SDTPA – South Dakota Tea Party Alliance

Dear Tea Party Patriot,

Big-government politicians at the state Capitol want to raise taxes.

The South Dakota Legislature is in full swing, and these legislators are pushing their pet tax hike, fee increase or hidden tax.

Senator Mike Vehle from Mitchell has been working for higher gas taxes and increased vehicle fees. Sen. Stan Adelstein from Rapid City says he wants a “temporary” sales tax hike.

Add up all the tax hikes floating around and it is at least $200 million a year in higher taxes.

That’s why I’m writing you. South Dakota Campaign for Liberty is leading the fight in Pierre to STOP tax increases and we need your help.

Would you sign the Petition to STOP the Tax Hikes?

The business-as-usual politicians in Pierre want you to foot the bill for failed tax-and-spend policies. They want to raise your taxes in order to save their favorite bureaucratic programs.

Now is the time to give them the real answer: Cut wasteful, big-government spending!

South Dakotans sent this message loud and clear in the November elections. Now we must make sure the politicians in Pierre get it.

Campaign for Liberty is leading the grassroots effort to stop tax increases and reduce government spending.

Please click here to sign the Petition to STOP the Tax Hikes. We will hand deliver your petition to the Legislature.

Thankfully, the Governor is calling for spending cuts and has pledged to oppose most tax increases. Some of the Legislators agree.

But the bureaucrats and special interest are lining up at the Capitol.

They’re lobbying hard to continue current spending levels, and status quo politicians like Sen. Vehle are eager to help them by raising your taxes.

This year, we’re facing a budget shortfall of at least $127 million. In the current economy, common sense says we should eliminate unnecessary spending and avoid new taxes.

But the business-as-usual politicians seem fresh out of common sense.

They’re looking for the first opportunity to increase taxes and allow state government to go right on growing.

Right now, South Dakota taxpayers are paying more than $100,000 in annual salaries to over 175 executive level bureaucrats. Nearly a dozen of them are each getting over $250,000 a year, and dozens upon dozens of these bureaucrats are each making off with more than $150,000 annually.

This is just one example of the big-government spending that goes on at the Capitol. There are numerous places throughout the state budget that need to be trimmed.

That’s why raising taxes this year is completely outrageous.

Many South Dakota families simply can’t afford to increase their spending. In a difficult economy, we must tighten our belts to live within our means. State government should do the same.

Click here to sign the Petitions to STOP the Tax Hikes.

It’s past time to make state government live within its means.

But only through the grassroots support of individuals like you can we defeat the proposed tax hikes in Pierre.

So please take action now!

Campaign for Liberty is leading the grassroots fight for open, honest limited government, and we can’t win without your help.

Please sign the Petition, and we’ll hand deliver it to the State Legislature in Pierre.

Thank you, in advance, for taking action today!

For Liberty,

Rip Ryness

Executive Director

South Dakota Campaign for Liberty

P.S. Because the state Legislature is in full swing, I need to hear from you as soon as possible. Please click here to sign the Petition to Stop the Tax Hikes.

The special interests and big-government bureaucrats are all lined up at the Capitol. They’re lobbying harder than ever to feed their spending habits.

Sadly, business-as-usual politicians are ready to go on growing government with everything from gas and vehicle tax hikes to a “temporary” sales tax increase.

So please sign the Petition to STOP the Tax Hikes today!

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Thursday, January 27

(Pierre) – Hats off to everyone who made phone calls and sent emails supporting the Health Care Freedom Act.  Committee members reported that they received hundreds of emails in favor of the bill.

Zach Lautenschlager represented the South Dakota Tea Party Alliance in committee and presented arguments on why the state does have the authority to reject the unconstitutional parts of ObamaCare.  The Health Care Freedom Act was also supported in committee by several state Representatives, organizations and private citizens.

Unfortunately, and as we predicted, Majority Leader David Lust and other Republican leadership had already decided to oppose the bill.  This ironically put them in the same camp with the Democrats who support ObamaCare.  Thanks to the leadership’s opposition, every Republican on the committee voted against the bill (the vote is listed below).  Even the bill co-sponsors, Representatives Hoffman and Wick, voted to kill the bill.  This is disappointing, considering the numerous requests they received from their constituents to support the Health Care Freedom Act.

The next step is to “smoke” the bill out of committee, which would bring it to the floor for further discussion and a full vote.  The bill gained 25 sponsors in the House.  It covers an important topic and has broad support from the people of South Dakota and deserves a hearing.

ACTION:

Please contact Representatives Hoffman and Wick and respectfully express your disappointment with their vote against the Health Care Freedom Act (HB 1088).  If you’d like to do more, contact Rep. Lust and the other Republicans who voted with the Democrats on the committee in favor of ObamaCare.  As always, courtesy is the best policy.  Please feel free to use the sample message below to help direct your comments.

You can email them either with their addresses or through the online system.  You can also call and leave a message for two of them at a time at (605) 773-3851.   A Legislative Page will be there to take your message.

Republicans voting not to reject ObamaCare

Rep. Charles Hoffman – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. Hal Wick – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. David Lust – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. Val Rausch – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. Brian Gosch  – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. Gene Abdallah – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. Justin Cronin – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. Nick Moser – [email protected] – use online email

Rep. Charles Turbiville – [email protected] – use online email

————-Sample Message————-

Dear Representative,

I am very disappointed to see that you voted against HB 1088, the Health Care Freedom Act.

Denying South Dakota’s ability to defend its citizens from the unconstitutional parts of ObamaCare is not right.  Your vote makes it look like you agree with the Democrats on the committee who actually support ObamaCare.

I respectfully urge you to reconsider your vote and support bringing HB 1088 to the floor for a full debate.

Sincerely,

———————————————–

Rep. David Lust

Rep. Val Rausch

Rep. Brian Gosch

Rep. Gene Abdallah

Rep. Justin Cronin

Rep. Nick Moser

Rep. Charles Turbiville

Rep. Susy Blake

Rep. Mitch Fargen

Rep. Peggy Gibson

Rep. Bernie Hunhoff

Rep. Charles Hoffman

Rep. Hal Wick