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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?
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Democratic-NPL Bills
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Rep. Gretchen Dobervich’s (D-11) resolution (HCR 3029) to ask Legislative Management to study inpatient services, community-based services, and existing waivers for treatment and support of individuals with neurological conditions and behavioral symptoms that put the individual at risk for incarceration, inappropriate placement, or homelessness passed the Senate.
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What's Coming Up?
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Rep. Bill Tveit (R-33) has a bill (HB 1144) that ostensibly seeks to enforce North Dakota’s bathroom bill from 2023 which was meant to target trans students. When it was in the house, Rep. Austin Foss (D-44), who is an architect, gave an in-depth testimony on how this bill prohibits bathroom design that would increase both privacy and safety for ALL students. This is a deeply stupid bill, and it has a hearing in the Senate Education Committee on Monday at 10:00 AM.
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Rep. SuAnn Olson (R-8) has a bill (HB 1181) that says any reference to gender, gender identity, or gender expression, would mean the individual's determined sex at birth in the ND Century Code. It has changed from when it was first introduced so that it doesn't explicitly say an individual must undergo a DNA test if someone challenges them on what they say their gender is. But this bill is still a waste of time. This bill also has a hearing on Monday morning in the Senate Education Committee.
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Follow Along!
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Did you know you can watch along with these hearings or watch them later on your own time?
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Help us spread our message—share these recent posts!
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Lawmaker convicted of child sex crime had history of exploiting vulnerable boys, prosecutor alleges
Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl describes in a sentencing memorandum Holmberg’s pattern of sexual exploitation that investigators uncovered, including more than 14 trips to Prague for the purpose of having sex with underage boys between 2011 and 2021.
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“The boys and young men with whom Holmberg sought to engage in commercial sex were some of the most vulnerable in the world,” the document states. “Especially in Prague, they were homeless boys and men often recruited to work at the Villa by its owner because of their vulnerabilities.”
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Sentencing memo for former State Sen. Ray Holmberg details history of sex crimes and leveraging his power to exploit young men
Joel Heitkamp is joined on "News and Views" by the host of "Afternoons Live," Tyler Axness. They discuss the sentencing memorandum that was posted Wednesday by Acting U.S. Attorney Jennifer Klemetsrud Puhl regarding former State Senator Ray Holmberg's sentencing next Wednesday. She describes Holmberg’s pattern of sexual exploitation that investigators uncovered, including more than 14 trips to Prague for the purpose of having sex with underage boys between 2011 and 2021.
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McFeely: Holmberg the center of concentric circles of evil
Ray Holmberg is evil. The court documents filed Wednesday, March 19, prove that beyond the shadow of a doubt. In asking for a sentence of 37 months in prison for the former powerful Republican state senator from North Dakota, federal prosecutor Jennifer Puhl lays out findings of an investigation that will sicken, stupefy and anger you.
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Don't only rely on news accounts and social media in this instance. Read the 28-page sentencing memorandum for yourself, start to finish. It is one of the most scandalous, damning documents in the history of North Dakota.
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Letter: Protect Medicaid from harmful cuts – A lifeline for North Dakotans
Cuts to Medicaid would have serious consequences for North Dakotans, threatening access to health care and services. This would place additional burdens on families, healthcare providers, and the economy. Currently in North Dakota, the federal government pays 51% of the cost of traditional Medicaid and 90% of the cost of Medicaid Expansion. Therefore, changes in Medicaid could result in fewer services and fewer caregivers.
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Check out these posts from the national Democratic Party
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Trump administration live updates: President signs executive order aimed at dismantling Education Department
Education Secretary Linda McMahon today expanded on Trump's order to dismantle the Department of Education and how soon it could affect students.
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States Are Waiting to Hear What Abolishing the Education Department Means for Them
“The Executive Order to close the US Department of Education could result in a catastrophic impact on the country’s most vulnerable students and cutting much-needed funding will specifically impact students of color, students with disabilities and students in low-income Communities,” the Association of California School Administrators said in a statement.
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Democrats decry Trump order decimating education agency: ‘Our kids will pay the price’
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Rather than just reduce the size the department, the order directs the education secretary, Linda McMahon, to “take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education”.
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The order makes no mention of the department, which can only be eliminated by an act of Congress, continuing to ensure that federal civil rights laws will be enforced, or that protections for disabled students are maintained.
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The NIH Is Quietly Laying Off Contract Workers
Most NIH employment contracts need to be renewed every two years, with a contract review taking place each year, said the VRC employee. But those renewals and reviews require the NIH to communicate with contract agencies that pay and insure the NIH’s contract staff. Those communications haven’t taken place since Trump took office and issued a temporary ban on Health and Human Services communications, said the VRC employee. That ban was lifted in February, but communication between the NIH and contractor agencies still appears to be stalled, the employee said.
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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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