SB 70 won final legislative approval on a vote of 63-7 this afternoon (Thursday) in the state House of Representatives. Voting against the 33-page, 83-section package of criminal justice reforms, aimed at allowing more non-violent offenders straighten out through treatment and abstention in their home communities, were seven Republicans: Brock Greenfield of Clark, Dan Kaiser of Aberdeen, Betty Olson of Prairie City, Elizabeth May of Kyle, Lance Russell of Hot Springs, Isaac Latterell of Sioux Falls and Stace Nelson of Fulton. When the bill was passed 31-2 by the Senate on Jan. 24, the no votes came from Republicans Tim Begalka of Clear Lake and David Omdahl of Sioux Falls. The bill now goes to Gov. Dennis Daugaard for his signature to become law.
If you look closely you can see the green lights and the red lights at the representatives desks showing whether the lawmaker is voting yes or no. This was the scene from the vote on SB 70 Thursday afternoon.
#1 by interested party on January 31, 2013 - 4:48 pm
Fascinating that these legislators knew that this law hardly goes far enough to reverse the damage done to South Dakota since Bill Jankow was elected attorney general.
Good job, people!