To the Editor:
As a conservative Independent, I am proud to be from a state that has a robust referendum and initiative process. But there are some in Pierre who don’t like sharing power with the voters.
Amendment W is a new anti-corruption measure that will ban lobbyist gifts, hold politicians accountable and, at its core, protect our initiative and referendum rights.
‘Didn’t we already vote on this and didn’t the legislature undo it?’ Yes.

In 2016, we voted to clean up corruption in Pierre with strong ethics laws. But politicians declared an emergency and repealed them. Many of their proposed “replacements” were directly opposed to the original intent of the voters. For instance, the ethics watchdog we created became a board that ONLY oversaw the executive branch and consisted solely of members appointed by the chief executive!
Amendment W is our opportunity to make clear that we really DO want transparency, limits on lobbying gifts, and true ethics oversight. Further, Amendment W states that if politicians want to undo a measure passed by the voters in the future, they have to send it back to us for the final say.
South Dakota is a Representative Constitutional Republic, but 120 years ago we realized we also need a means of direct democracy.
In 2018, we have a chance to renew our commitment to direct democracy. Please vote “Yes” on Amendment W for “We, the People.”
Sharon Gray
Vermillion