Through Oil Taxes and Flags, ND Legislature Continues To Show Little Respect for Tribal Neighbors

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Two bills have been acted upon this week that show the Legislature has very little concern for our Tribal relations. One, a change to oil taxes that lowers the tax rate again. The other, allowing our state to respectfully recognize the Tribes within our borders by displaying their flags in the Capitol. One passed the […]

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ND House Defeats Tax on Senior Citizens

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Today the North Dakota House of Representatives defeated HB 1130. You may recall first reading about the proposal to “assess a fee” which was really a tax increase for private pay nursing home residents here on ND xPlains. The tax was included in former Governor Jack Dalrymple’s budget, and current Governor Doug Burgum supported the tax increase […]

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Legislators Continue to Shelter Themselves from Budget Shortfall Sacrifices

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This morning we learned from Senator Tim Mathern the Legislature has decided against Governor Burgum’s recommendation of requiring state employees to pay 5% of their health insurance premium. Though things can change before the end of the session, I doubt the insurance changes will become law. Why? Because it is the Legislature’s insurance benefit also. […]

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ND House Defeats Blue Law Change Because Wives Spend Too Much And Should Bring Husbands Breakfast In Bed

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Yesterday the North Dakota House of Representatives voted against removing North Dakota’s ‘blue laws’ that prevent businesses from opening before noon on Sunday. The bipartisan change in HB 1163, introduced by Democratic-NPL Representative Pam Anderson, would have allowed businesses to decide when to open their doors. In North Dakota, we pride ourselves on limited government […]

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NDFB President Lacks Consistency

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This morning an article by Nick Smith of the Bismarck Tribune caught my attention. The headline read, “State Treasurer Defends Her Agency Before Lawmakers.” As you may know, a bipartisan resolution has been introduced in the legislature to eliminate the Treasurer’s office. The resolution follows Senator Tim Mathern’s 2016 campaign for Treasurer on the platform […]

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