Kristi Noem rebuts coronavirus critics during budget speech

Gov. Kristi Noem rebuked critics of her hands-off response to the coronavirus in South Dakota and mocked some states facing hard times after taking robust action to defeat the pandemic during a speech unveiling her latest budget proposal.

After leading the South Dakota Legislature in a moment of silence to honor residents who died from COVID-19, the Republican chief executive defended her decision to resist mask mandates, economic lockdowns, or gathering limits to slow the spread of the coronavirus. That approach, Noem said, left her state economically resilient and socially vibrant, while states led by Democratic governors who imposed severe restrictions are now experiencing twin health and fiscal calamities.

“Following months of economic lockdowns, sheltering in place, and huge numbers of businesses being forced to close permanently, many of my peers are likely not looking forward to standing before their legislators like I am today,” Noem said Tuesday. “Some are going to propose tax increases, others will take on billions of dollars more in debt, and a few will be forced to make significant budget cuts.”

She continued, “Rather 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, the science, the facts, and the data. Then, we ask each of our South Dakotans to take personal responsibility for their health, the health of their loved ones, and in turn, our communities.”

Throughout the pandemic, Noem has been unique among Democratic and Republican governors. While most adopted policies that shuttered businesses and put strict curbs on social gatherings, South Dakota’s governor took the opposite approach, insisting that the state had no jurisdiction to make such decisions and saying that the people of her state could be trusted to take the necessary precautions.

Noem’s strategy turned her into a folk hero among grassroots conservatives across the country who have been frustrated by economic lockdowns and mask mandates. After hosting President Trump for a speech on patriotism at Mount Rushmore in July, Noem hit the trail to campaign for him in key battleground states, sparking speculation that the 49-year-old could be a dark-horse candidate for president if she runs in 2024.

Tuesday’s speech, an annual address to the legislature, focused mostly on state spending priorities. But Noem took the opportunity to swipe at critics in the media and elsewhere who have accused her of putting lives at risk by refusing to order businesses to close and implement mask mandates, policies supported by most health experts to reduce COVID-19 deaths.

“Since March, many of my peers have attempted to stop the spread of the virus without considering their citizens’ social or their mental well-being or the state of their economies,” Noem said. “Even amid a pandemic, public policy ought to be holistic. Daily needs must still be met. People need to eat. They need to keep a roof over their heads. That means that policymakers cannot have tunnel vision.”

She added, “Many in the media have criticized this approach. They have labeled me ill-informed, a denier, and reckless. Some have even asserted that South Dakota is as bad as it gets anywhere in the world when it comes to COVID-19. That is a demonstrably false statement.”

Noem pointed to California, Illinois, and New Jersey as three states that have maintained aggressive lockdowns and other mandates on personal behavior for several months but are now experiencing record surges in COVID-19 infections. These states, led by Democratic governors, are doing no better than South Dakota, and in some cases, they are worse off, the governor claimed during her remarks.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, that is not necessarily the case.

Statistics compiled by the federal agency showed South Dakota’s infections at 9,805 per 100,000 and deaths at 125 per 100,000. In California, the corresponding figures stood at 3,454 infections per 100,000 and 50 deaths per 100,000. And in Illinois, they were at 6,250 and 111. In New Jersey, the infection rate was lower than South Dakota’s, but the death rate was higher, at 194 per 100,000.

Meanwhile, Noem acknowledged that Trump lost reelection to President-elect Joe Biden, a sensitive topic for most Republicans, who have followed the president’s lead on the topic. He has refused to concede, claiming massive voter fraud and a broad conspiracy to deny him a second term. But toward the end of her address, Noem warned that Biden would be hostile for South Dakota’s economy and said she wrote her budget blueprint accordingly.

“I expect that the road could be a little bit rough under the Biden administration,” Noem said. “I expect that federal agencies will see South Dakota not necessarily as a partner but as a subordinate based on what they have already communicated with us. So, we are preparing for that.”

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