Another top Republican in the South Dakota Legislature is contradicting Gov. Kristi Noem’s assertion that she wanted to cut taxes on groceries during the state’s last legislative session.

House Speaker Spencer Gosch in an interview with The Dakota Scout this week said that despite the governor’s insistence that she’s long supported a repeal of a 4.5 percent tax on groceries, he was told by her administration in February that the governor would not sign any measure passed by the state Legislature that reduced the state’s sales tax revenues.

“I was in several meetings where Gov. Noem and (Sen.) Lee Schoenbeck expressed their disdain for any tax reduction, characterizing it as an ‘irresponsible’ move that would create a burden for funding state government,” the Mobridge Republican said.

Noem last month during a campaign stop in Rapid City promised to eliminate the grocery tax if re-elected. Footage from the event began airing in Kristi for Governor campaign television commercials within days.

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