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SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports

SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports

US Politics

US Politics

Ballot measure battle could curtail South Dakota’s direct democracy

SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports
Summary
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68% Informative

South Dakota lawmakers are trying to restrict the state’s first-in-the-nation initiative and referendum process.

The people will ultimately determine the fate of a system that dates to 1898 .

The power of residents to amend the state constitution through the petition process was added in 1972 .

From 2018 to 2024 , South Dakota passed 11 laws to make direct democracy more difficult.

Three of the most liberal measures on the 2024 ballot abortion rights, grocery tax repeal and recreational marijuana legalization all failed with less than 45% of the vote.

Voters in 2022 strongly rejected Amendment C , viewed as a preemptive strike against Medicaid expansion.

The only successful measures were populist (property rights groups rallying to refer a bill) and staunchly conservative.

South Dakota's minimum wage is currently $ 11.50 per hour, higher than neighboring Minnesota .

Measure IM 21 targeted payday loan outlets and other predatory lenders by establishing a maximum interest rate of 36% on their loans.

Measure passed with 76% of the vote.

VR Score

77

Informative language

79

Neutral language

46

Article tone

formal

Language

English

Language complexity

59

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

External references

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Source diversity

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