PIERRE, (KCCR) — South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden will put legislators to work as they return to Pierre Monday for the 38th and final day of the 100th Legislative Session. Rhoden, Tuesday vetoed House Bill 1169. The bill would require petitions for a proposed Constitutional amendment be signed by registered votes from every Senate district in the state, of which there are 35. The number of signatures would have to be equal to at least five percent of votes cast for Governor in the last election for a Governor. In his rejection letter, Rhoden says the bill has a worthy goal of placing safeguards on the process of amending the state’s Constitution, but believes the measure could be unconstitutional. Rhoden says the bill attempts to change the Constitution through statue and calls that misguided. The Governor also takes exception to the burdensome nature of the bill; requiring petition signers to seek signatures from every district in the state. The veto is the second of this legislative session. The first, on a bill to expand child care financial assistance, was sustained by the Legislature. Rhoden did sign 19 other election-related bills into law this week.
Comments