John Thune

Thune urges USDA to approve more conservation acreage in South Dakota

June 9th 2009

The Daily Republic Reports:

U.S. Senator John Thune today sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack urging him to reconsider the Farm Service Agency request from South Dakota that would enroll 20,000 additional acres in the State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) program. The USDA recently denied the original request.

“South Dakota landowners have stepped up to participate in this important conservation program,” said Thune. “Our state reaps considerable ecological and economic benefit from responsible conservation practices that provide critical habitat for pheasants and other species, and the SAFE program is a vital part of that effort. USDA erred in denying the South Dakota Farm Service Agency’s original request, and I urge Secretary Vilsack to reconsider that decision.”

Read More

Press Release: Thune Launches Supreme Court Blog

June 8th 2009

Read More

Unfair Government Competition Undercuts Private Business

June 5th 2009

This column, by U.S. Senator John Thune, appeared in The Hill:

I have introduced a bill, the Freedom from Government Competition Act (S. 1167), that would require the federal government to rely on the private sector when providing services that are readily available. This legislation does not mandate the privatization of any federal service, but instead codifies the “Yellow Pages” test, which says that if a federal service can also be found in the Yellow Pages, that service or product should be subject to market competition. Studies have shown that such competition could save taxpayers up to $28 billion annually.

Read More

Sen. Thune hopes Obama broadens focus

June 4th 2009

From the Argus Leader:

Republican Sen. John Thune says there seems to be a bit of a disconnect with Democratic President Barack Obama and his administration on how some proposals could affect states like South Dakota.

Read More

Sen. Thune seeks to protect private-sector from ‘unfair’ government competition

June 3rd 2009

From the Daily Republic:

Thune’s legislation would codify the “Yellow Pages” test, which says that if the federal government is doing something that can be found in the Yellow Pages, the product or service should be subject to market competition to ensure better value for the taxpayer. Studies have shown that taxpayer savings as a result of competition are estimated to be as much as $28 billion annually, Thune's news release said.

Read More