Much discussed, little accomplished

January 28, 2023

Kevin Glatt, Bismarck Much has been discussed about property tax reform. Little has been accomplished. Relief has been approved several times by the legislature in various forms (income tax credit, county social service takeover, school funding, etc.). However, no real reform has been accomplished since the late 1970s and early 1980s under democratic leadership. Former Governor Dalrymple’s mill levy consolidation was a compromised attempt at reform; along with increased training for local assessors, but no real reform has been achieved under republican control. Perchance ...

Say no to corporate farming

January 28, 2023

Travis and Karen Anderson, Warwick A cruel wind is blowing from Bismarck. Our current Governor Burgum is pushing to end the ban on corporate farming in the state. A beginning economics class teaches that corporations are responsible only to their shareholders, ergo the bottom line. Corporations buy inputs the cheapest, putting local suppliers out of business. They will take the land away from resident producers forcing producers to work for them. Producers will be handcuffed to being price takers. Corporate entities will require them to buy specific inputs if they want to ...

Banning books done before

January 28, 2023

Andrew Heidt, Minot Banning books has been done before. On May 10, 1933, Nazi students throughout Germany burned the books of hundreds of independent authors, journalists, philosophers, and academics that were “against the un-German spirit.” With the words “Against decadence and moral decay! For discipline and decency in the family and the nation!” books were thrown into the fire. There was a prelude to this, written in 1820, by German-Jewish author, Heinrich Heine, “Where they burn books, they will ultimately burn people as well.” Look what happened there! My ...

More deaths raise urgency for upgrade

January 28, 2023

Walter Piehl, Minot Surprised … You shouldn’t be. Another two people killed on Highway 52 between Velva and Sawyer. No matter what the reason, one vehicle crossed the center line. With intense traffic, the chances of a head-on collision are increased exponentially. For whatever reason the N.D. Highway Department is not forthcoming with the their numbers of traffic (cars, semi-trucks, farm implements), accidents and fatal accidents on Highway 52. Through comparison to other highways those statistics would show the real dangers of 52. Has the Highway Department been coerced into ...

GNDC, BIOND wants pharma access, innovation

January 14, 2023

Arik Spencer GNDC President/CEO Bismarck Richard Glynn BioND Executive Director Grand Forks The Greater North Dakota Chamber and the Bioscience Association of North Dakota share a common goal of supporting and growing businesses in North Dakota. We work every day to ensure that our state has the best business climate in the nation as well as promote an entrepreneurial ecosystem that will encourage growth in the bioscience field.  Again this Session, legislators are being asked to consider having the government artificially set prices for life-saving prescription ...

Property taxes are not local

January 14, 2023

Kevin Glatt Bismarck We all have heard it – property taxes are a local issue. If property taxes are a local issue, why is it that ND State Law dictates how and when property is assessed and equalized? Why does state law mandate when local budgets are deliberated and the format and content of the budget hearing notices? Why is it that state law sets mill levy limits (how much can be taxed) and dictates how the money can be spent? Why does state law prescribe what is on the county property tax statement, when it is to be sent, and the deadlines for payment? How come state ...