There are 85 Republicans and 20 Democrats in the South Dakota Legislature. Although one party has a clear majority, leaders say with issues like Medicaid expansion and tax increases, both sides need to work together to accomplish goals.
House Majority Leader Brian Gosch says it’s never wise for lawmakers to limit who they seek for support.
“If you don’t give respect to the other side, whether by seeking a list of them to be co-sponsors, or to explain your bill, or take the time to talk to them, then that could be seen as insulting,” Gosch says. “And then it could potentially lead to a block vote. So you could start off with, in this case, this year it would be 12 votes down before you even get started.”
House Minority Leader Spencer Hawley says as a super minority Democrats always have to work with their Republican colleagues to get things accomplished.
“But this year’s going to be a little bit unique, in that I think we’re seeing reaching across the aisle from the other direction,” Hawley says. “It’s going to be a tough lift, the Medicaid expansion. And the Governor is going to need our support as much as he needs the Republicans’ support to get it passed. And also for the school funding changes, and for increasing the pay for teachers. And if we’re going to get a sales tax increase passed, they need all of our votes to do it because it’s going to be really tough to get all their votes, or the majority of votes they need from their side.”
Hawley says Democrats are in full support of expanding Medicaid. He says those with his party are 90 percent behind the Governor’s plan for funding education. He says Democrats have a higher target for teacher pay and want a full penny sales tax increase rather than a half cent increase. He says there are other lawmakers who don’t want to raise taxes at all. He anticipates the discussion will last the entire session.
House Majority Leader Brian Gosch says most major legislation always includes compromise or amendments. He says South Dakota lawmakers usually do a good job of working together, focusing on the issue rather than the party line.