However, Senator John Hoeven, Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee has had absolutely no issue parroting these inaccurate claims. He stated the trade war continues to generate revenue for the United States, which could be used to fund aid to farmers. The Associated Press was compelled to correct Hoeven’s inaccurate statement. The truth is, tariffs are not paid for by China, but by American companies, farmers, and consumers.

“The trade war is adversely affecting the entire nation, with an emphasis on North Dakota’s farming community. Farmers cannot be forced to live in limbo while their Senator is in desperate need of an Economics 101 class,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “It’s one thing to defend the Administration if you feel it’s in the best interest of the country, but Senator John Hoeven should know better than to spread inaccuracies to his own constituents.”

On the short end of the stick? Farmers. In the first quarter alone, income for American farmers plummeted $11.8 billion. Farmers in North Dakota have watched several tons of soybeans rot, and have been forced to pay higher prices for farm equipment, as John Deere and Caterpillar announced they would raise their prices to adjust for the higher price of steel and aluminum imports because of tariffs placed by the Administration. Instead of putting their foot down and demanding action, Senators Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, along with Congressman Armstrong, have stood idly by, following the lead of the Administration.

“North Dakota’s delegation in Washington keeps telling the state’s farmers that they need to be patient. Farmers do not have that luxury. Crops go bad, and livestock doesn’t live forever,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “Senator Cramer, Senator Hoeven, and Congressman Armstrong have shown little interest in standing up to this Administration to put an end to this unnecessary trade war, adding yet another insult to farmers who have already lost so much in the process.”

Here is a brief refresher: North Dakota Land Commissioner Jodi Smith revealed in March that two constitutional funds dedicated to the state’s public schools million were short by $137 million. Days later, State Engineer Garland Erbele told a Senate committee that the Resources Trust Fund that benefits water projects was short by $125 million. $262 million mandated by the North Dakota Constitution was misplaced. Treasurer Schmidt was responsible for transferring those funds.

“When public employees across the state have gone without adequate pay raises in years, it is outrageous that Governor Burgum would sign a budget that will give State Treasurer Kelly Schmidt an 8% raise,” said Kylie Oversen, Chair of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “Doug Burgum promised North Dakotans in 2016 that he was going to make state government run like a business. I don’t know of any business that would give an employee an 8% raise after mismanaging $262 million.”

In the private sector, a mistake costing $1,000 would lead to an employee being fired. In North Dakota state government, a mistake that went on for a decade costing $262 million does not garner any sort of repercussion. The raise Governor Burgum and Republican legislators are giving Schmidt far exceeds what they are willing to give other state employees like plow drivers; but who needs them, right?

This amendment would have ensured that North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and more will not lose access to life-saving healthcare. However, the conference committee on the Insurance Commissioner’s budget stripped the clause providing protection for those with pre-existing conditions. Instead, legislative Republicans, at the insistence of Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread, replaced the amendment with a “study”.

The 316,000 North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions don’t need a study: they know exactly what is at stake if the Affordable Care Act is taken down. Rather than looking out for the best interests of their constituents, Jon Godfread and Republican legislators felt a “study” on protection pre-existing conditions would somehow be a better solution.

“With protections for pre-existing conditions hanging in the balance, North Dakotans don’t need a study. They need their leaders to fight for them,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. “Jon Godfread and Republican legislators have flat-out failed 316,000 North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions by replacing protections for their healthcare with a meaningless and unnecessary study.”.

With the tax deadline looming at midnight, most people have seen smaller than average returns. The average refund among early filers was down 8.4 percent, according to the Internal Revenue Service. The Swiss bank, UBS says its initial estimate of tax refunds received this season was overly optimistic by $25 billion.

“Lower refunds are hurting small businesses, retail, and the families of North Dakota,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL. “Hopefully, North Dakotans meager returns have enough left to send Cramer a postcard (that you COULDN’T do your taxes on) to tell him how you feel about his support of the Administration’s tax reform.”

The concern is that youth who start vaping are more likely to continue or switch to smoking. The products are illegal to sell or provide to someone under age 18 but are marketed with candy flavors (such as chocolate chip cookie) that appeal to youth.

Vaping is such a new trend that not many studies have been done, but a recent finding was that e-cigarette use can form a potent carcinogen in the oral cavity, which is believed to contribute to esophageal and oral cancer.