House defeats constitutional amendment on taxes

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PIERRE (AP) — The South Dakota House has defeated a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote to pass any ballot measure imposing a new tax or increasing an existing one.

Representatives defeated the bill by a 35-34 vote Tuesday and resisted an attempt to reconsider its passage later in the day.

A two-thirds vote is already required in the Legislature to pass a new tax or increase the rate of an existing tax. But ballot measures imposing or increasing a tax can now be passed with only a simple majority in a statewide vote.

The proposed amendment would require a two-thirds vote on any ballot issue that creates or increases a tax. It also would clarify that if a tax is expiring, a two-thirds vote is needed to extend it.

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