The North Dakota Legislature has a tradition of giving every bill introduced, at the very least, a committee hearing and a floor vote in the chamber in which it was introduced. A bill to decriminalize marijuana introduced by state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) did get those things, but on this episode of Plain Talk…
Plain Talk: Activist Says ND Legislature Has Shown “No Interest in Having an Adult Conversation About Marijuana”
On this episode of Plain Talk, marijuana activist David Owen says the Legislature killing a decriminalization bill was “shameful” because of the way it was done. “The civil asset forfeiture bill was given five hours” of time for testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Owen told me. “We got 15 minutes.” “To give a bill…
Video: Despite Counterarguments Invoking God and Ghostbusters, Sunday Closing Bill Passes House by Wide Margin
The debate was long winded, but ultimately the vote wasn’t close. The Sunday opening or “blue laws” bill, HB1097 introduced by Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo), passed in the state House today. While the outcome was the right one, the debate had a lot of face palm moments. Perhaps the worst was Rep. Sebastian Ertelt,…
Plain Talk Podcast: Sealing Criminal Records, Blue Laws, Measure 1, and Why Initiated Measures Make for Bad Policy
Are initiated measures a good way to make public policy? I don’t think so, and I talk about it in this episode of the Plain Talk podcast. Measure 1 – a constitutional amendment approved by voters in the 2018 election – is one reason why many, like me, feel that way. Also Rep. Shannon Roers…
Lawmakers Want to Seal DUI Records After Seven Years
Earlier this week I wrote about legislation introduced by Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo) which would allow criminals (except those who have to register as sex offenders) to petition the courts to get their cases sealed. Another bill along those lines has been introduced, but it would apply specifically to DUI offenses. It’s been introduced…
Legislation Would Let Those Convicted of Misdemeanors and Felonies Petition to Seal Their Records
On the ballot last year a measure which would have legalized medical marijuana, and expunged the records of those convicted of marijuana offenses in the past, failed on the statewide ballot. But the issue isn’t dead. State Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, a Republican from Fargo, is proposing two pieces of legislation to address those issues.…
Governor Burgum and a Republican Lawmaker Want to Exempt Military Pay and Pensions From State Income Taxes and It’s a Solid Idea
North Dakota has thousands and thousands of military members, both active duty and retired, living in our state. North Dakota has a chronic labor shortage. North Dakota is also one of just eight states which still fully taxes military pay to retirees. Governor Doug Burgum, along with state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones (R-Fargo), each aim…
Al Carlson’s Replacement as House Majority Leader Won by Promising to Keep Everything the Same
Last night the Republican caucus in the North Dakota House of Representatives picked their new majority leader. The press release is below, but Rep. Chet Pollert of Carrington won the three-way competition over Rep. Mike Nathe of Bismarck and Rep. Dan Ruby of Minot. The result is a bit of a surprise. Heading into the…
Podcast: Democrats Work to Confuse Voters
On the radio show today, we talked a lot about efforts by North Dakota Democrats to confuse voters. From their phony-baloney mailers promoting an independent candidate in the Secretary of State race to Facebook ads trying to scare hunters away from voting. Also state Rep. Shannon Roers Jones, a Republican from Fargo, and attorney Mark…
Podcast: That Blue Alert Thing, Legislative Candidate Kristin Roers, and Senator John Hoeven
Is the Government going to shut down tonight? “I hope not,” Senator John Hoeven told me on today’s radio show. He made a really good point about the Democratic filibuster of legislation to keep the government running. What, exactly, is in the bill that they don’t like? Are they really willing to shut down the…