I don’t know about the rest of you, but this Dickinson Press report about Department of Corrections employees griping about reforms implemented by Director Leann Bertsch seems like it’s missing something. Like perhaps an acknowledgement that at least some of this criticism could be motivated by Bertsch’s push (along with Governor Doug Burgum) to withdraw the…
Video: Bill Prohibiting Student Participation in School Activities After Conviction/Restraining Order Passes House
You wouldn’t think that our state would need a law like the one SB2249 proposes. You’d think that, should a student be convicted of a felony or restrained by a permanent protection order, the local coaches/teachers/administrators/school board would act, at the very least, to bar that student from participation in things like sports. Not to…
A statute of Alexander Hamilton in New York City's Central Park. Hamilton, along with James Madison and others, was one of the authors of The Federalist Papers. Photo via Flickr
We Shouldn’t Force Students to Read the Federalist Papers
Today HB1337, introduced by Rep. Mike Schatz (R-New England), got a hearing in the Senate Education Committee (it passed a floor vote in the House last month on a narrow 47-42 vote). It’s a simple piece of legislation. It would make the Federalist Papers required reading for North Dakota students. I get why Schatz introduced…
North Dakota Lawmakers Have Racked Up Seven Alcohol-Related Traffic Violations In The Last Decade
News this morning is that Minot lawmaker Roger Brabandt, a Republican who represents District 5 in the state House, has pleaded guilty to DUI after hitting a car and a tree with his 2008 Impalla back in December. His BAC level, according to the Minot Daily News, was .195 percent. The legal limit is .08.…
Alternate Point Of View: E-Cigarettes Keeping Kids Away From Tobacco
“E-cigarettes more popular than tobacco among teens, survey finds” That’s the headline to a Bismarck Tribune article by Amy Sisk. And given the tone of the article, I guess we’re supposed to be alarmed that so many more kids are using e-cigarettes. Certainly that’s what North Dakota’s anti-tobacco gestapo took away. The Center for Tobacco Prevention…
Should Anti-Tobacco Tax Dollars Be Used To Fight Vaping?
North Dakota’s anti-tobacco tax dollars are being used to fight vaping, and one state lawmaker wants to stop it.
State Lawmaker Questions Legality Of Breathe ND's Opposition To Vaping, E-Cigarettes
North Dakota’s Center for Tobacco Prevention and Control Policy, a state agency which also operates as BreatheND, has been active in opposing the use of vaping and e-cigarettes. But a state lawmakers wonders whether or not the group has the legal authority to do that. Rep. Mike Schatz, a Republican from New England, has requested that…
Common Core Opponents Lose Again, This Time On Testing Opt-Out Bill
Earlier this legislative session the opponents of Common Core education standards were dealt a blow when lawmakers defeated a bill withdrawing the state from those standards and setting up a mechanism through which they would be replaced with new standards created by the state. After that loss Common Core opponents hung their hopes on HB1283…
Legislative Republicans Announce $800 Million In "Surge" Funding For Oil Patch
Earlier this year Democrats were making a stink about needing a special legislative session to address needs in western North Dakota. That part of the state is dealing with explosive growth in industry, commerce and population. Democrats argued that a special session was needed to appropriate funds to those needs. Ultimately that idea was rejected…
Three ND Legislators Convicted Of Alcohol-Related Traffic Offenses
Over the weekend the Fargo Forum ran a story about “lead foot legislators,” correlating speeding offenses with the legislator’s positions on speeding fines. That was an interesting story, but an even bigger story went overlooked by the Forum, and I wonder if it had to do with the involvement of Rep. Josh Boschee who has,…