The House and Senate Democratic-NPL Caucus was pleased to hear several of the proposals suggested by Governor Doug Burgum during his budget address but said many areas fell short.

“Now is the right time for us to make greater investments in the hardworking people of North Dakota and their families because we currently have significant one-time resources from our ending fund balance, a strong economy and federal funding from the Biden administration and Democratic-led Congress,” said Democratic-NPL House Leader Rep. Josh Boschee (D-Fargo).

Democratic-NPL legislators support several of the governor’s proposals for the 2023-25 biennium, including increased investments in the higher education Challenge Grant Fund and the Housing Incentive Fund. Boschee said, “these programs have proven time and time again that when the state provides incentivized state dollars, North Dakotans and industry are generous with their matches to make the programs a success. Challenge Grants help make college more affordable through scholarships, and the Housing Incentive Fund addresses the state’s significant need for affordable housing.”

However, several areas fall short, said Senate Democratic-NPL Leader Sen. Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo).

“We are happy to see the governor recognize the best way to recruit and retain a talented workforce is to pay them more,” Hogan said. “However, we agree with workers and their employers that we need to increase the governor’s proposals for childcare workforce, K-12 educators and paraprofessionals, and state employees. Not only do his proposed increases fail to keep up with rising costs, but they also don’t make up for the many years in which the Republicans passed too-small salary increases.”

Childcare should also be a top priority during the upcoming session, she added.

“The governor’s proposal represents a solid down payment in addressing the ongoing childcare crises throughout North Dakota, but we know more will be needed to truly make childcare more affordable and accessible,” Hogan said. “The Democratic-NPL caucus has been a strong proponent of investing in children and families for the last two decades, and we look forward to working with the governor and our legislative colleagues on solutions.”

The governor’s proposals fall short in other crucial areas.

“In the middle of a workforce crisis, closing the popular defined benefit pension fund for public employees will only make it harder to recruit talented workers to our state,” Boschee said. “Likewise, the governor’s proposal to implement a flat income tax will take $500M off the table every biennium that could be used to make further investments in education, childcare and workforce development, while disproportionately benefiting the wealthiest North Dakotans. Enhancing our budget’s dependence on fluctuating oil and gas taxes is the wrong solution for the future of our state.”

Cass County Democratic Women Plus awarded Rep. Gretchen Dobervich Democratic Person of the Year.

Dobervich remarked, “This is a really unexpected honor to receive from my friends in the Cass County Dem Women Plus. I think about previous winners of this award who’ve done amazing work, and it’s incredible to be amongst them.”

Dobervich was recently reelected to North Dakota State House where she has served since 2017. Dobervich plans to put forward bills for Medicaid presumptive eligibility, which would allow North Dakotans to access medicaid and thus healthcare soon, and to remove the tax on feminine hygiene classify medically necessary.

This award has been given out since 1980. Nominees must have been a member of Cass County Democratic Women Plus for at least six months and have actively participated in it and their Legislative District Democratic-NPL. Members submit their votes prior to the organization’s annual Holiday Dinner.

Axios is reporting that a new book by former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) asserts that AG Drew Wrigley shared a plan with Sen. Kevin Cramer for a “last-ditch effort” to demand recounts of absentee ballots in key states. Cramer then forwarded that plan on to Trump Chief-of-Staff Mark Meadows.

This comes on the heels of CNN reporting that showed Meadows was also in communication with pro-Trump operatives who wanted to seize voting machines. In a 60 Minutes interview, Riggleman said many of the texts in Meadows’ inbox laid out a “roadmap to an attempted coup.”

“If you’re going to give advice on overturning an election to the Chief of Staff at the White House, then you should share that advice with the rest of the state. North Dakotans deserve to know whether their Senator and their Attorney General – who was a US Attorney at the time – were conspiring to invalidate the will of the people,” said Democratic-NPL Party Chair Patrick Hart. “We need to hear answers from Wrigley and Cramer immediately.”

As President Biden celebrates Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act becoming law at the White House today, North Dakota Democratic-NPL leaders reflect on how it will help North Dakotans.

Democratic-NPL Party Chair Patrick Hart lauded, “The Inflation Reduction Act has two amazing highlights that stand out amongst the once in a lifetime changes the Biden Administration delivered on in the first half of the term. First, capping insulin costs at $35 is much needed relief that hits home. These products are produced at less than $10 per unit and have been marketed in the US for over $300. This isn’t patriotic to squeeze citizens for profit. Second, allowing Medicare to negotiate with prescription drug companies will allow a significant reduction of cost for everyone in the supply chain. The fact they couldn’t was a sticking point for Republicans designed to tank the viability of The ACA. This change you will feel at the counter picking up prescriptions. Once again Democrats deliver.”

Senator Tim Mathern of the Health Care Committee remarked, “The Inflation Reduction Act puts a cap on prescription costs for persons on Medicare which will benefit almost 100,000 North Dakotans. This is awesome for our citizens.”

District 4a House Candidate Lisa Finley-DeVille said, “The passage of the IRA is a historic moment for the United States, North Dakota, and Fort Berthold Reservation. The bill provides the much needed tools and incentives to combat climate change, lower prescription drug costs, and other forces driving inflation. This truly is a once in a lifetime law.”

Here’s how North Dakotan’s will be affected:

• Protect Tens of Thousands of North Dakotans from Catastrophic Drug Costs by Capping Medicare Beneficiary Out-of-Pocket Costs in Part D at $2,000. Currently, Medicare beneficiaries with conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, and lung disease can face thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket prescription drug costs, and millions of people in Medicare struggle to afford their medications. The Act will require Part D plans to offer improved financial protections that would phase in starting in 2024, with the $2,000 out-of-pocket cap taking effect in 2025. Each year, that will benefit about 5,200 North Dakota Medicare beneficiaries who would otherwise have out-of-pocket costs above the cap, according to estimates from the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). And, for the first time, all 97,000 North Dakotans with Medicare Part D will have the peace of mind of knowing their pharmacy costs are capped.
• Save North Dakota Medicare Beneficiaries Money by Capping Insulin Copays at $35 per Month. Drug manufacturers have raised insulin prices so rapidly over the last few decades that some Medicare beneficiaries struggle to afford this life-saving drug that costs less than $10 a vial to manufacture. Starting in 2023, the legislation will cap the out-of-pocket cost of insulin for Medicare beneficiaries at no more than $35 for a month’s supply. Some 7,000 North Dakota Medicare beneficiaries used insulin in 2020.
• Lower Energy Costs for North Dakotans. The Inflation Reduction Act will make it more affordable for North Dakota families to purchase energy efficient appliances when they need to, make repairs around their homes, and save money on their utility bills each month, through:
  • Rebates covering 50-100% of the cost of installing new electric appliances, including super-efficient heat pumps, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves, and ovens. In North Dakota, hundreds of thousands of low- and moderate-income households are eligible for rebates.
  • Rebates for households to make repairs and improvements in single-family and multi-family homes to increase energy efficiency.
  • Tax credits covering 30% of the costs to install solar panels and battery storage systems, make home improvements that reduce energy leakage, or upgrade heating and cooling equipment. No income limits apply.
  • Tax credits covering 30% of the costs of community solar projects—owned by local businesses that sign up families to save on their electric bills—with additional bonus credits of 20% for projects at affordable housing properties and 10% for projects in low-income communities.
  • Grants to help state and local governments adopt the latest building energy codes, which would save the average new homeowner in North Dakota 26.5% on their utility bills—$728 annually.
• Increase Domestic Manufacturing. Manufacturers employ 26,200 workers in North Dakota, and the Inflation Reduction Act will help us make the technologies of the future at home—supporting local economies and strengthening supply chains. The Inflation Reduction Act will boost U.S. manufacturing of clean energy and transportation technologies, as well as investments for a new Advanced Industrial Facilities Deployment Program to position America to lead the growing global market for clean steel, aluminum, cement, and more.
• Create more resilient communities. The Inflation Reduction Act will upgrade affordable housing, including projects that boost resilience in the face of intensifying extreme weather. In North Dakota, thousands of people live in affordable housing units that are eligible for upgrades like flood-proofing and storm resistance, as well as clean energy and electrification. A new Neighborhood Access and Equity Grant Program includes support
  for transportation projects and planning to protect against flooding, extreme heat, and more. The Inflation Reduction Act also invests in strengthening America’s forests, including programs focused on preventing wildfires and for tree planting projects that help protect communities from extreme heat.

After Governor Burgum revealed a proposal relating to income tax today, Democratic-NPL lawmakers expressed doubt that it would provide meaningful relief for North Dakotans, and fear it will further hurt already beleaguered services North Dakotans rely on.

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee (D-Fargo) emphasized, “We support lower taxes for working and middle class families in North Dakota, and supported tax relief in the special session. We are open to discussing support for continued temporary tax relief, while balancing the other priorities facing North Dakotans. We need long-term tax stability to address the issues facing every community in our state. At this point, I don’t think a permanent, flat tax is the answer and is a big gamble with North Dakota’s future.”

Senator Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo) said, “Income Tax is the fairest tax of all for everyone—We already have a low rate and eliminating the infrastructure for income tax simply will jeopardize the long term option for it when oil revenue is gone and will primarily benefit the richest in the state.”

“I’ll work with anyone to lower taxes for hard-working North Dakotans who need it most. But this proposal is just another giveaway to the wealthy. Worse, it fails to address the real problems that keep hard-working North Dakotans up at night. It does nothing to solve the state’s childcare crisis. It does nothing to put or keep more teachers in the classroom. It does nothing to bring down prices at the pump, at the grocery store, or at the pharmacy. And it does nothing to bring down the property taxes that drive seniors from their homes. That’s why this proposal is out of whack and out of touch with middle class families in North Dakota.” said Representative Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks).

Representative Marvin Nelson (D-Rolla) reamed Burgum’s plan, “The Republican plan has continued to be cut taxes, especially for out of state corporations when it booms.Then cut services and drive people out of the state when the bust comes. Despite all the talk, recruiting people to come back has been a horrible failure. This is why your community doesn’t have the necessary daycare capacity. This is why rural North Dakota is left without infrastructure for business and government services. This is why mental health care continues to be ignored. This is why local governments continue to need property tax increases and special assessments. Right now, federal money is funding several state programs the administration is bragging about, no plan exists other than get your vote now and then dump the programs or fail to cut taxes.”