PEIRRE, S.D.  (MITCHELLNOW) Senator John Thune gave a speech on the floor of the United States Senate outlining what his leadership of the Senate will look like, beginning next month.  He said the first priority of the Senate would be to confirm President Trump’s Cabinet and other appointees for the Trump Administration.

Thune said he would prioritize a new permanent five-year farm bill as well as defense items.  In addition, Senator Thune said that the Senate’s practice will be to take up bills when they are ready instead of allowing them to languish (both the National Defense Reauthorization Act and several appropriations bills have been ready for consideration since June but are just now being taken up by the Senate).

Thune said Senators should get used to working Fridays and weekends until the backlog of Senate business is completed.