Undoing what the voters hath wrought?
The argus leader is reporting this AM that legislators might be looking at undoing what the voters themselves did via initiated measures:
State Sen. Garry Moore, who moves to the South Dakota House next month, said he might introduce a bill to reduce the tobacco tax increase that voters approved last month.Read it here.
Moore, a Democrat from Yankton, also said some lawmakers are considering making changes to a ballot measure passed by voters that places restrictions on the use of state aircraft.
Comments
A good question to ask is: At what point does such a bill become a conflict of interest for a cigarette dealer/legislator?
Maybe it is and maybe it isn't. I don't know.
Then just a week ago in the Government operations and audit committee he voted to close a public meeting that was to discuss a public report of juvenile corrections. AG Long said that's a crime too.
When is Moore going to be charged with a crime? Over and over he keeps flouting the laws.
While I think that the cigarette tax and the airplane restriction were not good law, I also think the legislature is not qualified to amend such laws without demonstrating substantial harm, either actual or imminent, done or to-be-done by a measure elected into law by the voters.
Regardless of whether or not the tobacco tax and the airplane bill were good law, they both passed overwhelmingly.
The legislature shouldn't mess with something that is supported by a clear majority of South Dakotans.
You say if the voters don't like it they can collect signatures? That's what they already did, you !@#%$@%!
No matter what the the majority thinks. WOW...So in your way of looking at things majority does not rule? I agree with you on both laws being bad but still at the end of the day the MAJORITY RULES!
Maybe Lexrex is hoping that the legislature will decide to reinstate the abortion ban too.
This is just one more example, out of way too many, of how screwed up some of legislators really are.
Basically, legislators can do what they want to, regardless of the vote of the people. That is troubling, on the City level, it is my understanding, the laws that are initiated have to be in effect for at least one year before city councils can change or overturn them.
For us as a State to brag that the people have the power is erroneous. This post has been an education for me. It is not surprising tho, most of the restrictions on local government do not apply to the State legislators, they have routinely exempted themselves from most restrictions they think are neccessary for every other level of government.
That being said, the whole process is kind of scary when you have a vast majority of the people voting with emotion, rather than facts.
i like the idea of personal freedom. but should we all pony up and pay the bill for others' self-destruction?
cmon gary, lay off. you lost that vote big time.
I believe your point applies better to issues of "human rights" abortion, slavery etc. We are talking about a tax on an activity that is not a "human rights violation" here, not quite the same thing. Also, it is possible for the minority to "trample" on the majority, especialy in this country. I feel being forced to pay for others bad behavior is wrong. Smoking causes pre-mature babies, etc, that we all have to pay big bucks for. You do raise the question, does man serve the law, or, does the law serve man ? Both scenarios can be disasters, but I would rather suffer by my own hand than somone elses.
Many South Dakotans are hit with catastrophic medical expenses every year. If LEXREX were in this situation, would we see him being ideologically pure by refusing medicaid? Or would he accept medicaid while still complaining about others paying his way? Or would he declare bankruptcy and force his costs onto others via the backdoor route?
I hope we don't have to find out. My Christmas wish for LEXREX is that he will be more thoughtful and less judgmental.
I do agree with LEXREX that the tobacco tax is bad law. Taxes should only be passed as a necessity and not for social engineering.
Did I mention that medications cost far less in Canada too? That's why Americans go there for drugs. While our Republican-controlled government is all for price-gouging by drug companies in exchange for campaign $$, Canada's government prevents price-gouging. Canada's government even sticks up for American consumers.