Silence from Cramer & Hoeven on atrocities in Charlottesville is deafening

(BISMARCK, ND) – Responding to the deadly white supremacist rally that occurred in Charlottesville, VA, over the weekend, Democratic-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen issued the following statement:

“This weekend, we witnessed horrific acts of hate, violence and terror perpetrated by white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis. This was terrorism, plain and simple, and it claimed American lives. There should be no hesitation to condemn it, and no equivocation about who carried out these acts of terror.

“Two days have gone by, and North Dakotans have yet to hear from Congressman Kevin Cramer or Senator John Hoeven. We have heard forceful words of condemnation from other leaders across the country – both Republicans and Democrats – and it’s time for all North Dakota leaders to speak out, too.”

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Cramer opposes a bipartisan approach to health care. Americans strongly support it.

(BISMARCK, ND) – Congressman Cramer is adamant in his opposition to a bipartisan approach to improving our health care. Recently, he scoffed at the notion that members of both parties should work together to develop bipartisan reforms, saying: “That bar was so low anybody could have crawled over it. And somehow 48 Democrats and three Republicans couldn’t make their way over it. And now they think that if we all work together, it will be better.”

But new polling from the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation shows that Americans overwhelming disagree with Cramer’s highly partisan approach.

According to the poll:

– 57% of Americans want to see Republicans work with Democrats to make improvements to our current health care system, not repeal.

– 60% say it is a “good thing” congressional Republicans were unable to pass their strictly partisan health care repeal legislation (which was authored, in part, by Rep. Cramer).

– 60% say Republicans in Congress will be to blame for any problems with the current health care law.

– 78% think the administration should do what they can to make the current health care system work, including 52% of Republicans and 51% of Trump supporters.

“North Dakotans expect their elected leaders to be problem solvers and consensus builders,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Unfortunately, Congressman Cramer is neither. From Day One, Cramer showed that his first priority is himself. He is willing to do anything to pass his highly partisan agenda – no matter how low the bar – even if it means tens of thousands of North Dakotans will lose access to care and even more will face increased costs. North Dakotans simply can’t trust Cramer to have their backs.”  

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Nonpartisan report shows uncertainty, mixed signals from stalled Republican health care repeal efforts & potential move from Administration leading insurers to seek higher premiums

(BISMARCK, ND) – A new report by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation shows that mixed signals from the stalled Republican health care repeal efforts – as well as actions taken by the administration that threaten to disrupt insurance markets – are causing uncertainty “far outside the norm” leading insurers to seek higher premium increases for the coming year.

“Rather than working to develop bipartisan solutions that expand access to care and lower costs, congressional Republicans like Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven pushed for widely panned legislation that would rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Their ill-fated attempts at repeal – combined with the administration’s threats to destabilize insurance markets – are leading to higher premiums for North Dakota families. And still, Cramer and Hoeven show no signs of willingness to come to the table and work on real, bipartisan solutions.”     

The Kaiser Family Foundation examined publicly available filings used by insurers to justify proposed premiums to state regulators. They found that, among many factors contributing to premium increases, uncertainty and mixed signals from the Republican congress and administration played a significant role.     

According to the Associated Press:

“The vast majority of companies in states with detailed rate filings have included some language around the uncertainty, so it is likely that more companies will revise their premiums to reflect uncertainty in the absence of clear answers from Congress or the administration,” the report said. Once premiums are set, they’re generally in place for a whole year […]

“In many cases that means insurers are adding double-digit premium increases on top of what they otherwise would have requested,” said Cynthia Cox, a co-author of the Kaiser report. “In many cases, what we are seeing is an additional increase due to the political uncertainty.”

“North Dakotans deserve an honest conversation about what needs fixing in our health care system, one that includes ideas from all sides and isn’t carried out behind closed doors,” added Tick. “That means we need bipartisan commitment to reining in health care costs without kicking tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their insurance as Cramer and Hoeven supported.”   

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Nonpartisan report shows uncertainty, mixed signals from stalled Republican health care repeal efforts & potential move from Administration leading insurers to seek higher premiums

(BISMARCK, ND) – A new report by the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation shows that mixed signals from the stalled Republican health care repeal efforts – as well as actions taken by the administration that threaten to disrupt insurance markets – are causing uncertainty “far outside the norm” leading insurers to seek higher premium increases for the coming year.

“Rather than working to develop bipartisan solutions that expand access to care and lower costs, congressional Republicans like Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven pushed for widely panned legislation that would rip health coverage away from tens of thousands of North Dakotans,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Their ill-fated attempts at repeal – combined with the administration’s threats to destabilize insurance markets – are leading to higher premiums for North Dakota families. And still, Cramer and Hoeven show no signs of willingness to come to the table and work on real, bipartisan solutions.”     

The Kaiser Family Foundation examined publicly available filings used by insurers to justify proposed premiums to state regulators. They found that, among many factors contributing to premium increases, uncertainty and mixed signals from the Republican congress and administration played a significant role.     

According to the Associated Press:

“The vast majority of companies in states with detailed rate filings have included some language around the uncertainty, so it is likely that more companies will revise their premiums to reflect uncertainty in the absence of clear answers from Congress or the administration,” the report said. Once premiums are set, they’re generally in place for a whole year […]

“In many cases that means insurers are adding double-digit premium increases on top of what they otherwise would have requested,” said Cynthia Cox, a co-author of the Kaiser report. “In many cases, what we are seeing is an additional increase due to the political uncertainty.”

“North Dakotans deserve an honest conversation about what needs fixing in our health care system, one that includes ideas from all sides and isn’t carried out behind closed doors,” added Tick. “That means we need bipartisan commitment to reining in health care costs without kicking tens of thousands of North Dakotans off their insurance as Cramer and Hoeven supported.”   

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Dem-NPL legislators attend roundtable meetings with EPA Admin. Scott Pruitt

(BISMARCK, ND) – House minority leader Corey Mock (D-NPL, Grand Forks) and Rep. Alisa Mitskog (D-NPL, Wahpeton) issued the following statements following their participation in roundtable meetings with Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt.

Rep. Mock: 

“We appreciate Administrator Pruitt’s visit to North Dakota to discuss federal policies that affect the energy and agricultural industries here at home.

“Dem-NPL leaders have been pushing to invest federal resources in research and incentive programs that help build more efficient power plants and new jobs in our energy corridor. North Dakota is proud to be an energy leader in the United States and around the world. But this can continue only if we are proactive in developing long-lasting, efficient sources of energy to power our homes, businesses, and vehicles. A comprehensive energy solution is needed to remain energy independent, and we hope federal leaders will stand with North Dakotans in making that a reality.”

Rep. Mitskog:

“It was encouraging to have state policymakers and representatives from farm and ranch groups around the same table with Administrator Pruitt this morning to discuss the rescinding of the Waters of the United States rule and ongoing efforts to ensure the interests of farmers, ranchers and agricultural producers are protected. This was an opportunity to listen to one another and seek a commonsense approach that continues our responsible stewardship of the land and ensures state and local control over issues like grazing, drainage and wetlands.

“While we don’t always agree on every policy detail, it is important for policymakers and stakeholders to come to the table and listen to one another with the common goal of promoting what’s best for North Dakota – and we appreciate that Mr. Pruitt did so with us today.”  

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Despite Republican efforts to cut addiction services, Sen. Heitkamp works to protect funding and bring communities together

(BISMARCK, ND) – Despite partisan efforts in Washington, DC, to severely scale back funding for addiction treatment services in states impacted by the opioid crisis, U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp continues working to build support for policies that help address North Dakota’s needs when it comes to fighting addiction.

“While congressional Republicans and the administration talk about addressing the opioid crisis, their actions show they’re actually pushing to dismantle Medicaid and impose devastating cuts to addiction services, which is what the Republican health care bill would have done,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “On the other hand, Senator Heitkamp has been working for years to bring community members, advocates, and experts together, listening to their concerns, and elevating these concerns to the Senate. And she’s fighting back against proposed cuts to the very programs that make a difference in battling addiction in our communities.”

Engaging leaders and community members:

Over the last several years, Heitkamp has held numerous roundtable meetings with leaders and community members from across the state to discuss the addiction-related challenges they face in their hometowns. In the past 18 months, she’s held six in-state meetings with health care providers, addiction specialists, law enforcement and families affected by the crisis – including meetings in Bismarck, Jamestown, Fargo, Minot, Grand Forks and Dickinson. These public meetings also serve as a forum for leaders from around the state to share their successes in working to address addiction.

Heitkamp’s LifeBOAT Act:

In 2016, Senator Heitkamp helped pass the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), which uses existing funds to provide more tools for first responders, law enforcement, and educators responding to the opioid crisis. Heitkamp then helped introduced the Budgeting for Opioid Addiction Treatment (LifeBOAT) Act, which would strengthen CARA by providing communities with the funding they need for addiction services, treatment programs and recovery efforts. This funding would come from a one-cent fee on each milligram of active opioid ingredient in prescription pain pills – with exceptions for addiction treatment as well as rebates for cancer-related pain and hospice care.

Opposing cuts to services:

Senator Heitkamp took a strong stand against efforts to end Medicaid expansion, dismantle traditional Medicaid, and slash budgets for addiction services in the Republican health care bill.

Ending Medicaid expansion in North Dakota would not only create significant problems for continued funding for treatment services – it would also make it difficult for clinics and treatment centers to stay up and running. Across the country, Medicaid provides about one-fourth of all addiction treatment services. Meanwhile, the administration’s budget would impose $400 million in cuts to federal mental health and substance abuse treatment programs, while keeping funding flat for other addiction initiatives. 

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Dem-NPL leaders call on Secretary of State to ensure protection of personal voter data

(BISMARCK, ND) – Democratic-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen, Senate minority leader Joan Heckaman (New Rockford) and House minority leader Corey Mock (Grand Forks) sent an open letter to Secretary of State Al Jaeger in response to reports that his office is considering handing over personal information about North Dakota voters to a controversial federal commission.

Deputy Secretary of State Jim Silrum previously stated that North Dakota law appeared to prohibit officials from releasing the sensitive information requested by the commission, including names, physical addresses, dates of birth, voting history and political affiliations of North Dakota citizens. 

In their letter, Oversen, Heckaman and Mock write:  

“We believe that providing this information raises serious concerns regarding potential violations of North Dakotans’ privacy and right to participate in elections free from interference […]

“…as you consider whether to comply with all or part of the request, we ask that your foremost concern be the privacy rights of voters in North Dakota. As North Dakotans, we take our privacy very seriously. Our state has a long tradition as the only state without voter registration, and we do not believe this information should be shared without compelling reason and strong assurances that individual privacy will be maintained. At this time, we have seen no compelling reason, nor has any evidence been provided, that would suggest the need to share private information about voters with this federal commission.”

The full letter can be viewed here.

“Above all, this issue is about protecting our right to privacy as North Dakotans and as citizens participating in our system of government,” said Oversen. “The fact that a federal government commission is requesting data from the voter rolls in all fifty states should be concerning to everyone who cares about our right to privacy. The commission is requesting, not only the names and physical addresses of North Dakotans, but also their voting history and party affiliations. Voting is a personal right and responsibility, and no compelling reason whatsoever has been provided for why the federal government needs to compile this information.”

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Dem-NPL statement on the 52nd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act

“Within the last week in ND, we’ve seen yet another attempt to curtail our right to participate in elections free from interference”

(BISMARCK, ND) – Democratic-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen released the following statement regarding the 52nd anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act:

“For North Dakotans, as for all Americans, our right to vote is sacred. It is the right that protects all other rights, and it is a responsibility afforded to every citizen regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or creed. 

“This weekend, we observed the 52nd anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, which was signed into law by President Johnson in 1965. The VRA was the result of decades of struggle and sacrifice by Americans who raised their voices in order to exercise their right to cast a ballot.

“Unfortunately, within the last week in North Dakota, we’ve seen yet another attempt to curtail our right to participate in elections free from interference. As state leaders consider complying with a federal commission seeking voter data in an attempt to discredit our election process, we must continue to raise our voices to protect voter privacy. As Democrats, we believe our country is stronger when every citizen has full access to the ballot box, and we will continue to fight to protect our sacred right to participate in our democracy.”  

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How the administration’s threat to destabilize health insurance markets would impact ND

(BISMARCK, ND) – The administration’s threat to destabilize health insurance markets by withholding cost-sharing reduction payments (CSRs) would devastate some of North Dakota’s most vulnerable communities and directly impact working families who could see their premiums increase by double digits.

“Insurers in North Dakota and across the country rely on these payments to hold down coverage costs, and the mere suggestion that the administration would refuse to honor them is already creating major uncertainty,” said Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick. “Acting on these threats to intentionally destabilize the health care market would hurt North Dakota families in a very real way by increasing premiums and possibly forcing insurers out of the market entirely.”

CSRs help keep coverage affordable for 9,557 North Dakotans, which is 47 percent of total marketplace enrollees in the state.

Background:

CNBC: How the administration’s threat could impact consumers: The bottom line, experts say, is the payments’ elimination is likely to hurt consumers who buy their insurance through the ACA exchanges and throw the marketplace into greater turmoil. “Low-income people will not see an increase in premiums, but the middle class, who are not subsidized, will see the impacts directly,” said Dr. Mario Molina, CEO of Molina Healthcare […] That’s because premiums would likely rise as insurers cope with the fallout from the decision, and that would result in the government paying more in subsidies to offset those higher premiums. Altogether, it could cost the federal government $31 billion more over a decade than if it continued with the payments, Kaiser found.

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Kevin Cramer takes credit for NDSU funding that would be eliminated under both the House GOP’s & president’s budgets

(BISMARCK, ND) – Congressman Kevin Cramer today attempted to take credit for a $100,000 grant awarded to NDSU’s Research and Technology Park, despite that the grant is provided through the U.S. Economic Development Administration, an agency slated for elimination under both the House GOP and White House budgets.

In response, Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick issued the following statement:

“Kevin Cramer can’t have it both ways. The fact that he is trying to take credit for federal investments that would be eliminated if House Republicans and the administration get their way just goes to show how little his promises are worth. Investments made through the EDA help channel private funding that supports innovation, research and development throughout our state. The EDA has invested $34 million in North Dakota over the last eight years – most of which has benefitted our rural communities – and which has resulted in another $478 million in private investments. Congressman Cramer is all too happy to announce this funding, but what is he doing to protect the EDA from elimination?”

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Kevin Cramer takes credit for NDSU funding that would be eliminated under both the House GOP’s & president’s budgets

(BISMARCK, ND) – Congressman Kevin Cramer today attempted to take credit for a $100,000 grant awarded to NDSU’s Research and Technology Park, despite that the grant is provided through the U.S. Economic Development Administration, an agency slated for elimination under both the House GOP and White House budgets.

In response, Democratic-NPL spokesperson Daniel Tick issued the following statement:

“Kevin Cramer can’t have it both ways. The fact that he is trying to take credit for federal investments that would be eliminated if House Republicans and the administration get their way just goes to show how little his promises are worth. Investments made through the EDA help channel private funding that supports innovation, research and development throughout our state. The EDA has invested $34 million in North Dakota over the last eight years – most of which has benefitted our rural communities – and which has resulted in another $478 million in private investments. Congressman Cramer is all too happy to announce this funding, but what is he doing to protect the EDA from elimination?”

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Dem-NPL statement on failure of latest Hoeven, Cramer-backed effort to rip health care away from North Dakotans

(BISMARCK, ND) – In response to the failure of the latest Republican repeal effort – a bill that even many Republican senators called “terrible policy” that would “destroy insurance markets” – Democratic-NPL chairwoman Kylie Oversen released the following statement:

“This irresponsible approach to repealing health care protections needs to stop. This latest attempt at repeal would have resulted in 34,000 North Dakotans losing their insurance and increased premiums in our state by an estimated $794. Like Republicans’ previous attempts, this latest bill did not go through the normal committee process, did not receive hearings, was kept behind closed doors until the last minute, and was voted on in the middle of the night. This is not responsible policymaking. 

“The bill’s failure shows, once again, that Sen. John Hoeven and Rep. Kevin Cramer must end their ill-fated approach to repealing health care for tens of thousands of North Dakotans. Instead, the Senate should go back to the drawing board and work in a bipartisan fashion to find solutions that keep what works, fix what doesn’t, and lead to genuine improvements in our health care system.”  

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