PIERRE, S.D. (AP) _ SOUTH DAKOTA DEMOCRATS HAVE STARTED AN
EFFORT TO GET A STATEWIDE PUBLIC VOTE ON REPUBLICAN GOV. DENNIS
DAUGAARD’S PROGRAM TO GIVE REFUNDS ON CONSTRUCTION TAXES TO LARGE
INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS.
     STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY CHAIRMAN BEN NESSELHUF FILED PETITIONS
THURSDAY SEEKING TO REFER THE LAW PASSED BY THIS YEAR’S
LEGISLATURE. DEMOCRATS MUST GATHER 15,855 VALID SIGNATURES BY JUNE
27 TO PUT THE MEASURE ON THE NOVEMBER 2012 BALLOT.
     NESSELHUF SAYS STATE MONEY SHOULD NOT BE GIVEN TO CORPORATIONS
AT A TIME WHEN THE STATE HAS CUT AID TO SCHOOLS AND HEALTH CARE FOR
POOR PEOPLE.
     DAUGAARD ARGUES HIS PLAN SAVES THE STATE AN ESTIMATED $7 MILLION
A YEAR BY CHANGING THE PROGRAM SO IT WILL ONLY GIVE REFUNDS TO
PROJECTS THAT WOULD OTHERWISE NOT BE BUILT IN SOUTH DAKOTA.