North Dakota Land Commissioner Jodi Smith recently revealed that $137 million was shorted from two constitutional funds dedicated to the state’s public schools. Days later, State Engineer Garland Erbele told a Senate committee that a third constitutional fund, the resources trust fund that benefits water projects, was also shorted $125 million. $262 million mandated by the […]
President Trump’s proposed $4.75 trillion budget doesn’t have places like North Dakota in mind. Desired cuts to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) including changes to the premium subsidy for crop insurance, cuts to the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Education, and “safety net” cuts should alarm North Dakota residents. Are these priorities what […]
How dare you, North Dakota voters. What was it you were thinking when you voted to create an ethics commission and provide additional transparency on lawmakers after they explicitly and repeatedly rejected it themselves? Better yet, why did you force good government into the North Dakota Constitution of all places? This cannot go without immediate and […]
On Friday, Senator Kevin Cramer said he had “concerns” about the “unnecessary” national emergency declaration from President Trump regarding the border wall. On Monday, Cramer told Fox Business he happens to “like the policy” and would vote against the resolution to block Trump’s emergency declaration that will likely pass the Senate. Loyalty to Trump above […]
The Republican-led Legislature continues to push anti-voter changes to the citizen-led constitutional measure process. Their latest attempt would double the amount of required signatures needed to be placed on the ballot. It would also increase the approval threshold to 60% instead of a “majority” as required in current law. The Legislature doesn’t like recent outcomes […]
President Trump’s former personal attorney, “fixer,” and Deputy Finance Chair for the National Republican Committee (RNC), Michael Cohen testified before the House Oversight Committee on February 27th. Cohen, who is about to go to prison for tax fraud, unlawful corporate contributions, and lying to Congress sat before the committee with receipts in hand for the […]
In the 2018 midterm, North Dakota and South Dakota elected two new Representatives to Congress. Both won as Republicans. South Dakota’s margin of victory was 61-35. North Dakota’s 60-35. Both serve At-Large representing their entire state. Yet, the February 26th vote on whether Congress approves President Trump’s declared national emergency on the southern border shows […]
The North Dakota Legislature has declared February 25th, 2019 as “Bank of North Dakota Day.” The resolution, sponsored by legislative leaders in both chambers and from both parties is to congratulate the BND on its 100th year. It passed the House on February 19th following near unanimous support in the Senate. Yet, on that same […]
Elected leaders in Bismarck claim “confusion” from voters make changes necessary when it comes to ballot measures. Because of that “confusion” our State Constitution has become “vulnerable” according to State Senators. Therefore, they continue to approve changes to the constitutional measure process to “make sure that voters are educated” when they get to the ballot […]
What I’ve described as the most blatant, arrogant attempt by legislators to create additional barriers to voters’ power at the ballot box passed the ND Senate 31-16 on Presidents’ Day. Final passage in the Senate came after a unanimous 7-0 DO NOT PASS recommendation from the Government and Veterans Affairs committee. The resolution now heads […]