“I’m proud to be an American”

“I’m proud to be an American”…. was the spirit of the hundreds of Sioux Falls area residents who filled the lawn of the V.A.Hospital for the Memorial Day celebration.  With the wind barely moving the Stars and Stripes, it was a perfect day to honor the memory of those who endured so many imperfect days to protect our freedoms.  The keynote speaker, Pastor Dennis Thomas, requested that “everyone under 20, please stand,” and commented how important it was that they were here.  They will help to ensure that the “memory of the country’s patriots will never die.”  He challenged everyone to take some time today and reread the Declaration of Independence.

A young man in our District,  who is a great fan of the History Channel, made a really poignant observation to me recently, “It is amazing what past generations sacrificed and endured so that we can have the rights……… that we so casually give away today.”

No Excuses!

I have recently heard the term education marketplace and it struck me how that term aptly describes Sioux Falls.  What a tremendous array and choice of educational opportunities we have in our city.  From pre-K to higher Ed, public, private, and parochial, we have something for everyone and their individual interest.  Many of those schools and their educators call District 13 home.  Thank you to all who make this possible—taxpayers, supporters, parents, teachers, and students. If you want an education, there are no excuses here!

Thanks for a Great "Meet and Greet"

Thanks, Paul and everyone at Click Rain for hosting us last night in the GOP “Meet and Greet.”  It was great to meet some new friends and to greet some old friends whose support I treasure.  I really appreciate Click Rain and all the work they do to help me talk to voters through my website and Facebook.

Why Phyllis?  I want to make sure that everything on my website answers that question for you.  And even more, I hope that something you read is intriguing enough that you come back and learn more.  And tell your friends.  Information is key in making good decisions.

The Internet creates so many new opportunities for us to communicate with voters.  I’ve knocked on thousands of doors in five campaigns and I’ll knock on thousands more this year.  It’s important and I learn so much. The Internet allows us to have a similar conversation, but now it’s at your convenience.  You open the “door” when you link to our website or Facebook page.  You make the connection, when you have the time.  And you can shut the “door” whenever you want.

How do we make it valuable?  What are you looking for?  Let me know.  Contact me at phein@iw.net  605-610-5453, or on my Facebook fan page.

When does the madness end?

The Wall Street Journal analyzed the $190 billion in new spending now being considered in Congress. While the goal of this House bill, (titled the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act), is supposedly job creation, its allocation for small business loans comes in at the bottom of the priorities at $ 0.5 billion.  The remainder is a variety of payments to Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment, welfare, etc. Although most of this $190 billion simply adds to the deficit, some of it is paid for with additional taxes on business, furthering draining their ability to create jobs.  This is a “jobs” bill???

Want to know more about Obama Care?

Interesting FAQs on South Dakota’s involvement in the 20 State lawsuit against Obama Care are available on the Attorney General’s website here. Included on the site is a copy of the lawsuit; South Dakota’s cost of the lawsuit (currently at $1,000); and many more answers to your questions. Check it out.

Siouxland Republican Women hosted Attorney General Marty Jackley on May 20th to discuss South Dakota’s involvement in the lawsuit against Obama Care.  South Dakota has joined with 19 other states to challenge various aspects of the Law, primarily the individual mandate and the expansion and resulting cost increase of Medicaid (impact on S.D.’s budget estimated to be at least $53.7 Million).

Attorney General Jackley indicated that he received great support from both the legislative and executive branch to proceed with the lawsuit.  The legislature overwhelmingly passed Senate Concurrent Resolution 1, “Opposing the government takeover of health care as currently proposed by Congress and encouraging preservation of states' rights regarding health care regulation.”  The mostly party-line vote was 22-10 in the Senate; 44-24 in the House.

Congratulations 2010 Grads

We have had the real pleasure of attending some of our friends’ graduation parties.   These are always such wonderful celebrations highlighted by memories and mementos of their school years.  It’s been a joy to watch the growth of these bright kids and the hundreds like them in our city who work so hard and take advantage of so many educational opportunities.   With such great preparation their possibilities are unlimited. Thanks to the talented teachers who continue to encourage and inspire.  And parents, our gratitude and congratulations go to you too.  Your great kids are truly our future.  Thanks to you, it’s a bright one!

Tax Policy Matters!

Tax policy matters!! We believe that in South Dakota.  The U.S. Chamber of Commerce affirmed the value of South Dakota’s low-tax and business-friendly environment in its report, Enterprising States, ranking South Dakota 3rd in the nation for job growth.  They described South Dakota in this way, “as a national leader in corporate tax and small –enterprise friendliness, South Dakota has made a concerted effort to work with and for small business to accelerate job retention and job growth.  The State has put in place an extensive array of tax and regulatory statutes aimed at lessening the tax burden on doing business and invested in extensive infrastructure to promote research and technology development.”  The Chamber ranks South Dakota as the Top Performing Tax and Regulation State. (Joel Kotkin, Enterprising States, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, May 2010.)

 Tax policy matters!  You can be assured, I’ll never forget that.

Sanford Lab Opportunities

The future discoveries that will come from the Sanford Lab at Homestake and the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab (DUSEL) are unimaginable.  Equally exciting are the opportunities for South Dakota students.  Three Sioux Falls grads are going to be some of those early underground scientists.   Bailey Breems, S.F. Roosevelt, Bryce Frentz, S.F. Washington, and Andrew Gaspar, S.F. O’Gorman are among the 10 South Dakota students receiving the 2010 Davis Bahcall Scholarship for Underground Science.   3M sponsors this “one of a kind opportunity.”

The website at http://doe.sd.gov/scholarships/davis-bahcall/index.asp describes their experience - “Davis-Bahcall Scholarship recipients will have the chance to spend approximately five weeks of their summer digging deep into science at the Sanford Laboratory at Homestake in Lead, SD, and the Gran Sasso National Underground Laboratory in Italy.  Participants will also study physics at Princeton University in New Jersey.”

Whenever I have had the opportunity to listen to any of the scientists associated with these Labs, I wished I had taken more Physics.  Dr. Frank Calaprice, professor of Physics at Princeton, who was very instrumental in initiating this scholarship opportunity, once told me, “every student can learn, enjoy, and be empowered with the study of Physics.”

Congratulations to all of the recipients.  We look forward to watching the progress of their underground science adventure.

Back on the Campaign Trail

I've taken an 18 month break from knocking on your doors in District 13, but certainly not a break from enjoying the neighborhood. While a little sunshine would be great, the yards look amazing!  I'm looking forward to visiting with old and new friends after the June primary.  I met new neighbors from 18 states in my last door to door campaign, short of my goal of 50.  I will try to complete that goal this year as I know of many new neighbors who have decided to call South Dakota home.  If you are new to South Dakota, email me.  I'd love to hear your story!  Or if you have some questions, contact me.
 
I ask everyone I meet what their overriding issue is this year and I am consistently hearing, "Get the government out of my life."  I can't wait to knock on your door.  Tell me what you are thinking or you can always reach me at my campaign headquarters at www.whyphyllis.com or at 610-5453.  See you soon.