PIERRE, S.D.(SDBA) — A move to defund a program that costs the state $52k a year to help mark the graves of deceased veterans in South Dakota failed to garner even one supportive vote on the House floor Tuesday.
Lawmakers rejected House Bill 1038 by a 0-70 vote, a rarity in either chamber. The measure — proposed by former Gov. Kristi Noem in her budget before she left office — would have completely cut a program that provides $100 to families of deceased veterans to help erect headstones to allow name, rank, and birthday and death days to be etched into the headstone.
Several veterans of the armed services, including former South Dakota National Guard head Tim Resich, spoe against the measure. Reps. Mike Derby and Al Novstrup — the chair and vice-chair of the House Appropriations Committee — changed their votes from “yes” to “no” after it took place.
The House Appropriations Committee advanced the measure to the floor by a 9-0 vote with a do pass recommendation. It is not uncommon for that committee to do so, allowing further discussion to take place amongst the full membership.
It’s one of several appropriations bills that the House and Senate have debated this “Crossover Day,” the deadline for bills to leave their house of origin.
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