South Dakota Democratic Party Responds to the State Legislature’s Use of Extraordinary Methods to Overturn the Will of the Voters
The South Dakota Democratic Party released the following statement in response to the State Legislature’s use of extraordinary measures to advance HB 1069 and overturn the will of the voters:
“With today’s unusual joint meeting of the House and Senate State Affairs committees and vote to advance HB 1069, the Republicans in Pierre have introduced their first bill to overturn the will of the voters of South Dakota and gut Initiated Measure 22. While Democrats were not united in support of Initiated Measure 22, Democrats are united in agreement that the will of the voters should be respected and on the urgent need for ethics, campaign finance, and lobbying reform in Pierre. Democratic legislators are willing to work on any clarifications or corrections needed to make sure the law in harmony with the SD Constitution, but will do everything they can to make sure the will of the voters is respected.”
“This isn’t the first time Republicans in Pierre have shown a lack of respect for the wishes of South Dakota voters. After South Dakotans voted for an initiated measure increasing the minimum wage in the 2014 election, Republican legislators in Pierre tried to undo it by creating a youth minimum wage a full $1/hour lower for workers 17 and younger. Democrats were able to refer the youth minimum wage, and voters overturned it with over 70% of the vote in November.”
“Using these extraordinary tactics Republicans in Pierre seem to have the goal of having HB 1069 through both chambers and on the Governor’s desk by the end of the week. It begs the question: why the rush to overturn the will of the voters? Were they hoping no one would notice? Are they afraid of the angry comments they are likely to receive from constituents? Voters deserve to have there voice heard through the normal legislative process, not these Republican efforts to try to speed the process along as quickly as possible.”
“While Democrats are willing and eager to work across the aisle to improve this law so that it works as the voters intended, we will fight against these extraordinary efforts to usurp the will of the voters through a rushed and questionable process.”
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