NDGOP Legislators Strike Down Paid Family Leave Study

Bismarck, ND – Yesterday, in a 22-25 vote, the ND Senate struck down HB 1441, which would have directed legislative management to consider studying a voluntary paid family leave program. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Karla Rose Hanson (D-Fargo), earlier passed the ND House on a 75-18 vote. All 25 votes against the bipartisan legislation were cast by Republican senators. These same senators tout a pro-life and pro-family agenda to the very constituents who cover their paid family leave benefits.

Job Service ND reports that just 12% of companies offer maternity leave and 6% offer paternity leave, which are even more limited programs than paid family leave. Additionally, 31% of ND employers do not offer sick leave to their full-time employees. Research from other states is clear. It shows that businesses that offer paid leave realize increases in recruitment, retention, productivity, and profitability. They avoid the costs of replacing and re-training employees. 

As the state of ND continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and dig deeper into a workforce development crisis, the benefits of a paid family leave program cannot be overstated. Unfortunately, this outcome highlights the troubling trend of pushing partisan, extreme, often unconstitutional bills to address non-issues during this legislative session – while ignoring solutions to real-life, every day challenges faced by North Dakota families and small businesses.

The bill’s co-sponsor, Sen. Erin Oban (D-Bismarck), said:

“Family taking care of family is what North Dakotans value, but today, a majority of the North Dakota Senate refused to answer their own questions on if an opt-in program could work. We complain about workforce shortages, and we call ourselves pro-family, but our leaders are unwilling to even study an option that’s proven to be both. North Dakotan families will be disappointed that they have to wait even longer for paid family leave because of today’s vote.”

 

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Former Democratic-NPL State Party Chairs Support Mac Schneider as Next U.S. Attorney

Today, nine former Chairs of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL announced their support for Mac Schneider to be the next U.S. Attorney for the state of North Dakota. The signers of this letter represent more than 30 years of service to the Democratic-NPL and the state of North Dakota, signaling the strong support Schneider has for this hopeful nomination.

The full text of the letter, sent to The White House, is included below.

President Joseph R. Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave N.W.
Washington, DC 20500

Mr. President,

As former Chairs of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, we write to offer our strongest support for Mac Schneider to serve as United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota.

Much like the makeup of our party, we come from all walks of life, differing political ideas and from every corner of the state but we are united in our support of Mac serving in the role of U.S. Attorney. As leaders of our party we have all seen, first-hand, his integrity, his compassion and his brilliant political and legal mind in action and used for the betterment of the people of our state.

In addition to being a talented private practice attorney, Mac’s political work has been informed by a sense of justice and equality for all North Dakotans. A vocal champion for the disenfranchised, Mac has made it his life’s work to ensure every person, regardless of their background, is afforded equal protection under the law. An advocate for residents of our state’s five sovereign Tribal Nations, a legislative champion for victims of human trafficking and prosector of sex offenders, Mac understands the unique challenges our state and country are facing and would use his extensive and diverse experience to inform his role as U.S. Attorney.

Mac is a man of deep personal and political integrity and there is no doubt that he would serve as the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota with great distinction. We ask that you give him every consideration for the role as our state’s top attorney and once again give North Dakota a legal leader who fights for all North Dakotans.

Respectfully,

George Gaukler, Dan Hannaher, Shirley Dykshoorn, Tom Dickson, David Strauss, Mark Schneider, Greg Hodur, Bob Valeu, and Warren Larson

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Luke Simons Calls Women Liars, Tools of NDGOP Smear Campaign

Bismarck, ND – Disgraced Former Representative Luke Simons (R-Dickinson) declared a full-scale war of attrition during a ponderous, and belabored press conference yesterday afternoon. Full of legalese, steeping in paranoia, but conspicuously lacking in any exonerating evidence to back up his defense, Simons accused NDGOP lawmakers, members of the press, and his numerous female accusers of being engaged in a sinister cabal to frame him for sexual harassment in retaliation for his “unapologetic” far-right political beliefs.

At the onset of yesterday’s press conference, Mr. Simons’ attorney pledged to go through each allegation line-by-line so as to allow his client the ability to “tell his side of the story”. This never came to fruition, however, as multiple press inquiries for proof that would discredit the claims that led to Mr. Simons’ expulsion, or the existence of a political conspiracy to oust him were ignored outright. Even the most humdrum of questions were deflected, or left unanswered, as the press conference was brought to an abrupt close. In the end, no ‘smoking gun’ was produced to refute the litany of incident reports filed against former Representative Simons.  

Following the Press Conference, Democratic-NPL Chair, Kylie Oversen responded:

“With all the hype of a gripping legal drama, and made-for-tv scripting, the press in attendance – and viewers at home – may have expected a bombshell revelation that would add a new twist to this increasingly shameful episode. Instead, the only thing presented was a wealth of postulating, aimless repetition, and wild-eyed conspiracy theory all aimed at portraying Luke Simons as a martyr for conservatism betrayed by a Republican Judas. Those who tuned in to see if Mr. Simons would be absolved of the troubling allegations against him, saw only wrath.”

Oversen continued:

“While Mr. Simons would see it fit to silence his accusers, painting himself as a “victim” of the #MeToo Movement, the Democratic-NPL will continue to believe women while reiterating our firm commitment against workplace harassment, intimidation, and abuse. Our politics may differ, but when it comes to respecting the dignity, autonomy, and basic inalienable rights of all women, we must find ourselves united in common cause.”

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NDGOP Legislator’s Scandal Leads ND House to Oust Rep. Luke Simons in Historic Vote

Bismarck, ND – This afternoon, the North Dakota House took the history-making step of voting for the immediate expulsion of Rep. Luke Simons (R-Dickinson) as a member of the legislature for District 36. The vote passed by a count of 69-25. All 25 members who cast a vote in favor of Rep. Luke Simons – and against numerous female staff, legislators, and interns who reported abusive and harassing behavior at his hands – were NDGOP legislators. Now-former Rep. Luke Simons becomes infamous as the first member of the North Dakota Legislature in at least 100 years – if ever – to be expelled.

Democratic-NPL Chair, Kylie Oversen said: 

“As someone who has experienced sexual harassment and assault, the words spoken on the floor of the House today mattered to me and to so many others who have experienced the same. The vote to expel mattered even more. It was a strong statement that this behavior is not acceptable in the workplace or anywhere. We applaud the brave women who took a difficult, and courageous stand against shamefully inappropriate and sexist behavior by coming forward and reporting the harassment to which they were subjected. We also thank our Democratic-NPL Caucus for standing up for these women – and all women – who, far too often, find themselves being violated. Although going on four years too late, we also thank those NDGOP legislators who voted in favor of expulsion, and especially commend the NDGOP women who shared such powerful testimony.”

Oversen continued:

“While Luke Simons is now no longer allowed to use his position to prey on women, many troubling questions still remain. Why was Rep. Louser’s, and other NDGOP leaders, first instinct to blame victims and make excuses for Simons directly to female staff impacted by his harassment? Why was no substantive action taken by the NDGOP until these incident reports became public? How can 25 NDGOP legislators possibly justify their vote to support an indignant person without moral fiber, lacking in remorse, and expressing zero willingness to ever change his habitual degrading, and depraved behavior? Whatever the answers may be, we must continue to demand accountability.”

As we celebrate and remember the women we hold dear in our lives during Women’s History Month, we realize that while we have made much progress in our country since its founding, there is a still a long ways to go to ensure the essential rights of all women, and the basic protections necessary to embolden women to tell their stories, and speak out against all forms of abuse. In honor of the women in our lives, the Dem-NPL encourages you to make a contribution to the North Dakota Women’s Network or to your local domestic violence resource center.

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Democratic-NPL Legislative Session Crossover Update

By Democratic-NPL Chair Kylie Oversen, and Executive Director Michael Taylor

This past week marked the halfway point of the 2021 legislative session. Bills passed in the House will now “cross-over” to the Senate for consideration, and vice versa for those passed in the Senate. 

It’s been almost one year since our first COVID-19 case in North Dakota. This pandemic has compounded many of the issues that already challenged our state, including healthcare access, workforce development and retention, and sorely lacking physical infrastructure. As we recap the first two months of the session, we are proud of our Dem-NPL legislators who have stayed focused on the immediate and long term needs of working families, seniors, students, small business, and every day North Dakotans. However, we cannot say the same for their NDGOP colleagues who have consistently shot down legislation aimed at bettering the lives of those impacted by the pandemic. Rather, the NDGOP is intent on passing bills that show more interest in their own ideology than in the very people who elected them into office.

The NDGOP was more than happy to shell out tens of millions of dollars in CARES relief funds for large corporations and special interests at the behest of lobbyists, yet they refused to pass tax relief for small and micro businesses that would have benefitted roughly 73% of all ND companies. Their lack of support for small business and workers in our state went so far that NDGOP legislators passed a bill banning local governments from implementing paid family leave, while simultaneously refusing to provide workers’ compensation benefits for essential workers who contract COVID on the job.

Our state’s fiscal house is in disarray because the supermajority frivolously spends without a long term plan in place to support infrastructure, families and communities, and small business and their employees. Rather, they pass bills that give tax credits to parents who choose to homeschool their children or send them to private school. Last time we checked, the state does not take your tax dollars and give them to individuals who choose to build a pool or playground in their backyard when public, community options are made available to everyone. Our Dem-NPL legislators always stand proudly behind our public schools, and their students, teachers, and staff. 

If you talk to any North Dakotan, rural or urban, low income or middle class, they will tell you plainly what our state needs to do to get our economy back on track. Let’s be clear: North Dakotans will not be prioritizing $16 million to cap oil wells or nearly $10 million in tax credits to support the Betsy DeVos model of education.

Alarmingly, at a time when the U.S. has surpassed 500,000 COVID-19 deaths, one major priority should be healthcare access and affordability. For the second session in a row, Dem-NPL legislators put forth bills to ensure crucial and widely popular provisions in the Affordable Care Act would be protected by the state if the reckless NDGOP backed federal lawsuit strikes it down. However, this legislation was soundly defeated by the supermajority, who couldn’t even bother to cap and lower costs on lifesaving insulin or consider mental health injuries compensable through WSI.

Denying health care coverage to their own constituents, while taking benefits on their dime, is bad enough, but NDGOP legislators upped the ante to unconstitutionality and blatant falsehoods. They attempted to waste taxpayer dollars on more unnecessary litigation, and potentially levy murder charges on anyone involved with an abortion – from doctor to nurse to Uber driver. While that rightfully failed, a bill banning local governments from mandating masks, even after Rep. Jeff Hoverson likened them to prison camps, unfortunately passed.

Now, for the NDGOP legislators that didn’t know, we did just ring in the new year of 2021, not 1951. However, they have chosen to turn back the clock by attempting to nullify the ERA, targeting already vulnerable transgender youth, and refusing to improve the handling of hate crimes in the state. Not to mention, we recently learned that leadership turned a blind eye to years of sexual harassment from a sitting legislator. Promoting blatant discrimination not only severely harms those who are targeted, it also signals to the nation and the next generation of North Dakotans that our state is not a welcoming place to work or raise a family.

Following one of the most accessible elections in ND history, marked by historically high turnout, NDGOP legislators proposed dozens of bills to restrict access to voting. This includes lengthening residency requirements (oil field workers, college students, traveling nurses, and more would be unable to vote under this bill), restricting who can vote by mail, and bringing partisan politics into redistricting. We hope that cooler heads will prevail and instead legislators will support our election workers across the state by making voting easier, not more difficult. We want all North Dakotans to have the ability to participate in democracy, and the Dem-NPL will always firmly push back against those who would try to limit this Constitutional right. 

As the session goes into round two, we encourage citizens to stay engaged, contact your legislators, and reach out to the Dem-NPL if you’re looking for a new political home that will stand up for you and your family.

Kylie Oversen is the Chair of the Democratic-NPL Party. Michael Taylor is the Executive Director of the Democratic-NPL Party

NDGOP Follows Dem-NPL Lead in Calling for Rep. Simons’ Resignation

BISMARCK, ND — As details continue to emerge following the release of shocking sexual harassment claims against Rep. Luke Simons (R-Dickinson), NDGOP leaders are scrambling today to cut ties with the embattled second-term Republican legislator.

House Majority Leader Chet Pollert (R-Carrington), and Assistant House Majority Leader Scott Louser (R-Minot) each called for Rep. Simons to resign this morning in a statement to the Bismarck Tribune, one day after Democratic-NPL leaders pressed for his removal.

Democratic-NPL Party Chairwoman, Kylie Oversen, said:

“While I am pleased to see Rep. Pollert and Rep. Louser join the Dem-NPL in calling for the immediate resignation of Rep. Simons, their words ring hollow in light of their direct knowledge of these incidents for nearly four years now. Each time they were informed of Rep. Simon’s exceedingly inappropriate actions, Rep. Pollert and Rep. Louser downplayed the severity, brushed off the behavior, and gave Luke Simons free reign to exercise his deviant harassment.”

Oversen continued:

“Had they stood up and taken decisive action earlier, we would be applauding their leadership. However, because they failed continually in their duty to hold Rep. Simons accountable, we are left to wonder how many people would have been spared this unconscionable pattern of exploitation and mistreatment, or perhaps how many more would have been at-risk had the public been left unaware.”

 

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North Dakota Democratic-NPL Supports the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Rescue Plan

BISMARCK, ND — As our state approaches one year since the first positive COVID-19 case was reported, the Democratic-NPL is calling on Congressman Armstrong, Senator Hoeven, and Senator Cramer to pledge their support for the American Rescue Plan, which will provide essential economic relief to North Dakotans, including:

  • $1,400 direct relief checks on top of $600 checks previously approved for a total of $2,000 in direct aid
  • Additional support for small businesses – which the NDGOP refused to provide
  • Enhanced unemployment benefits
  • Extended federal eviction moratorium and aid to low and moderate income households out of work – something the Dem-NPL called on the Governor to implement last year
  • Funding for vaccines, testing, and schools, which will speed up our recovery from the public health crisis and allow us to build back our economy better

 

An overwhelming majority of Americans, across party lines, approve of President Biden’s coronavirus response according to a recent Gallup poll. Providing aid to families, businesses, and communities is critical, as many North Dakotans continue to feel the harsh impacts from the Pandemic.

 

Democratic-NPL Executive Director, Michael Taylor said:

“The American Rescue Plan is a non-partisan issue that will provide Americans and North Dakotans with necessary relief in the short-term, while also ensuring long-term public health improvements and economic growth. When we see families struggling to make ends meet, and businesses struggling to keep workers employed, we don’t ask what their party affiliation is. We set politics aside, because when times are tough, we all must come together to create positive solutions. We call on our federal delegation to set aside petty partisan differences and support the people of our state.”

 

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Dem-NPL Lawmakers Fighting for ND Families

By Sen. Joan Heckaman & Rep. Josh Boschee 

BISMARCK — Nearly halfway through the 67th legislative session, Democratic-NPL lawmakers continue to fight for policies that support North Dakotans and their families. We have had many successes and a few missed opportunities so far this session, and we remain committed to strengthening communities and families, ensuring strong public services and building a vibrant and diverse economy.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been hard on our economy, with many losing their jobs and some businesses closing their doors. Stores and restaurants found new ways to serve North Dakotans. Teachers, parents and students adapted to distance and hybrid learning. Health care workers are helping keep us healthy and safe. 

To support front-line workers, Dem-NPL lawmakers proposed legislation to provide grants to these employees through future federal stimulus dollars, but the majority rejected the bill. We believe front-line workers who have worked through the pandemic deserve to be covered by workers comp if they contract COVID-19. As the majority party pushes to provide immunity to businesses, we work to protect the workers who are central to those businesses staying open.

Because good public services depend on public employees, Dem-NPL lawmakers are fighting for a strong compensation plan for state employees and we are working to increase funding for long-term care and K-12 schools. 

The Dem-NPL caucus is fighting to improve health care for North Dakotans, including more transparency for prescription drug prices. We support providing continued health care coverage for the families of law enforcement killed in the line of duty. We believe mental injuries must be treated the same as physical injuries on workers’ compensation claims. 

The Dem-NPL caucus works to make North Dakota a welcoming place for everyone. We sponsored bills to track bias-motivated crimes to make our state a safer place and to create a paid family leave program so families can take care of family while still collecting a paycheck. However, many members of the super-majority did not support those ideas. Additionally, Republicans advanced a discriminatory bill that targets young transgender athletes and would have a crippling economic impact for communities that host youth athletic events.

Dem-NPL lawmakers are fighting against knee-jerk reactions to the 2020 election that would make it harder for North Dakotans to vote. We defeated bills that would have eliminated absentee voting for the vast majority of North Dakotans and a bill that would make it harder to even request an absentee ballot. We support legislation to make it easier for college students living in the state to vote.

Finally, we are advocating to accelerate funding for infrastructure. Our state’s needs are growing and becoming more expensive the longer we wait to fund them. Oil and gas revenues meant to support these projects have dropped considerably, limiting available funds. Our bonding proposal would have supported critical infrastructure for cities and counties, including affordable housing, school construction, water projects, roads and bridges. It’s also important to invest Legacy Fund earnings in North Dakota. 

The pandemic has had a positive side effect of making this session one of the most transparent and accessible in history. Anyone with a computer and internet access can submit testimony on bills and testify virtually without having to travel all the way to Bismarck. The public can watch in real time and hold legislators accountable as we work on their behalf.

With all issues, Dem-NPL lawmakers will seek bipartisan agreement when we can and stand against misguided policies when we must. Above all, we remain committed to fighting for all North Dakotans to ensure your values are protected and to provide a brighter future for our children and grandchildren.

 

Sen. Heckaman, D-New Rockford, is the minority leader of the North Dakota Senate. Rep. Boschee, D-Fargo, is minority leader of the North Dakota House.

 

Documents Show NDGOP Leadership Complicit in Luke Simons Sexual Harassment Coverup

BISMARCK, ND — A recently released file shows a shocking history and vile pattern of systematic abuse and sexual harassment towards female Legislative Council staff and interns by Rep. Luke Simons (R-Dickinson). The file was only released after reports about Simon’s vulgar and aggressive behavior towards female legislators and staff surfaced during the 2021 legislative session. 

Though Simon’s inappropriate behavior and clear acts of sexual harassment in the workplace has occurred for several years, NDGOP leadership, specifically Assistant Majority Leader Scott Louser (R-Minot), has excused the grotesque behavior saying Simons is “weird”, “harmless”, “naïve”, and “just from the ranch”.

Instead of protecting the women Simons has victimized, and putting a stop to this years ago, Majority Leader Chet Pollert (R-Carrington) and Louser opted to do nothing and protect the abuser, evident by Louser inquiring “whether she [staff member] would have done anything to give Rep. Simons the impression she would be interested in his advances.” 
 

Democratic-NPL Chair, Kylie Oversen said:

“The response to Luke Simons’ behavior is reprehensible. There are tones of victim blaming and making excuses for Simons as if he is a teenage boy who “doesn’t know better.” The file and more recent reports make clear: 1) Luke Simons is a predatory abuser who has committed multiple acts of sexual harassment and increasingly unsettling behaviors towards female colleagues; 2) NDGOP leadership knew everything about his actions but did nothing or blamed the women involved; and 3) Simons has made it clear that he is without the capacity for remorse, that he is unfit for public office, and that he should resign his seat immediately.”

Oversen Continued:

“The North Dakota Democratic-NPL stands in full support of the women who have experienced sexual harassment, and we commend their bravery in coming forward and reporting these horrific incidents. We are left to wonder how many incidents have gone unreported. Unfortunately, Simons’ unhinged behavior continues without remorse, as he berates Legislative Council staff and calls for their resignation through a string of Facebook live videos.”

 

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Unethical Lawmakers Tell Voters: “Just Try To Stop Us!”

Bismarck, ND – Yesterday, the North Dakota House ignored the will of the people by shooting down HB 1024, which sought to provide Constitutionally mandated funding for the State Ethics Commission created by the voters of North Dakota in the 2018 general election. Following the vote, HB 1024 was rereferred to the House Appropriations Committee for further deliberation. 

In a fashion that has quickly become the theme of this legislative session – hypocrisy, recklessness, and extremism – NDGOP legislators sought to disregard the Constitution in a shameless effort to subvert the will of the people. Citing “issues” with the director of the commission being a retired pensioner, lawmakers conveniently glossed over the fact that the same could be said of many of their own membership. Ignorance being bliss, one may be inclined to forgive this double standard had NDGOP legislators, including Rep. Jim Kasper who chaired the House Ethics Committee during the 2019 legislative session, made it clear that their opposition was based on one thing: an unshakable fear that the people who elected them would also hold them to a higher standard. This higher standard, in part, includes bringing solutions and necessary services for their communities instead of being bought and paid for with lavish steak and lobster dinners courtesy of lobbyists and out-of-state corporate executives. 

 

Democratic-NPL Chair, Kylie Oversen said:

 

“The Ethics Commission was passed by the will of the people – Republicans, Dem-NPLers, and Independents alike. From the moment the legislative session was gaveled in, the unhinged supermajority, led by the most unhinged of them all, Rep. Jim Kasper, has made every attempt under the sun to strip the Ethics Commission, and yourselves, of the inherent right to hold legislators and state officials accountable. If the Republican legislators are legitimately concerned about costs, ask them to withdraw all of the unconstitutional bills that accomplish nothing more than wasting taxpayer dollars on expensive lawsuits.”

 

 

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Double Take: NDGOP Legislators Vote Against Health Care Coverage for a Second Time

Bismarck, ND – Today, HB 1203 was voted down by 72 House Republicans. This comes less than three weeks after 39 Senate Republicans voted down SB 2222. Both bills sought to ensure necessary health care coverage would continue, such as coverage for those with preexisting conditions, if a lawsuit, which AG Stenehjem recklessly signed the state onto and the NDGOP fully supports, is successful in repealing the ACA and stripping tens of thousands of North Dakotans of their health care coverage.

Though both bills showed initial attempts at bipartisan action, little to no outreach was done by NDGOP legislators to pass this legislation and ensure that life savings provisions in the ACA would continue in the state, regardless of the outcome of the lawsuit.


Democratic-NPL Chair, Kylie Oversen said:

“The ACA has brought us coverage for preexisting conditions, allowed children to stay on their parents’ health insurance until age 26, Medicaid Expansion, and so many other life changing, and rural hospital saving, provisions. These bills sought only to ensure that the state would pick up these provisions, if the lawsuit is successful. The hypocrisy lies in the fact that coverage for an eight year old with diabetes is too radical for NDGOP legislators to support, yet bringing nunchucks and throwing stars into a sporting event is something they’re happy to propose.”

 

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While Stenehjem Tries to Close Door on Health Care Access, President Biden Opens Special ACA Enrollment Window

Bismarck, ND – As part of President Biden’s pledge to “Build Back Better”, the White House announced today the immediate opening of a Special Health Insurance Enrollment period through Healthcare.gov. In a statement from the Oval Office, President Biden affirmed his commitment “to ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable health care – especially in the midst of a pandemic.” Every American who needs health insurance coverage can sign up online from now through May 15th. We ask you to please share this information with as many people as possible so those who need health insurance coverage can get it now. 

As our heroic frontline workers continue to combat the COVID-19 Pandemic, President Biden has held firm in the fight for an “American Rescue Plan” to be quickly enacted by Congress, which will include making health insurance coverage less costly, and more accessible for millions of Americans while ensuring the swift and effective distribution of vaccines to any individual who wants one, so we can safely embark on the road to economic recovery together faster.

Unfortunately, we do not have that same commitment to public health from our elected officials in North Dakota. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, our Congressional delegation, and the NDGOP supermajority continue to siphon taxpayer dollars to defend a reckless lawsuit that would strip tens of thousands of North Dakotans of their health care coverage. Most recently, Republicans in the state legislature voted against legislation sponsored by Sen. Tim Mathern (D-Fargo) that would have strengthened protections for North Dakotans with preexisting conditions, while addressing the out of control hospital costs that plague our state. 

 

Democratic-NPL Chair Kylie Oversen said:

“After four years of relentless, underhanded attempts by Republican lawmakers to repeal the ACA by any means necessary, we finally have a President who is willing to do everything within his power to make health care affordable and accessible for the American people. We applaud President Biden and his administration for their tireless efforts to push public health and COVID-19 relief as top priorities during a time of tremendous personal sacrifice that you and your families have endured.”

Oversen Continued:

“It takes a particularly vicious kind of indifference towards the people who elected you for a group of politicians to dedicate so much time and energy trying to take essential health care access away from everybody in the state – from the mailman to your own mother, particularly when it’s needed the most. It’s even more dishonorable to empty out the taxpayer’s pockets in order to do it, at the same time they’re receiving state health benefits on your dime. I honestly don’t believe that the NDGOP will be completely satisfied until they’ve tapped all the wells, and left everyone here high and dry.”

 

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