Democrats Respond to Republicans Blocking Commonsense Legislation to Advance Early Childhood Education
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota Democratic Party released the following statement in response to the Republican majority in the Senate Education Committee killing two commonsense pieces of legislation to help advance early childhood education in South Dakota – SB 155 and SB 156, which would have established an Early Learning Advisory Council and an early childhood education pilot program, respectively:
“Making these sensible investments in early childhood education would have been important steps forward in improving the educational achievement of the children in our state and stimulating our state’s economy. According to experts in early childhood education, Pre-K education helps close the achievement gap between children from families of different economic backgrounds, helps children succeed later on in school and in life, and returns as much as $7 to a community for every $1 invested.”
“This is yet another example of the Republican majority in Pierre being short-sighted and either incapable or unwilling to take the steps needed to help the working people of South Dakota and their children get ahead. Just this week, Republican-controlled committees in the House and Senate killed several other bills that would have given a boost to the working families of South Dakota, on almost purely party-line votes:
- SB 96 – Which would have required a minimum amount of paid sick leave for employees
- HB 1119 – Which would have lowered sales tax on food
- HB 1120 – Which would have created protections and accommodations for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers in their places of employment
The legislative session is now past its halfway point, and Republicans have neither put forward any legislation to help our state’s working class, nor let any of the bills introduced by Democrats to do so advance out of committee. Democrats will continue advocating for this type of fair, common-sense legislation to even the economic playing field for the working families of our state. We call on the political establishment to stop blocking us and start working with us. South Dakota’s working class will remember who is on their side in 2018.”