In a post yesterday I responded an editorial in the Grand Forks Herald in which opinion editor Tom Dennis said that Republicans should just give up and go home on the voter ID issue. The courts have spoken, striking down laws similar to North Dakota’s in other states, so the issue is over. Today, in an…
Sign Me Up For Supreme Court Reform
The sudden death of conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has set off a firestorm of partisan debate, ironically with each side trying to posture themselves as supporting a non-partisan and non-political approach. Particularly hilarious is state Rep. Kyle Oversen – titular chairwoman for the North Dakota Democrats and a not-yet-graduated law student – lecturing…
The Conservative Case For Amtrak?
“When the talk turns to Amtrak, the arguments often are predictable, with liberals favoring the passenger-train service and conservatives opposing it,” writes Tom Dennis for the Grand Forks Herald today. “But is there a conservative case for Amtrak? There is.” Amtrak, as I’m sure you all know, has lost billions over the years and continues to exist…
We Need To Stop Using the Term "Oil Boom"
The Grand Forks Herald today has an excellent editorial about why we need to lift America’s archaic and ill-advised ban on exporting oil. “Trade constraints twist the market in ways that leave the population worse off,” writes opinion editor Tom Dennis on behalf of the Herald. “Easing constraints untangles the twists, encourages investment and lets producers meet…
Blame Irresponsible College Students, Not The Voter ID Law
In an editorial today the Grand Forks Herald takes aim at those opposing legislation to allow student ID cards as valid residency verification for voting. “The Legislature’s 2013 Voter ID law — which passed both Houses on almost entirely party-line votes; on election issues, that’s a frantically waving red flag — had the very effect critics…
When The Policy Is Good, The Motivations Are Irrelevant
The Grand Forks Herald today takes aim at HB1181, introduced by Rep. Roscoe Streyle (R-Minot), which was the subject of a heated hearing before the House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee earlier this week. “Streyle’s wrong about the “very simple” reason he ascribes — namely, his and his party’s supposedly deep desire to let North Dakota voters…
Measure 5 Lost Because It Was A Really Stupid Idea
Here’s a fun fact about Measure 5: When supporters turned in their petitions to put it on the ballot the over 1,900 pages contained more than 41,000 signatures. Last night, when voters cast their ballots, just over 51,000 of them said “yes” on Measure 5. Over two election cycles – including the effort in 2012…
"A Tireless Open-Government Crusader"
Some kind words from the Grand Forks Herald for me today, as well as a hat-tip to this post from earlier this week which points out that the North Dakota University System has broken open records laws 17 times since 2010. Not exactly an auspicious track record. “The board knows it has angered North Dakotans…
North Dakota's Critics Shouldn't Get The Benefit Of 20/20 Hindsight
There’s a lot of “woulda, shoulda, coulda” going on in North Dakota politics right now. “It took explosions, fires and deaths before federal and state regulators got grimly serious about the risks of transporting Bakken oil,” grumped the Grand Forks Herald’s Tom Dennis in an editorial headlined, “Regulators should be more proactive.” Democrat candidate for Agriculture Commissioner…
What's Wrong With Giving The North Dakota University System Some Flexibility?
Today Grand Forks Herald Opinion Editor Tom Dennis engages in a bit of fear mongering about higher education measure North Dakota voters will vote on in November. Dennis is a reliable homer for the universities, and the university system itself is clearly spooked about what could happen. Because, let’s face it, hardly a month goes by…