Legislative committee amends measure repealing food tax refund program
Air Date:02/22/2012
The Senate Appropriations committee has amended House Bill 1206 which repeals the food tax refund program. Originally the measure took funds from the food tax refund program and gave it to Feeding South Dakota.
House Bill 1206 still gets rid of the food tax refund program. But instead of granting the 800-thousand dollars left in the program to Feeding South Dakota the measure allows any organization to apply for those funds through the Department of Social Services. Senator Corey Brown says this better complies with state law and allows for more oversight and accountability.
“I think as a legislature we need to be very careful about picking winners and losers or least extending the opportunity for everyone to participate,” says Brown.
Director of Feeding South Dakota, Matt Gassen, says he is fine with the changes. He says the measure was never about Feeding South Dakota but about eliminating an inefficient program and making better use of tax payer funds to help those in need.
House Bill 1206 passed by a vote of 7 to 2. It now goes to the Senate floor.
By Jackelyn Severin
Right click here for audio.
![]()
![]()
![]()
![]()
