SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Debate was just getting started Thursday on legislation that would repeal Initiated Measure 22 when Senate leaders used a maneuver to delay action on the bill until Wednesday.
Republican Senator Arthur Rusch of Vermillion says he's not sure why debate ended.
Rusch says he thinks maybe legislative leaders were concerned about "the anger, if you will, about this speeding through and that they thought, well, let's give people a little more time to look at that."
Much of the opposition to repeal is centered in the emergency clause on the bill and Rusch says there's good reason to add that.
He says as of right now South Dakota has no law and the emergency would put in the replacement bills. And he says legislators can't amend and replace it (IM22) until they know for sure that it's gone.
Rusch says legislators can't wait for the case to make it's way through the Supreme Court.
He says the state can't wait two years for this kind of anger to continue. He thinks a resolution is the desired outcome.
House bill 1069 would repeal most of I-M 22.