Tim's blog
Election Eve
We've finally reached Election Eve—wow. Being up for re-election on Election Eve adds a whole new sentiment—it's sort of like the night before starting a new school. You don't know what to expect … you're hopeful but you're hesitant to be too optimistic. I've had the good fortune of having hundreds of top-flight volunteers all over the state offer up their time tomorrow, so at least I know my campaign is in good hands during the final push. Barb and I will vote tomorrow in Vermillion, as we do every election year. Continuing with tradition, we'll spend election night in Sioux Falls at the Convention Center, watching the results come in with area supporters and candidates.
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09:00 PM Nov 03, 2008 -
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The final push
It is good to be back in South Dakota after a quick but important unscheduled trip to Washington last week -- I was called back to the Senate for a Banking Committee hearing. It was an extremely informative and valuable meeting called to bring witnesses who could help determine how we should move forward in this national financial crisis. I was able to hear first hand from the chair of the FDIC how the mortgage crisis is being handled and what oversight legislation is needed. During an election season, there's an added pressure to stay in South Dakota and campaign, but returning for the hearing was the right thing to do.
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11:00 AM Oct 30, 2008 -
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Touring South Dakota ... continued
It’s been a lively few days. After traveling to our state’s capital and the Eagle Butte Reservation, I spent Wednesday in the Southeast corner of South Dakota. I visited Longfellow Elementary School, where once again students were delighted to receive computers donated by Visa. Much like the day before at the Eagle Butte high school, the students were extremely pleased to have new Apple laptops. After lunch at home with Barb, I got back on the road, and headed to Dell Rapids. There, I was treated to a tour of the community, even making stops to see Dell Rapids residents along the way. These windshield tours, as we call them, are great ways to see the various communities in our vast state, and they give me valuable insight into how the cities and towns in South Dakota are doing. During these tours, I get a better understanding of how roads are holding up, how economic development is being handled and what communities need from the South Dakota delegation in Washington.
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02:00 PM Oct 20, 2008 -
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A day in Eagle Butte
The parade of meetings with editors and writers from our really great state newspapers continued today when I met with the newly formed Pierre Capital Journal Newspaper editorial board. It was a great mix of community opinion leaders—both members from the Journal staff and from the community at large. I fielded their wide array of questions in the hopes of giving Pierre constituents a better sense of the issues I care about and the vision I have for my next term in Senate.
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09:00 PM Oct 15, 2008 -
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Cross-state travels continue!
Saturday morning Barb and I got up early to attend the dedication of a new bridge in Yankton. This impressive structure stretches over the Missouri River. Barb and I were joined at the Discovery Bridge by representatives of the South Dakota delegation and Nebraska governor Dave Heineman. The whole town was abuzz with the excitement of the dedication—a great feat for Yankton. After the event, Barb and I headed back to the town where we met—Vermillion.
No Saturday this time of year is complete without college football, and this past Saturday was no disappointment. It was my alma mater's homecoming—and Barb and I couldn't resist at least stopping by one of the tailgate parties. We saw lots of students, alums, many old friends and supporters at the Dakota Days gathering. It's always great to be in such a hotbed of team and school spirit.
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04:30 PM Oct 14, 2008 -
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Our varied state
Yesterday I had a great interview with the Argus and then with the Spanish-language paper La Voz Hispana. The Hispanic community is one of our state’s fastest growing groups, and I enjoyed my first interview to date with La Voz. After fielding questions covering a wide array of issues, I went home in time to have lunch with Barb, before hopping back on the road.
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05:30 PM Oct 10, 2008 -
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Back in South Dakota!
Finally I’m back in South Dakota! It seemed that the most recent session of Senate was headed to go on well into October, but it did finally end … I don’t have to tell you how harried the past few weeks have been, not just in Washington but throughout the country. In DC lawmakers were working hard to address the crisis on Wall Street … we can only hope that the bailout bill that passed the Senate and House last week will help with the situation. My vote against this bill was an action I weighed carefully—I knew that something must be done to help our economy but I found the quickly thrown together bill that appeared in the Senate to lack the oversight and necessary provisions. Americans needed a measure that had proper protections and assurances to help us work through the process to right our economic ship.
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08:00 PM Oct 08, 2008 -
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Things in DC
Last week was an extremely frenzied week on several fronts, particularly in dealing with the growing concerns on Wall Street. It is a very serious situation, and it is one we must address aggressively. I can’t help but be extremely angry that this Administration has continually rubberstamped such greedy behavior on Wall Street—for seven years now President Bush has constantly stifled regulation and oversight that some of us have called for to avoid these very situations. Now, after they let these problems fester and develop, I find it less than compelling that this supposed pro small government Administration suddenly steps in and buys up to $700 billion worth of mortgages from Wall Street institutions. That being said, this current situation cannot continue, and we cannot allow it to continue to explode, threatening small business and small investors throughout the country. In short, something must be done so that members of Main Street aren’t financially crippled by Wall Street’s woes.
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03:30 PM Sep 24, 2008 -
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Busy first week back in Washington
I’ve been back at work in Washington for a week now. While it always gets a bit crazy as the legislative session nears its end, I am always grateful that it comes after our August break where, as I did again this year, I can spend several weeks meeting with constituents and opinion leaders at home before we finish work in the Senate. And sure enough, my month in South Dakota has made the past week be even more meaningful and productive because I have been able to take the concerns and ideas I heard during my time home and apply them to my slew of Senate business.
It was a very busy but a very good week back, but I barely had a chance to pause. One moment it was work on the defense authorization while the next might have been a meeting with the American Legion or with a wilderness group or an Indian Affairs hearing. But I do like it when the days are packed-- it usually means that there are things I am working on that hopefully will help South Dakota.
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10:30 AM Sep 16, 2008 -
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Final day home
I spent the last day of my late summer trip home in a community in which I take great pride. It is the place Barb and I called home for years, and it will always have a special place in our hearts. That place is Vermillion, and yesterday my events there were highlighted by celebrating an accomplishment I'm extremely proud of-- the dedication and tour of the new medical school at USD. I helped secure the necessary money for the medical school, and was delighted to see the fruits of this labor – a remarkable facility which will help ensure that we continue to turn out top level doctors in our state so that the citizens of South Dakota get the absolute best medical attention available. The school looks fantastic, and with the staff there, I had a great time dedicating the new building and toasting its future. I really believe this med school will bring great things to South Dakota—including more doctors for our rural communities and more reason for our students to stay in state for topflight, graduate level training. I look forward to seeing the potential that this school brings to our state, and I have confidence in the staff that is behind it.
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06:00 PM Sep 06, 2008 -
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