STRAIGHT OUTTA PIERRE | Amendment L feels like déjà vu all over again

Some weeks the news comes at you like a fire hose. Other weeks it’s the dog days of summer and Pierre puts something on your ballot worth talking about. South Dakotans can start voting Sept. 18, so let’s talk about it.

Meet Amendment L. It would change the South Dakota Constitution so future constitutional amendments need 60 percent of the vote to pass instead of a simple majority. If this sounds familiar, congratulations. You’ve been paying attention.

South Dakota voters were asked in 2018 to require 55 percent to amend the Constitution. They said no. In 2022, voters were asked to require 60 percent for ballot measures involving taxes, fees or more than $10 million in spending. They said no again, by roughly two to one.

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John Fiksdal1 month ago

Here's another FACT about Amendment L. Most SD constitutional amendments already fail. Even those put forward by the legislature to update outdated policies (yes, unlike the US Constitution, there are "policies" in ours that need updating) fail. So, if you vote yes on L, we'll be stuck with them. Fer cryin' outloud, leave us alone!

Art Jr1 month ago

Have to get use to new Dakota Scout, way of posting. This post was about high diesel costing finally addressed. Sorry.

Kevin K1 month ago

I’m constantly amazed at the insightful criticism of how the ruling party hates the voters and the decisions we make through referendum, but you just can’t help taking a swipe at any Democrat who doesn’t wear a cowboy hat. Is that the magic formula???

The Heart of Everything1 month ago

Trump is now responsible for 28% of the $40 trillion plus—and there ain’t no way we’re growing the economy sufficiently to counteract what we’re saddling John Thune’s grandchildren and all the rest of our children with by giving tax cuts to corporations and billionaires—and by the way, those corporations have gotten tariff refunds, even though they didn’t pay the tariffs, we did. We’re paying for this too. Brown University’s Iran War Energy Cost Tracker estimates the conflict has added more than $100 billion to American gasoline and diesel bills — over $750 per household. And the impact is still coming, for America’s farmers and the food they produce and for every single product in this country that is shipped and trucked. This is an economic crisis coordinated and enabled by the Republican Party.

Art Jr1 month ago

News finally on it.

Richard Hammond1 month ago

Let’s forget the empty $5000 Trump has promised us. Just honor the $2000 Trump tariff promise with Trump Inc. money. If he really wants to buy votes, perhaps we would listen more carefully if he uses his own money rather than ours.

Miles S Benedict1 month ago

Great read and great information!

Doug Cummings1 month ago

When you have one party rule , that party gets the idea they can do whatever they want regardless of what the people want. But if you look closely, it’s the people that continue to elect the same party over and over and over. So, who really to blame for this? Look in the mirror!

Miles S Benedict1 month ago

Right on target, too!