How has Senator Heidi Heitkamp managed to be the only Democrat elected on North Dakota’s statewide ballot since 2008? She invests a lot of time and energy posturing herself as a moderate who frequently dissents against the liberal orthodoxy of her fellow Democrats. A the policy area where she most often does this is energy,…
The Dakota Access Pipeline Company Shouldn’t Have Given the State of North Dakota a Dime
“Dakota Access Pipeline LLC has donated $15 million to the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (DES) to help retire debt incurred by the state as a result of its response to the Dakota Access Pipeline protests,” Governor Doug Burgum announced in a press release which just dropped in my inbox. “We are grateful for…
Governor Burgum May Be Salty About It, but Lawmakers Are Right to Sue Over Vetoes
State lawmakers announced today that they’ll be filing a lawsuit challenging some of the vetoes issued by Governor Doug Burgum targeting bills they passed during their session earlier this year. We knew this was coming. Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner told me back in June that lawmakers needed just one more vote to move forward…
Chancellor Hagerott Blames Republican Politics for His Problems, but That Doesn’t Pass the Smell Test
Last week Chancellor Mark Hagerott was stung by the revelation of an unflattering performance review from 2016 – one alleging gender bias and inappropriate behavior – as well as an accusation claiming fired Vice Chancellor Lisa Feldner to make room in his budget to hire a former colleague of his from the Navy. This week…
Governor Doug Burgum Probably Isn’t Going to Run for the U.S. Senate
UPDATE: Governor Burgum has responded to my request for comment. He said there is “no truth whatsoever” to the rumors. Speculation and rumor mongering about North Dakota’s 2018 U.S. Senate race is in high gear, all the more so because incumbent Democrat Heidi Heitkamp announced her re-election campaign officially this week. There are lots and lots…
Governor Doug Burgum: Make America Competitive Again Through Tax Reform
Actions taken by President Trump and his administration during his nearly eight months in office have been a wind at our back for North Dakota’s economy. Whether rolling back overreaching regulations that threatened our coal industry and our farmers’ livelihoods, providing relief for drought-stricken ranchers, or approving pipeline infrastructure that adds value to the North…
Podcast: Governor Doug Burgum Says North Dakotans Love President Trump for His “Straight Talk”
President Donald Trump earned nearly 63 of the vote in North Dakota last year, and earlier this year a Gallup poll showed he was more popular in this state than any other not named West Virginia. Why do North Dakotans like Trump so much? I asked Governor Doug Burgum that question today on my radio…
Self-Described “Outsider” Senate Candidate Touts 34 Endorsements From the Good Old Boys Club
If you needed evidence of how befuddled state Senator Tom Campbell’s campaign for the U.S. Senate is already, look no further than today’s press release touting 34 endorsements from state lawmakers. “Tom Campbell – a conservative farmer, outsider, and business leader – announced today that over thirty North Dakota legislators have endorsed his campaign for the U.S.…
State Water Commission May Have Flubbed Meeting Where Drought Relief Was Approved
Yesterday, acting on a reader tip, I sent in an open records request to Governor Doug Burgum’s office. What I was looking for was evidence that the commission had held an illegal meeting. This afternoon Burgum’s office sent out a press release headlined, “Newly appointed State Water Commission to meet next week, address issue raised…
Victims Shouldn’t Have to Pay for the Law Enforcement Costs Created by Their Abusers
Here’s a simple truth about the #NoDAPL protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline: The pipeline company was repeatedly the victim of violent crime and vandalism while working, lawfully, to complete a permitted project. The political extremists who organized and perpetrated the often unlawful, often violent demonstrations were the perpetrators. That’s the point I make in…
