SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) – South Dakota voters approved all three issues on Tuesday’s statewide ballot – bringing an increase to the state’s minimum wage, changes to health insurance provisions and likely expansion of gambling options in some state casinos.
Individuals earning minimum wage will see a $1.25-an-hour bump in their paychecks to $8.50 starting in January as a result of the approved Initiated Measure 18. The Democratic- and union-backed proposal also will increase the $2.13 hourly tip wage to half the minimum wage and tie future increases to the cost of living.
The increase would represent about $50 additional per week for a full-time worker. The federal minimum wage was last increased in 2009.
Jim Plut, a 66-year-old Belle Fourche resident, said he is “pretty far right of center,” but voted to increase the minimum wage.
“It’s only right. They just don’t get paid enough,” Plut said Sunday morning as he finished up his weekly post-church breakfast with friends.
Voters also approved Initiated Measure 17, which gives patients more leeway on selecting doctors within their health insurance networks. Doctors who agree to the conditions set forth by insurers, including payments for services provided to patients, could join the insurer’s preferred provider list. Preferred providers, also known as in-network, usually are less expensive than those outside of a network.
Well-funded supporters spent more than $560,000 in advertising to convey to voters that their proposal could provide the state’s patients more freedom to choose their doctor.
“If I have to go to a horse doctor because my insurance tells me to, that’s not right,” said Patricia McEntee, 65, of Sioux Falls.
Opponents had argued that the measure will neither provide more choice nor reduce costs.
The third proposal, Amendment Q, approved by voters gives the Legislature the authority to add roulette, keno and craps to Deadwood’s casinos and, under a federal law, tribal casinos. Deadwood casinos currently offer slot machines, poker and blackjack.
Supporters said the new games could help revitalize Deadwood, where casinos have seen stagnant revenues in recent years, in part because of new casinos in Iowa and Colorado.
Larry Groll, a 65-year-old transplant from El Cajone, California, said Sunday that he voted early in favor of allowing more games. The retired police sergeant who moved to the historic town eight years ago, said other gambling towns like Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada, already have similar games and said it makes sense for Deadwood to have the same.
Opponents, however, argued that the additional games could bolster the negative effects of gambling, such as increased crime, suicides, addictions and divorce.
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Associated Press writers Kevin Burbach in Deadwood and James Nord contributed to this report.
Copyright 2014 The Associated Press.
