New State Prison funding defeated in Legislature

michael scott / CC

PIERRE, S.D. (KELO.com) — They don’t have the votes to build a prison in Lincoln County…(TR/ID)

After years of saving, planning and debate, the South Dakota House has defeated plans to build that facility.

House first began the debate by approving an amendment to the package.

The amendment passed, reducing the amount going into the prison construction fund from 182-million to 148-million dollars.

The amendment also separated the money from the project, because it was apparent there weren’t enough votes to reach the needed two-thirds majority for approval.

Canton Representative Karla Lems is opposed the amendment and the project.

Representative Will Mortenson of Fort Pierre urged support for the funding…

In the end, House members came up two votes short of passing the funding portion of the bill.