Chairman’s Note: American Indians had a huge ally in Senator Tim Johnson. He streamlined and strengthened affordable housing programs on the reservations and always listened to the concerns of our state’s first people. Rosebud Sioux tribal member Ralph Eagleman says it best: ”I always voted for him every time. He is like a member of the family, like a tiospaye. He is a big brother to us.”
Archives
Obama applauds South Dakota man, nonprofit during speech →
Chairman’s Note: For every person in Washington obstructing progress in our tribes, there are many more back home who are finding solutions for Indian County. President Barack Obama recognized one leader from South Dakota for exactly that. Nick Tilsen of the Thunder Valley community development corporation is making investments on the Pine Ridge Reservation that are creating opportunities that can last. We extend our applause, and hope you will too. You can learn more about Nick and Thunder Valley here.
Violence Against Women Act: Eric Cantor, Joe Biden In Talks Amid Stalled Tribal Provision →
Chairman’s Note: Usually authorized with large bipartisan majorities, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has lapsed for the first time this year due to Republican obstruction in the House. Now with the year coming to a close, we know what’s holding up the bill: Republicans want to get rid of protections for Native American women women who are victims of domestic violence. It’s a disgusting, indefensible defiance that Congresswoman Noem has perpetuated, and we can’t allow it. No one, no matter where, deserves to be victimized by domestic violence, and there’s no excuse in the world that’s good enough to leave perpetrators of domestic violence off the hook. Please copy the link to this article, and post it on Congresswoman Noem’s Facebook wall. Tell her to ask her Republican leaders to drop the opposition to the Violence Against Women Act today!
Kristi, text us. We need to talk. →
Chairman’s Note: The Pierre Capitol Journal has a few questions for Congresswoman Noem. We do too. Repeatedly skipping work – and doing nothing when you show up – without a justifiable is cause for dismissal. So far, Noem’s excuses have been nonexistent or debunked.
Varilek attacks Noem’s attendance →
Chairman’s Note: Several months ago, we broke news that Congresswoman Noem had missed 16 of 20 agriculture committee meetings while Congress was crafting the farm bill. After a week without comment, Noem claimed she had scheduling conflicts. Well folks, now it looks like Noem has missed 17 of 22 Indian Affairs committee meetings and worse, most had absolutely no conflicts with other meetings in her schedule! Folks, this isn’t that hard. You show up for your job or you get fired. Forward this to a friend so we can get rid of ‘No Show Noem’.
BUSTED! Noem Attendance Excuses Debunked
Congresswoman Noem has been pretty good at finding excuses for skipping her committee hearings. After failing to respond for a week to the media for missing 16 of 20 ag committee hearings and now another bombshell showing she missed 17 of 22 Indian Affairs meetings, Noem said scheduling conflicts stopped her from attending.
But therein lies the problem: most of her Indian Affairs meetings did not coincide with any other committee meetings on her schedule!
Here’s the full details from Matt Varilek’s campaign.
Noem Attendance Excuses Debunked
Frequently skipped all committee meetings on a given day, and absences were rarely caused by conflicting meetings
(SIOUX FALLS, SD)–After a joint Argus Leader appearance Monday in which Rep. Kristi Noem claimed she had fought for Native American interests in Congress, the Varilek campaign released research showing that Noem has skipped nearly every meeting of the Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee.
In response, Noem made the recycled claim that she missed those meetings in order to attend others. “Many times those committees are meeting at the exact same time. I have to wake up every day and look and see where I can be most effective for South Dakota,” she said in a KELO TV interview.
Noem’s claim that she missed meetings because of scheduling conflicts is false. New findings from the Varilek campaign show that in the vast majority of cases, Noem had no hearings or meetings scheduled that conflicted with those of the Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Subcommittee. On many occasions she simply skipped all her committee meetings.
Noem skipped 17 out of 22 meetings of the Indian Affairs subcommittee; for a 12-month stretch, she attended none of its meetings at all. In 15 of those instances, none of Noem’s other committees or subcommittees were meeting at the same time. In five cases, the Indian Affairs meeting was her only one of the day.
For example:
- On April 1, 2011, the subcommittee hearing she skipped (which concerned tribal energy development) was her only meeting of the day. She attended a Fox News interview later in the day.
- On September 22, 2011, she had four hearings on her schedule and skipped all four. She attended a fundraiser in the evening. She also missed National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands and Water and Power subcommittee hearings on this day, as well as an Education and the Workforce hearing.
- On November 3, 2011, she skipped all four hearings on her schedule. Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Mike Black, a South Dakota native and Oglala Sioux member, testified before the Indian Affairs subcommittee on that day. She also missed meetings of the Natural Resources Committee, the Agriculture Committee, and the Education and the Workforce Committee on this day.
Noem also claimed that the meetings she skipped focused on issues that did not affect South Dakota’s Native Americans. This is also false. Those meetings dealt with such issues as universal telecom service mandates in rural areas, the Indian Health Services budget, and the American Indian Empowerment Act.
On the rare occasions when Noem did attend a subcommittee meeting, she often passed on opportunities to speak on behalf of South Dakota. On July 24, 2012, Indian Affairs Subcommittee Chairman Don Young (R-AK) had to repeatedly call on Noem to get her attention because she was typing on her phone. Noem looked up from her phone and declined her chance to speak. Watch the video here.
Noem’s excuses echo claims she made earlier this year, when research found that Noem had attended just 4 out of 20 meetings. Agriculture Committee, the Education and the Workforce Committee, and the Natural Resources Committee.
Varilek called on the Noem campaign to come forward with any evidence showing that Noem did in fact attend any of these meetings. The Noem campaign has not yet responded.
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BACKGROUND
Argus Leader Editorial Board Forum: “We have record levels of suicides on our reservations. We have inadequate job opportunities, we have underfunded Indian health services. We have continuing issues with BIA law enforcement on the reservations. What specific plans do you have that are geared toward resolving the problems on South Dakota’s reservations going forward?…And I want to be specific. Not necessarily money, but what efforts are you going to make if you’re elected over the next two years to deal with the issues that we have on South Dakota’s reservations?” (Question from Editorial Board, 9/24/12)
Varilek Attacks Noem’s Subcommittee Attendance. By Kelly Bartnick. [KELO TV. 9/26/12]
Release: Noem Skipped 17 of 22 Indian Affairs Meetings. [Matt for SD. 9/25/12]
New Research: Noem Skipped 17 of 22 Indian Affairs Meetings
Some truly devastating, cited research has just surfaced showing that Congresswoman Kristi Noem has skipped 17 of 22 Indian Affairs committee hearings on top of skipping 16 of 20 Agriculture Committee hearings…
Makes you wonder how Congresswoman Noem can stand up for South Dakota if she won’t even show up for South Dakota in Congress?
Here’s the text of the press release from Matt Varilek’s campaign with citations for every meeting missed:
New Research: Noem Skipped 17 of 22 Indian Affairs Meetings
Completely absent for year-long stretch
(SIOUX FALLS, SD)—During yesterday’s Argus Leader Editorial Board forum between Rep. Kristi Noem and Matt Varilek, Noem was asked a question related to Native American issues. New research by the Varilek campaign shows Rep. Noem has skipped 77% of House Indian and Alaska Native Affairs subcommittee meetings.
Of the 22 meetings that have taken place since Rep. Noem took office in January of 2011, she only attended five. During one year-long stretch, Noem didn’t attend a single meeting (5/24/11-6/26/12).
Even on the rare occasions when she does show up, she fails to advocate for South Dakota’s interests. One notable moment occurred on July 24, 2011. Rep. Noem attended a subcommittee meeting but was scolded by fellow Republican, Subcommittee Chairman Don Young (R-AK), for typing on her phone during her opportunity to speak up for South Dakota at the meeting. Noem looked up from her phone and waved off the opportunity to speak. Watch the video here.
“Once again, the facts clearly demonstrate Congresswoman Noem’s unwillingness to show up and work hard on behalf of South Dakota when she’s in Washington,” said Varilek campaign manager David Benson. “It’s no wonder nothing is getting done — whether it’s not advocating for our Native American communities, the farm bill or the production tax credit for wind energy, Congresswoman Noem has failed to deliver for South Dakota. It’s time to elect someone who will show up and make sure South Dakota’s one voice in the House is heard once again.”
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BACKGROUND
Argus Leader Editorial Board Forum: “We have record levels of suicides on our reservations. We have inadequate job opportunities, we have underfunded Indian health services. We have continuing issues with BIA law enforcement on the reservations. What specific plans do you have that are geared toward resolving the problems on South Dakota’s reservations going forward?…And I want to be specific. Not necessarily money, but what efforts are you going to make if you’re elected over the next two years to deal with the issues that we have on South Dakota’s reservations?” (Question from Editorial Board, 9/24/12)
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “The effectiveness of federal spending on Native American programs, and on the President’s FY 2012 budget request for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians” [3/8/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Tribal development of energy resources and the creation of energy jobs on Indian lands.” [4/1/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 887. [4/5/11. Present]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Protecting Long-Term Tribal Energy Jobs and Keeping Arizona Water and Power Costs Affordable: The Current and Future Role of the Navajo Generating Station” [5/24/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1408. [5/26/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1560. [6/22/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1291, H.R. 1234 and H.R. 1421 [7/12/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearings on H.R. 443, H.R. 444, H.R. 1461, H.R. 1556 and H.R. 2444. [9/22/11. Absent ]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2938 [10/4/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 205 and H.R. 2362. [11/3/11. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 2467 and S. 292. [1/25/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3532. [2/7/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3973 [2/15/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 1272. [3/1/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Request of the Indian Health Service and of the Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians” [3/6/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4027 and H.R. 4194 [3/20/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Bureau of Land Management’s Hydraulic Fracturing Rule’s Impacts on Indian Tribal Energy Development” [4/19/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Federal Communications Commission’s rule on the Universal Service Fund and its impact on American Indians and Alaska Natives” [6/8/12. Absent]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Authorization, standards, and procedures for whether, how, and when Indian tribes should be newly recognized by the federal government” [6/27/12. Present]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Legislative Hearing on H.R. 726, H.R. 3319 and H.R. 6141. [7/24/12. Present]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Indian lands: exploring resolutions to disputes concerning Indian tribes, state and local governments, and private landowners over land use and development” [8/2/12. Present]
US House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs. Oversight Hearing on “Per Capita Act and Federal Treatment of Trust Per Capita Distributions.” [9/14/12. Present]
Johnson Seeking Solutions to Indian Housing Problems →
Chairman’s Note: Senator Tim Johnson continues to provide an example of real leadership for the state of South Dakota. After hearing “horror stories” from his constituents concerning housing issues in tribal areas, Johnson convened federal officials from various departments of government to find solutions for a growing housing crisis in Indian Country. South Dakota could use more leaders like Johnson who put the needs of their constituents before the wills of party leaders.
Nesselhuf Statement on Stephanie Herseth Sandlin
South Dakota Democratic Party Chairman Ben Nesselhuf released the following statement after former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin announced that she will not run for office in 2012:
“South Dakotans are calling for an alternative to Congresswoman Kristi Noem’s efforts to end Medicare as we know it and to increase taxes on working families. Matt Varilek and Jeff Barth will continue to focus on solutions for South Dakota instead of obstruction in Washington. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin will remain a source of leadership, insight, and determination through this election and many more to come.”
Matt Varilek, former Economic Development Director for Senator Tim Johnson, and Minnehaha County Commissioner Jeff Barth are seeking the Democratic nomination for South Dakota’s lone congressional seat. More information on both candidates can be found at www.mattforsd.com and www.jeffbarth.com or by following them on Facebook at Matt for SD and Jeff Barth for Congress.
Tribal Heritage An Important Part of South Dakota →
Chairman’s Note: Recent national news stories have highlighted the many hardships faced by those living in Indian Country. As we recognize National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month this November, I wanted to share Senator Tim Johnson’s piece and acknowledge his dedication to native people in South Dakota. We do better when we all do better, and as Democrats, we are committed to making this state one that works for all.
