South Dakota

Scorecard rates South Dakota members of Congress poorly on pro-democracy positions • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

2 months ago

September 15, 2024

Scorecard rates South Dakota members of Congress poorly on pro-democracy positions • South Dakota Searchlight

South Dakota’s three members of Congress scored poorly on a watchdog group’s new Democracy Scorecard, which evaluates congressional positions on democracy-related bills and resolutions.

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1970 by Republican John W. Gardner, “the father of campaign finance reform” and President Lyndon Johnson’s secretary of health, education and welfare.

The organization’s 2024 scorecard gave South Dakota’s Republican Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds zeros out of 10 — zero meaning they took no pro-democracy positions on legislation analyzed by the organization— and Republican Rep. Dusty Johnson one out of 13.

Johnson’s one point reflects his vote to expel Rep. George Santos, R-New York. Common Cause said removing the representative for ethical violations was pro-democracy because it upheld accountability and integrity within the legislative body, ensuring trust in U.S. institutions.

None of the spokespeople for South Dakota’s congressional delegation offered a comment on the scorecard when contacted by South Dakota Searchlight.

No Republican scored greater than a two on the scorecard, and no Democrat received less than a seven.

Common Cause is critical of the 118th Congress, calling it one of the most dysfunctional in U.S. history, with many pro-democracy bills failing to move forward due to partisan gridlock.

The scorecard highlights how in January 2023, the House of Representatives took four days and 15 votes to elect Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-California, as speaker. Nine months later, the House made history by removing McCarthy, remaining at a standstill for three weeks before electing Rep. Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, as the new speaker.

Shortly after, the House expelled Santos. Then, this summer, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, became the first sitting member of Congress to face charges of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent. He was subsequently convicted and resigned.

Legislation analyzed

The 2024 Democracy Scorecard evaluated members of Congress for their positions on bills and resolutions including the following:

Democracy for All Amendment: The constitutional amendment would give Congress and state legislatures the authority to set “reasonable” limits on campaign spending and would effectively overturn the Citizens United v. FEC decision, which removed restrictions on corporate and union spending in elections.
DISCLOSE Act: The bill would make foreign dark money political action committees illegal, ban foreign nationals from contributing to ballot initiatives and referendums, require the federal Government Accountability Office to study and report on foreign money in elections, and close some dark money loopholes.
Judicial Ethics and Anti-Corruption Act/Supreme Court Ethics, Recusal, and Transparency Act: The bills would prohibit federal judges and Supreme Court justices from owning individual stocks and securities, restrict the solicitation or acceptance of gifts for judges, and establish a committee to review complaints against the Supreme Court.
CISA’s budget: Some Republicans proposed cutting funding for a Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) initiative focused on election security; Common Cause argues cutting the funding weakens the country’s ability to safeguard elections from cyberattacks.
Protecting Our Democracy Act: The broad reform bill’s key provision limits the president’s ability to grant pardons when there is a personal conflict of interest.
Freedom to Vote Act: The bill would make Election Day a national holiday, promote early voting and automatically register U.S. citizens to vote.
John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act: The bill would reinstate federal oversight in states with a history of discriminatory voting practices, including South Dakota.
Washington, D.C., Admission Act: This bill would grant statehood to Washington, D.C.
Democracy Restoration Act: The bill would restore voting rights to individuals with felony convictions after they have completed their prison sentences.
Expelling Rep. George Santos: This resolution led to the expulsion of Rep. George Santos from Congress following a series of ethics allegations.

DemocracyScorecard_2024v6

GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX

Source link

Click to comment

South Dakota

Matt Gaetz bows out as Trump’s pick for attorney general • South Dakota Searchlight

Published

3 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Matt Gaetz bows out as Trump’s pick for attorney general • South Dakota Searchlight

WASHINGTON — Former Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz announced Thursday he’s withdrawing as President-elect Donald Trump’s planned nominee for attorney general days after securing the appointment.

Gaetz’s path to Senate confirmation was highly unlikely following years of investigations about alleged drug usage and payments for sex, including with an underage girl. He submitted his resignation to Congress last week.

“While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz wrote in a social media post. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1.”

Trump posted on social media afterward that he “greatly” appreciated “the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General.”

“He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect,” Trump wrote. “Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!”

The House Ethics Committee voted along party lines Wednesday not to release its report on Gaetz, following more than three years of investigation. Gaetz has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, including the allegations that he had sex with a minor.

Meetings with senators

Trump’s running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, spent Wednesday shuffling Gaetz between meetings with Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which would have held his confirmation hearing. Republicans will control the Senate in the new session of Congress beginning in January.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee, wrote on social media that he respected Gaetz’s decision to withdraw his name from consideration as AG.

“I look forward to working with President Trump regarding future nominees to get this important job up and running,” Graham said.

The office of Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, fellow Senate Judiciary Committee Republican, declined to comment.

Gaetz’s future is unclear, given that he resigned from the U.S. House last week and notified the chamber he didn’t plan to take the oath of office for the upcoming 119th Congress.

He first joined the House in January 2017 and led efforts to remove former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy from that role last year, setting off a month-long stalemate within the House Republican Conference over who should lead the party.

The race to fill his empty seat in a special election has already attracted six candidates, mostly Republicans in a heavily conservative-leaning district.

Gaetz could jump into the race for his old seat, possibly winning a place back in the House of Representative next year following the special election.

AG oversees Department of Justice

The attorney general is responsible for overseeing the Department of Justice, which includes the federal government’s top law enforcement agencies as well as prosecutors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Office for Victims of Crime, Office on Violence Against Women and U.S. Attorneys’ offices are among the 40 entities within the DOJ and its 115,000-person workforce.

Congress approved $37.52 billion for the Department of Justice in the most recent full-year spending bill.

Trump had two attorneys general during his first term as president. He first nominated former Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, whom Trump later fired amid disputes, and then Bill Barr.

Ashley Murray contributed to this story

This is a developing report that will be updated.

Last updated 12:47 p.m., Nov. 21, 2024

Source link

South Dakota

Duke 75-71 South Dakota State (Nov 17, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN

Published

10 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Duke 75-71 South Dakota State (Nov 17, 2024) Game Recap – ESPN

BROOKINGS, S.D. — — Jadyn Donovan finished with 23 points and 15 rebounds to help No. 16 Duke hold off South Dakota State 75-71 on Sunday.

Donovan hit 11 of 17 shots from the floor and added four assists and four steals for the Blue Devils (4-1). It was the second double-double this season for the sophomore.

Ashlon Jackson totaled 17 points and four assists for Duke. Vanessa de Jesus scored 13 off the bench.

Brooklyn Meyer scored 25 points on 9-for-13 shooting to lead the Jackrabbits (3-1). Paige Meyer had 12 points and seven assists. Haleigh Timmer scored 11 on 5-for-7 shooting. Kallie Theisen grabbed 12 rebounds but did not score.

Jackson had nine points to guide the Blue Devils to a 23-18 advantage after one quarter.

Donovan scored off a rebound to give Duke a 10-point lead with 90 seconds left before halftime. But Brooklyn Meyer had the only basket from there and South Dakota State trailed 38-30.

The Jackrabbits grabbed the lead at 47-45 after Timmer’s layup and two free throws by Meyer. Donovan answered with a dunk off a rebound and finished off a three-point play, and Reigan Richardson and Toby Fournier sank shots in the final 44 seconds to send the Blue Devils to the fourth quarter with a 54-50 lead.

Mesa Byom hit a 3-pointer with 7:38 left to play to pull South Dakota State even at 59. Donovan answered with another rebound basket and a jumper, and the Blue Devils stayed in front from there.

The Jackrabbits stayed within striking distance by hitting 8 of 16 shots from beyond the arc while Duke sank just 3 of 11.

The Blue Devils return home to play Belmont on Thursday.

—— Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP women’s college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-womens-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/womens-college-basketball

Source link

South Dakota

Jackson scores 19 as South Dakota State beats Southern Miss 101-76

Published

18 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Jackson scores 19 as South Dakota State beats Southern Miss 101-76

Associated Press

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Jaden Jackson scored 19 points as South Dakota State beat Southern Miss 101-76 on Wednesday night.

Jackson had 10 rebounds for the Jackrabbits (4-1). Oscar Cluff scored 16 points while shooting 7 of 7 from the field and added nine rebounds. Kalen Garry shot 3 for 8 (1 for 5 from 3-point range) and 7 of 7 from the free-throw line to finish with 14 points.

The Golden Eagles (2-2) were led by Neftali Alvarez, who posted 13 points. Christian Watson added 12 points and two steals for Southern Miss. Denijay Harris also had 11 points and 12 rebounds.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

Source link