Measure allowing a special election for initiated measures this November passes committee
Air Date:03/02/2011
By Jackelyn Severin
A measure allowing a special election for initiated measures this November has passed the Senate State Affairs committee. Senator Bob Gray hog housed House Bill 1141 completely ammending the orginal intent of the bill. Now House Bill 1141 allows South Dakotans to vote on ballot initiviatives this year instead of waiting for the next general election in 2012. Gray says any issue may come up this November but there will likely be a tax measure brought forth to help fund education and Medicaid. Gray says this gives citizens an opportunity to have a say in the budget process.
“If they say you know what we want to pay a little bit more because we can’t stand the idea of cutting our schools and cutting our nursing homes they can do that if they say no we don’t want too then you know what we pass a budget and we’re all vindicated for the budget we passed,” says Gray.
Opponents of the measure say it doesn’t give enough time for voters to be informed and expressed fear of outside corporations controlling South Dakota elections.
The bill passed by a vote of 7 to 2 and now goes to the Senate floor.
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