Social Host Bill Defeated In 5-4 Vote

Chair’s Note: In a seemingly partisan move, most Republican members of the Senate State Affairs committee voted against Democratic senator Larry Lucas’s “social hosting” bill. The bill aimed to make it illegal for parents to host parties where they would serve alcohol to minors. The non-partisan measure failed to make it out of committee by one vote. All too often this is what happens in Pierre.  A bill is based, not on its merits, but on its sponsor.  This is why two party government is imperative for South Dakota.