You can follow my budget address live here: https://fb.watch/2fxJXeS7Y6/ 

Before we begin today's budget address, I’d like to ask that we all please take a moment of silence to remember ALL the South Dakotans we have lost to this horrible virus.

South Dakota is entering 2021 in one of the strongest financial positions in the country. This is largely due to our strong economy, our approach to #COVID19, and our respect for freedom and personal responsibility.

South Dakota hasn’t issued lockdowns or mask mandates. We haven’t shut down businesses or closed churches. In fact, our state has never even defined what an “essential business” is. That, quite simply, is not the government's role.

South Dakota won’t be raising taxes on our citizens or our businesses. We won’t be borrowing billions of dollars to cover our budget shortfalls. And we won’t be looking to Congress to send us more stimulus money.

After peaking at 11% in April, South Dakota's unemployment rate is back down to 3.6% in October, the third lowest in the country.