Another No on an Amendment website, and questions on how this issue will play in November.
Actually, this time it's No on Amendment C. The effort to vote no on Amendment C has a website up and on-line, http://www.againstdiscrimination.org/ as run by the organization's director, Jon Hoadley. As stated on the website:
In the House, Republican Casey Murschel was the only Republican No vote. In the Senate it faced much stiffer competition and passed on a 20-14 vote:
Here, the measure also faced more resistance by Republicans. Duane Sutton, Ed Olson, Mac McCracken, Dave Knudson, J.P. Duniphan, Tom Dempster, Mike Broderick, and Stan Adelstein all cast their votes no, comprising a majority of the opposition to the measure.
Interestingly enough, back in 2005 before the Mainstream Coalition, with the addition of Broderick, this set this group off as a voting block on what would be considered a morally divisive issue. Especially in light of the fact that as many Democrats voted for it as Republicans that voted against it.
Also noteworthy, Senate sponsors Ed Olson, Mike Broderick, and Dan Sutton all ended up casting a vote against it. They were joined by House sponsors Bradford, Gassman, Hargens, Kroger, and Lange who also cast a vote against the measure they sponsored.
For all the bluster on morality issues as we move into the election cycle, Amendment C has floated under the radar, and may continue to do so for some time. But just like on the abortion, issue that came up in 2006, several Democratic legislators joined their Republican colleagues and provided a strong show of support.
In fact, it might be arguable that as much "morality legislation" came out of the 2005 legislature as it did 2006. But being a non-election year, you really didn't hear much of it. But unlike abortion, there's not a lot of dispute over where South Dakotans stand on the definition of marriage act.
Although, Jon Hoadley will be working to counter that.
As Democrats and others press the morality issue in the campaigns, this sleeper of a bill may end up becoming one of the more divisive measures in this year's legislative campaigns.
One of the items on the ballot is Amendment C, an anti-marriage amendment that changes South Dakota’s constitution not only to define marriage as between a man and a woman, but also to prohibit the state from recognizing domestic partnerships, civil unions, and "quasi-marital" relationships. SouthDakotansAgainstDiscrimination.org will be the online campaign headquarters keeping you up to date on events, achievements, volunteer activities, and other ways to help the campaign.Amendment C was placed on the ballot by 2005's HJR 1001. Interestingly enough, the votes on this bill haven't come up yet as a campaign issue. It passed 55-14 in the House with the following No votes:
| Bradford | Nay |
| Elliott | Nay |
| Gassman | Nay |
| Glover | Nay |
| Haley | Nay |
| Hargens | Nay |
| Kroger | Nay |
| Lange | Nay |
| Murschel | Nay |
| Roberts | Nay |
| Street | Nay |
| Thompson | Nay |
| Valandra | Nay |
| Van Norman | Nay |
In the House, Republican Casey Murschel was the only Republican No vote. In the Senate it faced much stiffer competition and passed on a 20-14 vote:
| Adelstein | Nay |
| Broderick | Nay |
| Dempster | Nay |
| Duniphan | Nay |
| Hundstad | Nay |
| Knudson | Nay |
| Koetzle | Nay |
| McCracken | Nay |
| Moore | Nay |
| Nesselhuf | Nay |
| Olson (Ed) | Nay |
| Sutton (Dan) | Nay |
| Sutton (Duane) | Nay |
| Two Bulls | Nay |
Here, the measure also faced more resistance by Republicans. Duane Sutton, Ed Olson, Mac McCracken, Dave Knudson, J.P. Duniphan, Tom Dempster, Mike Broderick, and Stan Adelstein all cast their votes no, comprising a majority of the opposition to the measure.
Interestingly enough, back in 2005 before the Mainstream Coalition, with the addition of Broderick, this set this group off as a voting block on what would be considered a morally divisive issue. Especially in light of the fact that as many Democrats voted for it as Republicans that voted against it.
Also noteworthy, Senate sponsors Ed Olson, Mike Broderick, and Dan Sutton all ended up casting a vote against it. They were joined by House sponsors Bradford, Gassman, Hargens, Kroger, and Lange who also cast a vote against the measure they sponsored.
For all the bluster on morality issues as we move into the election cycle, Amendment C has floated under the radar, and may continue to do so for some time. But just like on the abortion, issue that came up in 2006, several Democratic legislators joined their Republican colleagues and provided a strong show of support.
In fact, it might be arguable that as much "morality legislation" came out of the 2005 legislature as it did 2006. But being a non-election year, you really didn't hear much of it. But unlike abortion, there's not a lot of dispute over where South Dakotans stand on the definition of marriage act.
Although, Jon Hoadley will be working to counter that.
As Democrats and others press the morality issue in the campaigns, this sleeper of a bill may end up becoming one of the more divisive measures in this year's legislative campaigns.
Comments
PP, you've said that when the ballot is so thick with initiatives and referrendums, that the people will just vote No across the board. Do you really think that's true?
I certainly hope not. I've got no problem with an educated No vote, but to thoughtlessly vote No on everything just because the ballot is packed full seems weak to me.
What an amazing opportunity we have here in SD to directly enact our laws. I hope people take the time to learn about what they are voting on, and make thoughtful choices in the ballot box, instead of just voting No for everything.
That's an educated vote.
I do say it could happen. People want to go vote for people. Then they get to that mess on ballots and initiatives.
If there are too many with the reams of ballot explanations on what a yes vote and a no vote mean, the tendency is to vote to keep things the same.