Democratic Legislative Leaders Call for a Responsible and Smart State Budget
PIERRE, S.D. – As the final week of the 2018 Legislative Session begins, State Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Billie Sutton of Burke and State House Democratic Leader Spence Hawley of Brookings called for the State Legislature to adopt a responsible and smart state budget, reflecting the values and priorities of the people of South Dakota.
“As the debate intensifies on South Dakota’s budget this week, our caucus will be focused on making sure the state budget does two key things,” Sutton said. “First, it must be fiscally responsible, and truly reflect the budget realities facing us. Second, it must also use the better-than-expected revenue projections to make smart investments in the people of South Dakota, investments which reflect their priorities and promote economic growth.”
Sutton said there are six budget items Democrats believe should be targeted for investment: education, community healthcare providers, state employee compensation, affordable housing, workforce development, and the state’s needs-based scholarship.
“Our state must live within its means,” Hawley said. “At the same time, we have sold the people of this state short by failing to prioritize and make investments in things like education, workforce development, and affordable housing which will help grow our economy.”
Sutton and Hawely said that in the last week of this year’s Session, their caucus was ready to work across the aisle to make sure the budget reflected the values and priorities of the people of South Dakota.
“We will do everything we can to make sure this state budget is responsible, makes critical investments in our people, and helps make our state an even better place to live for all South Dakotans,” Hawley said.
###