(BISMARCK, ND) – Democratic-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen, Senate minority leader Joan Heckaman (New Rockford) and House minority leader Corey Mock (Grand Forks) sent an open letter to Secretary of State Al Jaeger in response to reports that his office is considering handing over personal information about North Dakota voters to a controversial federal commission.

Deputy Secretary of State Jim Silrum previously stated that North Dakota law appeared to prohibit officials from releasing the sensitive information requested by the commission, including names, physical addresses, dates of birth, voting history and political affiliations of North Dakota citizens. 

In their letter, Oversen, Heckaman and Mock write:  

“We believe that providing this information raises serious concerns regarding potential violations of North Dakotans’ privacy and right to participate in elections free from interference […]

“…as you consider whether to comply with all or part of the request, we ask that your foremost concern be the privacy rights of voters in North Dakota. As North Dakotans, we take our privacy very seriously. Our state has a long tradition as the only state without voter registration, and we do not believe this information should be shared without compelling reason and strong assurances that individual privacy will be maintained. At this time, we have seen no compelling reason, nor has any evidence been provided, that would suggest the need to share private information about voters with this federal commission.”

The full letter can be viewed here.

“Above all, this issue is about protecting our right to privacy as North Dakotans and as citizens participating in our system of government,” said Oversen. “The fact that a federal government commission is requesting data from the voter rolls in all fifty states should be concerning to everyone who cares about our right to privacy. The commission is requesting, not only the names and physical addresses of North Dakotans, but also their voting history and party affiliations. Voting is a personal right and responsibility, and no compelling reason whatsoever has been provided for why the federal government needs to compile this information.”

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(BISMARCK, ND) – The administration’s threat to destabilize health insurance markets by withholding cost-sharing reduction payments (CSRs) would devastate some of North Dakota’s most vulnerable communities and directly impact working families who could see their premiums increase by double digits.

“Insurers in North Dakota and across the country rely on these payments to hold down coverage costs, and the mere suggestion that the administration would refuse to honor them is already creating major uncertainty,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Acting on these threats to intentionally destabilize the health care market would hurt North Dakota families in a very real way by increasing premiums and possibly forcing insurers out of the market entirely.”

CSRs help keep coverage affordable for 9,557 North Dakotans, which is 47 percent of total marketplace enrollees in the state.

Background:

CNBC: How the administration’s threat could impact consumers: The bottom line, experts say, is the payments’ elimination is likely to hurt consumers who buy their insurance through the ACA exchanges and throw the marketplace into greater turmoil. “Low-income people will not see an increase in premiums, but the middle class, who are not subsidized, will see the impacts directly,” said Dr. Mario Molina, CEO of Molina Healthcare […] That’s because premiums would likely rise as insurers cope with the fallout from the decision, and that would result in the government paying more in subsidies to offset those higher premiums. Altogether, it could cost the federal government $31 billion more over a decade than if it continued with the payments, Kaiser found.

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(BISMARCK, ND) – Congressman Kevin Cramer today attempted to take credit for a $100,000 grant awarded to NDSU’s Research and Technology Park, despite that the grant is provided through the U.S. Economic Development Administration, an agency slated for elimination under both the House GOP and White House budgets.

In response, Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick issued the following statement:

“Kevin Cramer can’t have it both ways. The fact that he is trying to take credit for federal investments that would be eliminated if House Republicans and the administration get their way just goes to show how little his promises are worth. Investments made through the EDA help channel private funding that supports innovation, research and development throughout our state. The EDA has invested $34 million in North Dakota over the last eight years – most of which has benefitted our rural communities – and which has resulted in another $478 million in private investments. Congressman Cramer is all too happy to announce this funding, but what is he doing to protect the EDA from elimination?”

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(BISMARCK, ND) – In their relentless effort to pass some version of a health care repeal bill – it seems any version will do – Senate Republicans will vote this evening on a so-called “skinny repeal bill.”

There are many details we don’t yet know about this bill, which would impact one-sixth of the national economy, and will receive a vote in a matter of hours. But, here’s what we do know from the publically available information: 

Coverage losses: As many as 34,600 North Dakotans could lose their health coverage by 2026 in addition to tens of millions of Americans across the country.

Premium increases: In North Dakota, annual health insurance premiums would increase by an average of $794.

Uncompensated care: North Dakota hospitals would face increased costs in uncompensated care totaling an estimated $31 million.

Blank check to dismantle Medicaid: Passing this new version of a repeal bill – which has received no hearings, has not gone through the normal committee process, and the details of which are still unknown to Senators who are about to vote on it – would give House Republicans a blank check to impose deep cuts and begin dismantling Medicaid. 

Republican Senators know this bill is “terrible policy”: Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) today called skinny repeal “terrible policy” and admitted that it would “destroy insurance markets and not even remotely replace [the Affordable Care Act.”

“Senator Hoeven’s own Republican colleagues are calling this bill ‘terrible policy,’” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “What will it take for Senator Hoeven to drop his support for this effort to repeal health care for tens of thousands of North Dakotans, and instead sit down with members of both parties and work on bipartisan solutions that truly improve our care?”

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Sometimes we forget things, too…

(BISMARCK, ND) – Last night, Senator John Hoeven forgot about a few things. 772 billion things, to be exact.

That’s how much Medicaid spending would be cut under the deeply unpopular Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). Last night, Hoeven voted in favor of the bill, after announcing just two weeks ago that he opposed it due to concerns about “the bill’s impact on Medicaid.”

“We hope Senator Hoeven hasn’t also forgotten about 90,000 North Dakotans who rely on Medicaid for access to lifesaving care,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “We’re sure this was an honest mistake that Sen. Hoeven will be eager to correct as the Senate continues voting over the next few days on measures that threaten to dismantle Medicaid and jeopardize health insurance for tens of thousands of North Dakotans.”  

Across the state, 90,000 North Dakotans rely on Medicaid, including 36,000 children. The BCRA – which was widely panned by health care organizations in North Dakota and across the country – would have cut Medicaid by an estimated $772 billion in the first decade, and by 35 percent over 20 years. Fortunately, the bill was decisively rejected by the Senate after nine Republicans – but not Hoeven – voted against it.   

It’s OK, Senator. Sometimes we forget things, too.

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(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to Senator Hoeven’s vote in favor of a procedural motion to advance the health care repeal bill Congressman Cramer helped pass in May, Democratic-NPL chairperson Kylie Oversen issued the following statement:

“Today, Senator Hoeven voted to move forward with the same bill Congressman Cramer helped author and pass in May – a bill that would kick tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their health insurance, increase insurance premiums by 20 percent or more, and force rural hospitals in communities like ours to scale back their services or possibly shutter their doors. With his vote to proceed, Sen. Hoeven showed that he shares Rep. Cramer’s disregard for the voices of thousands of North Dakotans in every corner of our state who have spoken out to protect health care for our families.  

“As we’ve said from the beginning, our federal representatives must show real leadership and a commitment to doing the hard work of governing and fighting for the people of North Dakota – which includes working across the aisle. This has been Sen. Heitkamp’s priority since Day One. We strongly call on Sen. Hoeven to join Sen. Heitkamp at the negotiating table, setting aside irresponsible efforts to dismantle Medicaid, keeping in place protections for patients with preexisting conditions, and working in a bipartisan fashion to improve our health care system.”

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