{"id":98923,"date":"2021-01-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-01-25T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-dakota-lowers-unemployment-to-pre-pandemic-levels-after-state-rejected-lockdowns\/"},"modified":"2021-01-25T08:39:48","modified_gmt":"2021-01-25T13:39:48","slug":"south-dakota-lowers-unemployment-to-pre-pandemic-levels-after-state-rejected-lockdowns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/south-dakota-lowers-unemployment-to-pre-pandemic-levels-after-state-rejected-lockdowns\/","title":{"rendered":"South Dakota Lowers Unemployment to Pre-Pandemic Levels After State Rejected Lockdowns"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fsouth-dakota-lowers-unemployment-to-pre-pandemic-levels-after-state-rejected-lockdowns%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=98923&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>When Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem refused to follow the lemming-like herd of governors imposing drastic lockdowns and issuing mask mandates, she was reviled for her failure of leadership.<\/p>\n<p>Guess who is laughing now?<\/p>\n<p>On Friday, Noem trumpeted the fact that unemployment in her state is now lower than it was before the coronavirus hit, triggering economic consequences that sent ripples through all parts of the economy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNEWS: South Dakota\u2019s unemployment rate dropped to 3.0% in December,\u201d Noem wrote on Twitter on Friday. \u201cThat\u2019s lower than it was BEFORE the pandemic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article-extras trending\"><strong>TRENDING:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/biden-rescinds-trump-order-keeping-china-american-power-grid\">Biden Rescinds Trump Order Keeping China Out of American Power Grid<\/a><\/p>\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/dlr.sd.gov\/lmic\/economic_snapshot.aspx\">state figures<\/a>, the 3 percent unemployment rate was lower than both the 3.5 percent rate posted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/states-lowest-unemployment-rates-republican-governors-covid-restrictions\">for November<\/a> and the 3.4 percent rate from December 2019. By way of contrast, the jobless rate in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/california-lockdown-insanity-27-million-told-stay-home-state-bans-camping-allows-movie-production\">lockdown-heavy California<\/a>\u00a0rose in December to stand at 9 percent, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.edd.ca.gov\/newsroom\/unemployment-december2-2020.htm\">state announced<\/a> Friday.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not all roses for Noem\u2019s administration. South Dakota\u2019s employment numbers show about 13,000 fewer jobs in December 2020 than December 2019, but that total includes a drop of about 3,000 jobs in government and 8,000 jobs in the hard-hit hospitality sector, while marking increases in retail jobs, mining, logging and construction.<\/p>\n<p>But even in the tourism sector, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/much-maligned-south-dakota-near-top-vaccine-leaderboard-democratic-strongholds-lag-behind\">South Dakota<\/a> fared better than most states, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.siouxfalls.business\/s-d-tourism-took-a-hit-in-2020-but-not-nearly-as-bad-as-most-states\/\">SiouxFallsBusiness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"firefly-poll-container\" class=\"one-half\">\n<p>Does this show that lockdowns do not always work?<\/p>\n<div id=\"pollFormBox\" class=\"c9\">\n<form id=\"firefly-poll\" class=\"firefly-poll\"><label>Yes<\/label> <label>No<\/label><\/p>\n<p>Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/about\/privacy-policy\">Privacy Policy<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/about\/terms-service\">Terms of Use<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You&#8217;re logged in to Facebook. Click here to log out.<\/p>\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"pollResultsBox\" class=\"c9\">\n<p>99% (218 Votes)<\/p>\n<p>1% (2 Votes)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Tourism revenue dropped 18 percent in 2020, according to a study by Tourism Economics cited in a state Department of Tourism <a href=\"https:\/\/news.sd.gov\/newsitem.aspx?id=27650\">new release<\/a>. However, on average, tourism spending plummeted by 45 percent, the study noted. Hotel occupancy, at 46.3 percent, was above the national average of 44.7 percent.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSouth Dakota\u2019s tourism industry faced many challenges in 2020. They adapted and turned it into an incredible year,\u201d Noem said in the release. \u201cBecause of their efforts, we were able to put more than $3 billion into South Dakota\u2019s economy and set the state up for a very bright future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Noem went against the grain of lockdowns in April when she said that \u201cSouth Dakota is not New York City,\u201d according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/south-dakota-unemployment-rate-drops-below-pre-pandemic-levels-gov-noem-announces\">Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Noem has faced criticism for her stance. In November, the South Dakota State Medical Association issued a news release urging the state to impose a mask mandate, The Hill reported. Noem maintained mask use is a \u201cpersonal\u201d choice.<\/p>\n<p>Noem had defended <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/south-dakota-governor-will-not-social-distancing-big-mt-rushmore-independence-day-event\">her approach<\/a> to fighting COVID-19 in a commentary published in December by the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/south-dakotas-balanced-covid-response-11607381485?mod=opinion_lead_pos7\">Wall Street Journal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"article-extras related\"><strong>RELATED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/adam-schiff-accused-regularly-leaking-classified-information\">Adam Schiff Accused of &#8216;Regularly&#8217; Leaking Classified Information<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cRather than following the pack and mandating harsh rules, South Dakota provides our residents with information about what is happening on the ground in our state \u2014 the science, facts and data. Then, we ask all South Dakotans to take personal responsibility for their health, the health of their loved ones, and \u2014 in turn \u2014 the health of our communities. The state hasn\u2019t issued lockdowns or mask mandates. We haven\u2019t shut down businesses or closed churches. In fact, our state has never even defined what an \u2018essential business\u2019 is. That isn\u2019t the government\u2019s role,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSince March, many of my peers have attempted to stop the spread of the virus without considering their citizens\u2019 social or mental well-being or the state of their economies. Even amid a pandemic, public policy ought to be holistic. Daily needs must still be met. People need to eat and keep a roof over their heads. And they still need purpose. That means policy makers cannot have tunnel vision,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>She noted that, \u201cAs we continue to see spikes move throughout the country, the course of the virus doesn\u2019t seem to be quantifiably different in the states that, according to the media, did everything \u2018right,&#8217;\u201d citing the ravages of the virus in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wont-survive-struggling-illinois-restaurant-owner-left-no-choice-defy-covid-orders\">Illinois<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/stunning-small-business-closure-numbers-reveal-just-devastating-another-lockdown\">New Jersey<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/doctor-fired-writing-letter-criticizing-lockdown-orders\">California<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Noem touted the results of her leadership.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSouth Dakota is entering 2021 in one of the strongest financial positions in the country. At 3.6%, our state has the third-lowest unemployment rate in the nation,\u201d she wrote. \u201cWe closed out this past fiscal year with a $19.1 million surplus. And we are unveiling ways in which we can further improve our state, including a more than $130 million investment in infrastructure improvements, paying off more than $21 million of debt, which my administration inherited, and bolstering our rainy-day fund, as good stewards of the public\u2019s money should do,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn contrast, Illinois plans to borrow $2 billion from the Federal Reserve. New Jersey, which already has the highest debt per taxpayer in the nation, is issuing an additional $4.3 billion in bonds. And New York is looking at a nearly $60 billion revenue shortfall. Each of these states is likely also counting on federal bailouts to keep them afloat,\u201d she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSouth Dakota won\u2019t be taking on billions of dollars in new debt. We won\u2019t be raising taxes on residents or businesses. And we won\u2019t be looking to Congress to send us more stimulus money,\u201d she wrote, adding that \u201cI am confident that we have and will continue to come out ahead of many other states in important measures of public health, economic well-being and liberty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"article-ask\">We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/about\/ethics-editorial-standards\">editorial standards<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem refused to follow the lemming-like herd of governors imposing drastic lockdowns and issuing mask mandates, she was reviled for her failure of leadership. Guess who is laughing now? On Friday, Noem trumpeted the fact that unemployment in her state is now lower than it was before the coronavirus &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2273829,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-98923","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98923","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=98923"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/98923\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2273829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=98923"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=98923"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=98923"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}