Thank you...

...for your vote, for your confidence in me, for your encouragement and help in so many ways, your prayers, and especially your friendship.  We appreciate all of you!  We’ve spent the last couple of days picking up signs.  It’s such a great reminder of all the supportive people we’ve met along the way over so many campaigns. If I missed yours, call or email.  Please keep sharing your ideas, opinions, and thoughts with me.  South Dakota has some challenges ahead, but I know that the leadership team you have elected is anxious to work with you to solve them. Thank you!

I’m counting on your vote tomorrow!

Thank you for joining my email list or sharing opinions and experiences as a facebook friend. Your interest and support has been so encouraging during this campaign.  Tomorrow each vote will be critical so if you know someone in District 13 who may be undecided, please give them a call.  Assure them that I will be an effective and respected voice for them in Pierre. 

Thank you!

Do you know a South Dakota high school student?

If so, encourage them to go to SDMyLife.com and register in the My Future, My Prize contest.  The grand prize is an HP Elitebook 2740p Tablet PC, backpack and HP office Jet Printer 4680 plus a large variety of runner up prizes.  Contest ends November 15.  South Dakota’s Department of Education is sponsoring this free contest to encourage students and parents to log on to this valuable website—“all to help you plan YOUR future.”  SDMyLife.com offers “a ton of career exploration resources.  Build your own portfolio, and start planning for your life after high school today.”  (SDMyLife, SDDOE)  Thanks to HP and Riverside Technologies, Inc. for their donations.

Rain fell and the Big Band played on…

There were some really hardy music lovers at McKennan Park Monday evening who sat through the rain and listened to the great sounds of Sioux Falls “Big Band.”  There are two Mondays at McKennan concerts left and we invite you to visit with Brian Liss and Charlotte Shaw, (Republican candidates for the State House) and myself in the Sunken Gardens before and after those final two concerts.  Monday, August 9 will feature Main Avenue Warehouse and the final on August 16 will be Mogen’s Heroes.  We’ve met so many wonderful neighbors who stopped by with opinions, questions, or concerns and some who just wanted to say hello.

90 years old and still really young...

My “door to door dilemma” today was-- should I keep knocking on doors or stop at McKennan for an afternoon band concert with the Sioux Falls municipal band?  I chose the later, as many in the neighborhood did.  Strains of Stars Wars, Sousa, popular Broadway hits, and much more entertained the delighted crowd.  One of their selections was titled “Unending Summer.”  With the beautiful afternoon and the beautiful setting of McKennan Park, that seemed like a wonderful idea.  I sat next to the historical marker and was surprised to read that this is the 90^th birthday of the S.F. municipal band.  Its first concert was July 11, 1920, “attended by several thousands.”  It was encouraging to see so many young band members.  The great tradition of the S.F. municipal band should continue well beyond another 90 years.  Concert’s over—back to knocking on doors.

Charlotte Shaw and Brian Liss, Republican candidates for the House, and I spent Monday evening at McKennan Park

Charlotte Shaw, Brian Liss (Republican candidates for the House) and I spent Monday evening at McKennan Park visiting with constituents and music lovers from across Sioux Falls. We’ll be in the Sunken Gardens the next 5 Monday evenings along with “Mondays at McKennan.” Come visit with us before and after the musical concerts featuring:  July 19—Slant 6 Band; July 26—Sioux Emperians Barbershop Chorus; August 2---Sioux Falls Big Band;  August 9—Main Avenue Warehouse;  August 16—Mogen’s Heroes. 

Congratulations, Sioux Falls Park and Rec, on a great family evening, “Kids Night at the Park” at McKennan Park Tuesday night.

Whatever your age, this was a wonderful family night and the families of Sioux Falls showed up. The Park was literally filled with children, their parents, and grandparents enjoying carnival games and a fun variation of Cinderella. Also a special thanks to the Parks staff.  There were lots of children to watch and I saw one supervisor notice that a small child came out of a “blow up” on the opposite end where his mother was waiting.  He quickly retrieved the child and returned him to his mother. What a wonderful way to spend a summer night!

South Dakota, be really proud of your investment in the Sanford Lab at Homestake!

After attending Neutrino Days at the Sanford Lab on July 10, I am even more excited about the possibilities of the Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab (if you haven’t watched the Sanford Lab video mentioned on my blog, do it NOW). The National Science Foundation has determined that the 4 pillars of the Physics program at the Sanford Lab are: 1) Neutrinos; 2) Proton decay; 3) Double Beta Decay; 4) Dark Matter. 

Neutrino Day featured physicists speaking on these topics.  Also, it was encouraging to see so many kids there doing “hands-on science activities” with the scientists. My conclusion is that I Needed To Take More Physics.  High school students - do not avoid Physics!  It not only explains the world around us; but South Dakota will potentially be the center of future Physics research.  We all need to be a part of this!

Neutrino Day 2010 — “a science adventure”

If you are in the Lead area on Saturday, July 10, don’t miss this free science festival. Fascinating adult and kids’ activities will be held at the Sanford Underground Science and Engineering Lab at Homestake.  For the schedule and detailed information go to: sanfordlabathomestake.org.  This is a great opportunity for all of us to learn more about South Dakota’s potential Deep Underground Science and Engineering Lab…and actually learn what a neutrino is.

Sobering Statistics On States’ Revenue

The June* 2010 Fiscal Survey of States offers a sobering look at the 50 States 2010 and 2011 budgetary conditions and predicts that,  “states are expected to take up to several years after the recession to fully recover and begin expansion.”  While there has been great political attention as to who is to blame for South Dakota’s structural deficit and whether it is a “crisis” or not, this Report clearly shows that the “crisis” nationwide is much more threatening.  Compounding the national economy’s steep decline are policies coming out of Washington which are creating great business uncertainty and further job loss. While South Dakota has challenges ahead, our low tax, conservative, and business-friendly environment provides us a buffer from some of the harsher realities other States face.

Here are just a few of those realities from the *Report which was prepared by the National Governors’ Association and the National Association of State Budget Officers.  The full report can be found at: www.nasbo.org.

1)  The number of States experiencing revenue shortfalls increased in fiscal 2010 with revenues from all sources below projections in 46 States.

2)  States’ total fiscal 2011 budgets are reflecting an 8.4% decline in revenue from FY 08 (South Dakota expects a 1% decline).  FY 08 (July 1, 2007-June 30, 2008) was the last full year prior to the national recession.

3)  In the 2011 budgets 34 States are either reducing or freezing provider payments for Medicaid patients. (S.D. froze provider payments)

4.)  In the 2011 budget, 31 States will cut K-12 spending; 31 States will cut Higher Ed spending.  (In FY 2011 S.D.’s per student allocation will remain at last year’s level, but the legislature did change the manner in which it counts students resulting in increasing state aid for growing schools.)  35 States had already cut K-12 spending in the current FY 2010 budget. (South Dakota did not.)

5)  32 States expect FY 2011 “rainy day” balances to be less than 5% of their expenditures; 15 of those States’ balances are below 1%. (S.D. budgeted for a 9.2% “rainy day” balance) South Dakota’s relatively larger fund balance reflects the concern stated in the Report, “because states recognize that this economic downturn may last at least in 2012,  they are reluctant to deplete balances.”

6)  States are recommending an average increase of 3.6% in 2011 spending over 2010. (S.D. budgeted for a 2.9% increase, all of which is Medicaid.  In South Dakota’s FY 2011 budget, total state expenditures will increase by $32.5 million; Medicaid and Social Services alone will increase by $35.9 million.)