Page 6 - Ryan Maher News Today

Senate Bill 168 to keep convicted violent rapist offenders out of the classroom sailed through both the State House and Senate this session, despite the objections of a couple of legislators who apparently were challenged in keeping rapists away from a pool of potential victims: The bill was inspired by a situation in Newell, South…

"Sioux Falls residents should be deeply concerned about an attempt by city leadership to undermine a consensus-driven public process."

In the battle over tax cuts, Senate Republicans are proposing a fourth option on the overall sales tax reduction. They want to protect state revenues in the event of a recession. House Republicans are iffy on the proposals.

Concurrent discussions of spending increases on core obligations and tax cuts returning record revenues will dominate the final days of the South Dakota Legislature in Pierre.

“I actually don't think we’re that far off,” a top Republican lawmaker said after a morning that saw the end of grocery tax and property tax proposals. “This is just the way this process works.”

Concurrent discussions of spending increases on core obligations and tax cuts returning record revenues will dominate the final days of the South Dakota Legislature in Pierre.

“I think the governor’s veto message was powerful,” one lawmaker said. “I think the argument about rural South Dakotans having to pay a disproportionate amount was what moved a lot of people.”

Concurrent discussions of spending increases on core obligations and tax cuts returning record revenues will dominate the final days of the South Dakota Legislature in Pierre.

“My concern is that these legislators really don’t want to cut taxes,” the governor said.

An amendment in the Senate turned the originally proposed cut from 4.5% to 4.2% into a more modest 4.5% to 4.3%. Later that same session, the chamber voted 18-17 to advance a cut to the food tax.