Veto of transgender bill is 'final straw' for some conservative lawmakers

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Some Republican lawmakers don't plan to seek re-election after leaving the 2016 legislative session, which yielded disappointing outcomes for a faction of conservative legislators.

The Argus Leader reports that several conservatives cited frustration regarding a sales tax hike for teacher pay and Republican Gov. Dennis Daugaard's veto of a transgender bathroom bill as part of not wanting to return.

Not planning to run again, Republican Sen. David Omdahl criticized the "dictatorial" leadership of Daugaard and the Senate. He says Daugaard's veto of the transgender measure was the "final straw."

The bill would have required transgender students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their sex at birth.

Outgoing GOP Sen. Bill Van Gerpen had similar concerns. He says putting them all together was "just too much to take."

Information from: Argus Leader, http://www.argusleader.com

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.