In a recent interview on local South Dakota radio, Senator Tim Johnson (D. SD) discussed tax reform and supports having taxes back to the same rate they were under President Bill Clinton (D):
http://wnax.com/...
The economy boomed during the Clinton era... and uh, that's correct and uh I would like to see a return to the uh, tax rate of the Clinton era where only in the top 2% of tax payers. The rest can um, keep their tax rates where they are according to the recently passed Senate bill. - U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D. SD), Radio 570 WNAX, 12/7/12
Johnson also stated that if tax rates don't go up on the top 2%, that means taxes would have to go up for everybody:
And the alternative is to make all Americans, all South Dakotans lose their tax cuts. That is unacceptable to me. - U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D. SD), Radio 570 WNAX, 12/7/12
Johnson also expressed support for some of the President's proposals in his deficit plan:
The President is calling for cuts in spending and tax increases for the very wealthy and a balanced proposal. That's all that's going on and I can support some of the Presidents proposals but not others. - U.S. Senator Tim Johnson (D. SD), Radio 570 WNAX, 12/7/12
Johnson didn't specify which proposals he wouldn't support. Hopefully it's cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. If you live in South Dakota or are a support of Senator Johnson, I recommend you call his office and let him know you support tax increases on the top 2% but you don't support cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security:
Washington D.C. - (202) 224-5842
Aberdeen - (605) 226-3440
Sioux Falls - (605) 332-8896
Raid City - (605) 341-3990
Johnson is up for re-election in 2014 but his decision to run for a fourth term or retire remains unclear:
http://thehill.com/...
South Dakota Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson isn't as sure as he recently seemed that he'll be running for office again in 2014.
"I fully intend to put together a winning campaign in the weeks and months ahead," the senator said last week, when former GOP Gov. Mike Rounds announced he had plans to run in 2014.
But on Wednesday, Johnson, the Senate Banking Committee chairman, walked back that certainty on a conference call with reporters, during which he opened the door to retirement.
"If I run again, I will run a strong campaign, is what I meant. But only if I run again, and it's far too soon to make that statement," he said, according to The Associated Press. - The Hill, 12/6/12
If Johnson decides to run for re-election, he will be in a tough race against former Governor Mike Rounds (R) who announced his candidacy recently. Rounds as I mentioned made national headlines in 2006 when he signed a bill to ban nearly all abortions in South Dakota:
http://www.nytimes.com/...
Gov. Michael Rounds of South Dakota signed into law the nation's most sweeping state abortion ban on Monday, an intentional provocation meant to set up a direct legal challenge to Roe v. Wade, the 1973 United States Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal.
The law makes it a felony to perform any abortion except in a case of a pregnant woman's life being in jeopardy.
Mr. Rounds, a Republican, said in a statement after signing the legislation in Pierre that it was the right thing to do. The law will force a legal showdown before it ever comes into effect, an outcome its supporters, eager to overturn Roe, intended. - New York Time, 3/7/06
By the way, you may also remember this quote from Rounds comparing overturing Roe V. Wade to the Supreme Court's reverse decision on Plessy v. Ferguson:
"The reversal of a Supreme Court opinion is possible," the governor said. "For example, in 1896, the United States Supreme Court ruled in the Plessy vs. Ferguson case that a state could require racial segregation in public facilities if the facilities offered to different races were equal. However, 58 years later, the Supreme Court reconsidered that opinion and reversed itself in Brown vs. Board of Education." - 3/7/06
Rounds will also have unlimited Super PAC funding for his campaign. Rounds was the surprise winner in the three way 2002 GOP gubernatorial primary thanks to Super PAC funding:
http://www.publicintegrity.org/...
Rounds might very well owe his political career to the state's loose campaign finance regulations.
He benefited from large PAC contributions as a fledgling gubernatorial candidate in 2002. Rapid City lawmaker and philanthropist Stan Adelstein funneled $60,000 to Rounds' campaign via two contributions from the Building Rapid City PAC, which was almost entirely funded by Adelstein. Of that $60,000, $25,000 came at a critical point late in a three-way primary race when Rounds was gaining momentum but running out of money.
Candidate Rounds also received more than $200,000 in 2002 in two separate contributions from Adelstein's A Better South Dakota PAC. While that PAC was organized by Adelstein, it was funded by a series of $5,000 contributions from several individuals.
Adelstein's fortune hasn't reached the heights of Sanford's, but he has been actively involved in South Dakota politics on both sides of the aisle since taking over the family construction business as a young man in the 1950s.
Rounds won a Cinderella victory in that three-way GOP primary in 2002, and went on to easily win the general election and serve two terms as a popular governor, from 2003 through 2010. - The Center For Public Integrity, 10/24/12
There is always the possibility though that Rounds could face a primary challenge from Tea Party favorite, Congresswoman Kristi Noem (R. SD-AL), who has been viewed as more conservative than Rounds:
http://www.nationaljournal.com/...
If not Rounds, who? So far, the name that comes up as a potential primary foe for the former governor is GOP Rep. Kristi Noem, the state's only representative in Congress. The 41-year-old, just elected to her second term, has proven herself a strong fundraiser. She is also viewed as more conservative than Rounds and could excite the right. So far -- after leaping at the chance to attack Capito when she announced her Senate bid early last week -- the Club for Growth has said they aren't focused on the South Dakota race.
Soon after Rounds's Thursday announcement, Noem declined to rule out her own Senate bid. "It's too early for that. People are tired of campaigning," Noem said, per the Argus News Leader. "They really want to see our elected officials get back to work now that the election is over." - National Journal, 12/3/12
It's still too early to tell what Noem will do but South Dakota political experts believe Noem has what it takes to be a viable candidate for the U.S. Senate:
http://www.argusleader.com/...
Bill Richardson, head of the political science department at the University of South Dakota, said voters still are digesting the results of the recent election, and it is very early to be declaring a run for office. He said there are a host of factors that could come into play that would encourage or dissuade Noem from running, including the outcome of the fiscal cliff debate, the health of the South Dakota economy several months from now and if other candidates decide to enter the race.
“Kristi Noem would certainly be a viable candidate for a senator from South Dakota,” said Richardson. “Right now everyone is focused on what is going to happen in (Washington) D.C., and she is in D.C. and is an actor in all of that, and that could certainly benefit her.” - Argus Leader, 11/29/12
Another factor to take in is Noem and her colleague Senator John Thune (R. SD) have signed Grover Norquist's pledge to never raise taxes whereas Rounds hasn't:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/...
Rounds has also shown signs he may be a good fit for political moderates in 2014. While he said he doesn’t like the idea of raising taxes, the former governor has refused to sign Grover Norquist’s anti-tax pledge, which has become a point of contention in the congressional debate over the “fiscal cliff.”
“I’ve always declined to sign the no new taxes pledge,” Rounds said, adding that you “lose your ability to negotiate” by taking inflexible vows. - Washington Post, 11/29/12
“I made a pledge to the people of South Dakota that I would not raise tax rates, so that’s what I am continuing to stand by, and I will look for real reforms that can help us grow our economy and bring more revenue into the federal budget,” Noem said when asked again if she would be willing to break the pledge she signed in 2010. - Argus Leader, 11/29/12
I can understand why the Club For Growth is staying out of this race. They may not want to have two of their dogs in the same race and screw up their chances of winning this seat with a nasty primary. Just look at the 2012 GOP Senate Primary in Wisconsin where Mark Neumann was backed by The Club For Growth and Eric Hovde was endorsed by the Tea Party movement. Both men ended up losing to former Governor Tommy Thompson in the primary. But an ugly primary battle between Rounds and Noem is possible. Especially if taxes become a central issue and Noem gets the right amount of encouragement from hardcore conservatives and teabaggers.
Expect Johnson to make an announcement next year. If Johnson declines to run for a fourth term, former Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (D) and Johnson's son, U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson, could be strong candidates to run for Johnson's seat:
But if Johnson does ultimately opt against another run, two names are floating around as potentially strong alternatives: Former Rep. Stephanie Herseth Sandlin, and Johnson's son, U.S. Attorney Brendan Johnson.
A South Dakota Democratic operative says that Herseth Sandlin "would be a very formidable candidate," who has good credibility and national ties. Herseth Sandlin was defeated in the GOP wave year of 2010, by Noem, who beat her by a few points after a tough campaign.
The Democratic operative notes that Brendan Johnson would bring a "unique background" to a bid, and that he's good on the stump. He was confirmed as U.S. Attorney in 2009, and had bipartisan support in the state for the role. - National Journal, 12/3/12
South Dakota Democratic party Chairman Ben Nesselhuf feels confident that Johnson will run again:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
"Until he tells me otherwise, he's my guy. I have every reason to believe he would run just one heck of a campaign," Nesselhuf said. - Huffington Post, 12/6/12
A lot can happen between now 2014. Either way, this race will be a tight and closely watched race. But we shouldn't wait until Johnson makes up his mind. If you live in South Dakota, I recommend getting active with the South Dakota Democratic Party now so we can prepare for this race:
http://www.sddp.org/