PIERRE, SD – South Dakota legislators approved amending the state budget to reflect one point three billion dollars of federal aid for pandemic related costs.
During the special session yesterday (Monday), lawmakers also approved a resolution directing how the Governor should spend the remaining five hundred ninety-seven million dollars.
The Appropriations Committee’s 18 members put together the $597 million plan last week, after five House-Senate policy committees held meetings to take the public’s suggestions for the money. The governor had previously announced plans to spend most of that remainder: $400 million on business grants and $100 million for community healthcare providers. The appropriators shaped the final $97 million.
House Speaker Steven Haugaard of Sioux Falls says many of the same issues will return. “ It’s not the last call on any of these issues. I think the public should be aware that we still want to be responsive to all those issues out there,” he said. “There were good amendments brought. It doesn’t mean they weren’t appreciated even though they didn’t pass.”
Haugaard says some of the defeated amendments brought up important issues. “There were issues raised about allocation of funds to Native students. There were issues in regard to rapid testing for the coronavirus. These are important issues.”
Haugaard says they appreciated the public input they got. “For the members of the public who were paying attention, I really appreciate the input that was provided along the way,” he commented. “And the opportunity to do what we can for the citizens of South Dakota in the midst of this pandemic.”
Four hundred million dollars will go to help small businesses, while one hundred million has been set aside for health care providers.
Senate Democratic leader Troy Heinert of Mission had tried to change the resolution to include money specifically for rodeo stock producers and meat cutters and to provide $500 apiece for students at federal Bureau of Indian Education schools. All three failed but Senator Gary Cammack, a Union Center Republican, pledged he would bring a meat-cutter bill to the 2021 session in January.
The special session came as South Dakota had ranked first- or second-worst in the nation in recent weeks for coronavirus cases per 100,000 population. Many legislators at the Capitol on Monday didn’t wear facial coverings, sitting side by side at their desks as Noem delivered a 15-minute speech to the joint assembly in the House chamber. The governor, Lieutenant Governor Larry Rhoden and members of their staffs attending the special session didn’t wear masks.
The one-day session wrapped up by midafternoon. The 2021 session is scheduled to start on January 12th.
