By Todd Epp, South Dakota Broadcasters Association.
PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) — Local governments would not be able to implement a “universal basic” or guaranteed income to citizens under a bill passed by a Senate committee this morning (Monday).
SB115 passed 8 to 1 on a party-line vote.
The sponsor, Republican Sen. John Wiik from Big Stone City, said that universal basic income (UBI) takes money from working people and gives it to people who are then discouraged from working. He called it socialism.
Democratic Sen. Reynold Nesiba, an economist, asked Wiik if it was socialism when conservative economist Milton Friedman and Republican President Richard Nixon proposed the idea in the 1960s and 70s.
Wiik said that was a time when you could float ideas like guaranteed income and “not be judged by it.”
Nesiba also said he had yet to hear of any South Dakota local government looking into the idea.
Wiik testified that over 100 United States local governments have implemented or are investigating the concept.
The bill now goes to the Senate for further consideration.
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