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Legislature Passes Repeal Of State’s So-called ‘Daschle Law’

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The Legislature has approved a measure to change the state’s so-called “Daschle law” that bars a presidential candidate from seeking another office on the same South Dakota ballot.

The Senate voted 24-9 Thursday to send a proposal to remove the prohibition to the governor.

The original Republican-backed measure in 2002 faced criticism from Democrats for targeting then-U.S. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle, who was considered a possible 2004 Democratic presidential candidate.

State Senate Majority Leader Tim Rave says the 2002 law is in the past. Rave says this plan would increase the state’s potential political influence.

Democrats had fought against the change this session. But Democratic Sen. Bernie Hunhoff says his caucus shifted positions to support the measure because he said both sides had played political games from the beginning.