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During the 69th Legislative Assembly, North Dakota Democratic-NPL Insider will provide updates and calls to action each day of the regular session. If you would like to have something added to the newsletter, email us at [email protected]. Spread the word of our newsletter by sharing our sign-up link today: https://demnpl.com/join-our-newsletter/.
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What happened today?
Sen. Josh Boschee’s (D-44) bill SB 2254 to provide funding for city and paratransit bus services and his resolution SCR 4018 to create a memorial dedicated to volunteer and career Emergency Medical Service responders who died in the line of duty had hearings today.
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Rep. Zac Ista’s (D-43) bill HB 1238 to lower the number of years a teacher is required to serve before they can receive a lifetime teaching license was heard in the Senate Workforce Development committee.
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What's Coming Up?
Rep. Jorin Johnson’s (R-41) bill HB 1255 to DEFUND Prairie Public has a hearing in the Senate State and Local Government committee on Friday, March 7 at 10:00 AM!
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Tell the Committee Members to give this bill a DO NOT PASS recommendation:
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Democratic-NPL Bills
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Three Democratic-NPL bills are on the Senate Floor Calendar. Rep. Mary Schneider's (D-21) bill (HB 1403) designation of Prisoner of War and Missing in Action Day as a state holiday, her resolution (HCR 3005) to urge Congress to include the names of the lost crew members of the U.S.S. Frank E. Evans on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, and Rep. Jayme Davis' (D-9) bill (HB 1563) which calls for a legislative management study on tribal land taxation all received UNANIMOUS "DO PASS" recommendations from their respective committees.
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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Governor Walz says "we have a lot of work to do between now and '28, but I'll stay in the arena"
Joel Heitkamp is joined by the Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, on "News and Views." Joel asks him a wide range of questions regarding the tariffs that President Trump is implementing, the U.S. relationship with Ukraine, and if he'll be on a national ticket again in the future.
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Federal Building in downtown Fargo appears on ‘non-core property’ list, could be sold
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A message left for U.S. Rep. Julie Fedorchak was not returned. The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party said Trump and Elon Musk "blindly decimate agencies that help Americans thrive."
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"Now it would seem that — with reckless abandon — they chose to come after the building that houses some of the most vital services for our seniors," North Dakota Democratic spokeswoman Laura Dronen said in a statement. "Since the GSA has deleted the list of 'non-core' properties, have they reversed their decision? If not, where will agencies like the Social Security office go? Hoeven, Cramer, and Fedorchak must get a clear answer for North Dakotans.”
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Letter: Prioritize funding for teachers, public schools
For starters, a point of clarification: K-12 budget increases are not teacher salary increases. Since the costs of running a school increase as inflation increases, the budget increases will likely not be reflected in teacher salaries. This is a huge issue for teacher recruitment and retention. In 2023, in response to unfilled teacher positions, then-Gov. Doug Burgum created a teacher retention and recruitment task force.
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Port: North Dakota bar association mum on reasons for cutting LGTBQ seminar
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The event no longer appears on SBAND's website, but an archived version of it is available through Archive.org.
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"There are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) people in every community, and who have a variety of legal needs," the cached copy of the event's description stated. "Attorneys working in a variety of practice areas will encounter LGBTQ+ clients. Providing effective and competent services to all clients is an essential part of an ethical legal practice."
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Letter: Diverting public education dollars to private schools will hurt our vulnerable students the most
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Instead of diverting public money to private schools, we encourage legislators and community members to invest in every child in North Dakota. Expanding universal school meals, strengthening career and technical education, supporting mental health resources, and keeping class sizes manageable are just a few ways to ensure all students have the opportunities they deserve.
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These bills and their implications are complicated. Combined with the uncertain funding at the federal level, our state’s most vulnerable students risk losing the most. As we continue to follow the progress of these bills, we wonder if legislators are genuinely representing the majority of their constituents. We urge community members to contact their representatives and speak to administrators and teachers in their local public schools to learn how bills currently in the legislative sessions will impact students and classrooms around our state.
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Check out these posts from the national Democratic Party
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He’s About to Co-Lead the FBI—But First, a Word From His MAGA Show Sponsors
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On Tuesday, Dan Bongino, the newly named deputy director of the FBI continued to hold forth on his eponymous daily podcast, this time focused on defending President Donald Trump’s Oval Office attack on Ukraine’s president. But first, Bongino offered a word from a sponsor: “Big Brother is watching you,” he said, noting it had been 10 years since news broke that the National Security Agency was spying on Americans’ communications.
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“Well, what if I told you there’s a way to get your freedom back?” Bongino went on. “Thankfully, there is. It’s a product called ExpressVPN [which] routes 100 percent of internet activity through encrypted channels… So if you want to protect yourself from corporate and government spying, go to expressvpn.com/Bongino and get four extra months of privacy for free.”
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News Deserts are Changing Rural America
In this episode, we examine how the absence of local news affects political polarization, civic engagement, and community identity. First, scholars John Volk and Joshua Darr join The Hot Dish to discuss the emergence and consequences of News Deserts across the United States.
Then, journalist Brandon Tensley and Joel engage in a compelling conversation on the importance of local news to communities of color across America.
Listen to learn more about how this phenomenon shapes information access, democratic participation, and the broader political landscape, proving the media's pivotal role in shaping public discourse.
Heidi and Joel delve into the shift away from local media sources and the consequential impact on the social fabric of middle America. They provide listeners with a practical roadmap for actively engaging with local politics and media by highlighting the importance of reviving local journalism, offering ways communities can rebuild their media ecosystems, and exploring how doing so will improve democratic engagement and reduce polarization.
Join us on The Hot Dish every other week, where we serve up hearty conversations that resonate with every corner of the country.
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Committees
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Every bill is voted on in the North Dakota legislature, but first, it must go through a committee hearing. The committee will vote to give the bill a "Do Pass" or a "Do Not Pass" recommendation. Below is a list of Standing Committees this legislative session.
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Senate Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Desiree Van Oosting (R-36)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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House Standing Committee Members
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Meets Monday through Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Cynthia Schreiber-Beck (R-25)
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Gretchen Dobervich (D-11)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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Meets Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Patrick R. Hatlestad (R-1)
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Lawrence R. Klemin (R-47)
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Mike Motschenbacher (R-47)
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Meets Thursday and Friday
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Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-4A)
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The Century Club supports our year-round work to build party infrastructure supporting candidate recruitment, local district and regional leadership, issue-based education, and tools for Dem-NPL success.
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Help us elect great Democrats up and down the ballot!
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The North Dakota Democratic-NPL is launching a new grassroots program called “Neighbor to Neighbor” where volunteers will connect with voters in your community to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. As a volunteer, you will be responsible for connecting with voters in 25 homes in your neighborhood or friends and family to help elect Democrats up and down the ballot about 3-4 times this year.
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Grassroots organizers are the lifeblood of the Dem-NPL! Sign up to volunteer with the Dem-NPL!
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