PIERRE, S.D. (KELO) -- Streamers of colorful paper-doll cutouts draped the four sides of the rotunda at the South Dakota Capitol on Tuesday.

4,321 of them, to be exact -- one for each South Dakota child whose household saw a 10% cut from state government's Temporary Assistance to Need Families program last month.

South Dakota Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff proposed the cut in June.

And on a 4-2 vote, the Legislature's Rules Review Committee in July allowed it to go forward.

DSS data showed 2,431 families received TANF payments in August averaging $512.29.

In September, the average monthly payment went down $51.

Two retired South Dakotans from Sioux Falls led the silent protest on Tuesday.

Cathy Brechtelsbauer is a volunteer organizer for the South Dakota chapte

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