Congressman Kevin Cramer joined my radio show today for his weekly open phones segment, and I asked him about his opponent Senator Heidi Heitkamp telling the Bismarck Tribune about what she described as “Cramer’s unwillingness to schedule debates, including a nationally televised Fox News debate.” Cramer talks about about his accessibility to the public, and rightfully…
The Public Deserves Details About the Cost of Governor Burgum’s Security
For a while now there has been a lot of hot gossip in North Dakota’s capitol building about Governor Doug Burgum’s travel expenses and his security expenses. The rumors hold that Burgum has traveled excessively and often has an excessive security detail in tow. State Auditor Josh Gallion, to his credit, took a look at…
Print Column: Shouldn’t the Law Be Legal?
MINOT, N.D. — As we approach the home stretch of the 2018 campaigns North Dakota’s Democrats are trying to make a campaign issue out of a lawsuit challenging the legality of Obamacare. Former Congressman Earl Pomeroy, not to mention his former employee U.S. House candidate Mac Schneider, have been all but accusing Republicans of wanting…
Podcast: More Civil Asset Forfeiture in North Dakota
On the radio show today I talked about that story out of Jamestown where the sheriff’s department flubbed another drug case, but decided to keep the property seized from the accused anyway despite the criminal charges getting dismissed. I was also joined by Superintendent Kirsten Baesler who spoke about a series of public forums coming…
North Dakota Deputy Flubs Another Big Drug Bust, but Cops Considering Keeping Seized Property Anyway
Last month I wrote about a drug case out of Stutsman County where a massive amount of seized drugs were suppressed as evidence because the traffic stop made by Deputy Matt Thom was unconstitutional. The smack down delivered to the deputy by Judge Jay Schmitz in his order suppressing the evidence was, in a word,…
What Happens if the Ethanol Bubble Pops?
I’m not sure many people in the general public realize just how much of farming today is in service of the ethanol industry. I got to thinking about this thanks to a recent (and fascinating) article from Bloomberg about land use in the United States of America. The representation of land dedicated to ethanol caught…
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Changes Policy on Use of Armed Personnel After Complaints at Cramer Town Hall
At a recent town hall event a number of people stood to complain about being intimidated by armed federal agents who come to discuss conservation easements on their property. Here’s a short video, sent out today in a press release from Congressman Kevin Cramer’s office, showing farmers and representatives of farming interests speaking about the…
Podcast: Shouldn’t the Law Be Legal?
On the radio show today U.S. House candidate Mac Schneider joined me for a little debate about North Dakota’s lawsuit challenging the legality of Obamacare. Schneider thinks it’s a bad idea because, if successful, the law would end things like the mandate that insurance companies provide coverage despite pre-existing conditions. But if the lawsuit is…
We Definitely Should Not Use the Legacy Fund for an Alaska-Style Permanent Dividend
My Sunday print column was about North Dakota’s Legacy Fund, a constitutional amendment initiated by the Legislature and approved by the voters which diverts a hefty chunk of oil tax revenues into a fund which now holds billions of dollars for which there is no defined public purpose. In my column I argue that it’s…
Heidi Heitkamp’s Allies Say Kevin Cramer “Sold Out North Dakota” by Supporting Policy Reforms Heitkamp Also Voted For
Over the weekend my colleague John Hageman wrote an article about the third party attack ads which are flooding North Dakota’s Senate race now, something which will be the case until November. Supposedly these ads are run by committees independent of the candidates, though in practice there isn’t always a whole lot of independence. Case…