Dem-NPL lawmakers tout success despite small numbers

Major proposals related to childcare, school lunch, workforce and suicide prevention are among the nearly 60 bills sponsored by Democratic-NPL lawmakers that have passed during the first half of North Dakota’s 2023 legislative session. Legislation that was successful in its originating chamber now crosses over to the other chamber for consideration.

“The Dem-NPL caucus is laser focused on developing solutions that help North Dakota families, especially those struggling to find or afford childcare, those dealing with food insecurity, and those facing the tragedy of suicide,” said Dem-NPL House Leader Josh Boschee (D-Fargo). “We’ve also proposed real solutions to our workforce shortage including creating a new immigration office and supporting apprenticeships and education at every level.”

Senate Dem-NPL Leader Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo) highlighted the passage of bills that will bolster the state’s childcare assistance program, modernize childcare employee background checks, establish stabilization grants for childcare providers struggling to stay in business, and provide a direct childcare tax credit to working families. These bills were led by Hogan and Sen. Ryan Braunberger (D-Fargo).

“Every community in North Dakota continues to face a growing childcare crisis,” said Hogan. “I’m pleased the Senate has passed this package of childcare bills that will provide meaningful help for both families and businesses, and I hope the House continues to build on these.”

In addition to childcare, the Dem-NPL caucus championed many other bills to address workforce challenges. Sen. Tim Mathern (D-Fargo) and Rep. Hamida Dakane (D-Fargo) sponsored bills to encourage New Americans to live and work in North Dakota. The House passed Rep. Boschee’s bills to bolster apprenticeships through tax incentives and scholarships, as well as a bill from Rep. Gretchen Dobervich (D-Fargo) to add community health workers to our healthcare workforce. Additionally, House Assistant Dem-NPL Leader Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) authored a bill to streamline teacher licensure requirements.

While GOP lawmakers introduced dozens of bills targeting transgender youth and purporting to protect families from imagined threats like drag shows and library books, the Dem-NPL caucus passed legislation to help families with real issues. Rep. LaurieBeth Hager (D-Fargo) and Rep. Ista led efforts to expand no-cost school meals to more students and ban lunch shaming in schools. Bills from Rep. Karla Rose Hanson (D-Fargo), Rep. Mary Schneider (D-Fargo), and Sen. Hogan will bolster the state’s efforts to prevent suicide, provide pain relief to persons in hospice care, and fund crisis response in mental healthcare. Additionally, Alisa Mitskog (D-Wahpeton) cracked down on vaping among North Dakota youth, and Reps. Ista and Boschee shepherded bills to protect victims of domestic violence and child abuse.

Reps. Jayme Davis (D-Rolette) and Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-Mandaree) championed legislation to enshrine portions of the Indian Child Welfare Act in state law. The Indian Child Welfare Act is a federal law to keep Indian children with Indian families, and adding it separately to state law would ensure that Native children within North Dakota grow up with their cultural ties intact.

“As our state government continues to build stronger relationships with Tribal Nations that are located within North Dakota’s borders, codifying current practice into Century Code as it relates to Native children in the adoption process is integral to continue building trust and respect into the future,” said Rep. Davis.

Dem-NPL legislators also successfully worked to increase accountability and transparency in government. Rep. Liz Conmy (D-Fargo) put forward bills to increase access to political candidates and disclosure of campaign contributions in school board races, Sen. Merrill Piepkorn (D-Fargo) championed better oversight of oil companies owing royalty payments to landowners, and Rep. Corey Mock (D-Grand Forks) worked to close loopholes in state record retention laws that allowed wholesale deletion of officeholders’ emails.

While working on these initiatives, Dem-NPL legislators also pushed back against Republican proposals that take away local control, reduce long-term revenue sources by cutting taxes for the richest North Dakotans and big oil companies, interfere in parental decisions, criminalize doctors providing reproductive and gender-affirming care, and target public employees’ pensions.

“Our caucus is holding true to our commitment of working with the majority party on issues important to North Dakotans, while also working to hold the majority accountable when they overreach,” Boschee said.

Democrats hold 12 of 94 seats in the House of Representatives and four of 47 seats in the Senate. The 68th North Dakota Legislative Assembly will reconvene for further work beginning March 1 and expects to conclude its work for the 2023 session by early May.

Democratic-NPL Chair’s Statement regarding Racism at Recent Jamestown Basketball Game

The North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party Chair Patrick Hart issued the following statement today in response to racism displayed at a January 31 basketball game between Jamestown High School and Bismarck High School:

“What we saw in Jamestown is appalling in so many ways. Democratic-NPL Party stands against racism, and we feel whitewashing of this situation is unacceptable.

These players were verbally assaulted. As a father of a nine and 13 year old, it hurts me to see that in a room full of adults, no one had the courage to stand up and stop what was happening. Because of that cowardice, we’re now dealing with this reactively, when it should have been stopped then and there.

I encourage people across the state to reach out to their local leaders to let them know we all need to stand up against this type of blatant racism. We stand with the parents and the victims.”

North Dakota House Kills Bill to Raise Minimum Wage

On Friday, the North Dakota House killed a bill sponsored by Rep. LaurieBeth Hager (D-Fargo), which would have raised the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.00 an hour. Only one Republican voted in favor of the bill.

North Dakota hasn’t increased its minimum wage in 13 years. Meanwhile the cost of living has gone up 34%.

In her House Floor speech, Rep. Hager emphasized that many North Dakotans make $7.25 an hour saying “You probably don’t see these people unless you drive past the food pantries, and see them waiting in line and wondering why they don’t have enough money. There are people in our state earning seven dollars and 25 cents an hour—an hour to buy two gallons of gas. We need to take care of those people… Voting on this bill today will show that we see them and that we care, and that we don’t want people in our state living in poverty.”

All three states that border North Dakota have higher minimum wages. Minnesota’s is $10.59, South Dakota’s is $10.80, and Montana’s is $9.95. These states understand that raising the minimum wage is a helpful tool in addressing workforce shortages and attracting new people to the state.

Rep. Hager has said she will continue the fight to decrease poverty by increasing the minimum wage in North Dakota. She intends to spearhead an initiated measure, and let the citizens vote on this issue. She noted that both Nebraska and Nevada put this issue on the ballot, and the people successfully increased their minimum wage, and she is confident North Dakota will too.

Democratic-NPL Lawmakers address School Lunch Funding

North Dakota Democrats introduce bills to ensure North Dakota students never go hungry at school.

Representative LaurieBeth Hager (D-Fargo) introduced House Bill 1491 which would provide no cost school lunches for North Dakota public school students.

In her testimony about HB 1491, Hager remarked, “I think each of us knows that if we are hungry or tired it is difficult to concentrate and therefore it is difficult to learn or even participate in classroom activities.”

Representative Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) introduced House Bill 1494 which would ensure schools do not take back and throw away a meal if a student cannot pay, limit a student’s participation in any school activities, graduation ceremonies, field trips, athletics, activity clubs, or other extracurricular activities, or stigmatize students who cannot afford their lunch.

Ista emphasized in his testimony, “I believe we should find a way for the State of North Dakota to provide no-cost meals to all students. If we did that, HB 1494 would become largely unnecessary. But unless and until we provide no-cost meals to all students, HB 1494 remains necessary, as it would ban the harmful practice known as ‘lunch shaming’ in North Dakota. In doing so, we would be protecting children against harmful stigmatization if they cannot afford a school meal. No child should have to suffer such an embarrassment at school, especially on account of something they cannot control like their family’s income.”

Both bills received overwhelming support in the House Education Committee today.

School Lunch funding was a cornerstone issue for Democratic-NPL candidates in 2022, and Democratic-NPL legislators are keeping their campaign trail promises in introducing this legislation.

Democratic-NPL Senator Merrill Piepkorn Files Property Tax Relief Bill

Senator Merrill Piepkorn (D, Fargo) has introduced a much needed property tax relief bill, Senate Bill 2357.

Piepkorn remarked, “By far, the number one issue people in my district are concerned about is property taxes. We have an uncomplicated bill that calls for a tax refund of up to 10% on the taxes a property owner pays on his or her primary residence—and that’s it.” There are myriad property tax bills being considered in the House and Senate. Piepkorn said what sets SB 2357 apart is that it is the easiest to understand, “The refund is not tied to mill levies, education funding, funding county services or anything of that nature. It’s just a direct benefit to the taxpayer, which is exactly what they are looking for.” Co-sponsors of SB 2357 are Representatives Hamida Dakane, Liz Conmy, LaurieBeth Hagar, and Senators Kathy Hogan and Tim Mathern.

Piepkorn will be presenting SB 2357 to the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee on Monday, January 30th at 9:00 AM.

Democratic-NPL Lawmakers Respond to State of the State Address

In response to Governor Burgum’s State of the State address, North Dakota Democratic-NPL lawmakers made the following statement:

House Minority Leader Josh Boschee said, “While we agree that North Dakota has a great opportunity at this moment, we are disappointed that the Governor spent more time cheerleading CEOs than addressing the increasing issues North Dakotans face including our childcare crisis, food and housing insecurity, and access to affordable healthcare.”

Senator Tim Mathern remarked, “When we have significant resources available to us, it is our duty to help improve the quality of life for all North Dakotans. While there are certain areas where we will be able to work with the governor, I’m concerned about his attack on North Dakota’s strong family farming laws. 76% of North Dakotans voted to protect family farmers. ‘Farm freedom’ is a misnomer.”

Boschee continued, “The governor’s flat-tax is a giveaway to the wealthy. The benefit to the top 2.5% of the richest North Dakotans is 25 times greater than it is to the bottom 62%. This doesn’t address the real tax concern—property tax relief—which North Dakotans have been demanding for years.”

As Biden signs Respect for Marriage Act into law, Dem-NPL Legislators react

Today, President Biden signed the bipartisan Respect for Marriage Act into law. This law builds on generations of civil rights advocacy to bring stability and security to millions of LGBTQ+ and interracial couples who will finally be guaranteed the rights and protections to which they and their children are entitled. Biden also emphasized that more work remains to protect LGBTQ+ individuals across the country, including by passing the Equality Act.

ND House Minority Leader Josh Boschee (D-Fargo) said, “It is great to see the bipartisan support for the Respect for Marriage Act which will ensure that North Dakotans who are in same-sex or interracial marriages are guaranteed the same rights and responsibilities of marriage as their family, friends and neighbors. Today is truly a milestone day for North Dakota and our nation as we strengthen our communities by ensuring everyone has the opportunity to work towards their American dream.”

Sen. Ryan Braunberger (D-Fargo) noted, “The Respect for Marriage Act is a step in the right direction to respect those who have married, however, it does not go far enough. We celebrate these small victories while we continue to work hard until the attacks on equality cease to exist.”

“Today is a great day for the LGBTQIA2S people. Everyone should have the right to love and marry free from discrimination. I’m grateful to the group of Senators who worked together to get us to this historic moment, and I look forward to these protections being written into law,” remarked Rep. Lisa Finley-DeVille (D-Mandaree).

Senators Hoeven and Cramer voted against this bipartisan legislation.

Dem-NPL Legislators Say Governor’s Budget a Good Start in Some Areas, Falls Short in Others

The House and Senate Democratic-NPL Caucus was pleased to hear several of the proposals suggested by Governor Doug Burgum during his budget address but said many areas fell short.

“Now is the right time for us to make greater investments in the hardworking people of North Dakota and their families because we currently have significant one-time resources from our ending fund balance, a strong economy and federal funding from the Biden administration and Democratic-led Congress,” said Democratic-NPL House Leader Rep. Josh Boschee (D-Fargo).

Democratic-NPL legislators support several of the governor’s proposals for the 2023-25 biennium, including increased investments in the higher education Challenge Grant Fund and the Housing Incentive Fund. Boschee said, “these programs have proven time and time again that when the state provides incentivized state dollars, North Dakotans and industry are generous with their matches to make the programs a success. Challenge Grants help make college more affordable through scholarships, and the Housing Incentive Fund addresses the state’s significant need for affordable housing.”

However, several areas fall short, said Senate Democratic-NPL Leader Sen. Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo).

“We are happy to see the governor recognize the best way to recruit and retain a talented workforce is to pay them more,” Hogan said. “However, we agree with workers and their employers that we need to increase the governor’s proposals for childcare workforce, K-12 educators and paraprofessionals, and state employees. Not only do his proposed increases fail to keep up with rising costs, but they also don’t make up for the many years in which the Republicans passed too-small salary increases.”

Childcare should also be a top priority during the upcoming session, she added.

“The governor’s proposal represents a solid down payment in addressing the ongoing childcare crises throughout North Dakota, but we know more will be needed to truly make childcare more affordable and accessible,” Hogan said. “The Democratic-NPL caucus has been a strong proponent of investing in children and families for the last two decades, and we look forward to working with the governor and our legislative colleagues on solutions.”

The governor’s proposals fall short in other crucial areas.

“In the middle of a workforce crisis, closing the popular defined benefit pension fund for public employees will only make it harder to recruit talented workers to our state,” Boschee said. “Likewise, the governor’s proposal to implement a flat income tax will take $500M off the table every biennium that could be used to make further investments in education, childcare and workforce development, while disproportionately benefiting the wealthiest North Dakotans. Enhancing our budget’s dependence on fluctuating oil and gas taxes is the wrong solution for the future of our state.”

Democratic-NPL Leaders Applaud Mac Schneider on Confirmation to U.S. Attorney Spot

Today, former North Dakota Senate Minority leader McLain (Mac) Schneider was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to fill the position of U.S. Attorney for the District of North Dakota.

North Dakota Senate Minority Leader Kathy Hogan said, “I’ve known Mac for many years, and am grateful to continue to see him serve the people of North Dakota. I know his father would be so proud of this moment.”

North Dakota House Minority Leader Josh Boschee remarked, “I’m so proud of my friend, Mac. I know he’ll continue the legacy of justice and fairness that runs through his family’s strong history of service to North Dakota. Mac will play an important role in combatting the growing drug and human trafficking issues in partnership with Tribal nations that share borders with North Dakota.”

In March 2021, Boschee and former ND Senate Minority Leader Joan Heckaman wrote a letter to President Biden recommending Schneider for this position. Senators Heidi Heitkamp, Kent Conrad, and Byron Dorgan also pressed the administration to appoint Schneider.

Dobervich awarded Democratic Person of the Year

Cass County Democratic Women Plus awarded Rep. Gretchen Dobervich Democratic Person of the Year.

Dobervich remarked, “This is a really unexpected honor to receive from my friends in the Cass County Dem Women Plus. I think about previous winners of this award who’ve done amazing work, and it’s incredible to be amongst them.”

Dobervich was recently reelected to North Dakota State House where she has served since 2017. Dobervich plans to put forward bills for Medicaid presumptive eligibility, which would allow North Dakotans to access medicaid and thus healthcare soon, and to remove the tax on feminine hygiene classify medically necessary.

This award has been given out since 1980. Nominees must have been a member of Cass County Democratic Women Plus for at least six months and have actively participated in it and their Legislative District Democratic-NPL. Members submit their votes prior to the organization’s annual Holiday Dinner.

Mark Schneider Leaves Political Legacy

A well-known and well-loved leader of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL party died on election day, November 8, leaving behind a family political legacy, according to members of the party who knew him well.​

​Pat Hart, state Dem-NPL chair, said Mark Schneider, besides his own distinguished career, was a brother, husband and father of a political family that has had a wide-ranging impact on North Dakota. ​

​Schneider, who was born in 1948 and lived most of his life in the Fargo area, founded the Schneider Law Firm with his late brother, John. The firm is now in the hands of his son Mac Schneider. He was a senior law firm partner until his retirement in 2015. ​

​Schneider served as chair of the state party and spent several years as a regional attorney for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for the eight southern U.S. states. He was chair of the North Dakota Governor’s Council on Human Resources, chair of the statewide Protection and Advocacy Project, and vice president of the Governor’s Council on the Status of Women.

​Senator Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo), likened the Schneider family’s part in North Dakota’s politics to the famous Democratic Kennedy family. Hogan was re-elected Tuesday to the Senate in District 21 along with Schneider’s wife, Mary Schneider, who has served in the House of Representatives since 2014.

​Schneider’s brother John served 10 years in the North Dakota House of Representatives when he was appointed U.S. Attorney for North Dakota, a post he held until 2000. His son Mac served in the North Dakota Senate from 2009 until 2016. His nomination by President Joe Biden to serve as the U. S. Attorney for North Dakota is awaiting Senate confirmation.

​In 2020, Schneider published a historical novel about an Irish family, “She Has the Right of It,” with characters and a genealogy resembling his own family story.

​Schneider’s daughter Libby Schneider, who was named North Dakota Young Democrat of the Year in 2019, said in a social media post, “Mac and I are Democrats because we grew up watching my parents dedicate their lives to ensuring folks got a fair shake. My Dad lived his values and saw politics as the way to elicit change and ensure we have folks who give a damn about others running this country.” She said it was “only fitting that he took his leave on Election Day.”

Dem-NPL Calls On Wrigley, Cramer To Give More Details About ‘Last-Ditch Effort’ To Change The 2020 Presidential Election Outcome

Axios is reporting that a new book by former Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-VA) asserts that AG Drew Wrigley shared a plan with Sen. Kevin Cramer for a “last-ditch effort” to demand recounts of absentee ballots in key states. Cramer then forwarded that plan on to Trump Chief-of-Staff Mark Meadows.

This comes on the heels of CNN reporting that showed Meadows was also in communication with pro-Trump operatives who wanted to seize voting machines. In a 60 Minutes interview, Riggleman said many of the texts in Meadows’ inbox laid out a “roadmap to an attempted coup.”

“If you’re going to give advice on overturning an election to the Chief of Staff at the White House, then you should share that advice with the rest of the state. North Dakotans deserve to know whether their Senator and their Attorney General – who was a US Attorney at the time – were conspiring to invalidate the will of the people,” said Democratic-NPL Party Chair Patrick Hart. “We need to hear answers from Wrigley and Cramer immediately.”