Dem-NPL legislative leaders issue statement on Gov. Burgum’s decision to include continued funding for Medicaid expansion

(BISMARCK, N.D.) – Senate Democratic-NPL Leader Joan Heckaman (D-23) and House Dem-NPL Leader Corey Mock (D-18) issued the following statement in response to Gov. Burgum’s decision to include continued funding for Medicaid expansion in his executive budget proposal:

“As we review and evaluate the details of Gov. Burgum’s executive budget proposal released last night, we are encouraged by the governor’s decision to include continued funding for Medicaid expansion, which is absolutely critical to ensure access to affordable health care for tens of thousands of North Dakotans,” said Heckaman. “Eliminating this funding – as some have proposed – would mean doing away with health coverage for more than 18,000 North Dakotans, an outcome that would be detrimental for so many of our fellow community members, neighbors and loved ones.”  

“Failing to continue funding for Medicaid expansion would mean taking away health coverage from thousands of North Dakotans in rural communities across our state,” said Mock. “It would compromise much-needed funding for rural hospitals and health clinics, and it would make it more difficult for rural North Dakotans to access the services they need when dealing with serious, and sometimes life-threatening ailments like cancer and opioid abuse.”

“Of course, we have many concerns about the details included in the governor’s budget, especially when it comes to cuts to education, a nursing home tax that shifts costs onto senior citizens, and the lack of an inflationary adjustment for Medicaid providers,” added Heckaman. “Nonetheless, we are encouraged by the governor’s inclusion of continued funding for Medicaid expansion, and we remain committed to working with Gov. Burgum and our colleagues in the legislature to make sure we get it right when it comes to solving North Dakota’s budget crisis.” 

President Obama endorses Josh Boschee for District 44 House

(BISMARCK, ND) – President Barack Obama has endorsed Josh Boschee for North Dakota House in District 44. Boschee is among a select group of state legislative candidates from around the country to receive the President’s endorsement.

“This election isn’t just about defeating extreme Republican candidates. It’s also about electing strong Democrats, like Josh Boschee,” says President Obama in a radio endorsement recorded for Boschee. “I know Josh Boschee will fight to defend the progress we’ve made over the past eight years.”

“We’re thrilled that Josh has received President Obama’s endorsement,” said Dem-NPL Executive Director Robert Haider. “It’s a recognition of how important the District 44 legislative race is to building on the progress we’ve made in recent years, both here in the North Fargo community and across the country. We’re extremely proud of the hard work Josh has been doing canvassing his community, speaking with voters, and putting forth a positive message about how to make our community and state even stronger.”

Boschee is running alongside fellow Dem-NPL House candidate Karla Rose Hanson and state Senate candidate Merrill Piepkorn in District 44. The D44 legislative race has caught national attention due to the community’s shifting demographics and the important local issues being highlighted by Boschee, Hanson and Piepkorn, including K-12 education, community safety, behavioral health services and property tax relief. Last month, Hanson also received the national spotlight when the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee designated her as an “essential race candidate.”

In rare move, Minot Daily News endorses Democratic House candidate A.J. Schultz

(BISMARCK, ND) – In a rare move, the Minot Daily News on Friday endorsed Dem-NPL House candidate A.J. Schultz, saying Schultz has “a wealth of personal and professional experience to bring to public service and has ably presented himself as post-partisan.”

Endorsing a Democrat is a bold move for the Minot Daily News, which tends to have a staunchly conservative editorial perspective. Going back at least a generation, it is highly unusual for the paper to endorse a Democratic candidate. aj-endorsement

“As a veteran, a gun owner, and a small business owner, this election is about more than partisanship to me,” said Schultz. “Since Day One, I’ve done my best to focus on the local issues that are important to our community. How do we deal with Minot’s drug problem? How do we ensure better flood protection for our families? How do we get our state budget in order to protect funding for human services and K-12 education? I’m humbled to receive the Minot Daily News endorsement, and I think it’s an acknowledgement of the important issues we’ve been raising in our campaign.”

“We’re extremely proud of the work A.J.’s been doing canvassing neighborhoods, speaking with voters, and putting forth a message focused on the issues affecting the Minot community,” said Dem-NPL Executive Director and Burlington native Robert Haider. “It’s because of hard-working, dedicated candidates like A.J. that the Dem-NPL is so confident in our ability to offer voters a substantive, forward-looking agenda in North Dakota.”

Schultz is running to represent District 40 along with fellow House candidate Heidi Rintoul and state Senate candidate Phil Franklin.

Statement on Donald Trump’s vulgar comments about women

(BISMARCK, ND) – North Dakota Democratic-NPL Executive Director Robert Haider released the following statement on NDGOP candidates’ continued support for Donald Trump following the release of Trump’s abhorrent comments about women recorded in 2005:

“Donald Trump was recorded on camera bragging about actions that amount to sexually assaulting women, then called it ‘just locker room talk.’ How in the world do John Hoeven, Kevin Cramer, Doug Burgum, and North Dakota’s Republican candidates the rest of the way down the ticket continue to ignore this man’s vile comments as he seeks the most important job in the world? If his perceived entitlement to women’s bodies doesn’t stop Republican officials from supporting him, will anything?”

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