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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO AM) - Democratic, legislative leaders in Pierre say their measure to increase average teacher pay to fifty-thousand dollars a year requires a full penny hike in the sales tax.
Representative Spence Hawley of Brookings says the measure is all about the students.
Hawley says the problem is that South Dakota need to have its students, its kids, prepared for the market by either going to college or the workforce.
Hawley says the Democrat's plan would not force a reduction in teachers. He says the governor's plan is a step in the right direction but it doesn't go far enough. He says it won't move South Dakota out of last place in the region in terms of teacher pay.
Senator Billie Sutton, the Senate Minority Leader, says by eliminating the tax on food hard-working families can more easily stretch their dollars. He says South Dakota is one of only five states that tax groceries.
The Democrats says their plan also calls for a lower student to teacher ratio, treating both big and small schools fairly.