The joke among lawmakers this legislative session is that the wind energy industry, exercised by legislation aimed at undermining some of advantages they’ve been given in the law, has been stimulating the economy of Bismarck with the number of lobbyists they’ve parachuted in to work at the session. And the fight isn’t over yet. It’s…
Amendment Would Seek a Moratorium on Approving New Wind Power Projects in North Dakota
In its original form SB2314, introduced by Republican Senator Jessica Unruh of Beulah, would have addressed power companies seeking rate hikes here in North Dakota to pay for compliance with green power mandates in other states. It also would have moved North Dakota’s renewable energy mandate (which has long since been satisfied) from the law and…
Dwight Cook: North Dakota Democrats Rewriting History On The Oil Tax
The famous sociologist and politician Daniel Patrick Moynihan once said, “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.” These words were never more appropriate than in reference to the recent column by State Sen. Jim Dotzenrod, D-Wyndmere. Dotzenrod would have readers believe that the 2015 Legislature cut oil taxes, but nothing…
Republicans Cut Up Democrat Hyperbole With Facts As Student Privacy Bill Fails
The issue over privacy for student directory information is something manufactured by North Dakota Democrats as a campaign issue. In an election day stunt a group of Democrat lawmakers (including an attorney and a law student who really ought to know better) filed a criminal complaint over the use of student directory information by Odney…
Video: Senator George Sinner Accuses Republicans Of Partisanship Over Sales Tax Bill
State Senator George Sinner, a Demcorat from Fargo, introduced SB2223 to exempt clothing from the sales tax. Originally the bill also would have provided an appropriation from the state to replace local sales tax revenues lost as a result of the exemption. Today an amended version of the bill came to the floor for approval,…
Video: How Far Should We Go In Making Life Hard For Multiple DUI Offenders?
Today saw an interesting bill related to repeat DUI offenders from out of state. The bill is SB2157, and it would require the Department of Transportation to issue a work permit to any DUI offender who has lost his or her license in another state provided that person has lived in North Dakota for five…
Should North Dakota Get Rid Of The Income Tax?
The Associated Press today reports that a “North Dakota lawmaker wants no state income tax.” Of course, SAB readers knew about Rep. Scott Louser’s plan to take the income tax down to zero way back in September when he wrote about it for the blog. “The proposal I’ve prepared for next session does not call…
Reform The Property Tax? Yes Please. More State Buy Downs? No Thanks.
Since about 2007, the approach to addressing North Dakota’s property tax problem under Governors John Hoeven and now Jack Dalrymple has been for the state to buy them down. First with an income tax payment, then with money sent directly to local governments in exchange for locals lowering mill levies. Up to the last legislative…
North Dakota District Conventions: Mandan and Hettinger, Grant, Morton and Sioux County Area Guide
This post is part of a continuing series highlighting the potential state legislative candidates from each district for their party’s nomination. For more information on this series, refer to the “SAB’s Guide To North Dakota District Conventions: A Government Of People Who Show Up” post. The Districts: 31 and 34 Click on a District number above for a…
North Dakota Isn't Governed By Conservatives
There’s a common misconception about North Dakota, which is that this is a conservative state. And it is a conservative state, in a lot of ways, despite a strong streak of what is often called “prairie populism.” That North Dakotans like to think of themselves as conservative is born out by the fact that they…