North Dakota Senators Must Fulfill Their Oath and Vote for a Fair Trial

January 21, 2020

***Statement***

With the impeachment trial of the President under way, the North Dakota Democratic-NPL released the following statement:

North Dakota Democratic-NPL legislators routinely work across the aisle with their Republican colleagues to do the people’s business in Bismarck. North Dakotans expect our representatives in Washington, D.C. to do the same.

As jurors in the president’s impeachment trial, Senators John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer took an oath of impartiality, a vow to abandon partisan politics and follow the truth wherever it leads. But so far, the Senate is rushing through one of the most important trials in American history without a plan to hear witness testimony directly relevant to charges against the president.

Since its founding, the Senate has held 15 impeachment trials. Each time, both sides had the opportunity to present witnesses and evidence because everyone deserves a fair trial, and no one is above the law. A North Dakota jury would promise no less.

But with the trial officially beginning today, it remains unclear if Hoeven and Cramer will entirely abandon their oath. With the trial ongoing and impending votes on the procedural rules, Senators Hoeven and Cramer have the power and the duty to protect the integrity of our democracy and of our Country. North Dakotans deserve representatives who fulfill the oaths they take. We call on Senators Cramer and Hoeven to do the right thing and vote for fairness.

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Dem-NPL: Fighting to Protect North Dakotans with Pre-existing Conditions

November 26, 2019

A recent article on the work of the interim Healthcare Committee failed to mention that guaranteed protections for individuals with pre-existing conditions were offered by Democratic-NPL legislators (section 14 of SB 2010) back in April 2019. Unfortunately, this effort was defeated by the Republican supermajority during the 2019 legislative session. They had the opportunity to take action and once again showed their true colors – that they put politics ahead of people’s health care.
When the version of SB 2010 that included the amendment to guarantee protections for pre-existing conditions passed the House (no thanks to the 33 GOP legislators who voted against this amendment), Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and the Republican supermajority later removed the amendment (section 14) from the bill. It should be noted that efforts to protect North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions were led by Democratic-NPL lawmakers, while the ACA lawsuit that would strip away these protections earned the full-throated support of Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, Insurance Commissioner Godfread, and Congressman Kelly Armstrong.

“If the State is able to remove coverage for pre-existing conditions from the ACA, which will happen if the lawsuit is successful, a great number of people will find that they will lose coverage or be asked to pay premiums that they can’t afford,” said Rep. Rick Holman (D-Mayville). “Our job should be to help people not hurt them.”

It also deserves mention that three of the members on the current interim Health Care Committee voted against protecting pre-existing conditions during the 2019 legislative session: Clayton Fegley (R-Berthold), Jim Kasper (R-Fargo), and Lisa Meier (R-Bismarck). Additionally, Rep. Robin Weisz (R-Hurdsfield) and Rep. Bob Paulson (R-Minot), who were absent during this vote, later voted against the final version of SB 2010.

“Instead of supporting North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions and protecting the very constituents who elected them, Godfread and Republican legislators once again played political games,” said Dem-NPL Chairwoman Kylie Oversen. “What if the Stenehjem and Godfread supported lawsuit against the ACA succeeds prior to the 2021 legislative session? North Dakotans well-being is at risk. This is yet another example of the ND Republicans refusing to do the right thing for tens of thousands of North Dakotans. If you don’t believe me, listen to the words of Rep. Dan Ruby (R-Minot), who specifically carried forward the long-standing Republican position of denying guaranteed coverage and protections for North Dakotans with pre-existing conditions, simply because they ‘didn’t like’ it.”

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