PIERRE, S.D. (SDBA) – Democratic legislative leaders say Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is to blame for failing to pass her campaign promise to take the sales tax off food.

They say the lack of gubernatorial news conferences to sell her plan to the public and her failure to engage legislators before the vote led to the defeat.

The House Appropriations Committee defeated HB 1075, 8 to 1 Tuesday, sending it to the 41st Legislative Day.

Democratic House Minority Leader Erin Healy from Sioux Falls.

Republican leaders said it is because of Gov. Noem’s prudent budgeting and leadership that legislators can consider historic tax cuts, such as reducing the state sales tax from 4.5 to 4.2 percent.

Also, a governor being rebuffed by their party is not unusual.

Republican Senate President Pro Tem Lee Schoenbeck (show-in-bek) from Watertown.

The Democratic and Republican leadership held their weekly news conferences Thursday.

SDBA News has sent a request for comment to the Governor’s Office and is awaiting a response.