SD Democrats know families and communities must thrive together — and that’s why they support rural health care
Democrats are the family-first party because we understand something fundamental: families can’t thrive unless their communities do. That’s especially true in rural South Dakota.
We are working to protect and strengthen rural health care. We’re glad to see the Rural Health Transformation funding process moving forward in the House, particularly because it requires collaboration with Tribal Nations. Rural health care only works when everyone has a seat at the table.
At the same time, we were proud to help defeat HJR 5002. This resolution would have repealed Medicaid expansion, a program South Dakota voters approved just four years ago to strengthen rural hospitals, stabilize providers, and help working families access care. Killing HJR 5002 was a big win for health care access and for honoring the will of the people.
Democrats also helped stop a bill that would have banned paid petition circulators. The proposal was unconstitutional and would have cost significant taxpayer money in court challenges. At a time when our state is already short on revenue, wasting dollars to chip away at constitutional amendments and initiated measures doesn’t help South Dakotans.
What’s especially troubling is that many of the same Republican lawmakers pushing this legislation consistently oppose investments that actually strengthen our communities. We should be making sure families are well fed, people can access health insurance, that kids receive a quality education, and working South Dakotans can get ahead. Democrats believe in investing in people, not undermining voters’ rights or diverting scarce resources away from the real needs of our state.
There was also meaningful progress for kids and families this week. Representative Kadyn Wittman’s bill to cover reduced-price school meals moved forward, helping ensure students don’t go hungry at school simply because their families earn just a little too much to qualify for free meals. This bill recognizes a simple reality: kids learn better when they’re fed, and supporting students at school is one of the smartest investments we can make in our future workforce and communities.
We care about kids. We care about families. We believe compassion and fiscal responsibility go hand in hand. We will keep fighting for policies that strengthen communities, respect voters, and put South Dakotans, not politics, first.
Erin Healy of Sioux Falls represents District 10 and is the Democratic minority leader for the House of Representatives. Healy sits on House State Affairs Committee.
Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons
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