Defeat 22 Coalition Welcomes Senators Thune and Rounds, Congresswoman Noem, and Governor Daugaard
Governor and all members of federal delegation join coalition opposing taxpayer funded elections
Sioux Falls, S.D. – The Defeat 22 coalition today welcomed aboard Senators John Thune and Mike Rounds, Congresswoman Kristi Noem, and Governor Dennis Daugaard. The state leaders are the latest members of a broad coalition opposing taxpayer funding of elections, as called for in initiated measure 22.
“We applaud Senators Thune and Rounds, Congresswoman Noem, and Governor Daugaard for taking a stand against taxpayer funding of elections and joining the Defeat 22 coalition,” explained Larry Rhoden, Spokesman for Defeat 22. “These state leaders know that our taxpayers deserve better: tax dollars should pay for schools, public safety, and law enforcement – not robocalls, television ads, and junk mail. We hope other politicians will join with them and tell the Massachusetts special interest group supporting Measure 22: no thank you!”
U.S. Senator John Thune says: “Tax dollars aren’t the government’s money, they belong to the people. Using tax dollars to fund political campaigns is the wrong idea for our state.”
U.S. Senator Mike Rounds says: “Measure 22’s taxpayer funding component fails the common sense test, and I expect most South Dakotans will admit as much when they go to the polls November 8th. Dumping our tax dollars into political campaigns will waste their hard-earned money and make a mockery of responsible spending.”
U.S. Representative Kristi Noem says: “Here in South Dakota, we know what’s best for our state. We shouldn’t be taking advice from out of state special interest groups when it comes to using our tax dollars and changing our election laws, which is why I oppose Measure 22.”
Governor Dennis Daugaard says: “I oppose Measure 22 because the state’s budget simply can’t afford it. Taking $12 million from the state’s general fund and using it for taxpayer funded elections would hurt other South Dakota priorities.”
Defeat 22 is a coalition of more than a dozen South Dakota businesses, charities, political leaders, and organizations who agree that tax dollars shouldn’t fund political campaigns. They have released multiple radio ads and two mailers to supplement a grassroots door knocking effort. The coalition plans to continue heavy grassroots advocacy and paid media through November. All details about the coalition-led effort can be seen at www.defeat22.com.
###
Sen. John : Tax dollars ARE the government’s money because the people ARE the government.
Sen. Mike : Getting big, anonymous out of state money out of politics IS common sense.
Rep. Kristie : Publicly funded elections is what gets out of state special interests and their anonymous money out of SDak.
Gov. Dennis : SDak can afford to get big, anonymous money out of state elections.
Every one of you has used and relies on the money you’re condemning. TRUTH IS you don’t want fair competition on a level paying fIeld. It’s easier to just sell favors to shady contributors and spend their money like water,
Sorry, but I don’t want a nickel of my tax dollars to go to the likes of clowns like Hawks, Hamburglar, and Williams.
AND, if you believe that the people are still the government, you are fooling yourself, but not many other folks.
TRUTH IS, people don’t want what the pathetic Democrat nominees are selling, and it’s eating you up inside.
what a fine retort. agreed.
Voting is free. Doesn’t even cost a penny except when the incumbents sell theirs to campaign donation PAC’s.
WHO IS HOLIER THAN THOU HERE?
IM 22 is just another attempt by outsiders to corrupt politics in South Dakota.
Thank you Senators Thune and Rounds, Representative Noem, and Governor Duagaard for standing up for the citizens of South Dakota. It will be the taxpayers’ money that is diverted away from more important priorities, and the proponents of IM 22 have already said that the $12 million is only the beginning and that they hope to increase that amount in the future.