SDDP: Thune, Rounds and Johnson take credit for federal funding of a water project they voted against

The South Dakota Democratic Party is calling out our state’s Republican congressional delegation for taking credit for federal funding from the Biden administration they opposed.

Last week, local leaders along with Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds and Rep. Dusty Johnson celebrated Madison’s long awaited connection to the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System.

This connection was made possible by the $152 million that came from the Biden administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. However, both Thune and Johnson voted against this crucial funding, while Rounds was not able to vote.

All three voiced their opposition to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, but, according to CNN, Rounds and Thune wrote letters to the Department of Transportation in support of grants funded by it. 

Thune, Rounds and Johnson have continuously voted against Biden administration laws that are boosting our economy, improving our infrastructure and helping South Dakotans. At the ribbon cutting in Madison, they stood in front of a sign that said “Project Funded by President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law” — the very law they opposed and voted against.

South Dakota’s Republican delegation should not be heralded as champions for this major milestone in the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System (a Minnesota part of it is seen above in a photo from the Minnesota Dept. of Health). We call on Thune, Rounds and Johnson to actually listen to the needs of the state they represent and stop falling in line with GOP rhetoric that prevents progress for our communities.

Dan Ahlers of Dell Rapids is the executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party. Contact him at dan@sddp.org or 605-940-3071. You can also contact the SDDP office at 605-271-5405 or via email at info@sddp.org.