I am generally opposed to price controls. I am a firm believer that competition controls prices for goods and services. But several recent situations brings me to reconsider my position. My sister has been successfully battling breast cancer for a couple of years. Her cancer, though incurable, can be controlled with the right treatment, assuming…
Rod St. Aubyn: Long Session, Short Nerves
The unusual ending of the ND Legislature came as a shock to many, but the impasse that existed between the House and the Senate should have been totally understandable. The ending days of a legislative session are often frustrating and short tempers are common between members of contentious conference committee. Legislators are tired and anxious…
Rod St. Aubyn: If Only They Knew
As the legislative session gets close to the end, legislators and lobbyists often have a lot of time on their hands unless they are tied up with specific Conference Committees. Spare time is often spent in the Capitol Cafeteria drinking coffee with other legislators or lobbyists until specific Conference Committees are scheduled. It is a…
Rod St. Aubyn: Voters, Not Reporters, Will Weigh Legislative Performance
As we wind down to the end of the 2015 Legislative Session, I feel that unfortunately the media continues to paint a picture of the legislative session as one that has been dominated with issues like the “anti-discrimination bill”, Common Core, concealed carry, prayer of the day, or corporate farming. Nothing could be further from…
Rod St. Aubyn: Appropriations, Fiscal Notes, And The End
As we come close to the end of the legislative session, legislators are busy working on conference committees trying to resolve the differences between house and senate versions of bills that have survived the session.In the meantime, the Appropriations Committees are busy trying to finalize the bills that have some fiscal impact to the state.…
Rod St. Aubyn: Rushing To Judgment In The 24/7 News Cycle
In today’s world it is impossible to be sheltered from the news. It is everywhere – radio, television, newspapers, internet, Facebook, and many people have it as part of their home page as they start up their computer. In general, I think that this mass disclosure of the news is a good thing. I am…
Rod St. Aubyn: Deck Seems Stacked Against The Public When It Comes To Transparency
ou may have noticed an article in Sunday’s Fargo Forum about North Dakota’s open records/open meetings laws. I am becoming more and more knowledgeable about the issue after two recent open records requests for a lobbying client of mine. As I dig more into it, I have become even more concerned about our current system.…
Rod St. Aubyn: Political Games And The Legislature
I had a recent conversation with a lobbyist from another state expressing wonderment about ND’s legislative processes. He was shocked that separate bills are not introduced in each house by separate House and Senate members. That way if one bill is defeated in one house, it can still be introduced in another chamber with hopes…
Rod St. Aubyn: The Obamacare Standoff
After reading a news article in the Sunday Fargo Forum, I wondered if the state and the nation will be engaged in real standoff regarding the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or more commonly referred to as Obamacare. Will this situation result in a Special Legislative Session in ND sometime this late summer or early Fall?…
Rod St. Aubyn: There Is A Real Need For Legislative Studies
As the legislature begins to finalize bills with appropriations or fiscal impacts in each house, a lot of the policy committees are beginning to have hearings on study resolutions. While some may scoff at these study resolutions, many are very sincere efforts to take a longer and more deliberative review of complicated issues. I bring…