MINOT, N.D.—The Shirky Principle, named for technology writer Clay Shirky, holds that institutions will try to preserve the problem to which they are the solution. We could adapt the saying for politics by arguing politicians do not want to solve problems which are politically advantageous to them. It is through that lens we should see…
Podcast: Majority Leader Al Carlson Talks Infrastructure Spending, and a Discussion About How Men Can Be Victims Too
House Majority Leader Al Carlson joined me on air today to talk about the infrastructure spending program he and other Republicans announced this week. Carlson has come under attack from Democrats for the timing of the announcement, because I guess politicians aren’t supposed to campaign on ideas? It’s the silly season, folks. Also Chris Johnson…
Podcast: Prosecutor Says Legalizing Marijuana Wouldn’t Be Such a Bad Thing
On the radio show today I spoke with Brian Johnson. He works as an assistant state’s attorney in Burleigh County, and he’s currently campaigning to get elected as state’s attorney. I had him on because he recently retweeted a post of mine on Twitter about recreational marijuana, arguing that it “wouldn’t be the end of…
Print Column: Hollywood’s Celebrity Activists Just Bought Their Way Onto ND’s Statewide Ballot
Amid a cloud of smug self righteousness a group calling themselves the North Dakotans for Public Integrity announced this week that their constitutional measure was approved for the November ballot. After spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to circulate their petitions using paid signature collectors they were, not surprisingly, able to collect about 10,000 more…
Christopher Dodson: Governor Doug Burgum Has Yet to Support Policy Changes Restricting Use of State Funds for Abortion Referrals
This guest post was submitted by Christopher Dodson. He is the executive director and general counsel of the North Dakota Catholic Conference. On May 22, 2018, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) proposed revisions to the Title X family planning program. These changes will allow North Dakota agencies to follow long-standing state law…
Print Column: Bank of North Dakota Should Explore the Marijuana Business
MINOT, N.D.—In 2016 North Dakota voters invited the marijuana industry into the state when nearly 64 percent of them voted for a ballot measure creating a framework for legal access to medical marijuana. Voters will likely get a chance to expand on the liberalization of state marijuana laws in November, assuming the secretary of state’s…
Senator Oley Larsen: Dental Therapy Is Working in Minnesota, Why Not North Dakota?
This guest post was submitted by state Senator Oley Larsen, a Republican representing District 3 in Minot. I recently had the chance to visit with University of Minnesota faculty and tour dental businesses in our neighboring state that are teaching dental therapy and using dental therapists. And to be brief, it’s working! This free market…
Print Column: Foolish Environmental Activists Say They’ll Make Minnesota’s Line 3 Another #NoDAPL Moment
MINOT, N.D.—Minnesota regulators have given Canadian company Enbridge approval to go forward with replacing their Line 3 pipeline. That line was originally constructed in the 1960s but in recent years has needed constant maintenance to keep it in good working order. It needs replacement to cut down on the amount of digging and construction along…
Podcast: Heitkamp Uses Trump Supporter in Ad, Tony Gehrig Talks Fargo City Hall Costs, Earl Pomeroy Calls Out Attorney General Stenehjem
On today’s radio show we talked about Senator Heidi Heitkamp’s new campaign ad in which she uses a man who claims to have voted for Donald Trump to defend her record on border security. Fargo City Commissioner Tony Gehrig talks about the city hall project going roughly 33 percent over budget. Former Congressman Earl Pomeroy…
Parents: We Oppose Revocation of Our Daycare’s License
This letter, submitted for publication by the signatories including every parent with a child at Curious Kids Childcare, oppose the state’s removal of that business’ child care license. A PDF of their letter, including their signatures, is below. We, the parents of children attending Curious Kids Childcare, are at odds with the State’s decision to…