The South Dakota Legislative District 32 Senate race has shaped up to be one of the most interesting in our state.
This year, three candidates will be running for the single seat. Incumbent Democrat Tom Katus was backed by "Republican" Stan Adelstein in 2006 after that year's incumbent Adelstein lost in the Republican primary to Elli Schwiesow. Though he supported Katus against his own party's nominee in 2006, Adelstein is running against Katus this year on the Republican ticket. Rather than face a tremendously expensive primary against the wealthy Adelstein, Schwiesow decided to run for the seat as an Independent this year.
Dakota Voice will be publishing a series of articles in the coming weeks examining Schwiesow's position on various issues.
Today she talks about taxes.
As a conservative, Schwiesow believes taxes should be as low as possible while providing the revenue to fund necessary government functions.
"Property taxes have risen in spite of the effort to reduce them," says Schwiesow. "I know my property taxes are back at the level they were previous to property tax reduction efforts. The city and county grows so it would seem the tax base would be growing too but there is still the need, we are told, to increase property taxes."
Schwiesow believes that whether it is city, county or state government, every line item in the budget should be reviewed to determine whether it is actually necessary, and at what level.
"Limited growth of government is the best way to limit or reduce taxes," she says.
Schwiesow says she is okay with sales taxes for the consumer in general, but has mixed sentiments on the food tax.
"Most items we purchase are discretionary, such as whether we want a newcoat, new shoes, etc.," Schwiesow says. "But food is a necessity. Since food is a necessity we require to live, taxing food is not a good idea."
One tax which Schwiesow believes is a good idea is the alcohol tax which was proposed earlier this year in the legislature.
Schwiesow says, "When it's broken down by drink, it doesn't make a huge impact on the consumer. Alcohol can cause a lot of detrimental behavior. Who pays for that? The taxpayers do.
"Drugs and alcohol problems affect something like 85% of those incarcerated in our jails and prisons."
According to Schwiesow, the specific revenue allocations in the bill proposed in the legislature this year seem fair. Those requirements specify what percentage of the alcohol tax revenue would go to counties, the 24/7 sobriety program, treatment programs and so on.
The proposed alcohol tax bill was killed in the legislature and proponents attempted to get it on the ballot through a petition. Due to lack of organization, that effort did not succeed.
"The alcohol lobby makes it difficult to pass something like this in the legislature," said Schwiesow. "They are one of the most powerful lobbies in the state.
"The wine industry is a little different. The per-drink tax doesn't affect them that much on the surface, but they run into problems when they ship wine out of state and are competing with other wines in other states."
Related:
South Dakota Family Policy Council Voter Guide
Project VoteSmart
Next time: Schwiesow discusses her longstanding passion for firearms and Second Amendment rights.
This year, three candidates will be running for the single seat. Incumbent Democrat Tom Katus was backed by "Republican" Stan Adelstein in 2006 after that year's incumbent Adelstein lost in the Republican primary to Elli Schwiesow. Though he supported Katus against his own party's nominee in 2006, Adelstein is running against Katus this year on the Republican ticket. Rather than face a tremendously expensive primary against the wealthy Adelstein, Schwiesow decided to run for the seat as an Independent this year.
Dakota Voice will be publishing a series of articles in the coming weeks examining Schwiesow's position on various issues.
Today she talks about taxes.
As a conservative, Schwiesow believes taxes should be as low as possible while providing the revenue to fund necessary government functions.
"Property taxes have risen in spite of the effort to reduce them," says Schwiesow. "I know my property taxes are back at the level they were previous to property tax reduction efforts. The city and county grows so it would seem the tax base would be growing too but there is still the need, we are told, to increase property taxes."
Schwiesow believes that whether it is city, county or state government, every line item in the budget should be reviewed to determine whether it is actually necessary, and at what level.
"Limited growth of government is the best way to limit or reduce taxes," she says.
Schwiesow says she is okay with sales taxes for the consumer in general, but has mixed sentiments on the food tax.
"Most items we purchase are discretionary, such as whether we want a newcoat, new shoes, etc.," Schwiesow says. "But food is a necessity. Since food is a necessity we require to live, taxing food is not a good idea."
One tax which Schwiesow believes is a good idea is the alcohol tax which was proposed earlier this year in the legislature.
Schwiesow says, "When it's broken down by drink, it doesn't make a huge impact on the consumer. Alcohol can cause a lot of detrimental behavior. Who pays for that? The taxpayers do.
"Drugs and alcohol problems affect something like 85% of those incarcerated in our jails and prisons."
According to Schwiesow, the specific revenue allocations in the bill proposed in the legislature this year seem fair. Those requirements specify what percentage of the alcohol tax revenue would go to counties, the 24/7 sobriety program, treatment programs and so on.
The proposed alcohol tax bill was killed in the legislature and proponents attempted to get it on the ballot through a petition. Due to lack of organization, that effort did not succeed.
"The alcohol lobby makes it difficult to pass something like this in the legislature," said Schwiesow. "They are one of the most powerful lobbies in the state.
"The wine industry is a little different. The per-drink tax doesn't affect them that much on the surface, but they run into problems when they ship wine out of state and are competing with other wines in other states."
Related:
South Dakota Family Policy Council Voter Guide
Project VoteSmart
Next time: Schwiesow discusses her longstanding passion for firearms and Second Amendment rights.
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