House Defeats Constitutional Amendment On Taxes

by Associated Press
March 05, 2013 3:05 PM


The South Dakota House has defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote to pass any ballot measure imposing a new tax or increasing an existing one.
 
Representatives defeated the bill by a 35-34 vote, but the bill is expected to be reconsidered later Tuesday.
 
A two-thirds vote is already required in the Legislature to pass a new tax or increase the rate of an existing tax. But ballot measures imposing or increasing a tax can now be passed with only a simple majority in a statewide vote.
 
The proposed amendment would require a two-thirds vote on any ballot issue that creates or increases a tax. It also would clarify that if a tax is expiring, a two-thirds vote would be needed to extend it.