South Dakota Chamber of Commerce Endorses Amendment D

The Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce endorsed Amendment D, the ballot initiative to expand Medicaid, in August. Now the South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry joins them in calling for South Dakotans to give the state economy a much-needed shot in the arm by accepting hundreds of millions in federal dollars each year to help tens of thousands of South Dakotans stay healthier and more productive:

Healthy people are able to go to work every day which is good for everyone in South Dakota. Having healthy people working means fewer closed restaurants, shorter delays at service industries and smaller delays in getting remodel projects done.

Amendment D gets healthcare to more working people in South Dakota so they can stay on the job. Expanding Medicaid fills the gap for workers that don’t have insurance offered at work and cannot afford to purchase insurance on their own. This expanded insurance is made possible by keeping South Dakota tax dollars in South Dakota. Right now those dollars are being spent in New York, California, and 37 other states.

People without insurance often ignore health issues until they become health emergencies that are treated in the emergency room. Not only does this make care more serious, but it also makes it more expensive: for South Dakotans and for health care providers.

Amendment D will strengthen health care in South Dakota, and generate as many as 4,000 new jobs, including 2,200 in the healthcare field.

The South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes that expanding Medicaid will have a positive impact on helping people in low wage jobs secure healthcare services and remain in the workforce as healthier people. We believe that happy, healthy, financially secure employees lead to stronger businesses and a strong business community in our state [South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry, press release, 2022.10.07].

The state Chamber spoke up last spring against Amendment C, the unsuccessful effort to sabotage Medicaid expansion with an oppressive 60% vote requirement. Now the Chamber is taking the right position on Amendment D, telling its members that covering more medical bills is good business for South Dakota… which, of course, is what this liberal blog has been saying for years, so thank you, Chamber members, for reading Dakota Free Press!

State Chamber, SF Chamber, Hispanic Chamber, Municipal League, tribes, doctors, nurses, firefighters and EMTs, teachers, Sisters, League of Women Voters, and lots of other well-informed South Dakotans support expanding Medicaid in our fair state. Does anyone oppose Amendment D other than misinformed Christian nationalists who are still mad that a Black President challenged their Prosperity Gospel by expanding access to health care for millions of Americans?