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Opposition to these policies comes from state representativesA wide opposition has formed among citizens, citizenseditorial boards, and academics from both sides politicians that touts these policies "don't have the best interests of South Dakotans in mind." <ref>[http://www.sddp.org/new-ad-deb-peters-put-conservative-organization-ahead-of the spectrum-south-dakota-taxpayers/ Deb Peters Put Conservative Organization ahead of South Dakota taxpayers], South Dakota Democratic Party. </ref> Just two hours after these policies were adopted by the Legislative Executive Board, Bernie Hunhoff (D-Yankton) spoke out against using taxpayer money, characterizing ALEC as "extremist."<ref>Bob Mercer, [http://www.capjournal.com/news/conservative-group-s-dues-will-be-covered-by-sd-treasury/article_757305fa-ac95-11e2-b71e-001a4bcf887a.html Conservative Group Dues will be Covered by South Dakota Treasury], ''Capitol Journal'', April 26, 2013.</ref>
==2013 South Dakota Legislature Uses Taxpayer Dollars to Fund ALEC Membership==
On April 23, 2013, the South Dakota Legislature's Executive Board, lead by Ryan Maher (R-Isabel), adopted two policies in a 10-4 vote that allow the Legislature to use taxpayer dollars for costs associated with participation in the [[American Legislative Exchange Council]]. <ref name="Who's Paying for Republicans at ALEC Convention this Weekend?">[http://www.sddp.org/2013/05/whos-paying-for-republicans-at-alec-convention-this-weekend/ Who's Paying for Republicans at ALEC Convention this Weekend?], Press Release, ''South Dakota Democratic Party'', May 3, 2013.</ref> First, the Executive Board voted to pay membership fees of $100 per Legislator for each of the 105 South Dakota Legislators to be members of American Legislative Exchange Council, coming to a total of $10,500 of taxpayer money.<ref name="State Should Not Pay Lawmakers' Dues to ALEC">[http://www.aberdeennews.com/opinion/aan-our-voice-state-should-not-pay-lawmakers-dues-to-alec-20130427,0,7553155.story?track=rss&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter Our Voice: Sate Should Not Pay Lawmakers' Dues to ALEC], American News Editorial Board, ''Aberdeen News'', April 27, 2013.</ref> Next, the Executive Board expanded the eligible travel fund reimbursement options to include travel to out-of-state ALEC meetings and events. Some claim that this expansion of the travel policy was conveniently rushed to the floor to accommodate the 9 Republican legislators who attended the ALEC Spring Task Force meeting in Oklahoma City on May 3-4 (rather than waiting for the appropriate budget timing on July 1.) <ref name="Spending Your Tax Dollars on Partisan ALEC Meetings">[http://madvilletimes.com/2013/05/online-petitions-protest-spending-your-tax-dollars-on-partisan-alec-meetings/ Spending your Tax Dollars on Partisan ALEC Meetings], South Dakota,''Madville Times'', May 14,2013.</ref>
South Dakota's Democratic Party purchased ads in the Brookings Register with over 160 citizen signatures opposing the policies. <ref>[http://madvilletimes.com/2013/05/citizens-protest-legislatures-use-of-tax-dollars-for-alec-dues/ Citizens Protest use of Tax Dollars for ALEC Dues ], South Dakota, ''Madville Times'', May 23, 2013.</ref> In addition, the Democratic Party created an ad with Senator Deb Peter's photo, identifying her as the chair for the South Dakota Senate Appropriations and the ALEC Chair for South Dakota legislators.<ref>[http://www.sddp.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Deb-Peters-and-ALEC-full.pdf Meet Senator Deb Peters] South Dakota Democratic Party.</ref>
Republican Representatives also disapprove of using taxpayer dollars to fund ALEC associated costs. Rep. Stace Nelson (R-Fulton), who opposes the new policies, joined ALEC as a first year representative in SD, but cancelled his membership, recognizing the corporate special interest influences.<ref name="Nelson and Shoenbeck say No">[http://madvilletimes.com/2013/04/nelson-schoenbeck-say-no-to-taxpayer-funding-of-alec-dues/ Nelson and Schoenbeck Say No to Taxpayer Funding of ALEC Dues], South Dakota, ''Madville Times'', April 24, 2013.</ref> Former Senator Lee Schoenbeck (R-Watertown) voiced his disapproval by discouraging legislators from attending ALEC's "brainwashing conventions." Additionally, former SD Republican Chairman, Joel Rosenthal, posed the question "Why would those that believe and espouse a smaller government want to have the State pay for their non-governmental partisan activity?"<ref>Joel Rosenthal, [http://southdakotastraighttalk.blogspot.com/2013/05/get-real.html?utm_source=feedly Get Real], ''Straight Talk Blog'', May 29, 2013.</ref>
More public opposition was posted in the Argus Reader and quoted by the SD Democratic Party.<ref>[http://www.sddp.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/photo.jpg Screen Shot of Argus Reader Citizen Voices], South Dakota Democratic Party, May 19, 2013.</ref> Ryan Gruber, a former Republican Legislative staffer from Wisconsin, characterized ALEC's process of proposing model legislation as a "middleman that wipes the fingerprints off the murder weapon."<ref name="Citizens Oppose Taxpayer Subsidies for ALEC">[http://www.sddp.org/2013/05/no-taxpayer-subsidies-for-alec/ Citizens Oppose Taxpayer Subsidies for ALEC], South Dakota Democratic Party, May 19, 2013.</ref> Robert Burns, a professor of Political Science, called the policy decisions "highly questionable and clearly a partisan use of public money."<ref name="Citizens Oppose Taxpayer Subsidies for ALEC"></ref>
