At the legislature, University of North Dakota officials showed up to testify against a bill introduced by Rep. Scott Louser which would extend the moratorium on the school picking a new nickname (that bill will get a vote on the floor of the state House this afternoon). They claimed – as credulous Grand Forks Herald reporter…
From the Left: Defending North Dakota's Brand Of Conservatism
This will not come as a surprise for anybody who pays attention, but North Dakota conservatism is not the same as conservatism in other parts of the Country. I believe that frustrates many people on both sides of the political aisle. Those on the right become frustrated because of a perceived lack of party purity…
UND Seems To Be Making Up Costs Of Keeping Nickname Moratorium
Yesterday HB1155 – Rep. Scott Louser’s legislation extending a moratorium on picking a new nickname for the University of North Dakota – was heard before the House Education Committee. One of the questions lawmakers asked, as you might imagine, is what costs if any the university might accrue if the moratorium is extended. After all,…
UND President Offers Weak Argument Against Maintaining Nickname Moratorium
Today Rep. Scott Louser’s bill to continue the moratorium on a new nickname for the University of North Dakota was heard in committee. The bill is HB1155 and would extend the now-expired moratorium on a new nickname (which ended on January 1st) through July 1st of 2017. It was heard before the Education Committee today,…
Could The North Dakota Legislature Streamline Bill Introduction?
I’ve heard from a few of my fellow gadflies some consternation over perceived delays in getting bills filed and posted online for public scrutiny. While I’m always anxious as the session begins to see what new bills are being filed, I hadn’t noticed anything out of the ordinary from past sessions. I contacted a few…
Bill Filed Extending Moratorium On Replacing Fighting Sioux Nickname
It’s been reported previously that Rep. Scott Louser, a Republican from Minot, would be filing a bill to extend the state’s moratorium on a new nickname at the University of North Dakota. Today Rep. Louser provided me with a draft copy of his bill. It’s not available online yet, but he says it will ultimately…
James Kerian: North Dakota Has An Opportunity For Real Tax Relief
House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, announced last week that he is introducing a bill to phase out North Dakota’s income tax. Carlson floated this proposal in an interview nearly two and a half years ago and Representative Scott Louser, R-Minot, announced here on SAB that he would introduce legislation with the same purpose. Support…
ND Lawmakers Will Have Two Choices On Income Taxes: Eliminate It, Or Phase It Out
Rep. Al Carlson, the House Majority Leader, has announced that he will be introducing legislation which would take North Dakota’s personal and corporate income tax rates down to zero. But back in September Rep. Scott Louser of Minot announced here on SAB legislation that would take income tax rates down to zero as well. What’s…
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…
How You Should Probably Vote: Yes On Measure 2 To Stop One Form Of Property Tax
It’s ironic, at least to this political observer, that we have another Measure 2 on the statewide ballot seeking to abolish a tax. In June of 2012, a constitutional amendment on the ballot called Measure 2 was hugely controversial because it sought to abolish property taxes which collect hundreds of millions of dollars per year…