KVRR Local News
January 27, 2021
BISMARCK, N.D. (KVRR/KCND) – A state senator from Wahpeton has introduced a bill to make the State Health Officer and the director of the Department of Human Services elected positions.
Republican Jason Heitkamp says the suggestion comes from a constituent. He says the Health Officer has a lot of power, as evidenced by orders issued during the pandemic.
Heitkamp says both positions would be elected on the “no-party” ballot.
The bill is co-sponsored by Hazelton Republican Representative Jeff Magrum.
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2. Federal court delivers blow to Dakota Access as Biden presidency leaves pipeline s fate in question
The Dakota Access Pipeline in October 2016 while under construction. Tom Stromme / Bismarck Tribune
A federal appeals court upheld a ruling Tuesday, Jan. 26, requiring an additional environmental review of the Dakota Access Pipeline, a decision that could escalate pressure on the embattled project to shut down even as the court stopped short of mandating this step itself.
A panel of three judges for the U.S. District Court of Appeals from the District of Columbia Circuit unanimously agreed with a previous ruling that DAPL s operations at its Missouri River crossing near the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation are illegal, requiring the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to proceed with an extensive review of potential environmental hazards at that location.
Bill would tap North Dakota s Legacy Fund to erase residential property taxes
House Bill 1446 would put earnings from the voter-approved Legacy Fund toward property tax credits for any North Dakota homeowner who wants to claim them. The state would then reimburse counties for the lost tax revenue. Written By: Jeremy Turley | ×
Rep. Jeff Magrum, a plumber and rancher, is pictured on Oct. 7, 2016, in Hazelton, N.D. Mikkel Pates / Forum News Service
BISMARCK A group of far-right North Dakota lawmakers wants to spend earnings from the state s oil tax savings account to eliminate residential property taxes. Supporters of the proposal say it would cycle money back into the local economy, but party leadership on both sides of the aisle have dismissed the legislation and put forth other plans to use the funds.
North Dakota lawmakers set sights on stand-your-ground legislation
House Bill 1193 would allow anyone to use deadly force against an assailant without attempting to retreat from the situation. The so-called stand-your-ground legislation would expand the current castle law, which permits the use of deadly force at one s home or workplace but requires an effort to escape the attacker in other circumstances. Written By: Jeremy Turley | ×
Rep. Jeff Magrum, R-Hazelton, presents a bill in front of the North Dakota House Judiciary Committee on Monday, Jan. 25. Jeremy Turley / Forum News Service
BISMARCK A group of ultra-conservative North Dakota lawmakers has thrown its support behind a bill that would loosen the law on using deadly force in self-defense.
Burgum, you ll recall, declared political war on the Bastiats in the 2020 election, and Magrum was one of the targets. This bill, as I m sure Magrum knows, is a nonstarter. It s basically the political equivalent of flipping Burgum “the bird.”
Anyway, karma has a way of sorting things out. Burgum s political action committee successfully primaried budget hawk and longtime House Appropriations Chairman Rep. Jeff Delzer, R-Underwood, but when Burgum s candidate, Dave Andahl, died of COVID shortly before the election (and still won), District 8 Republicans put Delzer back into the Legislature.
Burgum may have a reputation as having a Midas Touch when it comes to business but when it comes to politics, you may want to think twice before you take his call.