South Dakota Searchlight-Makenzie Huber
In a moment of solidarity Tuesday at the Capitol in Pierre, South Dakota’s House of Representatives unanimously voted against former Gov. Kristi Noem’s proposal to eliminate funding for veteran burials in private cemeteries.
Rep. Terri Jorgenson, R-Rapid City, previously endorsed the legislation in the House Appropriations Committee because there are other funding options available for veterans buried in public veterans’ cemeteries.
The state program provides a $100 stipend to veterans and their families to etch the veteran’s military information on the back of a privately purchased headstone and another $200 stipend for the cost of the setting, Jorgenson said.
Jorgenson said South Dakota families also have access to two public veteran cemeteries in the state that cover all costs of burial and upkeep. The federal government provides some additional support, depending on the circumstances of the veteran’s death.
The committee unanimously supported House Bill 1038 earlier this week. Jorgenson was tasked with carrying the bill on the House floor.
“I drew the short straw,” she said.
What seemed like an acceptable idea at the committee level met staunch resistance in the House, including from Rep. Jeff Bathke, R-Mitchell.
“I’m embarrassed today that we have to sit on this floor and actually defend $52,000 of over a $7 billion budget to help bury our veterans,” Bathke said.
Lawmakers are facing numerous potential budget cuts this legislative session, due in part to lower-than-anticipated sales tax revenues and rising Medicaid expenses. HB 1038 was one of many cuts proposed by Noem’s administration, most of which are still pending. Noem has since departed to become secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Jorgenson, who is a veteran herself, told lawmakers in her closing remarks she was considering voting against the bill because of what she heard during the debate.
“I’m going to be kicked off of appropriations,” Jorgenson joked.
The chamber ultimately voted unanimously to kill the bill, though two members of the budgeting committee (Reps. Mike Derby, R-Rapid City, and Al Novstrup, R-Aberdeen) initially held true to the committee’s recommendation with yes votes before changing their votes to no.