PIERRE-There might have been one other aye, but the only one heard for sure Monday afternoon, on a voice vote in the state House of Representatives, came from Rep. Isaac Latterell.
The Sioux Falls-area Republican tried to amend legislation dealing with the state Board on Massage Therapy.
He wanted to change "shall" to "may" so that the governor wouldn't be forced to fill vacancies for the board's four professional seats.
He said it could help encourage the board to act in the public interest.
Rep. Scott Munsterman disagreed.
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"Bad idea. Bad idea," Munsterman, R-Brookings, said.
Munterstman said it's important for licensing boards to have professionals from the field as members.
"Very bad idea. Oppose this amendment, please," Munsterman said.
Rep. Fred Deutsch also called for the amendment's defeat. "I understand it, but it's a bad idea," Deutsch, R-Florence, said.
Both Munsterman and Deutsch are chiropractors.
House Speaker Dean Wink, R-Howes, seemed reluctant to allow the amendment to be considered because it wasn't in writing.
No one objected, so he called for the voice vote.
There wasn't any question about the outcome. The House roll call vote that followed was 62-2 in favor. Joining Latterell in opposing it was Rep. Mike Verchio, R-Hill City.
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ELECTION WORK: The House Monday passed two more of the bills from Secretary of State Shantel Krebs and the state Board of Elections that are needed to get ready for the June primaries.
The representatives voted 64-1 for HB 1033 dealing with election petition requirements-Verchio was the lone no-and voted 65-0 for HB 1036 for campaign-finance changes that would set when committees must be terminated.
WITHOUT DISSENT: Senators voted unanimously Monday to approve the governor's reappointments of Sheldon Cotton from Volga and Gary Doering from Cavour to the state Railroad Board.
ON HOLD: House Republican leader Brian Gosch of Rapid City deferred the House's consideration of the amusement-device tax rewrite to today (Tuesday).
BILL COUNT: The House had 99 bills introduced as of Monday. The Senate was at 83.
