Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar launched her campaign for the Democratic party’s presidential nomination this weekend. Klobuchar styles herself as a moderate and pragmatist from flyover country. An antidote to the struggles Democrats faced in the 2016 election when it came to winning over voters in states like Wisconsin. In fact, Klobuchar has vowed to make…
Ed Schafer: In Defense of the Legacy Fund
This guest post was submitted by former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer. Last December Rob Port posted an article on the Say Anything Blog titled, “It’s Time to Stop Listening to the Legacy Fund Hoarders!” I was surprised to see him write against fiscal conservatism. Since many people seem to have taken Rob’s comments to…
Legislation Would End Local Government’s Ability to Block High-Level Radioactive Waste Projects
The issue of disposing of radioactive waste in North Dakota has been a hot button issue at the local level. In particular, there was a fight back in 2016 over a bore hole experiment the University of North Dakota wanted to conduct in Pierce County (Rugby). “The Deep Borehole Project stems from a U.S. Department…
Ed Schafer: The Stakes for North Dakota Could Not Be Greater
This guest post was submitted by Ed Schafer, former Governor of North Dakota and Secretary of Agriculture under President George W. Bush. The stakes for North Dakota on November 6th could not be greater. Republican policies and governance have unleashed our energy sector, energized the business community and deregulated the agriculture arena. Federal tax reform…
It’s Not Appropriate to Sell Access to Governor Burgum’s State of the State Address
It’s a little unusual for a North Dakota Governor to deliver a “state of the state” address in a year when the Legislature isn’t in session. The Governor’s address to lawmakers at the beginning of their session every other year is required by law. But Governor Doug Burgum’s decision to deliver a “state of the…
Ed Schafer: Heidi Heitkamp Could Learn a Lot From Teddy Roosevelt
The news filtered in to North Dakota with a story about U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) and Maine’s Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) getting together for breakfast to talk about their bi-partisan work. As I listened to the broadcast it became clear to me that they came together with the bipartisan effort to derail Republicans’ efforts to respond…
Report From 2016 Alleges Inappropriate Language, Gender Bias From NDUS Chancellor
Until last week Lisa Feldner was a vice chancellor in the North Dakota University System, but Chancellor Mark Hagerott fired her. Allegedly for “making derogatory comments to staff” and “suggesting they could lose their jobs,” my colleague Patrick Springer reported yesterday. I’m told by university system sources that Feldner was fired by email but then…
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…
Ed Schafer: Trump Should Emulate North Dakota on Tax Reform
It’s a great day in North Dakota and I welcome President Trump to the Bismarck and Mandan communities. My hope is he learns about the ND experience and how the tax and regulation policies that have been instituted since the 1990s prepared a foundation for lower cost government, deficit spending elimination and increased business investment…
Congressman Cramer Introduces Bill to Name Fargo Research Center After Former Governor Ed Schafer
Last week North Dakota Congressman Kevin Cramer introduced a bill in Congress – HR2154 – which would rename the USDA’s Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center after former North Dakota Governor Ed Schafer. “The Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, shall hereafter be known and designated as the ‘Edward T. Schafer…