Kristi Noem’s Record: Increasing Taxes for South Dakota’s Small Businesses

(October 29, 2010)-Throughout this campaign, Kristi Noem has claimed to be a small government politician who wants to reduce taxes, reduce the size of government and help out our small business employers.

And throughout this campaign, Kristi Noem has avoided giving specifics on her plans or evidence of tough choices she’s made while in Pierre.  Taking a closer look, it’s clear her rhetoric doesn’t stand up to her legislative record of increasing taxes and using stimulus dollars to balance the state budget.  Not to mention the millions in federal farm subsidies she accepted.

In just this term in Pierre, Kristi Noem introduced, sponsored, or voted for legislation to increase taxes on South Dakotans at least seven times.

• In 2010, Noem cosponsored SB 186, which increases taxes on small businesses to cover shortfalls in the state unemployment insurance fund.
• In 2009, she was the prime sponsor of HB 1217, which gives the Governor authority to raise taxes unilaterally by suspending tax exemptions – such as exemptions on churches, hospitals, doctors, clinics and prescription drugs.
• She was also the prime sponsor of HB 1218, which increases taxes by raising fees collected by any state department or agency by 2.5% per year since the last time they were raised.  
• She was also the prime sponsor of HB 1229, which increased the gross receipts tax on South Dakota’s tourism industry by 50%.
• She voted to increase vehicle license fees by 67% (HB 1007), and cosponsored another bill to raise license fees on vehicles older than 5 years by an additional 33% (SB 11).
• She cosponsored SB 116, which imposes a new gas tax for ethyl and methyl alcohol used in motor vehicles.

(When not raising taxes, Kristi Noem has spent her time in Pierre fighting to regulate acupuncturists and tanning beds.)

Raising taxes only accounts for one side of the ledger.  It’s clear that while Kristi Noem talks a big game about cutting spending, she isn’t shy about accepting the same federal subsidies she decries.

Noem’s Family Ranch Received Nearly $3 Million in Farm Subsidies.
From 1995-2006, Noem’s family ranch, Racota Valley Ranch, received nearly $3 million in federal farm subsidies. As of 2009, Noem’s stake in the ranch was 16.9 percent. She said her mother and brothers bought her out in 2009. [Argus Leader, 3/4/10]

Noem Received More Subsidies than Her Neighbors, Outpaced her Neighboring Farms by $2 Million.

According to the Environmental Working Group’s farm subsidies database, Noem’s farm received the most farm subsidies between 1995 and 2009 in her zip code. Her farm received $3,058,152.22 and beat out 127 other farms. The next closest farm received $1,130,087.10. [Environmental Working Group, Farm Subsidy Database, 7/6/10]

Noem’s Ranch in the One of the Top 20 Farms to Get the Most Subsidies in South Dakota. According to the Environmental Working Group’s farm subsidies database, Noem’s farm, the Racota Valley Ranch, received the 18th most subsidies between 1995 and 2009 in South Dakota. [Environmental Working Group, Farm Subsidy Database, 7/6/10]

###