About Ryan
Ryan has been the State Representative for District 18 since 2018. During his time in the legislature, Ryan has prioritized finding common ground and working through problems towards solutions. In other words, he’s not your typical politician trying to divide us. Ryan is the only legislator to bring any sort of legislation that would lower healthcare costs, provide incentives for more affordable daycare, and to start thinking creatively and fix our long term care system.
Ryan prioritized first responders. The number one cause of death for first responders is actually suicide. Because of his bipartisan work as Vice Chair of the Mental Health in First Responders Task Force, more funding was provided for more mental health training for local police, fire fighter, and EMT departments. Every volunteer firefighter in South Dakota has access to free mental health insurance if they need it.
He’s also supported legislative priorities to increase teacher pay and education funding. He worked with legislators to provide $200 million for affordable housing. He was a lone voice fighting against efforts to cut state employee healthcare benefits while working to increase state employee wages. He’s supported increased funding for hunting habitat expansion and hunters as a member of the Rules Review Committee.
Government accountability is important. Ryan was one of the leading legislators advocating for the impeachment of the Attorney General after his involvement in the death of Joseph Boever.
Contact
Ryan@ryanforsd.com
☎ Phone
(605) 260-4747
Issues
district representation
Ryan’s top priority is representing District 18. A big part of his campaign for re-election involves reaching out to voters at their doors, on the phone, and online. He’s not just campaigning for votes. He is also trying to learn what matters to you.
fixing long term care
Nursing homes are shutting down because they are losing money. People cannot afford to pay for the nursing home. What a mess. Ryan has supported efforts to increase Medicaid payments to nursing homes, but he firmly believes that band aids are not going to fix a broken system. He’s the only legislator in the past 4 years to bring legislation to look for alternative ways to provide better, more affordable long term care.
Affordable healthcare
Ryan believes South Dakota should adopt a medical reinsurance program. North Dakota adopted a medical reinsurance program. Healthcare premiums dropped 20% afterwards! Nearly 20 states have adopted a similar programs with premium reductions to follow. Ryan also supports expanding Medicaid.
state employees
Ryan understands that politicians do not make state government great. Our hard working state employees do that! Ryan has consistently supported wage increases for state employees and he fought against the state’s decision to make state employee’s health insurance coverage worse. Ryan believes state employees need to be a top priority in the upcoming session, particularly for HSC and corrections.
affordable and Reliable childcare
Ryan is the only legislator to bring any form of legislation attempting to expand affordable reliable childcare. He will continue to bring legislation on this issue. This is about our state’s children, but reliable, affordable daycare also strengthens our economy.
Education
Education is the backbone of our economy and well-being. Ryan has consistently worked to increase education funding and supporting teachers. Ryan is the only legislator to bring a bill to increase education funding without having to raise taxes or cut other state services. SD - EPIC, the statewide education committee, endorses Ryan for re-election.
Don’t see your issue above? Contact Ryan to discuss what’s important to you!
“You and I are told increasingly that we have to choose between a left or right, but I would like to suggest that there is no such thing as a left or right. There is only an up or down.”