When I was growing up, our family conversations around the dinner table often ended with, “You always have to trust the people.” This is one of the beliefs that led me to the Governor’s office and my desire to serve the people of North Dakota. I cut my political teeth on the 1989 tax referrals…
‘Trump Has Brought the Rural Voice Back Into Play’ Says Democratic-NPL Gubernatorial Candidate Shelley Lenz
Trump has brought the rural voice back into play,” Shelley Lenz told me on this episode of Plain Talk. Lenz is the Democratic-NPL candidate for governor, challenging Republican incumbent Doug Burgum, and while she clearly doesn’t like Trump overall, she is critical of her own party for not paying enough attention to the priorities of…
Plain Talk: Brandt Dick, Challenger for Superintendent, Says North Dakota ‘Going the Wrong Way’ on Test Scores
This episode of Plain Talk was intended to be a conversation with North Dakota’s candidates for superintendent. Sadly, the incumbent, Kirsten Baesler, opted not to participate, claiming she didn’t have enough time to make it work, though she did offer me a one-on-one interview later in the week. Go figure. The challenger, Brandt Dick, did…
Plain Talk: Instead of Communist China, How About We Invest Some Legacy Fund Dollars in North Dakota Businesses?
What are we going to do with the Legacy Fund, the pot of cash North Dakota has been collecting from oil tax revenues and investing? There are a lot of things we could do, and they generally fall into two broad categories. One is how the fund is invested, the other is what we do…
Plain Talk: Is Measure 2 a Good Idea or a Bad One?
Measure 2 is a constitutional amendment, put on the November ballot by the Legislature, which would change the initiated measure process for constitutional measures. Activists would still collect and file signatures the same way, but if a measure amending the constitution is passed by voters, it wouldn’t immediately be enacted. It would first go to…
Plain Talk: Burgum Says He Has to ‘Own the Miscue’ Rescinding Quarantine Order
“I have to own the miscue,” Gov. Doug Burgum said on this episode of Plain Talk. He was referring to a quarantine order issued by his administration earlier this week which carried with it a misdemeanor criminal charge for anyone who violated it. The order applied to people who came into close contact with someone…
Plain Talk: Democratic Legislative Candidates Talk About Campaigning in Rural North Dakota
Jodi Meisch and Will Thompson are two Democrats in North Dakota’s 22nd legislative district. They are hoping to unseat to Republican incumbents, Rep. Brandy Pyle and Rep. Michael Howe, who are just finishing their first term in office after fist being elected in 2016. I’m not sure the last time District 22 sent a Democrat…
Guest Post: Project Tundra Demonstrates ‘Can-Do’ Spirit
This guest post was submitted by Jason Bohrer, President and CEO of the Lignite Energy Council Not long ago, carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) was considered to be a moon shot. A technology with a lot of promise but a steep hill to climb. In fact, just this week, there have been questions raised…
Guest Post: The Economics of Coal Beat Wind Every Time
This guest post was submitted by Perrie Schafer, the CEO of Mandan-based Environmental Services, LTD. and a board member of the Lignite Energy Council. A few weeks ago, I was a panelist in an Energy Town Hall hosted by Scott Hennen at the Bismarck Event Center along with many elected officials and energy-industry leaders. …
Guest Post: North Dakota University Students Shouldn’t Go Home for Labor Day
This guest post was submitted by North Dakota University System Chancellor Mark Hagerott, State Board of Higher Education Chairman Nick Hacker, and SBHE student member Erica Solberg We are extremely impressed with our students, faculty and staff and how they have approached the start of the fall semester. Testing, face coverings, plexiglass shields, and social…