Central South Dakota News

Senator Mike Rounds has recently highlighted several issues on his social media account, including healthcare access in rural South Dakota, federal housing finance policy, and a judicial nomination process.

On September 9, 2025, Senator Rounds posted about a significant development for local healthcare: "This ceremony marks a major milestone for Bennett County Hospital and the South Dakotans it serves. We officially broke ground on a much-needed expansion that will enhance access to healthcare in one of the most rural regions of our state. Rural hospitals are a lifeline for the https://t.co/yMNKLxAStP". The expansion project aims to improve medical services in an area where access can be limited due to geographic isolation.

The following day, September 10, 2025, Senator Rounds addressed federal housing finance oversight. He wrote: "Recently, I led a letter with Representative Mike Flood to FHFA Director Bill @Pulte commending his commitment to credit risk transfer (CRT) programs at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and encouraging him to continue to support polices that leverage private capital to promote safety". This statement refers to efforts supporting the use of private capital through CRT programs at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These programs are designed to reduce taxpayer exposure by transferring mortgage credit risk from government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) to private investors.

Later on September 10, Senator Rounds commented on delays in the confirmation process for a key legal appointment: "Senate Democrats are obstructing the confirmation of Ron Parsons, a well-respected Sioux Falls attorney, who President Trump has nominated to serve as U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota. Ron has already successfully served in this position for 3 years during the". The post references Ron Parsons’ previous tenure as U.S. Attorney and ongoing partisan disagreements over federal appointments.

Bennett County Hospital’s expansion reflects broader challenges faced by rural hospitals nationwide; such facilities often struggle with funding shortages and recruitment issues but remain essential providers for remote communities.

Credit risk transfer initiatives have been promoted by policymakers as tools for reducing systemic financial risks within housing markets while protecting taxpayers from potential losses associated with mortgage defaults. The Federal Housing Finance Agency oversees these GSEs and their risk management strategies.

Judicial nominations frequently become points of contention between political parties in the Senate, sometimes resulting in prolonged vacancies or delayed confirmations.