The first topic covered was whether to expand the Board of Higher Education from 8 members to 15, after the measure to create two boards separate boards failed. Oban supports the new initiative. She says on a larger board the members would be able to spread out the work. It allows them to work in committees, and give more attention to specific initiatives. As a former school teacher, she knows the path for North Dakota to succeed is retaining talented teachers to educate the next generation, and they are in need of more resources in order to accomplish that.Republicans are trying to sneak the soundly rejected income tax repeal in the closing weeks, but Oban states she is not going to support the income tax repeal “in any way, shape, or form.” The three-legged tax stool includes “property, sales, and income” remove the income tax, and your stool is no longer steady. this will cause a dramatic increase in the other taxes, likely property taxes which have been rising for years.
 
You can watch the entire interview here.

“It is no secret that murdered and missing indigenous women is an epidemic. By voting against renewing the Violence Against Women Act, Congressman Armstrong showed he is not interested in protecting native women,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “Today Congressman Armstrong made clear the victims of domestic violence are simply not on his radar.”

It was only last year when Jon Godfread was standing tall when North Dakota entered into a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act. Godfread even admitted to assisting the Attorney General’s office in the lawsuit. Godfread also stated that “we’re years away from a decision on (the Texas Lawsuit.)”
Not even one year later, the Texas Court ruled the ACA is unconstitutional and the Department of Justice is arguing that the entire law is invalid, putting 316,000 people with pre-existing conditions at risk of losing coverage.

“I doubt North Dakotan’s care how tall their Insurance Commissioner is, but they do care if their Insurance Commissioner is trying to take away their health insurance” said Alison Jones, Communications Director for the North Dakota Democratic-NPL, “Jon Godfread was elected to help North Dakotans, keep their health insurance and keep it affordable. If Commissioner Godfread would rather be the state’s cheerleader for an out of state lawsuit that risks coverage for almost half of North Dakotans, his efforts to stay continue as Insurance Commissioner will fall short…which is an unusual experience for him.”

One would think it would be a good thing for North Dakota to have a voice on combating climate change, but North Dakotans have to wonder if Kelly Armstrong will be putting his interests above theirs. Roll Call reports that Congressman Armstrong has earned at as much as $1.1 million from his oil business and owns at least 289 oil wells worth between $2.9 and $11.5 million. The committee Congressman Armstrong sits on oversees fossil fuel development.

“Kelly Armstrong promised North Dakotans that he was going to go to Washington to fight for them,” said Alison Jones, Communications Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “However, only three months into his term he is already brazenly sitting on the committee responsible for overseeing his vast financial empire. Kelly Armstrong promised North Dakotans he was going to Washington to ‘Drain the Swamp’ and work for them, but in record time he’s already become a member of the swamp and is working for himself.”

She cited major consumers and advocates coming to the capital to speak for the reason 15 major proposals are currently going through the legislative process. Many programs look at expanding targeted case management for children, and by working with the education committee, expanding behavioral health services in schools. Hogan states they are currently “in the process of deciding based on the new revenue forecast what can really do address the crisis.”

Hogan also spoke briefly about the passage of “Operation Prairie Dog” saying the process was “very collegial, and bipartisan. Local and state government worked together to find a plan that I think is mutually agreeable.” The bill is on the way to the governor’s office.

Click here to watch the entire interview.

(Bismarck, ND)– Federal funding for military projects to the tune of $98 million could have been lost, due to Senators Cramer and Hoeven’s blind loyalty to the Administration.Two projects, including a helicopter facility in Minot, and a National Guard Readiness Center in Fargo were sanctioned for the fiscal year 2019. President Trump’s emergency declaration would put those projects at risk if the border wall funding were not blocked by the Senate. However, today Senators Cramer and Hoeven put the needs of the Administration before North Dakota’s by voting against repealing President Trump’s national emergency.

“Over two weeks ago Kevin Cramer claimed that he and Senator Hoeven were in a position to ‘maximize the incredible contributions that this state makes to the security of our country’ but by voting to cost North Dakota $98 million in military funding, neither Cramer or Hoeven are interested in helping North Dakota keep our country safe” said Scott McNeil, Executive Director of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party. “With their votes today to risk $98 million in military funding for North Dakota, Senators Cramer and Hoeven made our military less strong and our country less safe.”

Several Republicans have vowed to vote to overturn the emergency declaration because they are aware of the financial impact it will have on their state. The memo apparently has not reached the desk of Kevin Cramer or John Hoeven, as they have shown the people of North Dakota that nothing comes before party, even if it means putting our national security at risk.