SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – A spokesperson for the Yes on 10 campaign Monday night addressed the Sioux Falls City Council, at the invitation of Councilman Kermit Staggers, urging them to remain neutral on Initiated Measure 10.   

 

The measure, Initiated Measure 10 on the ballot, is described on the ballot as follows: “An initiative to prohibit tax revenues from being used for lobbying or campaigning, to prohibit governmental bodies from lobbying, to prohibit government contractors from making campaign contributions, to prohibit government contracts when the contractor employs a legislator or legislative staff member, and to require contracts with government contractors to be published.”

 

Dena Espenscheid, the Southeastern Field Director for Yes on 10, spoke to council members during the time for public input, following their discussion whether to pass a resolution concerning Initiated Measure 10. Espenscheid urged the council to remain neutral, citing a twenty-year-old Attorney General’s ruling that municipalities cannot expend tax resources to affect the outcome of an election. Espenscheid then went on to explain why all citizens should vote YES on Initiated Measure 10.

 

“Taxpayer-funded lobbying is just wrong, and a yes vote on 10 will stop it,” said Espenscheid. “When a government pays a lobbyist, that lobbyist takes an official, tax-paid position on laws. Anyone who dissents from the government’s official position is forced against their will to pay, via taxes, for a viewpoint opposite their own.” 

 

As an example of tax-funded lobbying and campaigning, Espenscheid pointed to the 2004 ballot measure that would have repealed the food tax if passed by the citizens.

 

“The Municipal League, which is tax-funded, spearheaded an effort to oppose the repeal of the food tax,” Espenscheid said. “This group used tax funds to campaign against the will of many citizens in favor of a tax that is gravely affecting our elderly and single-parent families right now. Whether the measure passed or failed, it was still wrong for tax monies to be used to lobby and campaign for or against the ballot measure.”

 

Espenscheid said, “We all learned in middle school that the Constitution and First Amendment guarantee freedom of speech. We also learned that no state law or ballot measure can override our Constitutionally-guaranteed freedoms. Anyone who claims it infringes on free speech is lying.”      

 

Espenscheid also spoke about the tax funds paying for the “No truth” committee’s big lie advertising campaign.   The powerful, ultra-liberal union bosses at the National Education Association gave $1.1 million to the campaign opposing Initiated Measure 10.

 

“Your tax dollars and mine are spent to collect union dues from teachers, the majority of which is sent to national union bosses,” said Espenscheid. “In states where employees do not have Right to Work protections, teachers are compelled to pay dues under threat of being fired. This out-of-state campaign donation is egregious because it is tax-subsidized and compulsory.”   

 

When asked about the possibility that the Sioux Falls City Council might consider a resolution concerning Measure 10 at next week’s meeting, Espenscheid broached the possibility that the city could be sued for infringing on the free speech rights of anyone who dissents to the official resolution.

 

Espenscheid then added, “As opposed to some other councils and county commissions around the state, we know that there are Sioux Falls City Council members who support Measure 10.”

 

# # #