House Set to Revisit Proposed Sales Tax Hike for Teacher Pay

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — House lawmakers are set to revisit a tight vote on Gov. Dennis Daugaard's proposed half-cent sales tax increase to help raise teacher pay.

The chamber is scheduled to reconsider the hike Monday.

Representatives on Thursday voted 46-23, just one vote short of the two-thirds margin required to pass a tax hike.

But supporters successfully pushed Friday to have the bill reconsidered later.

Republican Rep. Scott Craig issued a statement Friday saying he plans to flip his vote to keep the tax proposal under consideration.

Most of the hike would go toward teacher salaries, but a large chunk would go to property tax relief.

House Republican leader Brian Gosch, an opponent, says if the tax hike fails it would force the Legislature and the governor to look at alternatives.

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