By Families in South Dakota work hard. We sacrifice a lot and ask little from the people who govern us. We expect honesty, careful budgeting and leadership that puts our interests above politics.
In his recent budget address, our governor painted an incomplete picture. He celebrated good results, but didn’t explain what and who made those results possible. South Dakotans deserve more than selective storytelling. We deserve the truth.
Gov. Larry Rhoden highlighted low unemployment, a strong economy and historic surpluses. He praised workforce housing, childcare investments, broadband expansion and funding for infrastructure. He didn’t say that many of these achievements were made possible, often almost entirely, because of federal investments led by a Democratic presidential administration and Democrats in Congress.
Julian Beaudion, Guest Columnist
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Take broadband for example. South Dakota received more than $100 million in federal funding through the Biden administration’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program. That money’s the backbone of the rural broadband expansion. The state’s own spending on broadband wouldn’t have been possible at this scale without Washington helping keep rural families connected.
Rhoden also spoke about historic investments in childcare. He didn’t say South Dakota received hundreds of millions of dollars through the American Rescue Plan to keep childcare centers open, train workers and prevent closures.
The governor noted growth of the state’s emergency savings account, but didn’t explain how federal money filled major budget gaps during the pandemic. That allowed South Dakota to save instead of draining our reserves. The economic strength he praises today was powered, in large part, by record federal support for small businesses, farmers, hospitals and rural communities.
This pattern of leaving out key facts matters. Achievements paid for with federal dollars are being used to support a political message that rejects cooperation and partnership. South Dakotans are being told that everything good came from Pierre and from Republican leadership alone. That’s not true.
In recent years, Democrats delivered and Republicans voted against:
- Funding for roads, bridges and water systems.
- Billions in support for farms, ranches and agriculture.
- Funding for airports and transportation.
- New resources for tribal communities.
- Investments in law enforcement, mental health and rural health care.
- Disaster recovery funding South Dakota uses after major storms.
These resources were not free. They were debated, voted on and fought for. South Dakotans benefited from them. It’s important to note that while South Dakota received this help, Sens. Mike Rounds and John Thune voted against these investments.
We should also take a closer look at the governor’s budget plan for next year. He wants to grow state programs that depend heavily on federal money, while his party in Washington pushes for cuts that could put that funding at risk. You cannot run a state that relies on federal dollars while pretending Washington has nothing to do with our success.
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I was raised to tell the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable. The truth is South Dakota is strongest when local and federal governments work together. Our farmers know it. Our veterans know it. Our Indigenous communities know it. Our small business owners know it. Our families know it.
As a candidate for the U.S. Senate, I believe in a different kind of leadership. Leadership that is honest about our challenges and clear about the partnerships we need. Leadership that makes sure South Dakota never falls behind because of political games.
We need leaders who will fight for federal investments that rebuild rural America, not who take credit for those investments while attacking the system that funds them.
South Dakotans deserve the truth. We deserve leaders in both parties who will put people first, not politics.
Julian Beaudion of Sioux Falls is a small business owner and a former trooper with the South Dakota Highway Patrol. He’s a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate.
