701-566-9300Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #25
This morning I sat in on the first conference committee of the session. Usually they last half an hour and this one went 10 minutes over before they agreed to try later. ANYWAY, it was a bill (HB1339, which I had not previously followed but probably should have) that came in which would have dropped […]hi
This morning I sat in on the first conference committee of the session. Usually they last half an hour and this one went 10 minutes over before they agreed to try later. ANYWAY, it was a bill (HB1339, which I had not previously followed but probably should have) that came in which would have dropped the threshold percentage to appeal an assessed water project from 25 percent to 0. The House...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #24
Late on Friday afternoon in House Appropriations, a motion was made by Representative Streyle to eliminate any reference to SBARE, (State Board of Agricultural Research and Education) which is chaired by Mike Beltz of Hillsboro. SBARE was established by the Legislature in 1997 to be responsible for policy and budgeting for the ND Ag Experiment […]hi
Late on Friday afternoon in House Appropriations, a motion was made by Representative Streyle to eliminate any reference to SBARE, (State Board of Agricultural Research and Education) which is chaired by Mike Beltz of Hillsboro. SBARE was established by the Legislature in 1997 to be responsible for policy and budgeting for the ND Ag Experiment Station and later for NDSU Extension Service. More...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #23
You may recall that the last couple of sessions the Legislature “bought back” 12 percent of county budgets to take the pressure off of property taxes. Last session we worked hard to make it a bill that would fund the state mandated part of social services that are delivered by the counties. It failed even […]hi
You may recall that the last couple of sessions the Legislature “bought back” 12 percent of county budgets to take the pressure off of property taxes. Last session we worked hard to make it a bill that would fund the state mandated part of social services that are delivered by the counties. It failed even though the Governor was pushing it, so the buyback continued. This session SB2206...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #22
You may recall that the last couple of sessions the Legislature “bought back” 12 percent of county budgets to take the pressure off of property taxes. Last session we worked hard to make it a bill that would fund the state mandated part of social services that are delivered by the counties. It failed even […]hi
You may recall that the last couple of sessions the Legislature “bought back” 12 percent of county budgets to take the pressure off of property taxes. Last session we worked hard to make it a bill that would fund the state mandated part of social services that are delivered by the counties. It failed even though the Governor was pushing it, so the buyback continued. This session SB2206...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #21
Discussions with the Water, Tax, Transportation and other Worlds have us coming to conclusions that will go to the floor within the next week and then to Conference Committees. One experienced lobbyist stated that, were he a betting man, he would put a grand on the Legislature lasting at least to day 75 of the […]hi
Discussions with the Water, Tax, Transportation and other Worlds have us coming to conclusions that will go to the floor within the next week and then to Conference Committees. One experienced lobbyist stated that, were he a betting man, he would put a grand on the Legislature lasting at least to day 75 of the 80 allowed. Leadership has stated that they are trying to be done around Day 72, but...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #20
Yesterday was spent partly in Senate Finance and Tax as the committee worked on HB1361 which is about property tax caps. Each of the Senators has a position, with Chairman Cook stating that for the past five budgets, Morton county has not had a mill increase, but with a 3 percent cap they probably would […]hi
Yesterday was spent partly in Senate Finance and Tax as the committee worked on HB1361 which is about property tax caps. Each of the Senators has a position, with Chairman Cook stating that for the past five budgets, Morton county has not had a mill increase, but with a 3 percent cap they probably would have had one every year. Senator Laffen said he was against it on the basis of taking away...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #19
Big news. Today, upon the 5-0 Do Not Pass Recommendation of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the floor unanimously followed that lead on HB1282. It failed 46-0 with only one Senator absent. It would appear that the Commodity Groups were heard. It was a big water day in Senate Energy and Natural Resources. They took more […]hi
Big news. Today, upon the 5-0 Do Not Pass Recommendation of the Senate Agriculture Committee, the floor unanimously followed that lead on HB1282. It failed 46-0 with only one Senator absent. It would appear that the Commodity Groups were heard.
It was a big water day in Senate Energy and Natural Resources. They took more testimony on Quick Take – this time on the House version, HB1244. It...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #18
On Tuesday, the Grower’s board had a meeting in Fargo that touched on many issues including subcommittee meetings for a Legislative update, a Membership meeting, Communications and other business. I took off for Bismarck early that evening. Wednesday saw DOT discussing their budget in front of House Appropiations. The day ended at the Water Commission […]hi
On Tuesday, the Grower’s board had a meeting in Fargo that touched on many issues including subcommittee meetings for a Legislative update, a Membership meeting, Communications and other business. I took off for Bismarck early that evening.
Wednesday saw DOT discussing their budget in front of House Appropiations. The day ended at the Water Commission building where current water issues were...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #17
Since I last blogged, Thursday and Friday happened. On Thursday, commodity groups lined up to testify against HB1282. It was held in a larger room which was a good thing. Many of the NDSGA board members were there, with President Craig Olson standing up for our group. Craig used some impromptu humor to give the […]hi
Since I last blogged, Thursday and Friday happened. On Thursday, commodity groups lined up to testify against HB1282. It was held in a larger room which was a good thing. Many of the NDSGA board members were there, with President Craig Olson standing up for our group. Craig used some impromptu humor to give the room a needed laugh and around 3:00 p.m. the hearing ended with the Ag Commissioner...
Murphy’s Law Blog 2017 | #16
Monday saw two different discussions on water. One a noon meeting with a Bismarck geologist about nutrient management and how to get Agriculture involved. The other was a late afternoon meeting with a legislator about his vision to reform how ND manages its water. Whether a specific bill or getting the big picture from various […]hi
Monday saw two different discussions on water. One a noon meeting with a Bismarck geologist about nutrient management and how to get Agriculture involved. The other was a late afternoon meeting with a legislator about his vision to reform how ND manages its water. Whether a specific bill or getting the big picture from various players, water is always a big issue and our growers are better off...