On this episode of the Plain Talk Podcast I interviewed Rep. Kelly Armstrong. Recently Armstrong threw a Twitter jab at media darling Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York), but said before all that he had a very nice conversation with her on a bus during orientation. He said they talked for about “15 minutes” mostly about…
Print Column: North Dakota Is Just Months Away From Having No Full-Time Federal Judges
Minot, N.D. — This is an appropriate time, here in the middle of the longest government shutdown in American history, to talk about government dysfunction. Our political leaders can’t get their work done, and while the politicians and their surrogates are all busy throwing pies at one another over who is to blame for that,…
Plain Talk Podcast: Government Shutdown, “Abortion Reversal” Bill, and Civil Asset Forfeiture With Rep. Rick Becker
On episode 3 of the Plain Talk Podcast I talked about the longest government shutdown in American history, which I blame on the bloated federal government. The states should do more, and the intransigent politicians in Washington D.C. should do less. I also comment on “abortion reversal” legislation proposed in Bismarck for the 2019 session,…
Raheem Williams: Dear Rep. Pam Anderson, Our Schools Are Extraordinarily Safe
This guest post was submitted by Raheem Williams, the policy director for the North Dakota Young Republicans. Recently Democratic Rep. Pam Anderson was quoted in the Forum saying, “My American dream is that my grandkids don’t get shot in school.” Well, thanks to sensationalist media, most of our friends on the left are severely misinformed…
Plain Talk Podcast: Sealing Criminal Records, Blue Laws, Measure 1, and Why Initiated Measures Make for Bad Policy
Are initiated measures a good way to make public policy? I don’t think so, and I talk about it in this episode of the Plain Talk podcast. Measure 1 – a constitutional amendment approved by voters in the 2018 election – is one reason why many, like me, feel that way. Also Rep. Shannon Roers…
Plain Talk Podcast: Burgum Opposes Using Legacy Fund Earnings to Replace Income Tax, Talks About Frosty Relationship With State Lawmakers
Governor Doug Burgum was kind enough to be my guest for the first episode of my podcast, Plain Talk. I asked him about what some have described as a frosty relationship between his administration and the Legislature, and he down played it. “We’ve got 141 members in the Legislature, he told me. “The frost advisory…
Rick Olson: If We Can’t Eliminate North Dakota’s Pharmacy Ownership Law, How About Modifying It?
This guest post was submitted by Clarence “Rick” Olson, of Fargo, an occasional contributor to the Say Anything Blog. E-mail rickolson@midco.net. I write this column as a concerned North Dakota resident. I have been studying the unique pharmacy ownership law of this state for many years. For the record, I am representing no one but…
Print Column: Using the Legacy Fund to Eliminate Income Taxes Is an Idea Worthy of Debate
MINOT, N.D. — I’d very much like to live without income taxes. That’s not just a personal desire. One of the biggest challenges to stability and prosperity here are labor shortages and an economy too dependent on commodity-driven industries. Agriculture and energy are great, but it’s a challenge to ride those ups and downs. Eliminating…
Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner: Reserve Officers Are Being Used Appropriately
This guest post was submitted by Cass County Sheriff Jesse Jahner. On January 3rd 2019 there was an article written in reference to law enforcement agencies routinely using unlicensed, unregulated officers for law enforcement purposes. In that article, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office is referenced. As the newly elected Cass County Sheriff, I feel that…
Print Column: We Need to Legalize Marijuana, Not Merely Decriminalize It
MINOT, N.D. – Last year a ballot measure to legalize marijuana in North Dakota failed at the ballot box. Despite this outcome, many of our state’s politicians recognize there is a need, and an appetite among voters, for some further loosening of our state’s laws with regard to marijuana. Enter state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones,…