The Sioux Falls League of Women Voters and the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce are hosting a public forum on eight of the ballot measures this Thursday, September 15, at the Sioux Falls Instructional Planning Center, 201 E. 38th St.
The program will be split into two 75-minute sessions:
5:30 p.m.—Session 1
- Initiated Measure 21: 36% Payday Loan Rate Cap
- Amendment T: Independent Redistricting Commission
- Amendment U: Usury! Payday Lender Protection Clause
- Amendment V: Open Nonpartisan Primary
7:00 p.m.—Session 2
- Referred Law 19: Incumbent Protection Act
- Referred Law 20: Youth Minimum Wage Cut
- Initiated Measure 22: Anti-Corruption Act
- Amendment S: Glodt’s crime victims bill of rights
The League and the Chamber have not included Initiated Measure 23 (“Fair Share” Union Dues) or Amendment R (Regents/vo-tech authority split) on Thursday’s agenda. The Chamber is officially opposing IM 23 and supporting Amendment R. The only other issue on which the Chamber has declared a position is IM 22, which they have joined the Koch Brothers in opposing.
The League has invited me to speak in the second session as an opponent of both of the referred laws (and since I sponsored the petitions that put 19 and 20 to a vote, I’m happy to take on that responsibility). As of this writing, I have not heard who if anyone is rising to the challenge of speaking in favor these two bad laws. I can say that RL 20/youth minimum wage sponsor Senator David Novstrup has not called to carpool with me from Aberdeen or offer to put me up for the night at his dad’s flat in Sioux Falls yet. I would think my District 3 Senator would be as eager to explain and defend the capstone legislation of his Pierre career to the voters as I am to defeat it. But whatever advocates attend, I look forward to conversing with them in the second session and recording them for the blog in the first.
Get educated on the most important votes you can cast this fall—come to the Sioux Falls ballot question forum Thursday evening!
Update 2016.09.14 22:58 CDT: LWV sends this flyer for Thursday’s event:
In related news, League of Women Voters SD and AARP this morning endorsed Amendment V, the open nonpartisan primary proposal.
Is this forum going to be broadcast?
Hi, Leo! Sorry to be slow on the response. That Sioux Falls paper streamed the show; you can replay the video here:
http://livestream.com/accounts/7080921/events/6346057/videos/135860801