North Dakota is very much beholden to commodity prices. Our state is dominated by industries which produce products – be they crops or coal or oil – of variable value. Oil prices are, in particular, notoriously volatile as our lawmakers in Bismarck slashing budgets to make up for revenue shortfalls are well aware of. This…
Doug Burgum Should Renew His Push to Eliminate the Income Tax
Fargo businessman Doug Burgum may have won the Republican primary vote in a landslide on Tuesday, probably making him our next governor given the inability by Democrats to field competitive candidates, but without a strong crossover vote from Democrats it probably wouldn’t have been a landslide at all. He probably still would have won, but…
With Oil Prices Uncertain House Passes Smallest Income Tax Cut Bill Available
Today the state House took up four different income tax bills. One passed, and three failed. Here’s what House lawmakers rejected: HB1167: Introduced by Rep. Scott Louser (R-Minot), this was by far the largest tax cut before the House. It would have represented a reduction of $973 million in personal income taxes in the coming biennium by…
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…
Rauschenberger: Seeking Treatment Was "One Of The Best Decisions I Ever Made"
North Dakota Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger pulled off a rare feat in the modern era of American politics. Earlier this year he confessed to me that he was struggling with alcohol addiction. He then left the campaign trail for a month to seek treatment before coming back and soundly defeating his opponent, Democrat Jason Astrup,…
Rep. Kevin Cramer: Let's Get Rid Of The Income Tax
Yesterday Rep. Kevin Cramer appeared on the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY AM970. Jay and I were interviewing Cramer about his controversial campaign ad in the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, but before we got into that topic Cramer weighed in on something Jay and I had been discussing in the previous segment. Jay has been…
Rep. Rick Becker: In Defense Of Eliminating The Income Tax
North Dakota is awash in money. Due primarily to oil revenue, our state is enjoying great prosperity. Our coffers are overflowing. In line with conservative thought, we have planned ahead and have funds for future needs. Those funds, however, are flush with money to the point that we have created (and possibly are still creating)…
Rep. Scott Louser: Let's Take The Personal Income Tax Rate Down To Zero
North Dakota is benefiting from a fantastic economy and leads the nation in many economic indicators. Our prosperity has lead to the opportunity to consider a true change in the state income tax code. Last fall and subsequently in the spring of this year, I requested that Legislative Council prepare the bills that I intent…
James Kerian: North Dakota Must Eliminate The Income Tax
Two years ago House Majority Leader Al Carlson announced his support for eliminating North Dakota’s income tax. It was a good idea then, but it’s absolutely necessary now. Eliminating the income tax is the surest and fairest way for the state government to give tax relief to the people of North Dakota and it is the…
Shocker: Tax Preparation Company Fights Efforts To Simplify The Income Tax
We all know that the income tax code stinks. It is a byzantine maze of complicated forms and soul-sucking bureaucracy that we all have to deal with in the spring of every year. Because the tax code is so complicated, an entire industry has been created to help people file their taxes. And perhaps it…