks like, frankly, an ethics board trying to engage in a cover-up,” said Kathleen Clark, a law professor who specializes in government ethics at the Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.

After reviewing the board’s statutes, Clark pointed out that South Dakota law says the board “shall” conduct a contested case hearing if the board members vote that there is enough evidence to believe an official engaged in misconduct. That vote then triggers a statute that makes the board’s files open to the public.

“This appears to be an end-run around the required transparency and disclosure,” Clark added.

The board’s attorney said by email that the board has “maintained confidentiality where required by the statute” and is “confident that it has interpreted the statutes correctly.” . . .

Read the rest at the Associated Press's page. Groves first reported for the AP about Noem’s hands-on role for her daughter's career in September 2021.

And there's little chance the appraiser licensure process will be reformed. At Dakota Free Press, Cory Allan Heidelberger observes in Failure to Engage Stakeholders Leads to Continued Rejection of State’s Bad Appraiser Training Plan:

In another example of the Noem Administration’s failure to consult with stakeholders, the Legislature’s Rules Review Committee once again rejected the Department of Labor and Regulation’s proposal to create a new training program for real estate appraisers. The state is trying to get more appraisers in the pipeline, but the state’s appraisers say the plan as conceived won’t work . . .

Governor Noem has wrecked the state’s relationship with real estate appraisers. She pushed the state’s longtime appraisal certification chief, Sherry Bren, out of her job after Bren refused to certify her daughter for real estate appraising despite multiple exam failures. Bren’s replacement was under orders from the Noem Administration not to talk to appraisers. The state tried pushing ahead with rule changes last spring despite strong industry opposition; now it appears Noem’s Department of Labor still hasn’t figured out how to communicate with the appraisers, despite the expressed expectations of legislators. . .

Go read the post at Dakota Free Press.

Photo: Governor Kristi Noem.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Half-cancelled: Noem video to be played at MD Republican Party "Red, White and Blue" dinner

When Governor Noem's administration announced last Monday Noem recovering from back surgery, there was much chatter on Twitter about whether she'd show up for gig as keynote speaker for the Maryland Republican Party "Red, White and Blue" dinner on Thursday, September 22.

Bluestem emailed the communications contact about whether Noem would still appear in person, speak via livestream or video, or just cancel out right. We never received a response.

Dakota Free Press was on it, however:

Gov. Noem will NOT appear at Maryland campaign event on Sept. 22. Her back surgery has precluded her from being there.https://t.co/7ZI2CMfSVi

— South Dakota Standard (@DakotaStandard) September 14, 2022

While she's following her doctor's orders and not traveling to Maryland, Annie Todd's article in the Sioux Falls Argus Leader, Gov. Kristi Noem will stay in South Dakota instead of traveling to Maryland GOP event, answers our question more thoroughly:

Gov. Kristi Noem is no longer the featured speaker at a Maryland Republican Party event scheduled for Thursday. 

Noem was slated to speak during the "Red, White and Blue" dinner at the Hotel at the University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland, according to Herald Mail Media. Now, KellyAnne Conway, the former senior counselor to former President Donald Trump, will speak at the annual dinner for Maryland GOP members. . . . 

The governor recently underwent surgery for a back injury. Because of that, she will not travel to Maryland for the event and is instead sending her regards through video message, her communication director Ian Fury said. She was also slated to appear at a few other events on the east coast, but will be unable to go. . . .

We can only wonder whether she'll spend time recording for those audiences--and for those of us in South Dakota.

Photo: Governor Kristi Noem on her horse. We hope she recovers fully from her back surgery. Back injuries are very painful.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

MN9: Yep, Miller is running a write-in campaign, area conservatives organize against Rasmusson

Last week, Bluestem asked, After losing primary, has Miller launched write-in campaign, attacking "establishment GOP"?

The answer to that question is yes. On Sunday, Miller for SD9 posted the photo and text in the screenshot at the top of this post on the campaign's Facebook page.

Our post raising the question of a Miller write-in campaign includes the text of the letter the conservative candidate reads in the screenshot above.

Miller lost the August Republican primary in Minnesota Senate District 48.41 % to Rasmusson's 51.59% of the vote. In voter numbers, that's 5,738 for Rasmusson, with 5,385 casting ballots for Miller.

Meanwhile Nathan Miller supporters continue the drumbeat against the endorsed Republican candidate, Jordan Rasmusson. 

Save Minnesota, an online page dedicated to rooting out "election tampering" by "party machine operatives" (these operative appear to be local and state Republican party officers) in the Republican Party's delegate selection process to local conventions, has entered the fray. 

On Sunday, the site published State Senate Candidate Actions Haunt Otter Tail Elections, a public service announcement submitted by Merle Hexum on behalf of Otter Tail County Concerned Citizens for Transparency and Integrity in our Elections.

A darkness hanging over Republican officers and a State Senate candidate clouds a free, fair, and transparent election.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

The content in this letter has vital information for those of you who care about honesty, integrity, and transparency. It's important that the residents of Otter Tail County know and understand the corruption that took place right here in our own backyard.

On February 1, 2022 citizens all across MN gathered together at their local caucuses to do their civic duty. One of the most important things that citizens do at Caucus is selecting delegates and alternates to represent them and their views at the County Convention.

Delegates at the County then get to select the delegates to go on to the District and State Conventions. Being a delegate is an important position in that you have the privilege of choosing which candidates got the Republican Party's endorsement. The endorsement is highly sought after by all the candidates, which makes it extremely important for candidates to have delegates that they know will support their candidacy. If a candidate (or his supporters) were allowed to handpick the delegates they would of course choose people that they could count on to vote for them; which is exactly what transpired after our most recent caucus.

This past February a fraud was perpetrated by the leadership of the Republican Party of OT County. For the three weeks that followed the caucus they were busy adding several names to the delegate list. They illegally went out and recruited people who they believed would support their chosen candidate.

In order to be a delegate to the County Convention you must either sign up or have someone else from your precinct sign you up on Caucus night. The OTC Constitution stipulates that only those from the precinct may put forth names, and it must be done before your precinct adjourns. No one from outside a precinct is allowed to add names to the list, nor can names be added after the close of the caucus. At the Caucus closes the convener then sends a photo of the completed lists to the state. Names cannot be added by someone from outside the precinct, nor can names be added after the caucus has adjourned.

We know that fraud was committed because we had access to the photos that were sent to the state from 30 of the 93 precincts. When comparing the names from the original lists with the list that was released on February 25th it revealed that 26 delegates and alternates were added to the list. This then brings up the question "How many more names were added in other 63 precincts?

When these discrepancies were brought up at the County Convention those in Leadership were quick to try and shut down any further discussion on the matter. One of their own quickly bolted to the mic to make a motion to end discussion. When a vote was taken Jordan Rasmusson was quick to stand to his feet to vote in favor of ending discussion; and he also encouraged all of his handpicked delegates to do the same. Shortly after that a vote was taken to accept the delegate list, without looking further into the matter. Once again

Rasmusson voted to squelch transparency, and he encouraged his entourage to do the same. At the next OTC Republican Party meeting several in attendance requested that a full independent audit be done, but this also fell on deaf ears. Nether Jordan, nor his wife (the BPOU Secretary) supported our request for transparency. Five weeks later, at the endorsing convention, our request was once again shot down. The State Party got involved and they also rejected our request. Instead of an independent audit they implemented some sham show to make it appear as if they were trying to rectify the problem. The MN

GOP was merely trying to provide cover for the OTC GOP. The only way to discover just how extensive the fraud was and find out  who was all involved in this corruption and coverup is to do an independent audit. It could be done easily, quickly, & accurately. There's only one plausible explanation as to why the OTC GOP leaders are so vehemently opposed to an audit. They know an audit will expose the corruption, and they would rather have this dark cloud hanging over their heads, than allow everyone to find out that they cheated in order to steal the endorsement.

To pursue this from a legal angle will not work, because law enforcement agencies claim to have no jurisdiction. Unfortunately political Party's are private organizations, and they can choose whether to obey their own Constitution or not. There is no governing authority to hold them accountable or force them to do the right thing. This leaves us with only one course of action, which is to inform the public and allow them to decide for themselves as to whether or not they're able to condone and support such corruption. This appeal is not to one's intellect, but an appeal to your conscience, and to your sense of right and wrong. Many of us who voted for Jordan Rasmusson just two short years ago can no longer do so. To support his candidacy after witnessing his nefarious actions would require us to disregard our own conscience and ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Bluestem noted Hexum's support of Miller in our April post, Dueling letters in GOP Senate District 9 contest make us understand why Westrom's moving:

Hexum wrote in a letter to the editor of the Fergus Falls Journal, Democrat or Republican?:

Sometimes it can be difficult distinguishing whether politicians are Democrats or Republicans, such is the case with Jordan Rasmusson. Mr. Rasmusson was a liberal Democrat prior to a conversion that he claims to have had while a student in Cuba. But, is he truly conservative, or merely an opportunist? Mr. Rasmusson has political aspirations and he probably came to the realization that he’d better switch party affiliation if he hopes to win in Otter Tail County (OTC). Listening to him speak may lead you to believe his conversion was genuine. He touts all the Republican catchphrases very well: I’m pro-life! I support the Second Amendment! I’m for lower taxes! etc. etc. But, if you examine the legislation that he‘s supported and look at the things that he’s promoting, you’d have to conclude that Mr. Rasmusson is still very much a liberal. Jesus said, “you will know them by their fruit”. He may have an “R” behind his name, but he’s certainly no conservative. Mr. Rasmusson would be the poster child for what conservatives refer to as a R.I.N.O. (Republican In Name Only).

Look at the things that he’s voted for and also the things that he’s trying to advance. He, along with other members of the swamp, voted for HF 164 (Energy Conservation & Optimization Act), a bill that appeases the Al Gore and whacko environmentalist crowd, while creating burdensome regulations for businesses. He also voted for HF 1952 (Omnibus State Government Finance Bill), which establishes a legislative coordinating commission for the politicians and government employees to dictate bills and resolutions instead of their constituents and citizens. New staff and funding is provided to the auditor’s office and funds, loans and investments to businesses that have become corrupted by overreaching union leaders. He, along with Democrats and fellow “RINO”s”, recently voted for SF 3472 (re-insurance bill, which bails out Obamacare). This bill puts tax-payers on the hook for insurance claims over $50,000. Now he’s pushing for “Paid Family Leave”, which adds burdensome regulations for employers and increased costs to consumers.

Conservatives believe in lower taxes, fewer regulations and less government; yet Mr. Rasmusson embraces none of these things. The No. 1 concern for conservatives is election integrity and transparency, yet Mr. Rasmusson has no regard for these things. Last month at the OTC convention there were discrepancies and irregularities concerning delegates being added to the list after caucus night. Mr. Rasmusson and his minions, chose to ignore this potential fraud. First they voted to accept the credentials, without any regard as to how these errors occurred, then they attempted to end debate as to avoid any further discussion on the matter. Since the convention he’s done everything in his power to prevent an independent audit from happening. Mr. Rasmusson has no interest in looking at the irregularities. He obviously doesn’t believe the old adage “sunlight is the best disinfectant”.

If Mr. Rasmusson were to be accused of being a conservative, there would be insufficient evidence to convict him!

He seems nice. An earlier letter writer, a member of the OTC Conservative Coalition, write of the details of the meeting in What is going on? . . .

Marcia Huddleston, founder, OTC Conservative Coalition, wrote the letter, which discusses the party caucus shenanigans as "election tampering."

Hexum is no newby as a rabblerouser. Hexum organized a "Caravan of Patriots" 2020 to protest the Governor's Fishing Opener in 2021, the Perham Focus reported in Protesters caravan to voice discontent with Gov. Tim Walz.

Will Westrom family support Miller write-in campaign?

In Will Westrom family support for Rasmusson primary challenger ruffle MNSenate GOP unity?, Bluestem noted support during for Miller on Torrey Westrom's parents' Facebook pages. A Nathan Miller yard sign graced the lawn of the Elbow Lake home where Westrom lived and Anna Westrom reportedly still answered the door when Grant County deputies tried to serve the state senator papers on petition challenging his residency over in Senate District 12.

As we noted in that post, retiring state senator Bill Ingebrigtsen announced his support for Rasmusson even before the new district lines were drawn:

 ...Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen . . . announced his retirement in January 2022.

That announcement was made before redistricting results were announced by the court on February 15, 2022, Ingebrigtsen  announced his endorsement of state representative Jordan Rasmusson before the lines were drawn, according to a January 31, 2022 press release Ingebrigtsen endorses Rasmusson for State Senate.

District 8 became District 9, placing Rasmusson and Westrom together in the same district, while the new District 12 was left without an incumbent.

Westrom's first statement about running again after the new lines were drawn, published as State Sen. Torrey Westrom announces re-election bid on February 18 in the Alexandria Echo Press, doesn't mention the district in which he will run . . .

We can only wonder what discussions went on in the subsequent weeks before the Echo Press published Sen. Torrey Westrom announces re-election bid in District 12 on March 3.

An effort to change the new district lines died in the Minnesota state senate Redistricting Committee, as we noted in Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house?.

We have yet to see any local media coverage of the write-in campaign in District 9 media, but we suspect it's coming.

Rasmusson no doubt enjoys a fundraising advantage, having raised a whopping $126,976.17--of which $83,426.80 came from lobbyists, PACs and party units/terminating candidate committees (including $59,064.37 from his own House committee), and closed the pre-primary reporting period with $44,649.28 cash on hand. Miller raised $37,012.50, all from individual contributions, and closed the period with $6,717.45 in the bank.

Bluestem leaves it to data analysts much smarter than we to determine whether the write-in campaign could prove a spoiler for the Republican and conservative candidates, allowing DFL endorsed candidate Cornel Walker to take the extreme Greater Minnesota seat. Here's a look at Walker's fundraising. 

Related posts

• After losing primary, has Miller launched write-in campaign, attacking "establishment GOP"?
• Will Westrom family support for Rasmusson primary challenger ruffle MNSenate GOP unity?
• Petitioners in Westrom residency challenge referee's conclusion; his lawyers don't
• Referee's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law: Torrey Westrom stays on MN12 ballot 
• Westrom residency: an account of the hearing before the Honorable Diane Bratvold
• Westrom residency: Klingbeil thanks intervenor; referee's decision to come no later than Tuesday
• Another MN12 resident moves to intervene in challenge to Westrom residency in district
• MinnPost: if Klingbeil's petition on Westrom's residency prevails, still chance for GOP on ballot
• Swift County Monitor, Black Robe Regiment look into MN12 Westrom non-residency claims
• MN12 Westrom residency challenge: Supreme Court sets August 15 deadline for evidence
• MN12: "We The People" candidate Klingbeil follows through on Westrom residency challenge
• Via personal Facebook page: independent candidate vows to challenge Westrom residency
• MN12: Ashley Klingbeil to challenge Torrey and Dorry from the right for state senate seat
• Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house? 

Screenshot:  From the Miller for 9A Facebook page.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

States Policy Network associate CCHF gave Michael Flynn top billing at annual fundraiser

The Citizens Council for Health Freedom, "a right-wing 501(c)3 organization based out of St. Paul, Minnesota. . . . an associate member of the State Policy Network," held its annual fundraiser last Thursday night.

The keynote speaker? Michael Flynn:  who went from government insider to holy warrior, as Michelle Smith reported in an article for PBS Frontline/Associated Press early this month.

The nexis of the free market/COVID misinformation nonprofit and Flynn might serve as a marker for one corner of the conservative movement in Minnesota. Let's take a look.

First, a bit at what Frontline reported about Flynn, then take a look at CCHF. Smith wrote:

. . . Flynn, 63, has used public appearances to energize voters, along with political endorsements to build alliances and a network of nonprofit groups — one of which has projected spending $50 million — to advance the movement, an investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series FRONTLINE has found. He has drawn together election deniers, mask and vaccine opponents, insurrectionists, Proud Boys, and elected officials and leaders in state and local Republican parties. Along the way, the AP and FRONTLINE documented, Flynn and his companies have earned hundreds of thousands of dollars for his efforts. . . .

 . . .Throughout 2021 and 2022, Flynn made more than 60 in-person speeches in 24 states, according to a count by the AP and FRONTLINE. When he speaks, the former top adviser to then-President Donald Trump spreads baseless conspiracy theories, stoking fear and fueling anger and division and grievance.

Flynn is “one of the most dangerous individuals in America today,” said Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a historian and expert on authoritarianism and fascism who wrote the book “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present.”

“He is spearheading the attack on our democracy, which is coming from many quarters, and he is affiliated with many of these sectors, from the military to Christian nationalism to election denial to extremist groups,” she said. “All of this comes together to present a very live threat. And he’s at the center.”

Flynn has, with mixed success, supported like-minded candidates around the country, and has said his immediate goal is to influence this year’s elections. . . .

His support didn't work so well for the most high-profile candidate in Minnesota, Doug Wardlow, who unsuccessfully challenged MNGOP-endorsed attorney general candidate Jim Schultz, in the primary.

At the end of June, Wardlow tweeted:

I am honored to have this endorsement from General Flynn. I look forward to working with General Flynn as we fight to repudiate the Radical Left’s agenda, uphold conservative values, and make America great again! pic.twitter.com/HI4eqjoV4B

— Doug Wardlow (@doug_wardlow) June 29, 2022

That didn't work so well. Smith continued later in the article:

. . .Flynn sees conspiracies in just about every corner of American life.

He’s repeated falsehoods about Black Lives Matter and said that so-called globalists created COVID-19. He tells the tens of thousands of people who have paid to see him speak that there are 75 members of the Socialist Party in Congress, and has said the left and Democrats are trying to destroy the country. He asserts, above all else, that the United States was founded on Judeo-Christian values. The bedrock, he warns, is crumbling.

The country, Flynn often says in speeches and interviews, is in the midst of a “spiritual war,” and he goes after many of the institutions and ideas that stand as pillars of American democracy. . . .

She points to Flynn’s role as headliner of a multicity roadshow known as the ReAwaken America tour, an event that is a potent mix of politics, religion and commerce that has become a prime example of the Christian nationalist movement.

Flynn helped found the tour in 2021 with Clay Clark, an entrepreneur from Oklahoma who had been running business conferences before the pandemic. In his interview with the AP and FRONTLINE in February, Flynn said he considered himself a “senior leader” of the team that’s running it.

That's a tour Minnesota Republicans' endorsed gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen appeared in a least one stop on the Reopen/Rewaken Tours, then tweeted that the organizers couldn't use his name. Readers may recall our September 3 post, MNGOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen bails on 3rd annual Alex anti-vaxx event:

. . .  Perhaps Scott needs new schedulers. It's not the first time Jensen's name has appeared on a bill off fare that he said he has nothing to do with. And it the past, he claimed he'd asked to have his name removed from the bill of fare.

. . .Via Nancy Levine's tweet stream, we learned that Jensen had appeared on the schedule for the tour at a different place and date, when the tour was originally called "Reopen America Tour."  County Citizens Defending Freedom USA posted this for the June event in Florida (the second in the tour). Jensen is in the third row from the top . . . 

The Tampa event was livetweeted by someone watching the livestream. . . .

Visit the September 3 post to see tweets about the content of Jensen's presentation back when.

The Michael Flynn Event in Oakdale

If a sourc is accurate, it doesn't appear as if the Republican gubernatorial candidate was at the event to renew his Reawaken America ties, though other conservative office seekers and holders were in the audience.

The CCHF noted Flynn's involvement in the "Health and Freedom Conferences, now called the Reawaken America Tour" via screenshot of a Health Freedom Minute in an August 16 tweet:

Health Freedom Minute | Listen to Today's HFM Audio on CCHF Homepage: https://t.co/8XlqAdEpQO pic.twitter.com/LdCpV64CW8

— CCHFreedom (@CCHFreedom) August 16, 2022

Earlier, in July, the CCHF offered table sponsorships for the fundraiser. Via tweet:

INVITATION TO SPONSOR A TABLE: We’re looking forward to gathering for one incredible event this September 15. Join CCHF in Oakdale, MN.
Look here for details: https://t.co/A2Rivl7zlT pic.twitter.com/QbDYtrUBK3

— CCHFreedom (@CCHFreedom) July 26, 2022

Here are the top two sponsorship opportunities:

Sponsorship Opportunities:

SPEAKER'S TABLE: 8 seats - $20,000/table

• • • • • • Head table with General Flynn
          • Private meet & greet photo with General Flynn for table sponsor
          • 8 tickets to VIP Reception 
          • A Letter to America -signed by General Flynn for sponsor
          • Front and center seating

TITANIUM: 8 seats - $15,000/table

• • • • • • Head table with Twila Brase, CCHF President and Co-founder
          • Also dining with special guest Jan Markell, Olive Tree Ministries 
          • Includes a home-baked cake by Twila Brase
          • Private meet & greet photo with General Flynn for table sponsor
          • 8 tickets to VIP Reception 
          • A Letter to America -signed by General Flynn for sponsor
          • Premium front row seating

That letter? This Is My Letter To America begins:

We are witnessing a vicious assault by enemies of all that is good, and our president is having to act in ways unprecedented in decades, maybe centuries.

The biblical nature of good versus evil cannot be discounted as we examine what is happening on the streets of America.

It’s Marxism in the form of antifa and the Black Lives Matter movement versus our very capable and very underappreciated law enforcement professionals, the vast majority of whom are fighting to provide us safe and secure homes, streets and communities.

When the destiny of the United States is at stake, and it is, the very future of the entire world is threatened.

As Christians, shouldn’t we act? We recognize that divine Providence is the ultimate judge of our destiny. Achieving our destiny as a freedom-loving nation, Providence compels us to do our part in our communities. . . .

Jan Markell of Olive Tree Ministries gained some attention back in 2019. Buzzfeed News' Craig Silverman reported in How An Apocalyptic Preacher And QAnon Followers Made A False Pope Francis Quote Go Viral:

A false quote first attributed to Pope Francis two years ago is once again going viral thanks to a mix of apocalyptic preachers, followers of the QAnon conspiracy theory, and pro-Trump Facebook groups and pages.

Over the past month, several religious websites have published articles claiming Pope Francis said the US needs to be overseen by a world government "for their own good." He never said that. But people preaching about the end times and deep state corruption have latched onto it and helped it spread on Facebook and Twitter.

An article, "Pope Francis: World Government Must Rule U.S. ‘For Their Own Good,’" was published on the website of fundamentalist preacher Jan Markell in January and has so far attracted more than 205,000 Facebook shares, reactions, and comments. Markell, who oversees the Olive Tree Ministries, has preached against the evils of Harry Potter, Pokemon Go, Oprah, and sharia law. In a recent YouTube video, she said that any attempt to implement a one world government would be overseen by the antichrist.

BuzzFeed News emailed Markell to ask her about the article's false quote and headline. "No comment," she replied. . . .

Not exactly Bluestem's choice for a dinner table companion, but we don't hang with the Flynn and Markell audience.

Some social media moments from people who attended the event:

Lt. General Michael Flynn at @CCHFreedom annual banquet in Oakdale, Minnesota with a message to all patriots to get involved in local elections and to play a role no matter how big or small in our Constitutional Republic. pic.twitter.com/3x51ZCdiEO

— Deplorable Housewives (@DeplorableWives) September 16, 2022

And from Facebook:

State Representative Eric Lucero, R-St. Michael, who is running for Senate District 30, included a photo of Senator Bruce Anderson, R-Buffalo Township, in his album. Anderson is running for re-election in District 29, MinnPost's candidate list notes.

Perhaps more Republican candidates will turn up in social media in the coming days.

Lobbying reports for CCHF are available online at the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Finance Board. A glimpse of the group's finances can be viewed at ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.

SourceWatch looks at the group here.

What does health care freedom mean to this group, other than no COVID mandates? The Star Tribune reported in 2017 that it supported representative Steve Drazkowski's Plan for narrower health plans sparks debate in House committee, unlike the Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Nurses Association and the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

Katy Read reported in the Strib last September in Rally speakers at State Capitol denounce face masks, Black Lives Matter:

Twila Brase, a registered nurse and co-founder of the Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom, shared a number of views that conflict with what almost all medical and public health officials say but are popular with many conservatives.

She told the crowd that much of the COVID-19 information provided by experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci is false.

The number of cases has been exaggerated, tests are being conducted incorrectly and possible treatments have been misrepresented, she said.

Face masks, she said, do not help prevent spread of the virus and should be rejected.

“We look at masks as an existential threat to freedom in America,” Brase said. “No more masks!”

She seems nice. 

Bluestem looked at the group over ten years ago during the Tea Party years in Conservative sisterhood is powerful: VOICESPAC director throws Twila Brase under the bus after anti-Dayton protest fiasco.  Brase also showed up in UPDATED:Twila Brase and CCHF organizing protest against HF497, health insurance exchange bill.

And there's State Policy Network's local members & friends are rethinking Minnesota's public workforce.

To come full circle on the lede, here's Source Watch's description of the State Policy Watch from its CCHF post:

SPN is a web of right-wing “think tanks” and tax-exempt organizations in 50 states, Washington, D.C., Canada, and the United Kingdom. As of January 2022, SPN's membership totals 166. Today's SPN is the tip of the spear of far-right, nationally funded policy agenda in the states that undergirds extremists in the Republican Party. SPN Executive Director Tracie Sharp told the Wall Street Journal in 2017 that the revenue of the combined groups was some $80 million, but a 2019 analysis of SPN's main members IRS filings by the Center for Media and Democracy shows that the combined revenue is over $120 million.^[3] Although SPN's member organizations claim to be nonpartisan and independent, the Center for Media and Democracy's in-depth investigation, "EXPOSED: The State Policy Network -- The Powerful Right-Wing Network Helping to Hijack State Politics and Government," reveals that SPN and its member think tanks are major drivers of the right-wing, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)-backed corporate agenda in state houses nationwide, with deep ties to the Koch brothers and the national right-wing network of funders.^[4]

In response to CMD's report, SPN Executive Director Tracie Sharp told national and statehouse reporters that SPN affiliates are "fiercely independent." Later the same week, however, The New Yorker's Jane Mayer caught Sharp in a contradiction. In her article, "Is IKEA the New Model for the Conservative Movement?," the Pulitzer-nominated reporter revealed that, in a recent meeting behind closed doors with the heads of SPN affiliates around the country, Sharp "compared the organization’s model to that of the giant global chain IKEA." She reportedly said that SPN "would provide 'the raw materials,' along with the 'services' needed to assemble the products. Rather than acting like passive customers who buy finished products, she wanted each state group to show the enterprise and creativity needed to assemble the parts in their home states. 'Pick what you need,' she said, 'and customize it for what works best for you.'" Not only that, but Sharp "also acknowledged privately to the members that the organization's often anonymous donors frequently shape the agenda. 'The grants are driven by donor intent,' she told the gathered think-tank heads. She added that, often, 'the donors have a very specific idea of what they want to happen.'"^[5]

A set of coordinated fundraising proposals obtained and released by The Guardian in early December 2013 confirm many of these SPN members' intent to change state laws and policies, referring to "advancing model legislation" and "candidate briefings." These activities "arguably cross the line into lobbying," The Guardian notes.^[6]

Image: A CCHF promotion for its annual fundraiser featuring Michael Flynn.

 

Noem silent about ethics probe response. Flight to daughter’s wedding part of official business

I continue to be distracted by a surprise late-season tomato bumper crop--none of which I want to throw at South Dakota governor Kristi Noem as she recuperates, now home from back surgery at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

However tempting that may be in light of her continuing ethics issues, especially with the news dump about the plane on Friday.

Friday, Stephen Groves reported for the Associated Press in Gov. Kristi Noem silent on possible appeal to ethics board:

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem faced a Friday deadline to appeal a state ethics board’s finding that there was evidence she improperly intervened in her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license.

The Government Accountability Board voted unanimously last month that there was enough evidence to believe the Republican governor had committed malfeasance and engaged in a conflict of interest.

Noem has maintained she did nothing wrong, but so far the process has been conducted in private. Neither her office nor her reelection campaign answered questions Friday on whether she would proceed to a contested case hearing that would give her a chance to make her case publicly.

The board took unspecified “action” against the governor, and board member Gene Kean said last month that Friday would be the deadline for Noem to respond.

If there is no public hearing, it’s not clear whether the board will release details of the action it took. The board closed the complaint last month but suggested it could be reopened.

A lawyer who has represented the governor before the board also did not respond to questions.

The Associated Press first reported that shortly after a state agency moved in July 2020 to deny Noem’s daughter, Kassidy Peters, an appraiser license, the governor held a meeting with Peters and key decision-makers in her licensure. Days after the meeting, Peters signed an agreement that gave her another opportunity to meet the licensing requirements. The South Dakota Legislature’s audit committee, controlled by Republicans, unanimously approved a report in May that found Noem’s daughter got preferential treatment.

And there's that other inquiry, about the use of the state airplane. Jacob Newton reports in Governor’s Office says flight to daughter’s wedding was part of official business:

Update: KELOLAND News received the following info at 4:43 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 19, 2022.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — In response to a request for details on the May 30, 2019 flight in question, the South Dakota DOT provided the following info regarding who was on the flight on each leg of the journey.

All legs of the subject flight occurred on May 30, 2019. The legs of the flight and the passengers on board are as follows:

Leg 1 – Pierre to Custer – no passengers on board;
Leg 2 – Custer to Vermillion – Gov. Noem, Beth Hollatz and Ryan Tennyson;
Leg 3 – Vermillion to Aberdeen – Gov. Noem, Beth Hollatz, Ryan Tennyson, Booker Noem,
Nash Grantham, Hunter Arnold, and Jack Ferguson
Leg 4 – Aberdeen to Custer – Gov. Noem, Beth Hollatz, Ryan Tennyson, Booker Noem, Nash
Grantham, Hunter Arnold and Jack Ferguson;
Leg 5 – Custer to Pierre – no passengers on board.

The DOT also provided a justification for the flight, echoing Fury’s language from 2021, stating that “if the Governor had not been able to use the state plane that day, hundreds of teenage future community leaders would have been deprived of the opportunity to hear from their Governor and ask her questions.”

The wedding in question occurred three days after Noem was dropped back off in Custer. Along the way, she picked up her son, two nephews and a family friend. . . .

The facts known to KELOLAND are these:

A state plane flew from Pierre to Custer State Park, where it picked up Governor Noem, who was helping prepare her daughter’s wedding, and flew her to speak at Girl’s State in Vermillion. From Vermillion, Noem flew to Aberdeen, where she spoke at Boys State. After Aberdeen, the state plane returned to Pierre, where it is based, but not before detouring back to Custer State Park, where it deposited Noem, along with her son Booker, two nephews and a family friend, all of whom joined the flight at some point. Deputy Chief of Staff Beth Hollatz and Highway Patrol official Ryan Tennyson were also aboard.

Within state law, what exactly constitutes “state business” is not explicitly defined. Fury offered an interpretation that states the entire trip, even the portion from Aberdeen to a private family function before the plane returned to its hanger in Pierre, constitutes state business, because it was returning the Governor from said business. However, that interpretation may be up for debate.

Neil Fulton is the Dean of the University of South Dakota Knutson School of Law. He spoke with KELOLAND News on Friday, noting his views do not represent those of the Law School or the Board of Regents.

Fulton points out an interesting factor in the course of the discussion.

“I think one thing that’s just a little bit curious with some positions, is that it is harder maybe to define the full scope of state business for a constitutional officer, like the governor, or like the Attorney General, who has, you know, a certainly inherent mixing of personal, professional and political to a degree,” Fulton said.

Put simply, there are relatively few situations when the governor is acting fully in personal, political or official capacity. “Sometimes you’re on the clock for all three of those things,” said Fulton.

“Let’s say you go to a college campus and give a speech,” said Fulton. “You’re probably going to talk about higher education, higher education policy, which is very much a state business item. Inherently, there’s a political component of that, right, you’re out in front of potential voters. And in a state like South Dakota, there’s a pretty good chance you’re gonna run into a friend or the kid of a friend and have a personal conversation along the way.” . . .

What may be the crux of the issue is the personal aspect of the trip, which could be argued as being the presence of family, and leg of the flight, from Aberdeen to Custer State Park, of which the entire purpose was to deliver Noem to her daughter’s wedding.

Does the presence of a personal element make the trip a personal one, or does the presence of an official motive override the personal element?

“I would say one of the questions here that I think the statute leaves open is the phrase ‘used only in the conduct of state business’,” said Fulton. “You’re going to have to assess — does that refer to the predominant purpose of a trip? Or are you going to say that if there is any personal component that creeps into it, that trip is tainted?”

Fulton also pointed out that the state statute allows exemptions for personal use for other state vehicles, but not for aircraft.

“I think it’s certainly a plausible reading to look at the statute and say that the legislature thought it could treat airplane usage differently, and more restrictively, in that no one stops off for a gallon of milk on the way home in an airplane,” Fulton said.

This highlights a potential reason for the lack of an exemption for aircraft. While it’s conceivable that an officer driving home in an assigned state vehicle might make a short detour to pick their kid up from school, or to grab a gallon of milk from the store, such detours could seem much less rational in an airplane.

This may be due to the increased distances that planes travel compared to cars, the greater cost of travel, or the regulation with how planes travel, take off and land. There would be a big difference between detouring a few blocks to the local school to pick up your kid, and flying a few hundred miles to do the same.

“There’s a reason you got in your plane and took off and flew to a particular location,” Fulton explained. “You don’t really along the way say, ‘Hey, let’s just swing off and say hi to Bob because we’re driving by his house.’ So I think the different nature of planes and cars is certainly a part of it.”

Fulton says anyone looking to determine if a wrong has been committed will be attempting to parse out the intent of the body that instituted the law in 2006, which was the voting public, who passed it in an election as an initiative. Anyone ruling will likely need to take into account just what the intention was when the law was approved saying “other than in the conduct of state business”.

Currently, that responsibility lies in the Hughes County Courthouse, with State’s Attorney LaMie. . . .

We'll continue processing our harvest and this information. 

Photo:  Via Associated Press: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks on Feb. 25, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. A South Dakota ethics board’s finding that Noem may have engaged in misconduct by intervening in her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license is likely not the last word on the matter. But exactly how much more comes out on the episode may be up to the Republican governor herself. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File).

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Oath Keepers: SD state senator Jim Stalzer joins Phil Jensen again in news reports about alumni

Last week, Bluestem posted  South Dakota state rep Phil Jensen back in the news for ties to insurrectionist Oath Keepers, sharing news of a widely published Associated Press article,  Elected officials, police chiefs on leaked Oath Keepers list, by Alanna Durkin Richer and Michael Kunzelman. 

The leaked list is back in the news this week in a Forum News Service article, North Dakota sheriff, representatives from Minnesota, South Dakota listed as members of Oath Keepers, by C.S. Hagen. This week, another South Dakota state legislator joins Jensen in the news:

. . . One senator and one representative were listed as Oath Keepers members in South Dakota. . . . 

Sen. Jim Stalzer, R-Sioux Falls , said he is no longer a member of the Oath Keepers.

“I don’t remember the exact date, but it was probably in the 2013 or 2014 range, and I became a member because I had gone to a conference. I’m a veteran, and I took my oaths seriously. I probably should have looked into the organization, but they've probably become more radical since then. I am no longer affiliated, nor do I want to be,” Stalzer told The Forum.

He said the Oath Keepers were described to him as an organization that believed in the U.S. and state constitutions but couldn’t say if the organization’s advertising methods were softened to attract his attention.

“I belonged one time and never renewed, and I haven’t heard back from them in years,” Stalzer said.

As was the case for Jensen, Stalzer's presence on the list was media fodder when the list was first published last fall. But unlike Jensen, Stalzer has changed his story about the circumstances of his past membership.

At Keloland, Jassmine Jackson reported last October in South Dakota lawmaker no longer associates with right-wing militia group Oath Keepers:

. . .Senator Jim Stalzer says he signed up for the group 5 or 6 years ago when Sheriff Richard Mack, leader of the Constitutional Sheriffs movement, spoke in Sioux Falls.

“I visited with him, he was at that time a director of Oath Keepers, and he encouraged a number of us veterans to join the organization. So, I signed up, you know if you look at their website and you look at what they stand for, sounds great,” Stalzer said. “But in the meantime, they have gotten confrontational they’ve gotten involved in some violent things.”

Stalzer, a state senator who represents Minnehaha County, has been serving in the legislature since 2013, first in the house and now in the senate. He is a supporter of the right to bear arms. He’s a certified pistol instructor, too.

In fact, when we caught up with him, he was taking part in a Senate GOP event at Hunters Point near Humboldt.

“I absolutely believe in not only maintaining our second amendment rights, but all of our rights under the constitution. And I believe in fighting for those things but again you do it an adult manner and you don’t do like Oath Keepers have done, you don’t do it like Antifa,” Stalzer said.

Stalzer says his ties to Oath Keepers were severed long ago and he no longer gets emails from the organization.

Has Stalzer lost his memory of Sheriff Mack's involvement in his own Oath Keepers signup since October? 

Sheriff Mack was in South Dakota a little over a month later, Bluestem reported in  So SD state rep Mulally, a sheriff & a county commish will host Sheriff Mack in Rapid City. Dakota Free Press picked up on the catch, noting Sheriff Mack's rad cred in Custer Sheriff, Rapid City Legislator, Pennington Commish Host Right-Wing Enemies of Constitution and Truth:

Former Graham County, Arizona, sheriff Richard Mack founded the “Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association” and travels the country to peddle the unconstitutional and dangerous notions that local sheriffs can supersede the authority of Congress, the President, the Supreme Court, and even their own state governments. Mack disguises this insurrectionist sentiment as “training” for the cops he’s trying to indoctrinate and recruit into his unconstitutional movement:

The central tenet of CSPOA, borrowed from the anti-government extremist sovereign citizen movement, is that the county sheriff is the ultimate authority in the county, able to halt enforcement of any federal or state law or measure they deem unconstitutional. Mack, a former Arizona sheriff, has used this false narrative to oppose gun control laws and, in the last two years, to exploit anger and frustration over federal and state actions to combat COVID-19.

ADL is releasing this report today because we are especially alarmed that Mack is increasingly seeking out law enforcement audiences, billing his extremist events as “trainings.” In a disturbing development, in 2021, Mack won official state approval for his “trainings” in Montana and Texas, which allows attendees to receive continuing education credit for attending Mack’s events [Anti-Defamation League, “New ADL Report on Richard Mack and the CSPOA: Extremists Training, Recruiting Law Enforcement Nationwide,” 2021.10.06]. . . .

We thought we'd learn more about the Sioux Falls Republican and thought we'd learn more.

Stalzer's rip on the Sioux Falls Police Department

Wikipedia's entry on Jim Stalzer notes he had a scuffle about his view of firearms in the hands of law enforcement and law enforcement:

In 2015, the police of Sioux Falls demanded Stalzer to apologize after he made controversial remarks regarding concealed weapons. Stalzer's answer to the demand was that he made a comparison between honesty and integrity of concealed weapons and their holders, and therefore he has nothing to apologize about.

The source for that summary was a February 2015 Argus Leader article, Police group wants apology from state lawmaker. Mark Walker reported:

The leader of a state police organization is asking for an apology from a state legislator for comments made on the House floor during a debate over conceal-and-carry gun permits.

Mike Walsh, South Dakota’s president of the Fraternal Order of Police, said Rep. Jim Stalzer’s, R-Sioux Falls, comment that concealed weapons carriers are more law-abiding than law enforcement officers was “irresponsible” and “disturbing.”

Stalzer, reached by phone Wednesday, said he will not apologize for his comments. He said his argument was based a report from the Crime Prevention Research Center.

“My intention was not to slam police officers, but rather to compare the honesty and integrity of concealed and carry permit holder to police officers,” Stalzer said. “Unless the report is proven false, I don’t think I have anything to apologize for.”

Walsh said he challenges any legislator to find a state with fewer law enforcement members who have been discharged from duty or charged with a crime.

Walsh said that during a hearing for House Bill 1206, which would have authorized the concealed carry of pistols on public university campuses under certain circumstances, Stalzer said that calling 911 was like calling “dial a prayer”.

“My first thought was that it’s unprofessional to make statements like that to begin with and to base it on something other than actual real data is irresponsible,” Walsh said. “He’s making comments about law enforcement that are completely unjustified. I think law enforcement in South Dakota deserves an apology from him.”

Walsh said Stalzer’s comment was based on an article that appeared in a gun magazine.

The South Dakota Fraternal Order of Police issued the following statement from Walsh on Wednesday:

“As the state president of the FOP, and a voice for more than 1,100 law enforcement officers, I strongly object to any insinuation that they are less than law-abiding or ethical. I challenge any legislator to find a state with fewer law enforcement members who are discharged from duty or charged with a crime. Representative Jim Stalzer has testified to the legislature during the debate of HB 1116 and another bill that concealed firearms carriers are more law-abiding than law enforcement officers. This unquantifiable statement has no basis in fact, and I would submit this: in order to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon, a citizen can have committed and been convicted of a number of crimes. In order to become and remain a certified law enforcement officer in this great state, one can have a minor conviction, but certainly not anything rising to a serious crime and certainly not more than one. I call on Rep. Stalzer to explain his comments and apologize to the law enforcement community in South Dakota.”

Hypothetical sheriffs? Rah-rah! Real officers? Not so much. Given that his membership in the Oath Keepers came at a time just before Stalzer ripped on real cops, we have to ask just how radically he took his own oaths back then--and now.

Photo: Sen. Jim Stalzer, R-Sioux Falls. Photo by Bob Mercer/State Capitol Bureau, Capital Journal.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

 

After losing primary, has Miller launched write-in campaign, attacking "establishment GOP"?

In our post earlier this week, Will Westrom family support for Rasmusson primary challenger ruffle MNSenate GOP unity?, we wrote about the primary battle Nathan Miller waged against endorsed Republican state senate candidate and one-term Minnesota House member Jordan Rasmusson.

If a post Thursday on the Facebook page Rocks and Cows of Minnesota is to be believed--as well as a separate Facebook post on a campaign supporter's page--Miller has announced he's mounting a write-in campaign in the general election. 

There's nothing about the write-in campaign on Miller's campaign webpage nor on its Facebook page.

Miller lost the August Republican primary in Minnesota Senate District 48.41 % to Rasmusson's 51.59% of the vote. In voter numbers, that's 5,738 for Rasmusson, with 5,385 casting ballots for Miller.

From a Rocks and Cows Facebook post:

The following is an open letter to Candidate Rasmusson from Candidate Miller following the Senate District 9 Primary.

To: Jordan Rasmusson.

​

There are a few critical times in one’s life that define who and what we are or will become in the future. These moments can be an event, an experience, a decision or even a tragedy. How we handle these critical junctures in life defines much of our character, I have discovered that in the face of adversity is where we find the true worth of a man. The last several months have been a challenge, privilege and a lot of work for me, my family, friends, supporters and campaigners. I have learned much on this journey so far and continue to be impressed with the fire of truth that spreads here in Western Minnesota. Alas doing the right thing is not always the easy thing.

 

​I have to admit I honestly never thought I would be writing this letter to you, mostly due to not having ever planned to run for political office. However when you feel called or compelled to do something by the Lord it is imperative that we answer and do our best. I have taken some time to think about the way I conducted myself on the campaign trail attempting at all times to be honest, forthcoming and transparent with people to make sure they knew what they would be getting with a potential Senator Miller. I feel honesty to our constituents is our highest call after being beholden to our Divine Creator and being a diligent defender of our US and Minnesota Constitutions.

​

Understanding that we are in a pivotal time in this country and state if we want to save it from the crushing debt, anti-God, anti-Constitution, and anti-American agenda that is being pushed on us, we need to unify. This will be a tall order in a republican party that clearly has a divide, maybe now more than it ever has. On one side we have the large number of America First People who are activated patriotic grassroots Americans. They are conservative, hardworking, liberty loving, and the stay off my lawn types. Many of whom have no time or love for the status quo, business as usual wing of the party and especially career politicians. The other side is the Establishment GOP with the money, the connections, the endorsements and the ‘do whatever it takes to maintain power’ attitude. This group really has a disdain for the aforementioned America first folks. They see us as expendable red pawns to be used on the chess board of politics, hoping we continue to toe the line and never observe how tilted the board truly is, so much so that the upper echelon always wins regardless of their red or blue affiliation.

 

​As a candidate in this race I am yet again formally requesting that an independent audit be performed of the original delegate and alternate list from the Ottertail County Republican Caucus on February 1st. A simple comparison of all 93 precinct’s original caucus rosters to the February 25th spread sheet that was created in a computer by the OTC Republican Credentials Committee (comprised of Mr. Eric Vergiels, Mrs. Emma Rasmusson, and Mr. Harry Merickel) must happen. I realize this will continue to be buried regardless of the fact that we have 26 names that were switched, changed and/or added out of only 30 investigated precincts. I hope moving forward you will be a stalwart for voter integrity, your votes to suppress this audit at the county level on multiple occasions has been duly noted. In the light of truth, accountability and transparency I ask you; what have you done for your county today?

 

​I can honestly tell you I do not want to be a politician. I am willing to serve in the capacity of a statesman who further advances the sacred cause of liberty. So the easy thing is to pack it up and go home. Quitting is enticing if it were not for my fiery desire of a freer republic for our posterity and a return to truth. I was hoping you would provide me with an avenue to walk away by leading the OTC BPOU down the path of an independent audit to clear things up, unite us and mend the broken trust. Your refusal to do so now puts me in a moral dilemma, a direct defiance of my conscience and a slap in the face to the 5385 America First Patriots who cast their vote with unwavering conviction on Aug 9th. I will never concede to nefarious actors in our elections. Therefore I must continue onward, I will not be going away and the campaign signs shall remain, continuing to multiply. On Nov 8th the people of SD 9 will have the option to write in their vote for honorable representation without being forced to extinguish the flame of truth that burns in their hearts.

In Liberty,

__________________________________

Nathan Miller Write in Candidate Senate District 9

Now is Miller time​​​

Paid for and distributed by Miller for SD 9, PO Box 298, Fergus Falls, MN 56538. 612-616-5839. MillerforSD9.com

According to Miller supporter Tammy Moen, the open letter to Jordan Rasmusson had been sent to newspapers across the district and "should show up in papers across the district today [Thursday]."

 

We haven't seen it in any of the op-ed sections of the district papers to which we subscribe, but given the disclaimer, perhaps it's running as an ad.

Perhaps it's an elaborate hoax and we fell for it. Or maybe the Lord really is on Nathan Miller's side and he's a statesman?

Photo: A photo boosting the new Miller write-in campaign--or just a clever photoshop? From a Rocks and Cows Facebook post.

Related posts

• Rocks and Cows' Facebook post author Carol Hexum walks back anti-LGBTQ rally frame
• Fergus Falls Pride: GOP Senate primary challenger Miller schedules anti-LGBQT event
• Dueling letters in GOP Senate District 9 contest make us understand why Westrom's moving
•  MN08: Bill Ingebrigtsen to retire; Representative Mary Franson won't seek senate office
•  Minnesota House rep Jordan Rasmusson to run for senate following Ingebrigtsen retirement
•  Nornes retiring from MN House; young private equity guy may save Fergus Falls from socialism 
• No disclaimer: Wardlow, Skraba, SL Co sheriff candidate speaking at Ely 2000 Mules showing

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Did Tim Miller's House floor remarks on litter boxes for school kids inspire BOLD prank?

Reading around Greater Minnesota media this afternoon, I came across JP Cola's report School officials getting calls about "Litter Box Challenge" at Willmar Radio:

(Olivia MN-) BOLD School District Superintendent Jim Menton says they are getting calls from concerned community members stemming from a prank that originated on the Tik Tok video-sharing website. Menton says kids try to record shocked reactions from parents or relatives when they tell them that their school is providing litter boxes for students that identify as animals. Menton says it's an obvious prank, but some people have taken it seriously...

...Menton says it's hard to believe anyone would believe such a silly notion...

...Willmar Schools Superintendent Dr. Jeff Holm says he hasn't gotten any calls yet, but just in case, he wants to make sure everyone knows they are not providing litter boxes for students who identify as animals.

Now where have I heard this before? 

Oh yes: on the floor of the Minnesota House last April. And one of the people asserting this "silly notion"? Retiring state representative Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg, who serves most of Renville County, home to many of the community residents who send their kids to the Bird Island-Olivia-Lake Lillian School District. 

Bluestem reported last April 28 in MNHouse Republicans falsely claim schools are providing litter boxes for kids identifying as cats:

We'd read debunkings of that one over and over for the past few months, including Polifact's Rated-Pants-On-Fire Schools are putting litter boxes in bathrooms to accommodate kids who identify as furries. Claim about schools providing litter boxes for students debunked in several states.

At the Minnesota Reformer, Rilyn Eischens captured the moment in a news brief, Republicans falsely claim schools are providing litter boxes for students identifying as cats:

Minnesota Republicans repeated debunked tales about schools providing litter boxes for students who identify as cats during debate over the House education budget bill Wednesday.

Reps. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg, shared the fictional stories in support of Drazkowski’s proposal to give lawmakers control over a statewide student survey.

The anecdotes show, Miller said, how the Minnesota Student Survey’s questions about gender and sexuality encourage “moving to the absurd” in allowing students to explore their identities. Democrats condemned the comments as inaccurate and harmful to LGBTQ youth, who are disproportionately likely to face bullying and mental health issues.

“I get concerned that people watching this may think members are intending harm, or at least feel that harm,” said Rep. Dave Pinto, DFL-St. Paul. “I want to make sure that transgender kids, all gender kids, know that you are loved. You are normal exactly as you are, in your own skin.”

Unsubstantiated rumors about schools providing accommodations for students who believe they’re animals or identify as furries — a subculture of people who enjoy acting like and dressing up as animals — have spread across the country for months. The claims, all debunked, have been spurred on by social media posts, outraged parents and lawmakers in several states, often in connection with arguments that schools’ diversity and inclusion efforts have gone too far. 

The Minnesota Student Survey has been given every three years since 1989. It’s the only source of statewide data on students’ health and safety, with questions on topics including nutrition, sexual behavior, after-school programming and substance use. Schools and the state use the data to track trends in student well-being and apply for grants.

Drazkowski took issue with questions like “What is your gender identity?,” saying he didn’t know what some of the options meant and couldn’t remember if there’s a “blue gender or a green gender.” He thanked education committee chair Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, for explaining to him the meaning of “cisgender” — which describes a person whose gender matches their sex assigned at birth — during a committee hearing.

“Apparently, members, it means you’re normal,” Drazkowski said. “It’s the way God designed you.”

Rep. Eric Lucero, R-St. Michael, also spoke in favor of Drazkowki’s proposal, arguing that the survey stands in the way of schools getting “back to basics.”

“Whether a person believes themselves to be an animal, or some other inanimate object, or ‘two-spirited’ or whatever this other junk is that’s being taught in these schools —” Lucero said, referencing “Two Spirit,” an Indigenous term that encompasses a range of genders and sexualities. Democratic Rep. Jamie Becker-Finn — a descendant of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe — interrupted with a point of order. 

A number of Democrats called on Drazkowski, Miller and Lucero to apologize for disparaging LGBTQ and Indigenous people. They refused, with Drazkowski saying “truth” has to “prevail over feelings of what we think we want to be.” Miller said the criticisms were offensive to 95% of people in his district; and Lucero added, “I love all children, but there’s the reality that love sometimes has to be tough.”

“There have been some hateful, disrespectful things said on this floor today,” Becker-Finn said, addressing her comments to Two Spirit and queer Minnesotans. “We love you just the way you are. You are exactly who the creator wanted you to be. You are exactly what your ancestors dreamed of. You are not alone, and you are loved.” 

Watch that moment in our post, [VIDEO] Watch Jamie Becker-Finn's MNHouse floor message to #LGBTQIA & #TwoSpirit youth.

As for Miller, that's some leadership. One wonders whether it's some sort of grooming for kids' tall-tale telling.

It's the sort of leadership we reported in late August in Retiring state rep Miller to push unconstitutional local ordinances for new PLAM Action job. Yesterday, Miller told Willmar Radio that he'll be getting some outside legal help for those unconstitutional local ordinances:

In the meantime, a group called PLAM Action, headed by State Representative Tim Miller of Prinsburg, is approaching city councils across the state, asking that they pass ordinances declaring themselves abortion-free, or "Life Cities"...

....Tim Miller says he realizes there would be legal challenges to such ordinances, but says The Thomas Moore Society has agreed to not only help write the ordinances, but also pay to legally defend them. Miller says while many small towns don't have medical clinics to perform surgical abortions, there's always the abortion pill . . .

...Miller says at this point no towns have passed abortion free, or "Life City" ordinances, but hopefully there will be some soon.

 According to Wikipedia:

The Thomas More Society is a conservative^[1][2] Roman Catholic^[3][4] public-interest law firm based in Chicago.^[5][6] The group has been engaged in many "culture war" issues, promoting its anti-abortion and anti-same-sex marriage beliefs through litigation.^[5] The society filed cases as part of Donald Trump's failed attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Trump was defeated. . . .

We hope someone's cleaning the cat-box in Miller's mind, because the dung must be fairly fragrant by this point.

Related posts

• MNHouse Republicans falsely claim schools are providing litter boxes for kids identifying as cats
• Retiring state rep Miller to push unconstitutional local ordinances for new PLAM Action job
• Tall grass prairie? State representative Tim Miller goes to Moorhead for grassroots organizing
• [VIDEO] Watch Jamie Becker-Finn's MNHouse floor message to #LGBTQIA & #TwoSpirit youth

Photo: A cat identifying as a cat, using a litter box.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Swift County Monitor: Senator Torrey Westrom Senate District 12 residency decision appealed

On September 6, we posted about the intervener's response to the referee's findings in our post, Petitioners in Westrom residency challenge referee's conclusion; his lawyers don't.

Mostly, the post was embedded copies of court filings.

In the latest e-edition of the Swift County Monitor, editor Reed Anfinson does some real journalism in "Westrom decision appealed."

Though it appeared the challenge to Sen. Torrey Westrom’s residency in the new District 12 was settled, it’s not. Anfinson begins:

An appeal has been filed by Appleton attorney Brian Wojtalewicz, who represented one of the petitioners in the challenge to Westrom’s residency.

Appellate Court Judge Diane B. Bratvold ruled Aug. 30 that Westrom had met the state’s standards for establishing residency in the district. But her ruling added a comment that is now being cited in the appeal.

“In sum, the evidence Westrom presented to support his claim that he now resides in Senate District 12 is not overwhelming,” Bratvold wrote. “Still, the evidence establishes by a preponderance that Westrom has resided at the Lake Mary property since May 7, 2022, given the short period of time he had to move after redistricting changed the boundaries for Senate District 12.”

“Thus, Westrom has satisfied the residency requirement to run for senator in Senate District 12,” Bratvold concluded. . . .

. . . Wojtalewicz filed the appeal for Guillemard who says the evidence is clear Westrom has not established residency in the new District 12. He expects a quick decision by the Supreme Court on the appeal considering how quickly the Nov. 8 election is approaching.

In referring to Bratvold’s comment on Westrom’s less than “overwhelming” proof of residency in the district, Wojtalewicz writes in the appeal that "this conclusion was reached apparently without consideration of some key evidence of the hearing.”

Our readers can review an embedded copy of by clicking on Petitioners in Westrom residency challenge referee's conclusion; his lawyers don't.

But to read Anfinson explanatory prose, we recommend subscribing to the Swift County Monitor, a fine independent rural weekly.

Photo: The Lake Mary domicile at the center of the dispute about where Senator Torrey Westrom lives.

Related posts:

• Will Westrom family support for Rasmusson primary challenger ruffle MNSenate GOP unity
• Petitioners in Westrom residency challenge referee's conclusion; his lawyers don't
• Referee's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law: Torrey Westrom stays on MN12 ballot 
• Westrom residency: an account of the hearing before the Honorable Diane Bratvold
• Westrom residency: Klingbeil thanks intervenor; referee's decision to come no later than Tuesday
• Another MN12 resident moves to intervene in challenge to Westrom residency in district
• MinnPost: if Klingbeil's petition on Westrom's residency prevails, still chance for GOP on ballot
• Swift County Monitor, Black Robe Regiment look into MN12 Westrom non-residency claims
• MN12 Westrom residency challenge: Supreme Court sets August 15 deadline for evidence
• MN12: "We The People" candidate Klingbeil follows through on Westrom residency challenge
• Via personal Facebook page: independent candidate vows to challenge Westrom residency
• MN12: Ashley Klingbeil to challenge Torrey and Dorry from the right for state senate seat
• Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house? 

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

MN07 Legal Marijuana Now candidate says district voters tell him they thought they were picking Bachmann not this Fischbach lady

It's hard not to riff on a "What is he smoking?" lede when a Legal Marijuana Now candidate says something silly, so I just did.

In Forum New Service chain papers, Michael Achterling reports in 'Bull' Johnson faces uphill climb in U.S. House race:

He also said he knows he is running as a political long shot, but thinks he can draw enough support away from the non-Trumpy wing of the GOP and conservative Democrats to make the three-person race competitive. He added, after talking to some voters, he believes many of the Minnesota Seventh District residents don't have a favorable view of Michelle Fischbach, the district's current representative.

"I was shocked when I started talking to people, about the number of people, and this is going to sound bad, the number of people who thought they voted for Michele Bachmann," said Johnson. "It was more than a handful."

Bachmann, a conservative Republican, represented Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District from 2007 to 2015 and was a television favorite on cable news during the Tea Party movement.

Given that Fischbach unwillingly served as the lieutenant governor of Minnesota after Mark Dayton appointed Tina Smith senator when Al Franken resigned, then ran as former Governor Tim Pawlenty's nominee for lieutenant governor in the Minnesota Republican Party primary during the 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial election, we have a hard time believing that one.

But perhaps Johnson has found his base.

According to records online at the Federal Election Commission, Johnson originally filed as a Libertarian Party candidate in a January 19, 2021 Statement of Organization. That became "Independent" in another statement signed February 5, 2022.Johnson finally settled as "other" in yet another statement signed August 5, 2022.

That final statement updates his May 31, 2022 filing for office with the Minnesota Secretary of State.

Fundraising has been a struggle. Johnson's amended 2021 year-end filing showed the campaign committee with $-181.16 cash on hand and $2409.87 in debts and obligations. The July quarterly report revealed $2044.49 cash on and $4130.91 of debts, after raising $6359.63 in the quarterly. The pre-primary report showed $140.90 taken in and on hand.

As for disbursements, there's little of interest until those in the July Quarterly report (covering Period 04/01/2022 Through 06/30/2022), after Johnson switched his party affiliation. We see a $1500 payment to Matt Kowalski's Kowala Media, and three payments totaling $1000 to Amos Webskowski, whose LinkedIn profile lists a recent hire as Grassroots Engagement Director for Americans for Prosperity.

The Star Tribune reported Kowalski was chair of the Second Congressional District Republicans in 2015.  By 2017, he was the media entrepreneur becomes who became Libertarian Party of Minnesota Executive Director; he was selected as an alternate elector for the Libertarian Party in 2020.

In short, Johnson's Legal Marijuana Now mantle in the Republican safe seat in the Seventh doesn't look like the sort of thing Michelle Griffith describes at the Minnesota Reformer in Pot party candidate for U.S. House has GOP ties; Dems allege she’s a spoiler.

No one will mistake him for Paula Overby.

Image: Bull Johnson's logo.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

 

Will Westrom family support for Rasmusson primary challenger ruffle MNSenate GOP unity?

Bluestem's last post on the resolved challenge to Torrey Westrom's residency in the new Minnesota Senate District 12, Petitioners in Westrom residency challenge referee's conclusion; his lawyers don't, closed with a timeline about what led to the need for the long-serving Republican state legislator to move.

In that post, I asked the question:

How did the extended Westrom family respond to the predistricting preference given to one-term Minnesota House member Jordan Rasmusson, that forced Torrey's move? We're looking to secure one more piece of evidence of that one.

Here's the set-up:

 ...Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen . . . announced his retirement in January 2022.

That announcement was made before redistricting results were announced by the court on February 15, 2022, Ingebrigtsen  announced his endorsement of state representative Jordan Rasmusson before the lines were drawn, according to a January 31, 2022 press release Ingebrigtsen endorses Rasmusson for State Senate.

District 8 became District 9, placing Rasmusson and Westrom together in the same district, while the new District 12 was left without an incumbent.

Westrom's first statement about running again after the new lines were drawn, published as State Sen. Torrey Westrom announces re-election bid on February 18 in the Alexandria Echo Press, doesn't mention the district in which he will run . . .

We can only wonder what discussions went on in the subsequent weeks before the Echo Press published Sen. Torrey Westrom announces re-election bid in District 12 on March 3:

ST. PAUL – Senator Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, announced his re-election bid to the Minnesota State Senate for Senate District 12 on Thursday, March 3. . . .

A bit more about the Miller challenge, an April 28 news article from the Fergus Falls Journal, Miller responds to endorsement:

The local political season is heating up in Senate District 9 with a face-off between two who are running, Nathan Miller of Battle Lake and Jordan Rasmusson (R-Fergus Falls), who is currently completing his first term in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Both are running to succeed retiring State Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen (R-Alexandria). The contest will more than likely end in a primary showdown.

Miller reacted recently, saying he believes that the party did not give him enough time to gather delegates.

“It’s not that surprising that the established candidate receives the endorsements when he announces two days after the incumbent decides to retire, being Sen. Bill Ingebrigtsen, and has three weeks prior to caucus to go and essentially stack up his delegates and get people to run as delegates. Then following the caucuses and leading up to the BPOU convention, I announce I’m going to jump in and then the chairs from the counties decided by a majority to push the endorsing convention up four weeks, even though they knew they had another person running. Essentially giving me only five weeks to attempt to get momentum going,” said Miller.

The Republican endorsing convention for Senate District 9 was held on Apr. 23. . . .

Bear in mind that the "established candidate," Rasmusson, served one term in the house.

Who did the Westroms support: the endorsed Republican candidate, or the challenger? What did we find in looking for Westrom family and Westrom compound candidate support in the Senate District 9 primary?

At the top of this post, there's an image of Senator Westrom's former home in Elbow Lake, taken on August 2. It's a still from video evidence in the residency petition.

Note the yard sign along the driveway, in the right-hand corner of the still. That's a Nathan Miller for Senate sign. Now, according to the findings of the referee, Westrom no longer lived at this Elbow Lake residency--but his wife came to the door when a Grant County deputy tried serving her husband with papers about the residency challenge.

Here's a close up of the yard sign, from the same video:

Yes, that's a Nathan Miller sign. So much for party unity.

Moreover, Senator Westrom's parents supported Republican Nathan Miller for the primary in District 9 over endorsed candidate Jordan Rasmusson. Here's a screenshot of a August 7 post on Dennis Westrom's Facebook page:

And from Westrom's mother's page:

A Westrom backer, former state representative Robert "Bob" Westfall, who contributed $500.00 each to Westrom and Miller in 2022, sent a letter to the editor of the Wahpeton Daily News, Rasmusson short-changed rural Minnesota, just before the primary. The letter contained a litany of complaints, including a vote that was a slap across Westrom's face:

...Did you know what part of the rural economy, Rep. Rasmusson voted against Sen. Torrey Westrom’s bill that provided drought relief for farmers? . ..

Apparently Westrom's family didn't know that Rasmusson wasn't alone in that vote. Alexandria area representative Mary Franson, the woman standing next to Westrom in Mrs. Westrom's Leadership photo montage, voted against the "Westrom" bill, as did montage-member Jeff Backer (also a recipient of Westfall's largesse). 

In fact, not a single House Republican voted for the ag bill, as we reported in Fickle MNHouse GOP votes against omnibus ag, drought relief conference report. Passes anyway:

 . . .But when the agriculture conference report hit the House floor last night--a"conference committee report to HF3420 combines the omnibus agriculture and broadband supplemental finance and policy bill with one that would provide relief to farmers from the 2021 drought," the vote was 69-64, without a single Republican voting for the legislation.

Too much help for farmers? Too much money for broadband? Too much money left for the DNR tree drought relief?

You'd think they'd at least honor Elbow Lake Republican Ag Chair Torrey Westrom's hard work in stealing away the stand-alone HF3420 after he assumed the gavel after the first conference committee meeting on April 20 for it. They kept those empty talking points about how much they loved farmers but hated trees for weeks.

Let's hope the Senate Republicans behave themselves and pass the report before adjournment. . . .

Indeed, we wonder how--if Rasmusson is so odious--Westrom and his Senate Republican colleagues will deal with other Minnesota House drought-relief naysayers ascend to the Senate seats they seek in November's election: Steve Green, Eric Lucero, Cal Bahr, Steve Drazkowski and more. Rasmusson will not be alone, if they and Westrom are victorious in November and head to the upper chamber.

Will Westrom and his family put this in the past as Westrom settles on the placid shores of Lake Mary?

Perhaps the next time a sitting senate retires at the eve of redistricting, she or he will refrain from anointing an heir. Oh, the irony.

Here's the original September 6 timeline and analysis:

An aside: what Game of Thrones prompted Westrom's move?

Moving to a new district certainly must have been a vexsome experience for Westrom. 2022 redistricting didn't follow the pattern set in 2002, when he was serving in the Minnesota House and paired with another Republican state house member.

 An April 1, 2002 press release, Local Legislators Announce Intentions for Next Election, announced:

In the wake of a redistricting plan that placed four area state legislators in the running for two positions, Rep. George Cassell and Rep. Torrey Westrom announced their plans today for the upcoming November election.

Westrom and Cassell, who were paired for the same House seat, had three choices. They could run against each other for the Republican endorsement, compete in a primary election, or one of them could choose not to run for re-election.

Both Cassell and Westrom agreed they did not want to run against one another, so Rep. Cassell announced today that he will not seek re-election to the House of Representatives. Instead, he will run for the Minnesota Senate in what is now called Senate District 11.

"Rep. Westrom not only is a good friend of mine, but I also didn't want the Legislature to lose his valuable skills and experience," Cassell said. "Running for Senate makes it possible for the two of us to continue working together and serving this area as a strong team."

The newly structured Senate District 11 is currently home to both Sen. Charlie Berg and Sen. Dallas Sams. Sen. Berg announced last week that he will not seek re-election to the Senate, leaving the path open to Rep. Cassell for the Republican endorsement. Cassell's DFL opponent will likely be Sen. Sams of Staples, although he has not officially announced a bid for re- election.

"The new redistricting boundaries put the two senators at opposite corners of the district," Cassell said, "but because I live in Alexandria, I am centrally located in the new district, and have better access to all the communities within it. For me, it is a matter of being in the right place at the right time."

Rep. Westrom also officially announced that he will seek re-election in the new House District 11A. Living in Elbow Lake, Westrom is also centrally located in his new district. Westrom said he is pleased with the way things have worked out after redistricting and is looking forward to campaigning with Cassell, rather than against him. . . . 

Cassell was defeated by the late Dallas Sams, who then lost to Senator Bill Ingebrigtsen, who announced his retirement in January 2022.

That announcement was made before redistricting results were announced by the court on February 15, 2022, Ingebrigtsen also announced his endorsement of state representative Jordan Rasmusson before the lines were drawn, according to a January 31, 2022 press release Ingebrigtsen endorses Rasmusson for State Senate.

District 8 became District 9, placing Rasmusson and Westrom together in the same district, while the new District 12 was left without an incumbent.

Westrom's first statement about running again after the new lines were drawn, published as State Sen. Torrey Westrom announces re-election bid on February 18 in the Alexandria Echo Press, doesn't mention the district in which he will run:

State Sen. Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, announced Friday, Feb. 18 that he is seeking re-election three days after a five-member panel of judges released the new legislative district maps that go into effect for the upcoming election.

Westrom released the following statement:

“As the current Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee chairman, I look forward to continuing to represent the great people in western and central Minnesota and be their champion in the Minnesota State Senate.  With the new district lines, I am actively evaluating with family and community members on how to best be that strong voice for agriculture and our traditional conservative values in St. Paul. As a life-long Republican, it is a tremendous honor serving our community. Stay tuned for imminent, detailed news on our re-election campaign."

We can only wonder what discussions went on in the subsequent weeks before the Echo Press published Sen. Torrey Westrom announces re-election bid in District 12 on March 3:

ST. PAUL – Senator Torrey Westrom, R-Elbow Lake, announced his re-election bid to the Minnesota State Senate for Senate District 12 on Thursday, March 3.

On Feb. 15, a five-judge panel appointed by the Minnesota State Supreme Court released redrawn legislative maps based on the results of the 2020 Census. Every 10 years, Minnesota is constitutionally required to redraw its legislative boundaries to reflect population shifts.

“After much prayer and deliberation with my family, supporters and community members, I look forward to seeking the Republican endorsement and continuing to represent west central Minnesota in the state Senate, as the senator from Senate District 12,” said Westrom, who currently serves as chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee.

“I want to continue being one of the fiercest advocates in the legislature for agriculture, rural jobs, rural schools, rural health care, and rural broadband expansion, along with fighting for our traditional values,” Westrom said.

The newly redrawn Senate District 12 comprises five of the six counties within the current senate district boundary, which Westrom currently represents. They are Big Stone, Douglas, Pope, Stevens, and western Stearns County. The new Senate District 12 will also include Swift County.

Westrom has represented District 12 in the Minnesota State Senate since 2012.

“It is a tremendous honor to serve our west central Minnesota communities in the Legislature and I look forward to continuing to fight for you and our conservative rural values in St. Paul,” Westrom said.

No news there about the fact that his Grant County and his home in Elbow Lake wasn't in the new District 12.

That first detail first appeared in district media on March 9, when Morris MN radio KMRS/KKOK reported in Westrom to Establish Residence in Douglas County to Seek Reelection:

When State Senator Torrey Westrom announced his run for re-election to District 12 last week, one detail was not mentioned. After redistricting, the new legislative border lines for District 12 which would be valid for the 2022 election do not include Grant County, where the Elbow Lake Republican currently resides. A requirement to represent a district is that a candidate must live in the district for six months prior to the election. The new District 12 will include Big Stone, Stevens, Pope, Swift, part of Douglas and part of Stearns Counties.

In a response to query from KMRS, Westrom’s office said the senator has until May 8th to reside in the district, which he will establish by that time in Douglas County. 

To continue the timeline, Bluestem reported on what appeared to be an abortive effort to squeeze a Douglas County lake home owned by the Westroms--but in the new Senate District 9--into District 12 in Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house?.

How did the extended Westrom family respond to the predistricting preference given to one-term Minnesota House member Jordan Rasmusson, that forced Torrey's move? We're looking to secure one more piece of evidence of that one. 

That was a close primary for Rasmusson, MinnPost's Walker Orenstein reported in Small but mighty showing for anti-establishment GOP candidates in Minnesota primary:

. . .State Rep. Jordan Rasmusson, a Republican from Fergus Falls who introduced a paid family leave bill at the Legislature this year and is in the more centrist wing of his party, narrowly beat Nathan Miller of Battle Lake, whose website decries “weak Republicans” and said his personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic was a gun, not a mask. . . .

Rasmusson's primary victory came largely by taking Otter Tail County, the most populous area in the new district, which he had served in the House. Miller took 61.88 percent in Grant County.

Will there be peace in the green fields of West Central Minnesota?

Related Posts

• Petitioners in Westrom residency challenge referee's conclusion; his lawyers don't
• Referee's Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law: Torrey Westrom stays on MN12 ballot 
• Westrom residency: an account of the hearing before the Honorable Diane Bratvold
• Westrom residency: Klingbeil thanks intervenor; referee's decision to come no later than Tuesday
• Another MN12 resident moves to intervene in challenge to Westrom residency in district
• MinnPost: if Klingbeil's petition on Westrom's residency prevails, still chance for GOP on ballot
• Swift County Monitor, Black Robe Regiment look into MN12 Westrom non-residency claims
• MN12 Westrom residency challenge: Supreme Court sets August 15 deadline for evidence
• MN12: "We The People" candidate Klingbeil follows through on Westrom residency challenge
• Via personal Facebook page: independent candidate vows to challenge Westrom residency
• MN12: Ashley Klingbeil to challenge Torrey and Dorry from the right for state senate seat
• Will 2020 redistricting plan boundary adjustment get snuck in to let Westrom live in lake house? 

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

MNReformer timeline of Jensen’s shifting abortion stance. As with guns & anti-vaxx views?

New articles in the Marshall Independent and the Minnesota Reformer illustrate how Minnesota Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen is trying to change to subject, not just his position on abortion.

We're reminded of his bailing on an annual event in Alexandria MN with anti-vaxxers with whom he'd appeared in prior years, as well the 2021 episode in which he distanced himself from the 2021 Reopen America/ReAwaken America’ tour. He'd been live-tweeted  Tampa at the tour's Tampa event by someone watching the livestream. As we wrote in MNGOP gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen bails on 3rd annual Alex anti-vaxx event: "We don't know how the Reopen America/Reawaken America Tour ever happened to use his image in their graphics. Shame on them!"

And then there's the gun violence/gun rights shift. In 2021 we wrote:  Mankato GOP gubernatorial forum take one: Jensen forgets his own gun legislation record.

How's he bailing on the anti-abortion base in the Minnesota Republican Party?

After Jensen spoke at the Lyon County Republican dinner on Friday night, the Marshall Independent's Deb Gau reported in Jensen offers his position on education and abortion:

. . . Jensen also spoke about his position on abortion rights in Minnesota. Abortion rights are not an issue on the ballot in Minnesota, and not an issue that the Minnesota governor would have an affect on, he said.

“The (Minnesota) Supreme Court has already interpreted the constitution to provide for a constitutionally-protected right to access to abortion,” Jensen said. [italics in original copy] . . .

There's a second article about the dinner in the Independent, GOP candidates call for focus on issues. Abortion isn't one of them. Sorry ladies.

Timelines are great tools for journalists and voters alike. We present the Minnesota Reformer's fine timeline below.

A timeline of Scott Jensen’s shifting abortion stance
by Michelle Griffith
September 12, 2022

Republican candidate for governor Scott Jensen’s first TV ad shows him in a cozy living room, with a towel for spit-up draped over his left shoulder and a newborn baby in his hands, all the while talking about Minnesota abortion politics.

Jensen criticizes DFL Gov. Tim Walz in the ad for “weaponizing” abortion. He says abortion is not on the ballot this fall because of Minnesota’s 1995 Supreme Court Doe v. Gomez decision in which the court ruled Minnesotans have a state constitutional right to abortion access.

“In Minnesota, it’s a protected, constitutional right and no governor can change that. And I’m not running to do that,” Jensen says while gripping the baby.

Perhaps he’s not running to change abortion law, but a governor could certainly do it if they chose to. Here’s how: A governor can appoint judges to the state Supreme Court who could opt to overturn Doe v. Gomez if a challenge to the ruling were to ever fall before them — similar to how Roe v. Wade was overturned after President Donald Trump appointed three justices to the U.S. Supreme Court. 

In Iowa, Republican governors have appointed anti-abortion supreme court justices, who could overturn an existing Iowa Supreme Court precedent similar to Minnesota’s. Indeed, Minnesota’s southern neighbor appears poised to soon make abortion illegal.

Jensen’s latest abortion message — it’s a protected right, and I can’t do anything about it — is just the latest in a series of shifting positions he’s given since running for governor. His running mate, former Vikings player Matt Birk, is far less equivocating in support of a total abortion ban. He says he has spoken at more than 200 anti-abortion events. He is now standing by Jensen’s latest abortion remarks. Here is a timeline of some of Jensen’s and Birk’s more notable abortion remarks from this year:

March 18

In an interview with Minnesota Public Radio, Jensen said he would ban abortions.

“I would try to ban abortion …There is no reason for us to be having abortions going on. We have tremendous opportunities and availability of birth control. We don’t need to be snuffing out lives that, if left alone, will produce a viable newborn that may go on to be the next Albert Einstein.”

April 24

Jensen on his campaign Facebook page posted a live video ahead of Walz’s state of the state address. He quotes a Walz campaign flier that says, “Birk supports a ban on abortions in Minnesota.”

Jensen responded, “No kidding, Sherlock. You’re darn right we do, and we’re going to. And we’re going to get something done when we’re governor. We’re going to ban abortions. That’s really not news.”

May 4

Jensen said in a WCCO Radio interview with Chad Hartman that he would pass an abortion ban if a bill were to come to his desk at the state Capitol.

“As governor, I want Minnesota to be a pro-life state, so any legislation that would come to my desk, I would sign it to reduce or eliminate abortions… I think that definitely I would sign the bills to make Minnesota as pro-life as we can be,” Jensen said.

In the same interview, Jensen said he wouldn’t support exceptions to an abortion ban in situations of rape or incest.

Hartman: “Would you have any exceptions at all regarding abortion or, ideally if you could have the bill as you would like it, completely and totally eliminate abortion from the state?”

Jensen: “I think protection of the mother’s life is something that’s very, very important to me, because I think my view of life is that it begins at conception. So we have two lives that are, so to speak, in the balance. So if a mother’s life is in danger, I think that that would have to be a medical consideration and an area for potential exception.”

Hartman: “No exceptions for rape or incest?”

Jensen: “Unless a mother’s life is in danger.”

June 24

Matt Birk, speaking at a Georgia National Right for Life convention, compared abortion to slavery and said abortion rights advocates “want to go to the rape card.” He also expounded on how American culture promotes abortion.

“Our culture loudly, but also stealthily, promotes abortion,” Birk said. “They’re telling women they should look a certain way. They should have careers — all these things. It’s real now.”

As for rape, he said, “Rape is obviously a horrible thing but an abortion is not gonna, it’s not gonna heal the wounds of that. And two wrongs is not gonna, is not gonna make it right.”

He compared the battle to end abortion to abolitionism before the Civil War: “They said ‘Well abortion’s legal’ … well a lot of things have been legal before that we’ve changed, right … you know slavery used to be legal, right? Which is an interesting comparison to make because really the way that the other side treats an unborn child is based like that. That an unborn child is the property of the mother.”

July 29

Jensen’s campaign released a “plan to support and protect women.” It includes abortion ban exceptions for rape and incest to protect the mother’s mental health, Jensen said. 

“If I’ve been unclear previously, I want to be clear now. Rape and incest, along with endangering the mother’s mental or physical health, are acceptable exceptions,” Jensen said in a video released along with the plan.

Sept. 5

In a video about conversations with people at the Minnesota State Fair, Jensen discussed what he tells people when they ask him about abortion.

“Abortion’s not on the ballot in November. It’s already been decided, as Tim Walz and Keith Ellison have both indicated and as I have agreed,” Jensen said. “This is a constitutionally protected right for all women, and it changes — from my perspective — only through a constitutional amendment decided by all Minnesotans.”

The Minnesota Reformer piece prompted a Facebook rant by departing state representative Tim Miller, R-Prinsburg:

What The Reformer fails to report is that Walz and Flanagan are very clear on the question of aborting the unborn: their answer, “if you don’t want them, bring them to Minnesota, kill them, and the Minnesota taxpayer will pay for it.”

Liberals don’t care about the mother. They don’t care about the child. They care about the money the abortion factories generate. Disagree? Then why did they fight (and win) to remove doctors and clinics from the abortion procedure? Why did they fight for (and win) for 13 year old girls to get an abortion with zero parental involvement? Why is AG Ellison now on a witch hunt to ruin Christian pregnancy resource centers who are saving mothers and their children?

You may not like the dancing around the subject of Jensen/Birk. I don’t either. But in the end you know they will care for the mother and child. Walz/Flanagan will continue to profit from their suffering. Dr Scott Jensen Matt Birk

No link to the article in Miller's post, of course, just a screenshot since people can't be trusted to read the actual timeline (that Ian Fury strategy). A screenshot of Miller's rant and his screenshot was shared by the Rocks and Cows of Minnesota Facebook page, along with its own FULL CAPS rant. Go read it there--one rant is enough for this post.

 

Miller as we noted in Tall grass prairie? State representative Tim Miller goes to Moorhead for grassroots organizing,

now serves as executive director of Pro-Life Action Ministries, or PLAM Action, those charming folks who appear on sidewalks outside of reproductive care provides. We hope as many voters as possible--especially newly energized women voters--see that rant.

 

As for Jensen, it's clear from abortion to gun violence/gun rights to anti-vaxxer pals, he's as constant as the wind.

Minnesota Reformer articles are republished here under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Donate to the Reformer if you like reading the copy here. 

Image: Illustration by Chris Morris for Minnesota Reformer.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. 

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

See it in the Strib: the silence of Corn Growers about deer exposure to neonicotinoids

A new article in the Outdoors section of the Star Tribune Nearly all Minnesota deer exposed to pesticides linked to pollinator die-off reports "Minnesota soybean growers have been moving away from neonicotinoids in recent years" but there's a complete absence of any information about what corn growers are doing.

According to a USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service factsheet, Minnesota Ag News–2021 Crop Production, Minnesota farmers in 2021 planted for all purposes an estimated 8.40 million acres. Soybean planted acreage? 7.65 million acres.

We are using planted acres as a baseline, rather than harvested acres, because much of the use of neonicotinoids occurs in coated seeds.

What does this mean for Bambi and his family?

Some back story reading on the discovery of neo-nics in wild deer. Back in March 2019, we posted Study shows endocrine-disrupting imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid, messes up does and fawns.

Later that year, in October, we posted South Dakota News Watch: study shows neonics a danger to deer, pheasant study results soon and  South Dakota study on neonicotinoids' effects on whitetails prompts MNDNR deer spleen request. And in March 2021: Preliminary results from pesticide study show widespread neonic exposure in wild MN dee.

Additional research was done. Fast forward to August 2022, and there's Dan Gunderson reporting for Minnesota Public Radio, Data show increasing insecticide levels in Minnesota deer.

Now the Star Tribune's Greg Stanley reports Nearly all Minnesota deer exposed to pesticides linked to pollinator die-off.  He writes:

The pesticides linked to bee, butterfly and pollinator deaths across the nation are being found in the organs of far more of Minnesota's wild deer, and in higher concentrations, than previously thought.

State biologists found neonicotinoids in nearly all — 94% — of deer spleens collected from road kill and sent in by hunters last fall. Alarmingly, roughly two-thirds of those deer had higher concentrations of the chemicals than a threshold found to potentially lower fawn survival and cause bone and genital deformities in a captive deer study.

It's too early to tell if the pesticides are harming wild deer, causing fawn fatalities or affecting survival rates, scientists said. But they say it is a possibility and more research is needed. . . .

Neonicotinoids began to dominate the insecticide market in the early 2000s after they appeared safer for humans and mammals than previous insecticides. The chemicals, made of a synthetic nicotine, act as a neurotoxin on insects.

After growing evidence that neonicotinoids contributed to massive die-offs of honey bees and other pollinators, the European Union quickly banned them.

North America, however, embraced them. They're now used on 98% of the corn, soybean, wheat and cotton growing on the continent, according to the DNR. They're also used in lawn care and common household products such as flea and tick prevention collars for pets.

Not good. Strib readers do learn that soybean growers have backed off from the use of neo-nics, Stanley reports:

Minnesota soybean growers have been moving away from neonicotinoids in recent years, said Joe Smentek, executive director of the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association.

Research out of the University of Minnesota showed that, in many cases, the chemicals weren't effective enough against soybean pests to be worth the cost.

"We had some companies where farmers had to buy seeds treated with neonics, but they stopped that at our insistence because farmers don't want to pay for something that they're not going to use," Smentek said.

That seems to be good news for pollinators and deer. We'd also encourage readers to help soybean farmers by eliminating buckthorn, an invasive species that's a winter haven for soybean aphids.

So where are the corn growers on neo-nics? Stanley doesn't venture into those vast fields of corn, so Bluestem visited Minnesota Corn Growers Association online assets to see what the group has to say about the spleen studies. Nothing.

On neonicotinoids? We found a couple of articles. There's the May 9, 2022 article, Growers reminded of treated-seed BMPs[Best Management Practices]. We learn here that there's a "where have all the flowers gone" to encourage pollinatorsto stay away from cornfields that are to be sprayed and such :

The BeSure! campaign encourages farmers to follow label directions, use advanced seed-flow lubricants that minimize dust, remove and properly dispose of treated seed and keep all treated seed out of commodity grain channels. Additionally, farmers are reminded to be aware of any honeybees and hives near fields before making an application and to communicate with neighboring beekeepers.

Farmers are also encouraged to eliminate flowering plants and weeds in and around fields prior to spraying. For foliar applications, ensure that sprays are directed away from any flowering plants, follow established buffer zones and calibrate equipment to minimize spray drift.

Neonicotinoid products help protect plants and increase crop yields, allowing farmers to meet society’s needs for corn without farming additional acres. The products are selective, effective, and safe for the environment when used correctly and according to label instructions.

To learn more about neonicotinoid and crop protection tool stewardship this growing season, visit growingmatters.org/besure. The website also contains multiple resources for seed stewardship, including seed-treatment guides from the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and Growing Matters.

This is fine, as the image at the top of this post illustrates. Just read the label and whitetail deer will be a-okay. Be sure. 

There are a few posts about opposing legislation that would guide neo-nic labels, but the language wasn't related to whitetail deer.

There's more in the story, including news that "deer taken in the thick woods of northern Minnesota were just as likely to have neonicotinoids in their systems as those taken among the vast corn and soybean fields of southern Minnesota." How does this stuff get to be everywhere?

Perhaps we all should be addressing the situation that  South St. Paul state representative and Minnesota House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee Chair raises:

"We know there are devastating impacts of neonicotinoids on the environment and wildlife," Hansen said. "But there has been a willful ignorance to ignore this. At some point policy makers need to take action."

 We don't need a silent spring or an empty fall hunt.

Related posts:

• Preliminary results from pesticide study show widespread neonic exposure in wild MN dee.
• Study shows endocrine-disrupting imidacloprid, a neonicotinoid, messes up does and fawns.
• South Dakota News Watch: study shows neonics a danger to deer, pheasant study results soon
• South Dakota study on neonicotinoids' effects on whitetails prompts MNDNR deer spleen request 

 Image: A standard meme.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. 

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

 

Transparent Positive Pants Governor Noem tried to avoid ethics hearing, seal records

Governor Kristi Noem has been the subject of two ethics inquiries--one about using her clout to secure an appraiser's license for her daughter and another about the use of South Dakota government airplanes.

How's that going? 

On Friday, Stephen Groves reported for the Associated Press in Gov. Kristi Noem tried to avoid ethics hearing, seal records:

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem asked a state ethics board to dismiss a complaint against her without a public hearing and to seal off certain records, documents released Friday by the state’s Government Accountability Board show.

The Republican governor, who is widely seen as eyeing a 2024 White House bid, argued in an April motion that the state’s attorney general, a fellow Republican who filed the complaint, was out for political retribution and should be removed from the complaint. Noem had pushed former Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg to resign and later for his impeachment over his involvement in a fatal car crash.

The attorney general’s complaint was sparked by a report from The Associated Press last year that Noem had taken a hands-on role in a state agency. Shortly after the agency moved to deny her daughter, Kassidy Peters, a real estate appraiser license in July of 2020, Noem held a meeting with Peters and key decision-makers in her licensure. Days after the meeting, Peters signed an agreement that gave her another opportunity to meet the licensing requirements.

The South Dakota Legislature’s audit committee, controlled by Republicans, unanimously approved a report in May that found Noem’s daughter got preferential treatment. . . . 

Jeepers. 

And there's South Dakota ethics board releases documents outlining investigation into Noem conflict of interest complaint in the Forum news chain papers:

The Government Accountability Board released a trove of documents outlining the committee’s investigation into one of the complaints against Gov. Kristi Noem claiming she abused her office in helping her daughter get a real estate license.

According to statute, the "information, reports, or complaints and the investigative records and files of the board are confidential and not a public record... until the board votes in favor of conducting a contested case hearing." The release of the documents indicates that a hearing, which would allow Noem the opportunity to respond to the complaint, could be on the way.

The entire contents , which include hundreds of pages of exhibits, transcripts and correspondence between key players in the probe, were posted to the Boards and Commissions website just after 8 a.m. on Sept. 9. An exhaustive table of contents can be found here .

The complaint was filed by Jason Ravnsborg, the former attorney general. It alleges malfeasance, conflict of interest and a handful of other abuses of office stemming from the July 27, 2020 meeting between Gov. Kristi Noem, her daughter Kassidy Peters and the then-director of South Dakota's appraiser certification program, Sherry Bren. The meeting was first reported by the Associated Press....

Dakota Free Press looks at that trove in Ravnsborg: Governor’s Daughter Failed Appraiser Certification Four Times. Better he "struggle through the flaccid prose of killer Jason Ravnsborg" than I.

Misuse of the plane

As to the other issue--the use of the state's plane--the story has legs.

Some background on the issue from Jazzmine Jackson at SiouxlandProud in The 2006 law at the heart of Noem’s plane controversy:

Behind the controversy surrounding the use of the state plane is a 2006 law and a 2021 complaint regarding how the public aircraft can be used. Both were brought forward by the same South Dakota lawmaker.

Senator Reynold Nesiba (D-Sioux Falls) was a part of a concerted effort in 2006 to bring some accountability to the use of the state plane frequently used by the governor and state employees. At the time, there was concern that then-Governor Mike Rounds was using the aircraft for political and personal reasons and so Nesiba sought to find a way to hold the users of the plane accountable.

“The attorney general explanation says state law currently allows state employees to use vehicles owned or leased by the state only for state business,” Nesiba explained in a phone call to KELOLAND News on Thursday. “There’s a limited exception for state employees with a supervisor’s approval. The governor and certain law enforcement personnel are exempt. The proposed law requires aircraft owned or leased by the state to be used only for state business with no exceptions.” . . . 

At the time, Nesiba didn’t think the law would need to be enforced but rather would serve as a reminder to future governors to be “prudent stewards” of the state plane.

But in February of 2021, the senator had some concerns when it came to how Governor Kristi Noem was using the plane and whether it was in accordance with the law he helped create.

“Governor Noem has acted as if it’s her airplane, she forgets that it’s our airplane and the people of South Dakota who pay for that airplane have set very clear rules. We only want it to be used for state business,” Nesiba said. 

Nesiba said he supports the use of the plane and any additional security needed to protect the governor, but only if those trips are established as state business.

In a letter sent to then-Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, which can be read here, Nesiba asks Ravnsborg to clarify whether Governor Noem violated SDCL 5-25-1.1. The letter alleges that Noem may have used the state airplane for campaign use and also may have been accompanied by non-state employees for non-state purposes. . . .

Noem tried to frame the inquiry as a matter of her balls  in a fight with killer former Attorney General Ravnsborg in the Keloland interview, Governor Noem defends her use of the state airplane:

Governor Noem finally agreed to a one-on-one no-holds-barred interview and we hear from her and her Democratic challenger Jamie Smith, who has been one of her biggest critics.

Last week, while Governor Noem was out campaigning in Sioux Falls neighborhoods, she agreed to answer our questions concerning her use of the state airplane.

The topic recently made headlines, when the government accountability board forwarded the investigation into whether Noem abused her power or violated state laws by using state airplanes to fly to political events to the attorney general’s office. Noem denies doing anything wrong.

“I’ve used the plane probably half as much as the previous governor, nobody has covered that, I use it very little for the exact same events the previous governor did, and the governor before that, and the governor before that, so this is just a political hit job because I was the only one who had balls enough to say this attorney general that killed a guy and left him in a ditch and lied about it and covered it up shouldn’t be the attorney general anymore,” Noem said.

Well, golly jeepers no. Ravnsborg was properly removed from office, but the complaint originally came from the Democrat who wrote the law.

The flight records were released on Wednesday, KELOLAND reported in KELOLAND News obtains Governor’s state plane travels.

One can READ: 5 years of South Dakota state plane travel logs. Since then, reporters and other folks have be pouring over the flight logs.

There does seem to be one particularly egregious example of private use of the public plane. At Dakota Free Press, Cory Allen Heidelberger reports Flight Log 2019: Noem Flew Son, Nephews, Son’s Pal on State Plane the Weekend of Daughter’s Custer State Park Wedding.

Yeah, that would be personal use.

As for the investigation in the complaint by South Dakota's new Attorney General, appointed by Governor Noem, the Mitchell Republic's Jason Harward reported in Noem-appointed attorney general recuses himself from state airplane probe:

In an effort to “avoid even the appearance of impropriety,” South Dakota Attorney General Mark Vargo has recused himself from the forthcoming investigation by the state Division of Criminal Investigation into Gov. Kristi Noem’s use of a state airplane.

Jessica LaMie, the state’s attorney in Hughes County, will oversee the investigation, according to a press release from the attorney general’s office on Friday, Sept. 9. Vargo's office “will have no further comment and will not release any reports or evidence concerning the complaint until the investigation is complete," according to the statement.

On Aug. 22, the Government Accountability Board referred a complaint regarding misuse of the state airplane by Noem to the attorney general’s office, saying the office could “take action if deemed appropriate.”

Soon after, a small group of lawmakers including Rep. Jamie Smith, D-Sioux Falls and the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, and current House Speaker Spencer Gosch, R-Glenham, called on Vargo to recuse himself and “allow for an impartial investigation into the allegations.”

Noem appointed Vargo as interim attorney general in June after the former officeholder, Jason Ravnsborg, was removed from his position by the Senate after being impeached for his behavior during and after striking and killing a man with his car in 2020.

Questions surrounding Noem’s use of the state airplane for matters outside official state business were first raised by an article published by RawStory in February 2021. The state law regulating use of the state airplane, which was extended to cover the governor after a successful ballot measure in 2006, offers no exceptions to this rule.

A full accounting of Noem’s use of the state airplane was published by KELO earlier this week. . . . 

Read the rest at the Mitchell Republic. There's a strong take on this at Dakota Free Press in Vargo Appoints Hughes County Prosecutor LaMie to Handle Noem State Plane Ethics Complaint:

Holy cow—the Government Accountability Board released 23 documents this morning relating to the ethics complaints against Governor Kristi Noem. The documents evidently show that Governor Noem tried to shut down the ethics panel’s investigation of her nepotism. Thank you, Judges Gienapp, Kean, and Wilbur for filling my weekend reading list; I’ll have analysis of those documents later.

The GAB must also have finally released its official notice to Attorney General Mark Vargo that it is punting the complaint about Governor Noem’s alleged misuse of the state plane back to the Attorney General’s office. Attorney General Vargo has finally affirmed the wisdom of Representative and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jamie Smith and handed  that investigation to a special prosecutor . . .

Heckova a Twitter defense, Mr. Fury

Earlier this week, Keloland's Eric Mayer reported in Author of story on Noem’s plane use in 2019 following AG complaint:

More than 18 months after publishing a story documenting South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem’s use of the state plane in 2019, Daniel Newhauser is glad to see some of his unanswered questions are still being asked.  

Newhauser, a freelance reporter, wrote a story on Noem’s plane use based on flight logs published by Raw Story, a Washington, D.C., based online news publication. The story documents when Noem used the state plane to travel to a meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition at a Las Vegas casino, a networking conference called Turning Point USA Young Women’s Leadership Summit in Dallas and a NRA Women’s Leadership Forum in San Antonio along with other trips. 

“It’s good to see the long tail of investigative journalism and accountability playing out in South Dakota,” Newhauser told KELOLAND News. “The people of South Dakota clearly wanted this – this law that regulates the use of state airplanes.”

The law Newhauser referred to was Initiated Measure 5, which voters passed 55-44 in 2006 to create civil and criminal penalties for violating state plane use outside of state business. 

Newhauser said the law has gray areas and noted it’s unclear how it would be enforced. 

“It’s never happened before,” he said. “So this is very, it’s a very novel, new situation.”  . . .

“It’s going to be up to, I guess, the Attorney General now and the people of South Dakota to decide whether or not legitimate state interests are served with the governor flying to conferences of right-wing groups around the country, including the NRA, Turning Point USA, the Republican Jewish Coalition and others,” Newhauser said.  . . . 

Newhauser said his story started because there were questions whether Noem was using the state plane while attending campaign events for President Donald Trump in Fall 2022. 

“It was pretty clear that the state plane was not being used for specifically campaign events,” Newhauser said. 

He said many of the flight logs show normal use – Pierre to Watertown or Pierre to Custer State Park. He said the flight logs are just a list of cities and dates that don’t say much until you cross reference the cities and dates with public information. 

“Visiting the NRA, is that state business or is it political? There’s a little bit of both. I mean, there’s certainly room for gray area here,” Newhauser said. . . .

That article led to a misleading tweets from Noem's communications head Ian Fury:

Even the reporter who broke the state plane story a year and a half ago admits, “It was pretty clear that the state plane was not being used for specifically campaign events.”

Will @RepJamieSmith take back his lies? pic.twitter.com/vTuKYg70W0

— Ian Fury (@IanTFury) September 9, 2022

Use a screenshot, don't supply a link to the article, and truncate the quote? Then hope no one tracks down the article and reads the entire passage:

Newhauser said his story started because there were questions whether Noem was using the state plane while attending campaign events for President Donald Trump in Fall 2022 [ editor's note: is this a copy editing mistake? Newhauser's article was published in 2019] . 

“It was pretty clear that the state plane was not being used for specifically campaign events,” Newhauser said. 

He said many of the flight logs show normal use – Pierre to Watertown or Pierre to Custer State Park. He said the flight logs are just a list of cities and dates that don’t say much until you cross reference the cities and dates with public information. 

“Visiting the NRA, is that state business or is it political? There’s a little bit of both. I mean, there’s certainly room for gray area here,” Newhauser said. 

"Specifically" carries a lot of weight, and the remaining two paragraphs illustrate what that might be. Noem has stressed she'll be a transparent leader, and asked that we put on our positive pants. Write your own joke about her balls.

Photo: One of the South Dakota state planes.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. 

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Update on Hwy 34 scenic byway tree trimming: Becker County seeks moratorium this year

In three earlier posts, we'd looked at concerns that a plan to clear-cut trees as part of Minnesota Department of Transportation to need to resurface Highway 34. The road part of the Lake Country Scenic Byway is a tourist attraction due to its beauty, including roadside patches of Showy Lady's Slippers, the state flower. 

The Department of Transportation has refused to back down from the destruction, but Becker County and other local governments aren't backing down in trying to protect the natural beauty of the scenic drive.

At the Detroit Lakes Tribune, Nathan Bowe reported Thursday in Becker County calls for halt on cutting trees on Hwy 34:

Becker County has asked Gov. Tim Walz and the Minnesota Department of Transportation for a moratorium on the extensive tree-cutting planning for Highway 34 this year.

The Becker County Board unanimously supported asking the state for the moratorium at its meeting Tuesday.

The White Earth Nation also will weigh in on the issue, and will send letters to Walz and MnDOT leadership, said White Earth General Counsel Antonio Solorzano, who was at the Becker County Board meeting Tuesday.

“White Earth has concerns about MnDOT cutting to that extent,” Solorzano said.

As part of a roadway improvement project, MnDOT plans to cut back all trees 65 feet on both sides of Highway 34 over a 21-mile stretch of scenic byway from Four Corners to just west of Osage. 

And more tree-cutting will go back 150 feet south of the highway throughout a 7-mile stretch of the Smoky Hills State Forest.

Tree-removal bids could be let as soon as this month and the cutting is expected to begin shortly after that – including mature and old-growth red pine.

“That’s going to decimate our scenic byway – everybody is very upset,” Scott Sonstegaard told commissioners Tuesday at the Becker County Board meeting. “Why can’t we get MnDOT to listen to us? We want the beautiful road to stay beautiful.”

Sonstegaard, who owns Becker Pet and Garden in Detroit Lakes, was at the meeting with Detroit Lakes Chamber Tourism Director Cleone Stewart, county resident Willis Mattison, and Bill Henke, who is co-president of the local Izaak Walton League Chapter.

“No matter what we bring up, MnDOT goes by old regulations,” Stewart said. “They won’t change, even though people want change.”

MnDOT wants to cut the trees to improve safety, but in this case the costs to a beloved stretch of roadway aren’t worth it, said Becker County Commissioner Barry Nelson. “I don’t think it will improve safety enough to justify what will be lost,” he said.

For some reason, speeding and reckless driving have become more of a problem in Minnesota since the pandemic hit, but cutting down all the trees isn’t the solution, Henke said. “It’s very simple with this highway – slow down. You don’t have to drive so fast – this is a road to enjoy the scenery.”

Most accidents along that stretch of road have not involved hitting trees, he said. . . .

Read the rest at the Detroit Lakes paper. Bowe concludes with news of a meeting of the resistance:

A public meeting on the Highway 34 project, co-hosted by the Friends of the Lake Country Scenic Byway and Prairie Woods Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA), is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Jack Pines Resort near Osage.

I hope the local folks win this one.

 Relate

•  Letter: MNDOT's plan to resurface Hwy 34 may ruin Lake Country Scenic Byway
•  Update: Becker County Board of Commissioners asks MnDOT to save Hwy 34's scenic beauty

Photo: A group of Showy Lady's Slippers along Highway 34. They are the official state flower, but that offers them no special protections. Contributed to the Detroit Lakes Tribune/ Kelly Blackledge.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post. 

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

Jensen ad touts MAFP's 2016 award, but where does he stand on med group's policy positions?

How woke is the organization that that awarded Minnesota's Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Jensen "Family Doctor of the Year" in 2016?

It's not hard to check.

A reader drew Bluestem's attention to the graphic in Minnesota Public Radio's Brian Bakst's tweet (below), the presence of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP) award in the Jensen ad:

Besides shaking the baby, I see now that he is touting big-time his MAFP award  . . . 

 

I was wondering where the group stands on issues, and here are the resolutions from 2022...

 

Note the Drug Decriminalization resolution (adopted) and the Sex Work Decriminalization (under Board consideration). Just wondering if he actually stands by the organization given his promotion of it, and how that dovetails into the tough on crime rhetoric.

Those are certainly good questions. First here's the MAFP's description of the award on its website:

Minnesota Family Physician of the Year – Given out from 1981 through 2021; recognized a family physician member of the MAFP for compassionate, comprehensive patient care and involvement in the community. See all past Minnesota Family Physicians of the Year.

What are the resolutions about? According to the top of the Resolutions page on the MAFP's webpage:

Resolutions are written motions to set specific policy and/or direction for the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians (MAFP). They are one of the main vehicles to drive action at the MAFP. Resolutions have directed the Academy to start a Health Equity Task Force and a Workforce Task Force as well as to get more involved in a variety of public health issues, including gun violence prevention, the opioid crisis and racism.

Here are the resolutions my correspondent mentioned, along with a couple of other 2022 resolutions that seem to touch upon issues brought up in Minnesota's political and culture war discussions:

.  . . 2022-02. Advocating for New ICD Codes for Gender Affirming Care

The MAFP will submit a resolution to the AAFP Congress of Delegates asking for support and advocacy for comprehensive ICD-10 codes for gender affirming care that are inclusive of the patient experience.
ADOPTED AS SUBSTITUTE RESOLUTION

2022-03. Educate MAFP Members on Affirming Care for People with Intersex Traits

The MAFP will provide two CME credits about caring for intersex individuals from the lens of the family physician and an intersex individual and/or clinical expert as well as compile and distribute a resource list of leaders in the intersex community for patient/family referral.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED . . .

2022-07. Decriminalization (1)

The MAFP will support efforts to decriminalize (not legalize) drug level charges for possession and use (excluding trafficking) and support a “Dissuasion Commission” advisory council to oversee county courts and treatment facilities. The MAFP will join State Opioid Oversight Project (SOOP) efforts and support comprehensive care and connection to community medications for opioid use disorder upon release when incarceration and drug charges still result.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED

2022-07-B. Decriminalization (2)

The Board of Directors will consider MAFP support for the creation of “Addiction Recovery Centers” throughout the state to provide acute triage for patients with substance use disorder and/or drug charges. The Board will further consider supporting the reclassification of criminal penalties related to possession of controlled substances in order to minimize felony charges.
REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2022-11. Support Full Decriminalization of Sex Work

The Board of Directors will consider MAFP support of legislation to fully decriminalize sex work and will discuss partnering with sex worker run community organizations to reduce the stigma and increate health care provider education regarding the medical needs of persons engaged in sex work.
REFERRED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

And 2021 offers additional resolutions that set specific policy and/or direction for the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians. Jensen might like his award, but will his base (and Jensen himself) agree with these items?:

2021-01. Equity in Education Funding

A resolution to support policies that assure equitable, properly funded education.
ADOPTED

2021-08. Support Family Physicians Providing Gender-Affirming Care for Gender Expansive Youth and Access to Gender-Affirming Care for Children and Adolescents

A resolution to oppose efforts to criminalize physicians for providing gender-affirming care and to support access to gender-affirming care for all Minnesotans.
ADOPTED

2021-10. Taking Action on Universal Single-Payer Health Care

A resolution to provide members information on universal single-payer health care initiatives, advocate for single-payer and ask the AAFP to promote single-payer health care.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED

2021-11. Paid Family Leave

A resolution to advocate for gender inclusive paid family leave and ask the AAFP to support it nationally.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED

And there's 2019's:

2019-03. Advocate Against Conversion Therapy

A resolution asking the MAFP to advocate against conversion therapy.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED

2019-14. Support Legislation that Promotes Improved Adolescent Vaccination Rates

A resolution asking the MAFP to advocate to allow adolescents age 14 and older to consent for ACIP-approved vaccinations.
ADOPTED AS AMENDED

2019-18. Oppose Criminalization of Physicians Providing Abortion Care

A resolution asking the MAFP to advocate against legislation that criminalizes providers of abortion care.
ADOPTED

What would Matt Birk say about this organization whose approval his running mate puts front and center in his first ad? 

Perhaps more important: What else does Jensen have?

Here's the Bakst tweet that prompted the reader's query:

Ads aplenty go up as ‘22 campaign intensifies https://t.co/lrnFDlxs2O via @mprnews

— Brian Bakst (@Stowydad) September 8, 2022

Jensen was elected to the Minnesota Senate in 2016 and served one four-year term from 2017-2020.

Screenshot: From MPR journalist Brian Bakst's tweet.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

MN01: Finstad "sidesteps" abortion issue

We last left spanking-new First District Congressman Brad Finstad back in mid-August, carrying about being farmer by asserting 19th century stereotypes about farmers and circulating a photo purporting to show the New Ulm Republican being sworn in by the House Minority leader.

That last item didn't survive a  Rochester Post Bulletin fact check.

Now he's getting dodgy about his stand on abortion in an article published Wednesday in the APG Southernminn chain, Local congressional candidates prepare for November. Andrew Deziel reports:

. . . Since the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Whole Health overturning Roe v Wade, abortion has been at the top of mind for many voters as well. Ettinger has promised to safeguard abortion rights and portrayed Finstad’s position as potentially dangerous.

“It’s not even clear to me whether Mr. Finstad approves of any exceptions for abortion,” he said. “Minnesotans are very clear that Roe v. Wade should be reinstated.”

Finstad sidestepped the issue, arguing that the Supreme Court’s ruling will return the issue to the states. While Democrats have argued that abortion rights should be enshrined nationwide by law, if not court ruling, Finstad said it should be an issue now for states and their governors to consider. . . .

And that's not the first time Finstad's done some fancy footwork on exceptions to anti-abortion stance. There's this example from his Democratic rival's tweet stream:

Once again, Brad Finstad refuses to give a straight answer on his position on abortion rights. I agree with my opponent on one thing: I’m not a doctor either, and therefore I pledge to stay out of the private healthcare decisions of women. Will he? https://t.co/NYsbnqEkfL

— Jeff Ettinger For Congress (@SouthernMN4Jeff) August 11, 2022

What's causing the vagueness? Could it be his record, that prompted this endorsement press release from the Minnesota Concerned Citizens for Life, Pro-life groups endorse Brad Finstad for Congress in southern Minnesota special election? Here's how anti-choice folks see him [bold emphasis in original]:

The Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) Federal PAC and National Right to Life have endorsed Brad Finstad for Congress in the special election in Minnesota’s First Congressional District. Finstad won the Republican primary election on May 24 and will compete in the general election on Aug. 9 to serve out the remainder of the late Congressman Jim Hagedorn’s term.

“Brad Finstad is a dedicated pro-life champion who will work in Congress to protect unborn children and their mothers and to prevent the use of taxpayer dollars for abortion,” said Cathy Blaeser of the MCCL Federal PAC. “These are not mere promises. Brad Finstad has a proven track record of pro-life leadership here in Minnesota. We can count on him to fight for life in Washington.”

From 2003-2009, Finstad served in the Minnesota House, where he cast 63 different pro-life votes and compiled a perfect 100 percent pro-life voting record. He authored the Positive Alternatives Act, which created a grant program to provide practical support and alternatives to abortion for pregnant women and new mothers; through 2020, the program has helped close to 80,000 families.

Finstad voted for the Woman’s Right to Know informed consent law and the Unborn Child Pain Prevention Act, and he cast numerous votes against taxpayer funding of abortion. He also proposed amendments that would allow abortion-seeking women to see their ultrasounds and prevent groups that perform or promote abortion from receiving taxpayer dollars.

“National Right to Life is pleased to endorse Brad Finstad for election to Congress,” said Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life. “Brad Finstad has a proven record of standing up for unborn children and their mothers.”

The Democratic candidate in the special election, Jeff Ettinger, takes a very different position. He states on his website, “I believe Roe v. Wade is and should remain decided law,” and he tweeted that he would “vote to codify Roe v. Wade into law.” Roe v. Wade is the U.S. Supreme Court decision that nullified laws protecting unborn children nationwide.

“Jeff Ettinger wants to permanently enshrine abortion-on-demand. He doesn’t want the Supreme Court to even allow Minnesotans to have a say,” said Blaeser. “Brad Finstad offers a stark contrast. He will advocate for the most vulnerable and be a strong pro-life voice for southern Minnesota.”

At least now we know who got that public money stream flowing to emergency pregnancy centers that Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Matt Birk thought were privately funded.

We're not the first to look at Finstad's dilemma. On August 9, Carly Olson reported for the New York Times in On Republican turf, a Minnesota Democrat is highlighting his stance on abortion rights:

. . . The Democratic candidate, Jeff Ettinger, has leaned hard into his support for abortion rights as he campaigns in the special election for a House seat in southern Minnesota.

The election in the First Congressional District will fill the seat of Jim Hagedorn, a Republican who died from cancer in February. On the ballot in the Republican-leaning district are Brad Finstad, a Republican and a former Agriculture Department official during the Trump administration, and Mr. Ettinger, a Democrat and the former chief executive of Hormel Foods.

The two candidates have tangled over the economy and farming issues in the largely rural district. But in the weeks since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Mr. Ettinger has turned up the volume on his messaging on abortion rights. Mr. Ettinger is in favor of passing legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, and Mr. Finstad is anti-abortion. The Finstad campaign’s website says he will “fight to protect all unborn human beings.”

“There’s a stark difference between Jeff Ettinger and the Republican candidate, so we’ve definitely been highlighting that piece of it,” said Jeanne Poppe, Mr. Ettinger’s campaign chair.

Posts on the campaign’s Twitter and Facebook pages from the past week mention “reproductive rights” and “abortion rights.”

Last week, Kansas voters overwhelmingly decided against removing the right to abortion from the state’s constitution, which Ms. Poppe said affirmed the Ettinger campaign’s messaging push.

Mr. Finstad’s campaign doesn’t think abortion is the issue that will move the needle at the polls. “It hasn’t really come up with very many voters,” said David Fitzsimmons, a general consultant for the campaign of Brad Finstad. “Voters seem to be talking about the economy, inflation, gas prices.” . . .

Ettinger lost, but it was close. And even Thursday's MinnPost article that does a real Debbie Downer on Ettinger's chances in the November election for a full term, Finstad has an incumbent’s advantage in his race against Ettinger, mentions abortion in a post-Dobbs world.  Ana Radelat reports:

 . . . With about two months until the general election, the 1^st District seat is now Finstad’s to lose. Talk of a GOP “wave” has been muted as Biden’s poll numbers have improved and Republicans have faced a backlash over the Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade. Still, most analysts predict Finstad has the advantage.

“It’s a Republican-leaning district,” Rugeley said.

Meanwhile, Rubashkin of Inside Elections said, “the bigger difference in dynamic will be turnout.”

“Ettinger benefited from relatively heftier turnout in the more Democratic areas of the district such as Olmstead County, which reflects a Democratic enthusiasm edge in special elections post-Dobbs this year,” Rubashkin said. “In a general fall election, though, the two parties are likelier to be on more equal footing, rather than one side being extra motivated to turn out for an unusual race. That should be a slight advantage to Finstad.”

No wonder Finstad's sidestepping the questions on what could be a losing issue for him in a post-Dobbs world.

Photo: Finstad doesn't have to answer questions about abortion if he's out standing in a field. Via Twitter.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

MN Reformer: MN House Republican’s name appears on Oath Keepers membership roster

Note: We've updated this post with the DFL response to the Christopher Ingraham article. See below.

On Wednesday, Bluestem posted South Dakota state rep Phil Jensen back in the news for ties to insurrectionist Oath Keepers.

Now we find through a Christopher Ingraham article at the Minnesota Reformer that the Minnesota legislature's got one of these folks among its numbers as well: Donald W. Raleigh.

And here we thought the worst mark against him was the time the DFL Party Condemn[ed] Violent Illustrations from GOP Candidate. The drawings, from 2000 – 2002, were posted on URL owned by one of Raleigh's companies.

Today, the Minnesota DFL Party strongly condemned Republican-endorsed House District 38A candidate Donald Raleigh for a series of violent illustrations he created which depict a disturbing series of gun homicides.

The crude drawings show a figure shooting and killing a variety of people, including members of the military, people of color, children, a blind person, a Jehovah Witness, a DMV employee, environmentalists, and in one cartoon, the figure assists a person committing suicide due to his weight.

Got give this one extra points for taste, right?

From the Reformer:

Minnesota House Republican’s name appears on Oath Keepers membership roster
Christopher Ingraham

The names of 514 Minnesotans appear in a leaked membership roster of the Oath Keepers, a violent extremist group thought to play a key role in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, according to a new report released by the Anti-Defamation League.

Among those names: Six law enforcement officers, three members of the military, and two first responders, a reflection of the group’s efforts to recruit people with military and law enforcement experience. 

Also on the Oath Keepers’ membership list: Rep. Donald W. Raleigh, a first-term Republican House representative from Blaine. But Raleigh said in an interview that he disavows the group and its beliefs, and that he only signed up for a membership years ago as part of a project to conduct market research on organizations targeting veterans.

In 2013, during the process of co-founding a company called TrustVets, which works to connect veterans with business opportunities, Raleigh signed up using his business email address to a number of different veterans’ groups. He provided the Reformer with emails showing membership confirmations in 2013 and 2014 for VetFriends.com, the Association of the United States Army and the Air Force Association. 

As part of that effort, he said, he also signed up for an Oath Keepers membership.

“Their pitch at the time was for veterans,” Raleigh said. “One of the things that caught my eye was a signup packet that was designed by or packaged by disabled veterans. It seemed innocuous to us.”

He added, “We signed up for a whole bunch of these different organizations because we wanted to know what interesting cool marketing they were doing.”

In its report, the ADL notes that “an individual’s inclusion in the Oath Keeper database is not proof that they were or are still an Oath Keeper, that they hold or held all or some of Oath Keeper ideology or viewpoints, or that they ever actively participated in Oath Keeper activities.”

But, they add, “it is important to remember that the Oath Keepers have espoused extremism since their founding, and this fact was not enough to deter these individuals from signing up.”

By the time Raleigh signed up for the organization in October 2013, the Oath Keepers had established a reputation as a fringe group with some violent tendencies. Multiple members had been arrested on charges ranging from weapons to explosives to sexual assault of a minor, according to a 2010 article by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

In 2012, the ADL labeled the Oath Keepers an “anti-government extremist group.” The group’s revolutionary rhetoric and militia-style organization was drawing the attention of mainstream news outlets including ABC, Reuters and the New York Times. They had also received coverage in the law enforcement outlet POLICE Magazine, as well as in right-wing news sources.

Jake Hyman, a representative for ADL, said they would not be disclosing the names of other Minnesotans who appeared in the database in order to protect the identities of private citizens. The database — along with chat logs and other materials — was initially obtained by Distributed Denial of Secrets, an independent investigative reporting group. 

None of the Minnesota law enforcement officers who appeared in the roster were police chiefs or sheriffs. Hyman added that “ADL has been in contact with each law enforcement agency affected by our report and we continue to work with them in addressing the challenges of extremism within their ranks.”

Raleigh says he has “no idea about” what the Oath Keepers are up to today, but he added that “from what I’ve heard they’ve taken a very dark turn and I absolutely do not support anything that has to do with insurrection.” 

Unlike other officeholders who have proudly advertised their affiliation with the fringe group, Raleigh has not promoted or spoken favorably about the Oath Keepers in public appearances.  

Part of his re-election pitch to voters in his district is that his “voting record has been very, very bipartisan.” 

Raleigh acknowledged that in 2021 he went to a South Dakota conference where prominent election denier Mike Lindell repeatedly made false claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Raleigh said he came away unconvinced of Lindell’s claims and told his Republican colleagues that when he returned home. He added he believed Joe Biden was elected legitimately and he has no concerns about the integrity of the 2020 election.

UPDATE:

Raleigh was caught helping create violent web comics about the murder of children. He said it wasn't his fault.

Raleigh was caught at an election denial conference. He said he doesn't support it.

Raleigh was found on the Oath Keepers member list. He said that's not his fault. https://t.co/Lc1hS9HpLG

— Minnesota DFL Party (@MinnesotaDFL) September 8, 2022

Cartoon: The shooting of the president, from material at the DFL press release, DFL Party Condemns Violent Illustrations from GOP Candidate:

The comics in question were created for mygun.com and list “Dan and Don” as the artists at the top of each comic. According to ICANN’s Domain Name Registration Data Lookup, mygun.com was registered by the Minnesota based company, Evolve Systems, whose President is Donald Raleigh.

Mygun.com hosted crude, violent comics from 2000 – 2002. In 2003, mygun.com switched from a crude cartoon site to a website for Raleigh’s business of training people to concealed carry. Raleigh also lists a MyGun.com LLC in his 2020 economic interest statement with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board.

This article is republished online under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The cartoon at the top of the post was not part of the Minnesota Reformer article.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

A tale of two ag economies? Higher farm profits forecast & suicide in staggering numbers, largely due to financial stress

Does news of rising farm sector prices offer a lifeline for the improvement of farmers' mental health? Or will media literally repeat the gloom and doom of past reports, some based on a redacted CDC report in which farmworkers, lumberjacks and others were mistaken for farmers?

We were encouraged to read this news from the USDA's Economic Research Service Highlights from the September 2022 Farm Income Forecast:

Farm Sector Profits Forecast to Remain Above Average in 2022

Net farm income, a broad measure of profits, is forecast at $147.7 billion in calendar year 2022, an increase of $7.3 billion (5.2 percent) in 2022 relative to 2021. The 2021 value is an increase of $45.9 billion (48.5 percent) relative to 2020. When prior years are adjusted for inflation, net farm income in 2021 was at its highest level since 2013. Net farm income in 2022 would be $0.9 billion (0.6 percent) lower than in 2021 yet 42.1 percent above its 20-year average (2002–21) of $104.0 billion in inflation-adjusted dollars.

Net cash farm income is forecast at $168.5 billion in 2022, an increase of $22.1 billion (15.1 percent) relative to 2021. The 2021 value was $29.6 billion (25.4 percent) above 2020. When adjusted for inflation, 2022 net cash farm income is forecast to increase by $13.5 billion (8.7 percent) from 2021 and be at its highest level since 2012. Net cash farm income in 2022 would be 34.5 percent above its 2002–21 average of $125.3 billion. Net cash farm income encompasses cash receipts from farming as well as farm-related income (including Government payments) minus cash expenses. It does not include noncash items—including changes in inventories, economic depreciation, and gross imputed rental income of operator dwellings—reflected in the net farm income measure above.

Cash receipts from the sale of agricultural commodities are forecast to increase by $91.7 billion (21.2 percent, in nominal terms) from 2021 levels to $525.3 billion in 2022. Total crop receipts are expected to increase by $36.4 billion (15.3 percent) from their 2021 level following higher receipts for soybeans, corn, and wheat. Total animal/animal product receipts are expected to increase even more from the previous year, by $55.3 billion (28.3 percent), following increases in receipts for all categories of animal/animal products. These increases would put total cash receipts in 2022 at their highest level on record, even after adjusting prior years for inflation.

While cash receipts overall are expected to increase in 2022, lower direct Government payments and higher production expenses are expected to moderate income growth. Direct Government payments are forecast to fall by $12.8 billion (49.7 percent) from 2021 to $13.0 billion in 2022. The decrease is expected largely because of lower supplemental and ad hoc disaster assistance for COVID-19 relief in 2022 compared with 2021. Meanwhile, total production expenses, including operator dwelling expenses, are forecast to increase by $66.2 billion (17.8 percent) to $437.3 billion (in nominal terms) in 2022. Spending on all categories of expenses is expected to rise with the largest increase in fertilizer-lime-soil conditioner expenditures, up 44 percent.

Average net cash farm income for farm businesses is forecast to fall 3.3 percent from 2021 to $98,200 per farm in 2022 (in nominal terms). However, the regional average net cash farm income outlook is mixed. For farm businesses located in the Northern Crescent region, average net cash farm income is forecast to increase in 2022, but it is forecast to decline for farm businesses in all other regions when adjusted for inflation. Farm businesses specializing in dairy are expected to see the largest growth in average net cash farm income in 2022, while those specializing in wheat, cotton, and specialty crops are expected to see the largest declines in 2022.

Farm sector equity is expected to increase by $315.6 billion (10.4 percent) in 2022 to $3.34 trillion in nominal terms. Farm sector assets are forecast to increase $337.5 billion (9.7 percent) in 2022 to $3.84 trillion following expected increases in the value of farm real estate assets. Farm sector debt is forecast to increase by $21.9 billion (4.6 percent) in 2022 to $496.0 billion in nominal terms but it is forecast to fall by 1.2 percent when adjusted for inflation. Debt-to-asset levels for the sector are forecast to improve from 13.56 percent in 2021 to 12.93 percent in 2022. Working capital, which measures the amount of cash available to fund operating expenses after paying off debt due within 12 months, is forecast to fall by 2.6 percent in 2022.

That information sounded like good news for farmers. It echoed stories we read in rural and farm media. Back in May, Farm Forum carried this column by MinnStar Bank senior vice president Kent Thiesse, Focus on Ag: Farm income levels improved in 2021:

The University of Minnesota recently reported that the average net farm income for Southern Minnesota farmers in 2021 was $280,900, which was at the highest level since 2012. The very positive 2020 and 2021 net farm income levels followed seven consecutive years of sup-par net farm income levels in the region.

The 2021 net farm income levels in Southern and West Central Minnesota were enhanced by robust crop profits that resulted from average to above average crop yields and the highest grain market prices since 2013. Livestock profit margins in 2021 in Southern Minnesota were also mainly positive; however, the profit levels were at much more modest levels than the crop profits.

The Farm Business Management (FBM) Summary for Southern and West Central Minnesota is prepared by the Farm Business Management Instructors. This summary includes an analysis of the farm business records from farm businesses of all types and sizes in Southern and Western Minnesota.

This annual farm business summary is probably one of the best gauges of the profitability and financial health of farm businesses in the region on an annual basis. . . . .

Given that upbeat financial news for farmers, we were surprised to read a passage in Susie Jones' story at WCCO radio, State offering mental health training for rural faith leaders:

The Minnesota Department of Health and Department of Agriculture are teaming up to offer suicide prevention training for rural faith leaders.

The organizations have announced two conferences later this month –  September 17 in Bemidji and September 29th in Mankato – with the goal of increasing suicide prevention.

The conferences aim to grow faith leaders’ understanding of suicide and provide resources to help those leaders prevent suicide in their community.

And the two conferences come at a fitting time for farmers, as they enter a busy stretch of the season.They are working long hours in the field and are constantly worrying about their yields. It can be stressful, and sometimes too much.

“Thoughts of suicide are spinning in their heads,” said Glen Bloomstrom, a retired Army chaplain and suicide prevention trainer with LivingWorks Education.

He said farmers are dying by suicide in staggering numbers, largely due to financial stress.

Many have thoughts of “I don’t belong. I am a burden. I’d be worth more dead than alive,” Bloomstrom said.

Training clergy to be able to help farmers going through tough times is the goal of two workshops scheduled later this month.

“We don’t want to offend people by asking them anymore than how are you and I’m fine,” he said.

Minnesota farmers are often characterized as being stoic and self-reliant, sometimes making it tough for them to reach out for help when facing difficult times.

“There is a reluctance to admit to when life just becomes too much,” said Meg Monihan, a farmer and advisor for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.

There are also some misconceptions about suicide, she said.

“When someone is struggling, talking about suicide does not plant the idea in their head. It can actually help them to know you are willing to talk about it, and create a safe opportunity to share their thoughts,” she said.

Rural communities tend to be close-knit and suicides touch many people when they happen.

“Faith often plays a big role in the lives of farm families,” said Agriculture Commissioner Thom Peterson. “So pastors and lay leaders can play a critical role in preventing these deaths.”

The conference is free but pre-registration is required. Anyone interested should call 218-308-2148 for the Bemidji conference on September [27],2022 and 507-344-2747 for the Mankato conference on September 29, 2022.

We highlighted this sentence in the story: "He said farmers are dying by suicide in staggering numbers, largely due to financial stress." 

That certainly sounds awful, but doesn't match up with the positive news from the ERS and Thiesse. We have wondered about assertions about farmer suicide in the past, but thought we'd see if could learn where that notion of staggering numbers came from. A simple google search using "farmers," suicide" and "staggering numbers," brought a 2019 Minnesota Public Radio story by Kirsti Marohn, Farmer suicides are on the rise; here’s how to help, to the top of the heap.

Marohn reported in part:

Farmers, known for being stoic and self-reliant, might consider asking a friend or neighbor for help getting a tractor unstuck from a muddy field.

But when they're facing crop failure or foreclosure — or losing the family farm — that independent streak can make it tough for farmers to ask for help. They often bear their stress and anxiety alone.

At worst, some take their own lives. . . .

A new program is training people in the agricultural community to reach out when they see a farmer struggling.

The state agriculture and health departments teamed up to offer the sessions, which have been held around Minnesota. They use a suicide prevention training program, safeTALK, tailored for people who work with farmers on a daily basis — lenders, insurance agents, veterinarians, health care providers and clergy, among others.  . . .

At a recent session in dairy-rich Stearns County, about 30 people listened as Glen Bloomstrom, a retired Army chaplain and suicide prevention trainer with LivingWorks Education, said farmers are dying by suicide in staggering numbers, largely due to financial stress. Many are living on the same income as 15 years ago, he said. . . .

Same source, same phrasing. 

Let's hope Minnesota's media does better this round. Mental health care is important for all people, but framing farmers as far more at risk than all others--based on years-old misreading of job categories--doesn't address this broad-based problem.

The CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Disparities in Suicide: Some groups are at greater risk for suicide page notes:

Veterans, people who live in rural areas, sexual and gender minorities, middle-aged adults, and tribal populations may disproportionately experience factors linked to suicide. These factors include substance misuse, job or financial problems, relationship problems, physical or mental health problems, and/or easy access to lethal means. Additionally, people who have experienced violence, including adverse childhood experiences (such as physical abuse), bullying, or sexual violence, have a higher suicide risk.¹

The page includes a section on how Suicide rates differ by industry and occupation:

CDC researchers have studied suicide rates by industry and occupation. Industry is the type of activity at a person’s place of work and occupation is the kind of work a person does to earn a living. A 2020 CDC study found that the suicide rate among workers in certain industries was significantly greater than the general U.S. population.¹¹ The industry groups that had the highest suicide rates are:

1. Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction (males: 54.2 per 100,000)
2. Construction (males: 45.3 per 100,000)
3. Other Services (such as automotive repair; males: 39.1 per 100,000)
4. Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting* (males: 36.1 per 100,000)
5. Transportation and Warehousing (males: 29.8 per 100,000; females: 10.1 per 100,000)

The suicide rate was also greater than the general population for the following major
occupation groups:

1. Construction and Extraction (males: 49.4 per 100,000; females: 25.5 per 100,000)**
2. Installation, Maintenance, and Repair (males: 36.9 per 100,000)
3. Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media (males: 32.0 per 100,000)
4. Transportation and Material Moving (males: 30.4 per 100,000; females: 12.5 per 100,000)
5. Protective Service (females: 14.0 per 100,000)
6. Healthcare Support (females: 10.6 per 100,000)

*Note "Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting" is an industry group, not an occupation.

In 2018, the Counter's Nathan Rosenberg and Bryan Wilson Stucki reported in NEWS: CDC retracts finding that farmers have the highest suicide rate in the country:

It's a narrative that was widely reported based on incorrect data. Policy efforts followed. But CDC has confirmed it was wrong.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that a widely cited result on farmer suicides was wrong. Over the past several months, numerous writers and reporters have relied on the finding, originally from a 2016 CDC report, to argue that farmers have the highest suicide rate in the country. That report found that workers in the “farming, fishing, and forestry,” job category killed themselves at over four times the national average, far and away the highest in the study.

But on Friday, Courtney Lenard, a public relations official, confirmed to us in an email that CDC had misclassified farmers as farming, fishing, and forestry, or “Triple-F,” workers. This error inflated the suicide rate for Triple-F workers and made any conclusions about farmer suicides impossible to determine. The revised rate for Triple-F workers is now third among occupational groups in the study, while CDC has yet to release a suicide rate for farmers.

We showed, in an article published last Thursday, that the study never justified the way reporters have covered it. The headline result was that farmers had the highest suicide rate, even though farmers do not belong in the Triple-F category, a federal occupational category that is almost entirely composed of agricultural workers. Working under the assumption that CDC had erroneously classified farmers with agricultural workers, we demonstrated that the agency divided the number of farmer and Triple-F worker suicides by Triple-F workers only, which doubled the rate researchers should have reported.

Although the study suggested it was agricultural workers, not farmers, who had a high suicide rate, the media focused relentlessly on farmers. As politicians began to write the 2018 Farm Bill, they referenced the high rate of farmer suicide, assertions that rested on CDC’s research. The original draft of the Senate farm bill included language that would have restricted, if not excluded, agricultural workers from access to a program designed to boost mental health services to all agriculture-related occupations. The Senate has since amended the bill to include agricultural workers, but legislators could still remove that expansive language or even kill the program.

None of this is to say that farmers do not have a high suicide rate. Lenard wrote us that CDC misclassified 90 farmers into the Triple-F category: if we divide them by our estimate of the total number of farmers (using the same survey as CDC did) we get a rate that could be as high as fourth in the study.

But that rate would still fall below the rate for Triple-F workers. While we cannot know how many of the suicides classified as Triple-F were agricultural workers, the fact that they comprise between 80 and 90 percent of the category is highly suggestive. And since there is little research on agricultural worker suicides—or farmer suicides for that matter—these results should spur further research. 

Agricultural workers are 80 percent Hispanic and have household incomes around $23,000 a year. Their employers, farmers, are almost entirely white and have household incomes around $79,000 per year. When a study came out that ostensibly had nothing to do with farmers and everything to do with farm workers, journalists chose to omit the latter group from their reporting almost entirely. Politicians may now do the same in the farm bill. Researchers make mistakes, as do reporters and politicians. But what is much less certain is whether they will do right by some of the most exploited workers in the country.

UPDATE: This story was updated at 11:12 a.m., EST on June 28, to reflect that the Senate had adjusted language to include agricultural workers in its farm bill language on mental health support. You can find that text on page 656 of the farm bill.

The information now on the CDC page is drawn from a 2020 study of data through 2016.

Will those served by faith leaders trained by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and Minnesota Department of Health include farm workers? The press release from the Minnesota Department of Agriculture noted the following funding sources:

This event is partially underwritten by Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Program award #2021-70035461 from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture [this program?]. Other sponsors include Alluma, Minnesota State/AgCentric, Jackson Roeder Memorial Fund, LivingWorks Faith, Minnesota Corn Growers Association, Minnesota Farmers Union, Minnesota Soybean Growers Association,  and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service – Minnesota.

Why not include farmworkers in publicity for this program? And why frame farmers as such victims? Have years of education and outreach produced no change in attitudes about mental health care in farming communities? 

Chart: From Highlights from the September 2022 Farm Income Forecast, Farm Sector Profits Forecast to Remain Above Average in 2022.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6

SD News Watch: New scholarships seen as path to slowing “brain drain” of grads leaving state

As much as our "Positive Pants" governor likes to brag on South Dakota's economy, not everything is hunky dory. Who knew the Rushmore State's brains were draining to Minnesota and other states.

Another investigative report from South Dakota News Watch.

New scholarships seen as path to slowing “brain drain” of South Dakota graduates leaving state
By Kylie Carlson and Stu Whitney

South Dakota is playing catch-up when it comes to stemming the so-called “brain drain” of college graduates leaving for careers in other states, with declining college enrollment related to the COVID-19 pandemic adding to the urgency.

Major employers such as First Premier Bank and Sanford and Avera hospitals – whose operations are tied to having skilled workers available for hire – are providing scholarship money and other incentives to assist the South Dakota Board of Regents in not just educating young people in the state but enticing them to take in-state job opportunities.

From 2015-2019, only 53% of the nearly 35,000 students who graduated from South Dakota’s six public universities were working for in-state employers one year past their graduation. That percentage increased to about 70% when narrowed to just South Dakota residents.

Experts point to several economic realities that make it tough to reverse the trend in which many of the state’s youngest and most educated and skilled residents are leaving the state where they grew up. Prior reporting by News Watch has also shown that teachers, in particular, are leaving South Dakota due to the influence of divisive politics and the culture wars entering into curriculum and the classroom.

South Dakota ranks 50th in average pay for teachers ($49,547), according to the National Education Association. The state also ranks 50th in the United States in average salary for registered nurses ($60,550), according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Management. Across all occupations, the state ranks 48th in the United States for average annual pay ($44,960), with the national average at $56,310.

“What we’re seeing more often than not when students leave South Dakota after graduation is that they can be compensated at higher levels in other states,” said Michaela Willis, South Dakota State University vice president for student affairs and enrollment management. “Some of our positions in South Dakota aren’t competitive with other states, and teaching is a big one. Until our compensation structure for teachers increases to be competitive in that market, we will continue to lose students to Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa and other states.”

The Board of Regents, which oversees the state’s public universities, has teamed with state government officials and corporate leaders to tailor areas of study to in-state workforce needs, with Executive Director Brian Maher saying the BOR’s “commitment to research should be as robust as it can be.” But he concedes that not every student can be matched with a suitable job that matches their field.

That was the case for Jeff Gillaspie, a Hill City native who decided to leave his home state behind after earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from South Dakota School of Mines in 2021. He accepted an optics position with a high-tech company in Bozeman, Montana that uses lasers to scan for gas leaks, an opportunity that he said did not present itself in South Dakota.

“Most of the jobs I was looking for were primarily outside the state,” said Gillaspie, 23. “With that major and what I wanted to do, I had to look somewhere else to find a job in my career field.”

Needs-based scholarships could boost enrollment

Undergraduate enrollment at South Dakota’s six public universities dropped during the COVID-19 pandemic, complicating a downward trend that was already under way. Total enrollment was 36,532 in 2013 and dipped to 34,520 by 2019, with South Dakota State and the University of South Dakota leading the way in declines. The Board of Regents reported a total of 33,455 for the 2021-22 school year, mirroring a national trend of stagnation or decline on the heels of the pandemic’s social and economic effects.

Now, the challenge is to spark a renewal of interest in college attendance, partly by tapping into a new reservoir of prospective students who might not otherwise have considered a college experience.

South Dakota was the last state in the U.S. to offer a needs-based scholarship, unveiling the “Freedom Scholarship” in 2021 with a lead donation of $100 million from First Premier Bank and billionaire philanthropist T. Denny Sanford, in partnership with the state of South Dakota and the Avera and Sanford health systems.

The scholarships, currently funded at $175 million, are given to high school graduates who might not otherwise be able to afford postsecondary education, with the stipulation that they stay and work in South Dakota for three years following graduation. They are available not just for public universities but private colleges and tribal institutions, with about $5 million allocated for 2022-23, the program’s pilot year.

“It’s definitely a game-changer,” said Willis, adding that SDSU has granted about 450 Freedom scholarships. “We have continued to see a decline in the number of students with high financial need enrolling in postsecondary education in South Dakota. This needs-based scholarship gives us an answer to be able to help more students see that higher education is a possibility for them, and it opens that door a bit wider.”

The program is modeled after the Build Dakota Scholarship, which focused on technical education and required students receiving the grants to work in their trained field in South Dakota for a minimum of three years. 

The Freedom Scholarship extends that concept to four-year degrees, using a University Advisory Council to identify non-traditional students who lack the financial means to attend college.

First Premier CEO Dana Dykhouse, who chairs the Freedom Scholarship board, called it a worthy investment as businesses become more involved in higher education in the interest of strengthening the state workforce. Emergence of the scholarship program is partly recognition that there is untapped potential in cities like Sioux Falls, where nearly 80 different languages are represented in the public school district and 43% of students are eligible for free and reduced lunch.

“For my generation, the vision for going off to college was mom and dad loading up the station wagon with a bean bag chair in the back and a box of grandma’s chocolate chip cookies and they’d drop you off at the door,” Dykhouse said. “If you look at Sioux Falls, with almost a 50% diverse community coming from all over the world, they don’t all have that same vision. We want to create an opportunity where they can have a different on-ramp into higher education, and we hope this helps achieve that goal.”

Some students seek out-of-state experience

As part of its strategic plan for 2022-2027, the Board of Regents aims to manage the costs of attending college, which includes working with the state legislature to freeze tuition fees and maximizing student access to federal student aid. Maher said the mission is tied to increasing enrollment from South Dakota high schools by 5% over the next five years.

“One of the key components is making sure that college is both affordable and accessible to students that graduate from high schools in South Dakota, and our goal is to keep them here,” said Maher, who became the Regents executive director in 2020. “About 30% of South Dakota high school graduates go to college (at one of the state’s six public universities), and I told my leadership team, ‘What if we can just get that to 33%?’ That’s a significant increase, and it’s doable.”

Some forces are beyond the board’s control, such as the natural tendency of young people to be drawn to cultural offerings in larger cities and states. Though South Dakota was 21st overall in WalletHub’s “Best States to Live” rankings for 2022, it ranked 41st in the quality-of-life category, behind North Dakota, Wyoming and Alabama.

“The college experience means different things to different people,” said Maher. “For some, it involves living somewhere different than where they’re from. If somebody has their heart set on leaving the state and having a different experience, then I say, ‘Go and make the best of it, but really think about coming back once you have that experience.’”

That could be the case for 24-year-old Alex Chapman, a Rapid City Stevens High School graduate who was lured to out-of-state colleges by those that encouraged his love of music. He considered several colleges across the U.S. and decided on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

“I’m not sure why I didn’t look at South Dakota schools,” said Chapman. “Maybe it’s because I knew that I wanted to do something in music, initially that was the direction I wanted to go. Really, my mentors in music pushed me toward schools that were outside of the state.”

Chapman majored in double-bass performance with a minor in biology and discovered a love for the medical field, which he decided to pursue after graduating in 2020. He now lives in New York City and is studying at Columbia University, focusing on classes he needs to qualify for medical school.

Despite his education and positive experiences outside of the state, Chapman still looks back on his home state fondly, recognizing the opportunities the state makes available.

“I think the academic situation would be excellent (in South Dakota) as well, but there’s another piece of education that’s equally valuable, and that’s the social aspect and getting to be in a diverse community that I think is harder in a state like South Dakota,” Chapman said. “I left because that’s kind of where my journey took me, but if I could do it again, I would not be upset to land in a South Dakota institution. And who knows, I still might. They’ve got a great medical school at the University of South Dakota.”

WHERE ARE SOUTH DAKOTANS MOVING TO?

The list below indicates the top 10 destinations of people who moved out of state in 2019, with the state and percentage of those who moved to that location.

1. Minnesota (14.3%)
2. North Dakota (8.5%)
3. Iowa (8.3%)
4. Nebraska (7.5%)
5. Texas (7%)
6. Colorado (5.7%)
7. Florida (5%)
8. California (4.9%)
9. Wyoming (3.8%)
10. Arizona (3.6%)

Source: Stacker.com, 2019

Curious that Minnesota tops the list.

Related posts:

• SD News Watch: SD teachers endure new stress as politics & culture war seep into classrooms 
• Education experts: SD teachers deserve trust and respect, not continued criticism
• Pedagogy & the pandemic: student test scores in Minnesota & South Dakota aren't encouraging
• Bummer! South Dakota News Watch poll shows referendum on recreational cannabis legalization in South Dakota could fail in November
• Positive pants on fire: Noem fibs about policy, keeps Corey Lewandowski at her side in DC

Photo: Students who graduate from in-state colleges, including the South Dakota School of Mines, shown here, continue to leave the state after graduation and take their knowledge and skills with them. Photo: News Watch file

This story was reprinted with the permission of South Dakota News Watch.

If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen, 600 Maple Street, Summit SD 57266) or use the paypal button in the upper right hand corner of this post.

Or you can contribute via this link to paypal; use email [email protected] as recipient.

I'm on Venmo for those who prefer to use this service: @Sally-Sorensen-6