       South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was the clear winner Monday when the Legislature met for the final day of the session and failed to override any of her four vetoes issued this year.
Backers didn’t even try to override the February veto of a bill raising the dollar level at which the state can deduct child support from lottery winnings while the other 3 failed to get the 2/3rd majority needed from both chambers.
All 3 vetoes had been issued on Friday – one to a bill giving lawmakers more control over spending federal stimulus aid, one allowing pregnant minors to get medical care without their parents’ permission in some cases, and one removing old marijuana charges from criminal background checks.
The Senate didn’t override Senate Bill 151, the marijuana background proposal, while the House didn’t override House Bills 1281 and 1223, the stimulus and medical care measures.
The stimulus bill had passed both chambers with more than 2/3rds majority, but Noem won over enough members of the House to stop the override attempt without going to the Senate.