Letter to Mr. Speaker and Members of the House

Letter

March 23, 2010

The Honorable Timothy Rave
Speaker of the House of Representatives
500 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501-5070

Dear Mr. Speaker and Members of the House:

I herewith return House Bill 1240 and veto the same.

House Bill 1240 is an Act to create the South Dakota need-based grant fund, to provide for the awarding of certain need-based grants, and to repeal provisions relating to tuition equalization grants.

The effect of this bill is to create a need-based scholarship program for students attending post secondary education programs within South Dakota. While the goals of this bill are laudable, the bill provides no funding. Passage would create the false promise of a program when no program exists. In fact, as I write this message, there are those who are advocating less then full funding for the broad-based Opportunity Scholarship. I believe we must assure that our commitments to the Opportunity Scholarship and the students who benefit from that program are fulfilled before considering any new scholarship program.

I respectfully request you concur with my action.

Respectfully submitted,

M. Michael Rounds
Governor

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