All articles tagged with #mike rounds
Robert Skjonsberg, a senior adviser to Sen. Mike Rounds, is registered as a lobbyist in South Dakota for clients including Meta and Altria. While Rounds' office claims Senate Ethics guidance was followed, experts argue the arrangement creates unavoidable conflicts of interest, especially given Rounds' legislative work on AI and agriculture.
Senate Republicans criticized Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for excluding Democrats from recent Pentagon budget briefings, saying bipartisan access is essential to win votes for a $1.5 trillion defense package and to prevent leaks; Hegseth has met with Republicans while Democrats were left out, prompting calls to broaden briefings to both parties even if that means less-controlled discussions, while the Pentagon says it remains committed to bipartisan engagement.
Democratic Senate nominee Julian Beaudion dropped out under party pressure, clearing the way for independent Brian Bengs to challenge Republican Sen. Mike Rounds in November—a move part of a pattern in red states where Democrats exit to back independents with stronger fundraising and polling.
Julian Beaudion withdraws from the South Dakota Senate race, clearing the field for independent Brian Bengs to take on incumbent Republican Mike Rounds in a contest that could shift dynamics in a GOP-leaning state.
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds expressed support for FBI Director Christopher Wray, despite President-elect Donald Trump's intention to nominate Kash Patel for the role. Rounds acknowledged Trump's right to choose loyalists for his Cabinet but emphasized the Senate's role in the nomination process. He also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin as a 'tyrant' and discussed the challenges of negotiating with him, while supporting U.S. aid to Ukraine. Additionally, Rounds commented on Trump's proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico, noting potential impacts on South Dakota farmers.
Republican Senator Mike Rounds has introduced a bill to abolish the US Department of Education, redistributing its $200 billion budget and responsibilities to other federal agencies and states. The bill aligns with Donald Trump's goal of eliminating the department, arguing it causes more harm than good. However, it faces significant hurdles, requiring a supermajority in the Senate to pass. Education experts express concern over the potential impact on programs like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, which are currently managed by the department.
Senator Mike Rounds has introduced a bill to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, proposing to redistribute its functions across various federal departments. The bill, named the "Returning Education to Our States Act," aims to enhance local control over education and reduce federal bureaucracy. Despite criticism from education groups and political opponents, Rounds believes he can pass the bill with a simple majority through reconciliation, although it faces significant opposition in the Democrat-controlled Senate and White House.
A Republican senator, Mike Rounds, has introduced a bill to eliminate the Department of Education, fulfilling a campaign promise by former President Donald Trump. The bill, titled the Returning Education to Our States Act, proposes redistributing federal education programs to other departments and allocating K-12 education funds to states via block grants. Key programs would be moved to departments like Treasury, Health and Human Services, and Labor. The changes would not immediately affect student loan borrowers, as existing programs and repayment plans would remain unchanged unless future congressional actions alter them.
A bill to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education has been introduced by Sen. Mike Rounds, aligning with Donald Trump's campaign promise. The bill proposes redistributing the department's functions to other federal agencies, such as moving special education programs to the Department of Health and Human Services and student loans to the Treasury. While the bill faces significant legislative hurdles, it reflects a long-standing Republican goal to reduce federal involvement in education. Critics argue that abolishing the department could complicate education policy and reduce focus on national education issues.
Senator Mike Rounds introduced legislation to eliminate the Department of Education, aligning with President-elect Trump's pledge to dismantle the federal agency. The proposal aims to redistribute its programs to other departments, but faces challenges in the current Democratic-controlled Senate. With Republicans set to gain control, there is potential for the bill to advance, although similar efforts during Trump's first term were unsuccessful. The move comes shortly after Trump nominated Linda McMahon to lead the department.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) expressed concern over the handling of classified information by current and former members of the executive branch, following the indictment of former President Donald Trump. Rounds refrained from naming anyone but noted that it was "unacceptable" and that the integrity of the justice system was being called into question. He also expressed concern about the timing of the DOJ's decision to pursue the case against Trump and warned that the unprecedented action of indicting a former president who is also a current candidate for president is inherently political and will have a lasting impact on the nation.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) suggested that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis's controversial remark describing Russia's war with Ukraine as a "territorial dispute" may be attributed to "primary politics" as the governor considers whether to jump into the 2024 presidential race. Rounds said that China should be the Biden administration's top focus, but noted that what's going on in Ukraine can't be separated out from the major issues surrounding the United States' relationship with China.