SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Millions of dollars are being raised on opposition and supportive campaigns for ballot measures in South Dakota.
The Vote Yes for a Strong South Dakota campaign has spent $1.4 million in support of referred law 21 which deals with carbon dioxide pipelines and linear transmissions, according to campaign finance documents filed with the South Dakota Secretary of State.
The group has raised more than $2 million mainly from ethanol plants that would be in partnership with a proposed CO2 pipeline that would capture CO2 at the plants for burial in North Dakota. The largest listed expense is about $1.2 million in advertising.
POET Inc. has donated $1 million to the group. POET would have several ethanol plants on the proposed CO2 Summit Carbon Solutions pipeline. Glacial Lakes Energy LLC of Watertown donated $400,000.
Ethanol plant representatives have said RF21 is important to the economic future of ethanol.
The opposition from a group called SD Property Rights and Local Control Alliance has raised about $189,200, according to campaign finance records. The group has spent about $99,900 on advertising.
The opposition, whether or not directly tied to SD Property Rights and Local Control Alliance, has also organized public meetings around the state on RL21.
RL21, if approved by voters, would allow SB201 to become law. SB201 allows counties to charge $1 per linear foot for a CO2 pipeline and also includes the burial of pipelines at a four-foot depth.
Supporters say SB201 protects landowners.
Opponents say SB201 eliminates local control and replaces it with only control by the state’s public utilities commission.
An Emerson College Poll for KELOLAND Media and The Hill showed that 40% of the likely state voters would vote no on RLF21 while 36% would vote yes. Another 24% undecided. That could be enough to close the gap between no votes at 40% and the yes votes at 36%.
IM28 is another measure drawing some spending, but not as much as RL21.
IM28, if approved by voters, would repeal the state sales tax on items for human consumption.
The opposition to IM28, South Dakotans Against a State Income Tax has raised about $203,500, according to campaign finance reports. The group has spent about $90,000 on advertising.
It’s difficult to determine where IM28 support group Dakotans for Health has spent its campaign money or how much it has raised for IM28 because the group also supports Amendment G, which is the abortion measure.
The campaign finance report lists about $298,300 in campaign income and about $242,613 in expenses. Expenses include about $195,600 on advertising.
A separate campaign finance document also lists a $500,000 contribution from the political action committee Think Big America of Chicago, Illinois. This contribution is more likely directed to the Amendment G campaign. Think Big America is a PAC established by Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker to advocate for abortion and reproductive rights, according to multiple media reports and the pac’s website.
IM28’s opposition says the measure is poorly written and would include taxes on items for human consumption such as tobacco. Also because IM28 repeals the state tax and does not set the tax at 0%, a municipality cannot have a tax the state does not have, cities would not be able to have a sales tax on grocery items. The loss of revenue could lead to an income tax, opponents say.
Supporters say the opposition is using fear when it says it will eliminate local taxes on grocery items, that IM28 would allow for local sales taxes on groceries. The items for human consumption would not stretch to tobacco and other items because the intent of the law is to repeal the tax on grocery food items and food ingredients, supporters say.
The Emerson College poll said 48% of the likely voters said they would vote no on IM28 compared to 36% who would vote yes. But 16% said they were unsure.
