Grocery story soft drink aisle. Photo by Perry Beeman/Iowa Capital Dispatch.
PIERRE, SD (KELO.com) — The dispute over language of a high-profile South Dakota ballot measure is ratcheting up. State Senate Pro-Tem Lee Schoenbeck and House Speaker Hugh Bartels have sent a letter to Rick Weiland, whose group circulated petitions to put the measure on the ballot. They’re concerned that IM-28 is much broader than advertised – repealing the state sales tax on consumption rather than groceries. Weiland says the wording came at the recommendation of the Legislative Research Council.
Instead, Senator Schoenbeck says the LRC suggested wording to say food and food ingredients should be exempt from the sales tax.
Initial estimates put the cost of the tax repeal at about 124-million dollars. Lawmakers say the broader language could put the cost at 640-million.
Comments