Dykstra, Lien to Attend Elk Point GOP Event

The Sioux City Journal says Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joel Dykstra and Republican U.S. House candidate Chris Lien will participate in a Union County Republican Party Meet the Candidate event tomorrow night.

Since Union County is the location of the proposed Hyperion refinery, this could be interesting.

Both Dykstra and Lien support the proposed refinery which, if built, would be the first new refinery in the United States in 30 years.

Our refining capacity has remained relatively stagnant over the past three decades. Permitting hurdles and environmental lawsuits have discouraged new development and stymied those who have tried. While refining efficiency has increased, we have built no new refineries and have closed about 170. Meanwhile, demand has gone way up

For too long U.S. energy policy has been held captive by politicians beholden to environmental extremists. Democrats in the South Dakota congressional delegation have a mixed record of voting for new energy infrastructure sometimes and voting against it at other, providing what they believe is political cover for their lack of leadership on this issue.

South Dakota voters can give the United States what it needs: two new leaders in congress who understand America's energy needs and are bold enough to address the need head-on.