The 2007 U.S. energy bill mandated that a total of 15 billion gallons of renewable ethanol must be produced by 2015. Because of this, demand for corn has skyrocketed, and the impact of that market distortion has been felt across the crop markets. It’s not just corn prices that have soared, but as farmers have…
Has North Dakota's Economy Peaked?
Today the North Dakota House and Senate appropriations committees are holding a joint session to discuss the state’s new budget forecasts, so it’s timely that we discuss what’s happening with the state’s economy. After a couple of years of growth so rapid it overran housing supplies and infrastructure needs, the state’s growth seems to be…
Democrat Proposed Flaring Restriction Would Throw Monkey Wrench Into Oil Production
I don’t think anyone likes flaring, which is the burning off of natural gas from oil wells (right now 30% of the natural gas produced in the Bakken is flared). Environmentalists don’t like it because of the emissions. The oil companies and the capitalists don’t like it because natural gas is valuable, and if there’s…
Dorso Column: North Dakota Should Build The Keystone Pipeline
A review of North Dakota history would show that our legislature is at its best when it gives birth to some radical ideas. I am reminded of the establishment of the Bank of North Dakota, The State Mill and Elevator and state run workers compensation now known as WSI. Let’s try this one: If the…
Gallup: 54% Disapprove Of President Obama's Gun Policies
According to a Gallup poll released yesterday, Obama has something less than majority approval for his gun control platform: Meanwhile, Democrats are bringing the friends and family of shooting victims to the State of the Union speech. I wonder why Republicans don’t rebut that stunt by bringing people who survived shootings or robberies or other…
End Of The World: Maker's Mark To Water Down Its Bourbon
Many moons ago, I alerted a select group of Interweb Tube users to the onset of stealth inflation via the decreasing size or quality of products offered at the same price. There is a fancy-pants economic term for the this – hedonics – although I prefer less family-friendly terminology. Today comes word of a classic…
ND Senate Votes Unanimously To Re-Authorize Subsidies For Basket Weaving, Easter Egg Painting
A year ago I wrote about an email a reader sent me from the North Dakota Council on the Arts offering subsidies for people doing things like basket weaving and Easter egg decorations. I was, frankly, a little surprised that such activities were being subsidized by the taxpayers in this state, but apparently you can…
ND House Votes Down Two Year Income Tax Moratorium, Passes New Wind Subsidies
When I was in Bismarck last week visiting the legislature a Republican member of the House took me aside and told me that the Republican majority would be voting down a lot of tax relief proposals this week and wondered if I might curtail criticism until we see what kind of tax relief is left…
Video: North Dakota Oil Worker Awarded Medal Of Honor
I wrote last week about Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha, currently an oil worker in North Dakota’s Bakken formation, being awarded the Medal of Honor. Romesha is getting his award from President Obama today. You can watch the video here: JOIN THE LIVE CHAT VISIT WHITEHOUSE.GOV North Dakota’s congressional delegation also paid tribute to Romesha.…
One In Ten Doctors Expected To Stop Accepting Insurance
Doctors have been moving away from Medicaid for a while now thanks to the federal government implementing price controls which result in doctors operating non-existent profit margins. Now, with Obamacare representing a federal take over of private insurance, many doctors are moving toward cash-only operations that won’t accept insurance at all. Considering the looming doctor…