Dakotas Promise bill hits roadblock

PIERRE, S.D. (WNAX) – While the bill setting up the “Dakotas Promise” scholarship program is not dead, it did hit a roadblock.

The House Appropriations Committee voted eight to one to table the proposal.

It would have been the first state supported needs-based scholarship program, funded both by the state and the universities.

Representative Taffy Howard of Rapid City says there are a number of scholarships already available.

Representative Doug Post of Brookings was concerned about the ongoing costs.

Representative Michael Saba (say-ba) of Hartford, who opposed the table motion, says the legislature does not value education.

The original bill called for the state to put one million dollars in the scholarship fund, but that had been amended out when it passed the Senate.