[JURIST] South Dakota lawmakers on Thursday repealed an anti-corruption measure [IM 22 text] that was approved by voter referendum in November. According to Yes22 [advocacy website], the organization which helped mobilize voter support for the referendum, IM 22 aimed to “improve transparency and accountability rules for lobbyists and big money interests.” Shortly after repealing IM 22 by signing House Bill 1069 [text], Governor Dennis Daugaard [official website] stated [CNN report] that the “emergency” repeal was necessary because the public was “hoodwinked” into voting for the referendum’s passage.

The IM 22 repeal measure was passed [Huffington Post report] by a 54-13 margin in the state House of Representatives and 27-8 in the state Senate with only two Republicans voting alongside the six Democratic state senators. Before House Bill 1069 was approved, the law was already enjoined from taking effect because voter-initiated laws are barred from appropriating money. The law was scheduled to go before the Supreme Court before it was repealed. Many Republicans criticized the need for an emergency repeal, stating that the law was already enjoined and the Supreme Court should have had a chance to rule on it.