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• Changes in Initiative Law (This passed the Senate, so it will next be heard in the House)
• Those of us promoting the democratic process in South Dakota take exception to the Senate Joint Resolution 2 which passed both Senate Taxation and the Senate floor and will now be heard by the House. SJR2 proposes an Amendment to the State Constitution which would make it harder for certain Initiates to pass by requiring a 2/3 vote instead of a simple majority. Any initiated measure which affects taxation would require the 2/3 vote. A bit of history might help us understand why the process is so important to SD voters.
• South Dakota has the distinction of being the first state in the Union to provide for popular initiative and referendum for enacting and rejecting legislation. This was accomplished by constitutional amendment approved in 1898. These two forms of direct legislation, first actually used in 1908, rest on the theory that since the legislature may not always adequately represent them, the people should be able to pass laws they desire and nullify laws they oppose. In 1972 the state constitution was amended to allow constitutional changes by initiative as well. In 1988 the state's voters changed the state constitution once again. This time voters eliminated a requirement that an initiative be submitted to the legislature for approval before placement on the ballot. Almost from the beginning of statehood, the citizens of our state have worked to protect their right to take an issue directly to the people through the process of Referrals or Initiated Laws.
• Laws passed by the State Legislature requires that any appropriations require a (Continued on page 8)
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