John Thune

"In these challenging economic times, private employers are having to tighten their belts, and the federal government is no different," Thune said in a statement supporting his amendment. "Washington has a spending problem and steps need to be taken to fix it. Reining in the amount we spend on government operations has to be a part of the solution."

Thune's proposal would have permitted federal agencies to give bonuses and pay increases if they didn't exceed 2009 funding levels for salaries, a provision considered reasonable by co-sponsor Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.).

It's a major decision for Ellsworth Air Force Base that will bring hundreds of jobs to the base. It's taking on a new role in defending our country against the war on terror.

A few months ago, Ellsworth Air Force Base found out it was one of four being considered for a new global mission. And Monday, officials got the answer they were hoping for.

Ellsworth Air Force Base has been selected as one of two home bases for unmanned drone missions, Sen. John Thune announced this morning.

With legislative action slowed to a crawl in the Senate amid concerns over deficit spending, Democrats are beginning to balk at taking direction from the White House, a leading 2012 Republican contender said today.

“There's less and less of an appetite to do things now that are gonna involve spending money that's not paid for -- that's not offset,” Thune told us. “So, you know, my view is that there are things that can get done, but there're gonna have to be ways … to pay for it. And that's kind of the difference of opinion we have about the legislation that's on the floor of the Senate right now.