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WELCOME, I'M DAVE THOMPSON, THANKS FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THE LEGISLATURE IS IN ITS FIRST FULL WEEK AFTER HAVING THE STATE
OF THE STATE ADDRESS, NOW LAWMAKERS ARE GETTING INTO
LEGISLATION OF WHAT IS GOING ON AND SOME OF THE ISSUES WILL BE
TALKED ABOUT THIS SESSION AND HERE TO JOIN US AS OUR FIRST
GUEST IN THE 2011 SESSION IS THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER AL CARLSON OF FARGO.
--->THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
--->GLAD TO HAVE YOU HERE. YOU WILL BE ONE OF THE POINT
PEOPLE IN HOW THE SESSION IS GOING TO UNFOLD.
--->THERE'S NO QUESTION IT WILL BE AN EXCITING SESSION.
--->WHY DO YOU SAY IT'S EXCITING?
WHAT DOW THINK WILL BE THE TONO OH WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE TONE OF THE SESSION.
--->EVERY PROBLEM WE HAVE IS A GOOD PROBLEM.
WE ARE THE ENVY OF THE NATION, WE HAVE CASH RESERVES, THE
SALARIES ARE ON THE INCREASE, WE HAVE QUALITY EDUCATION SYSTEM, WE ARE REALLY DOING WELL.
WE HAVE SOME INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS, COMMUNITIES THAT NEED
FLOOD DIVERSION BUT THOSE ARE PROBLEMS WE CAN HANDLE AND WE
ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE REVENUE TO DEAL WITH THOSE THINGS.
--->NORTH DAKOTA IS ONE OF FEW STATES AND MAYBE THE ONLY STATE WITH A DECENT SURPLUS.
--->ABSOLUTELY. I'D SAY IT'S BECAUSE OF GOOD MAN AGOMENT.
SOME PEOPLE SAY GOD GAVE YOU OIL.
WE NEED TO NEVER BECOME SO DEPENDENT UP ON IT, IT CAN BE ONE OF THE LEGS OF THE STOOL.
WE HAVE SALES TAX HAS GROWN, EVEN WITH INCOME TAX REDUCTION
OUR INCOME TAX IS STILL GROWING BECAUSE OUR PEOPLE ARE MAKING
MORE MONEY, THEIR SALARIES ARE UP.
THIS WILL BE AN EXCITING SESSION.
CHALLENGING, WE HAVE BIG CHALLENGES BUT WET ARE READY FOR THEM.
--->YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE CHALLENGES IN THE SESSION, CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THEM?
--->ONE OF THE BIGGEST ONE, WE POOLED OUR CAUCUS, WHAT DO YOU
THINK IS THE NUMBER 1 ISSUE, THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SAID DEALING
WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT ONLY IN THE OIL PATCH BUT ACROSS THE STATE.
THE FARMS ARE IN TOUGH SHAPE, SO MANY WET YEAR, SO MUCH FARM TO
TRAFFIC ROAD, ALL THE MOISTURE, BIG SNOW REMOVAL YEARS, THEN YOU
ADD IN THE MIX OF DEALING WITH THE 150 ACTIVE OIL WELL DRILLING
RIGS EACH AND EVERY DAY IN OIL COUNTRY HAS CREATED A SPECIAL
PROBLEM OUT THERE, SO INFRASTRUCTURE IS NUMBER 1.
THAT WILL TAKE A BACK SEAT TO NOTHING DURING THE WHOLE
SESSION, BUT THERE IS ALSO OTHER ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO THERE
ARE WATER PIPELINE ISSUES WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, THE RED RIVER
VALLEY WE NEED TO DEAL WITH, PROTECTION OF DEVIL'S LAKE,
PROPER EDUCATION FUNDING, PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, WHETHER
IT'S EXTENDED, WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL GO ALONG WITH REDUCTION OF
PERSONAL INCOME TAX THE GOVERNOR PUT IN HIS BUDGET, ALL THOSE ARE
BIG ISSUES AND THEN YOU ADD IN LITTLE THINGS LIKE THE GRADUATED
DRIVER'S LICENSE, YOU ADD IN THE TEXTING MEASURE, YOU ADD IN THE
CHANGE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR LANDOWNERS OUT IN OIL COUNTRY.
I MEAN, THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF ISSUES THAT POP TO THE SURFACE
BUT WE WILL DEAL WITH EACH OF THOSE AS THEY COME IN AN ORDERLY
FASHION AND WE THINK IT WILL BE A GOOD SESSION FOR THE CITIZENS.
--->THE INFRASTRUCTURE PROBLEMS, YOU DO MENTION IT IS STATE WIDE.
WE ARE ALMOST A VICTIM OF OUR OWN SUCCESS.
YOU HAVE FARM TO MARKET ROADS THAT HAVE GOTTEN BEAT UP BECAUSE
WE'VE HAD GOOD PRODUCTION. YOU HAVE A LOT OF OIL RIGS
DRILLING, THE PREDICTION IS AS HIGH AS 200.
IT IS ALL HAPPENING, TO START THE SHOW THERE IS MONEY TO TAKE
CARE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS.
--->WE HAVE EXCESS REVENUE BUT WE'VE DONE SOME GOOD THINGS,
BUILT THE GOOD STRONG RESERVE, PUT $320 MILLION IN THE BANK
WHICH BY THE WAY, AT THE RATE OUR GOVERNMENT COSTS OPERATE,
THAT'S ONLY 70 DAYS OF GOVERNMENT, SO IT'S NOT LIKE WE
HAVE A RESERVE THAT WILL LAST US FOR A YEAR OR TWO, WE HAVE $320
MILLION SET ASIDE THAT CAN ONLY BE USED AS A RAINY DAY FUND AND
THAT MONEY WILL STAY THERE, WE HAVE SET THAT IN PLACE SO THE ME
CHANCICS ARE VERY GOOD FOR WHEN IT WILL BE USED AND WE ARE NOT
TOUCHING THAT, WE'VE SET ASIDE MONEY FOR THE PROPERTY TAX
RELIEF FUND, $300 MILLION IS SITTING THERE.
WE LOWERED OUR PROPERTY TAX AND WE STILL HAVE MORE REVENUE FROM
INCOME TAX EVEN WHEN YOU TOOK THE HUNDRED MILLION AWAY,
EVERYTHING IS GROWING. OUR REVENUE STREAM HAS BEEN SOLID.
IT'S IMPORTANT YOU HAVE A MULTI LEG STOOL IN GOVERNMENT, YOU
DON'T WANT TO BE TOO DEPENDENT ON ONE AREA, FORTUNATELY WE'VE
LEFT THE LEGS OF THE STOOL EVEN. WE'VE DONE A LOT OF ONE TIME
SPENDING IN THE PAST THREE BY BIENNIUM, WE'VE FIXED MORE
ROADS, WE'VE SPENT IT WHEN WE HAVE IT, NOW WE HAVE AGAIN THIS
SESSION A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT POOL OF MONDAY THAT WE CONSIDER TO BE ONE TIME SPENDING.
--->NOW, I HAVE TO ASK ABOUT THE ROADS BECAUSE THERE IS NO
HIGHWAY BILL YET AT LEAST AS FAR ASCII TELL, HOW THAT IS GOING TO
PLAY INTO THE DISCUSSIONS ABOUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE?
--->THE BIGGEST FIGHT IS ALWAYS HOW DO YOU DISTRIBUTE THE MONEY?
DOES IT GO IN THE HIGHWAY FUN WHERE IT GOES TO THE WHOLE STATE?
DOES IT GO INTO THE STATE HIGHWAY DISTRIBUTION FUND WHERE
60% GOES TO THE STATE, THE BALANCE GOES TO THE CITIES AND TOWN SHIPS.
DO YOU TAKE THE EXISE TAX AND PUT IT IN THE GENERAL FUND?
YOU NEED THE MONEY TO GET THE WORK DONE.
HERE IS THE FLY IN THE OINTMENT. IN THE LAST TWO YEARS THEY HAVE
NOT AUTHORIZED A HIGHWAY BILL AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE'RE
AUTHORIZING MAKING CONTINUED AUTHORIZATIONS OFF 2008 LEGISLATION.
FOR ANY SURETY IN THE HIGHWAY PROGRAM WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE
FEDS ARE SUPPLYING SO WE CAN SUPPLY AND GET OUR MATCHES IN
LINE AND HONESTLY THEY HAVE DROP THE BALL AND THIS CONGRESS
BETTER GET A HIGHWAY BILL TOGETHER, WE ARE NOT THE ONLY
STATE THAT NEEDS TO FIX OUR HIGHWAYS.
--->CONGRESS WILL HAVE TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE, TO USE THE CLICHE, TO DO SOMETHING.
--->THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE A BUDGET, THANK GOD WE DON'T DO IT THAT WAY IN NORTH DAKOTA.
--->EARLY ON WHEN WE TALKED HOW THE SESSION WAS STARTING, YOU
SAID THE REALITY IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS BROKE AND WE HAVE
TO FACE UP TO THE REALITY AND THERE MAY NOT BE MUCH FEDERAL MONEY COMING IN.
THANKFULLY NORTH DAKOTA IS IN A GOOD POSITION.
--->IF THERE IS ONE WORD OF CAUTION AS A LEADER IS DON'T
SPEND ALL THE MONEY, WHEN 37 CENTS IS BORROWED AT THE FEDERAL
LEVEL, THE REALITY WILL COME THEY WILL HAVE TO STOP SOME OF THIS CRAZY SPENDING.
YOU KNOW THE FIRST PLACE THEY WILL GO?
TO THE STATE AND SAY WE WILL NO LONGER FUND THIS PROGRAM AND
THIS PROGRAM AND WE NEED TO MAKE THE DECISION THEN IF THEY ARE
REALLY GOOD FOR OUR CITIZENS ARE WE GOING TO KEEP THEM AND CAN WE
AFFORD TO FUND THEM FOR OURSELVES?
HAVING A RESERVE BECAUSE THAT DAY IS COMING, WE HAVE ALREADY
SEEN IT IN MEDICAID, WE HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THE MANDATE IS ON THE
FEDERAL HEALTHCARE FUND IF PASSED WILL DO TO US.
WE'RE TRYING TO UNRAVEL THAT ON A DAILY BASIS, WE HAVE CREATED A
COMMITTEE THAT WILL MONITOR WHAT AFFECT THAT WILL HAVE ON US.
--->DO YOU THINK AT THIS POINT THERE ARE TOO MANY UNANSWERED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE HEALTHCARE?
--->HONESTLY I DONE LIKE IT, I DON'T LIKE THE MANDATE ON OUR CITIZENS.
70% NORTH DAKOTA CITIZENS SAY THEY DON'T WANT TO PARTICIPATE
IN IT, WE ARE SETTING OURSELVES UP SO WE DON'T.
ARE WE DOING BACKGROUND THINGS SO IF IT MAINTAINS AND STARTS IN 2014 WILL WE BE READY?
YES, WE WILL. BUT WE ARE POSITIONING OURSELVES
TO NOT BE INVOLVED IN THAT PROGRAM.
--->I KNOW THERE IS A PILE OF LEGISLATION THAT HE HAS
INTRODUCED TO DEAL WITH THE CONTINGENCIES IF THESE DEADLINES
HAVE TO BE MET THAT YOU WILL HAVE SOMETHING TO WORK WITH.
--->AND SOME OF THOSE WILL GET PUT ON HOLD BECAUSE WE HAVE A
SPECIAL SESSION COMING IN NOVEMBER FOR REDISTRICTING AND
WE HAVE A FIVE DAY SESSION THAT WILL BE SOME TIME IN EARLY
NOVEMBER AND WE HAVE ADDED TO THAT BILL THAT SETS UP THE
SPECIAL SESSION THE ABILITY FOR US TO DISCUSS WHAT WE NEED TO DO
TO REACT TO ANYTHING THAT HAS HAPPENED IN THE REGULATIONS ON
HEALTHCARE AND WE WILL ADDRESS SOME OF THOSE.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO ADD 15 OR 20 EMPLOYEES IN THESE VARIOUS
AGENCIES AT THIS POINT IN TIME, WE WILL DEAL WITH THAT IN
NOVEMBER IF WE HAVE TO, BUT AGAIN WITH US BEING THERE ONLY
80 DAYS EVERY OTHER YEAR WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE MONITOR THIS SO
WE ARE NOT STUCK BEING FORCED INTO THINGS WE CAN'T AS A STATE REACT TO.
MOST STATES ARE REACTING IN ONE WAY OR THE OTHER SAYING THEY DO
NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS. WE ARE A LITTLE BEHIND THE 8
BALL BECAUSE WE WEREN'T IN SESSION WHEN IT PASSED BUT NOW
WE WILL DEAL WITH THOSE ISSUES.
--->I WANT TO ASK YOU BACK ON THE INFRASTRUCTURE PIECE OF THIS,
RED RIVER DIVERSION WILL BE ANOTHER BIG ISSUE AND THERE
SEEMS TO BE SOME MIXED MESSAGES COMING FROM THE CORPS, WHETHER
THE MAN WILL GO AHEAD AS IT IS, PLANS TO MOVE IT BETWEEN FARGO
AND WEST FARGO, SOME OBJECTIONS TO UP STREAM CITIES AND SOME
OBJECTIONS FROM DOWNSTREAM CITIES, HOW DO YOU LOOK AT THAT
PLAYING ITSELF OUT?
--->I THINK IT'S A LONG WAYS FROM DONE.
I THINK THAT THE FUNNY THING IS I HAVE BEEN WONDERING HOW CLOSE
THEY WILL GET TO THE GOVERNOR'S LAND, THAT OUGHT TO MAKE ATE
INTERESTING DEBATE WHEN WE GET TO THAT, THEY WILL HAVE A
DIFFICULT TIME TAKING SOME OF THE RICHEST FARMLAND IN THE
WORLD AND PUTTING A 600 FOOT WIDE DITCH ON IT.
NOT ONLY THAT, WE HONESTLY CAN'T AFFORD TO DEFEND, THE WAY THE
PROGRAM IS TODAY IS PROTECTING BOTH SIDES OF THESE CITIES THAT
ARE DIVERTING THIS WATER, SO IT IS A LONG WAYS FROM DONE AND IT
IS A VERY EXPENSIVE OR DEAL. AS THE LEGISLATURE OUR PLAN IS
TO SET ASIDE A LITTLE MONEY FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL BIENNIUMS TO
SET ASIDE WHAT IS OUR PART, BUT WE NEED TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING AT THIS POINT.
--->IT'S A $1.2 BILLION PROJECT.
--->MINIMUM. IT'S VERY EXPENSIVE. IS IT NECESSARY?
IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE GROWTH IN THE VALLEY IT IS.
WE ARE SITTING WITH AS MUCH SNOW AS WE HAD IN THE BIG YEAR '96, '97.
THAT WAS THE TOUGHEST ONE IN FARGO.
ARE WE BETTER PREPARED? YES.
SHOULD WE CONTINUE PREPARING CERTAIN PARTS OF THE CITY WITH DIKES?
YES.
--->SPEAKING OF WATER, WE MENTIONED DEVIL'S LAKE, ONE OF
THE HEARINGS HAPPENED THIS WEEK ABOUT AN EAST END OUTLET AND
THERE IS LEGISLATIVE INTENT LANGUAGE TO CONSTRUCT SOME SORT OF FACILITY ON THE --
--->CONTROLLED DAM IS WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE THEY
HAD $120 MILLION -- THE GOVERNOR HAD $120 MILLION IN HIS BUDGET.
IT'S AMAZING, WATER IS NOT THAT FAR, THAT THE LAKE WOULD EXPAND
LIKE THEY WOULD TO HOLD WATER IN DEVIL'S LAKE.
WHO WOULD BELIEVE IT? IT CAUSES PROBLEMS DOWNSTREAM,
THE QUALITY OF THE WATER DOWNSTREAM IS NOT WHAT WE WOULD
LIKE, IT'S HARD TO RUN THROUGH FILTRATION PLANTS TO MAKE IT
GOOD DRINKING WATER. THE RIVER WILL BE FULL.
AGAIN, THAT IS ANOTHER ONE THAT ISN'T COMPLETELY SETTLED.
--->THERE WAS SOME STARTLING STATISTICS ABOUT THAT, THAT IF
THE LAKE BREAKS FREE AND STARTS FLOWING, THAT COULD BE 2.5 TIMES
THE FLOOD THE VALLEY HAD.
--->IT WOULD DEAF STATE VALLEY CITY OF THAT MUCH WATER CAME.
IF IT BREAKS IT WILL COME WITH A LOT OF WATER.
THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO BE CAREFUL TO LOOK AT THE CONTROL DAM SO WE
HAVE SOME DAY HOW THAT WATER IS COMING OUT OF THERE.
AGAIN THEY HAVE RECORD MOISTURE UP IN THE BASIN THIS FALL AND
WINTER, WE HAVE TO MAKE SOME ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH IT THIS SESSION.
--->OUR GUEST TODAY ON LEGISLATIVE REVIEW IS
REPRESENTATIVE AL CARLSON, THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER.
WE HAVE A SPECIAL THE CAFE PERSPECTIVES.
WE WENT TO THE GOVERNOR'S INN CAVE AN IN CASSELTON TO TALK TO
PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT IS ON THEIR MIND.
--->THANKS, I'M HERE AT THE TABLE OF KNOWLEDGE AS IT IS CALLED AT
THE GOVERNOR'S INN CAFE IN CASSELTON, WITH A GROUP OF MEN
TALKING ABOUT WEATHER, GUYS, THE GOVERNOR GAVE HIS STATE OF THE
STATE ADDRESS AND HOW MANY OF YOU GUYS SAW IT, HEARD IT, READ
ABOUT IT AND REACTION TO THE GOVERNOR?
--->HE HAD A GOOD FORMULA FOR THE FUTURE, I THINK HE WILL BE A GREAT GOVERNOR.
--->HE'S BEHIND EDUCATION, IT'S GOOD TO SEE THAT IS PUSHED FORWARD.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS HE WAS TALKING ABOUT IS SPENDING SOME
MONEY OUT IN OIL FIELDS, ON THE ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURES WHICH
EVERY ROAD IN NORTH DAKOTA NEEDS.
--->HE HAS SOME VERY GOOD PROPOSALS AND -- BUT NOW YOU
NEED THE LEGISLATURE TO GO ALONG ON MOST OF THEM OR AT LEAST
PARTWAY ON THEM. IF THE MONEY IS THERE.
OF COURSE EVERY AGENCY IN THE STATE, EVERY GROUP IN THE STATE
IS GOING TO BE IN WITH BOTH FEET TRYING TO GET MONEY.
--->SPEAKING OF CASSELTON, GUYS, WHAT IS IN THE WATER HERE?
THAT'S AMAZING FOR A TOWN OF 2,000 PEOPLE, WHAT DO YOU GUYS ATTRIBUTE IT TO?
--->LUCK, I GUESS. I DON'T THINK IT'S THE WATER.
--->WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK OF THE OIL SITUATION?
BOY, THINGS ARE GOING GREAT GUNS OUT THERE BUT AS WITH ANY KIND
OF GROWTH THERE ARE PROBLEMS. ROADS, INFRASTRUCTURE, NOT
ENOUGH HOUSING FOR PEOPLE.
HOW DO YOU THINK THE LEGISLATURE HOULD MANAGE THE OIL BOOM?
--->I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE FOR EVERYTHING THEY NEED OUT THERE
BECAUSE THIS IS OUR JACK POT NOW.
AND I THINK WE SHOULD WORK IT AND GIVE THEM EVERYTHING THEY NEED.
--->DIDN'T THEY SAY YESTERDAY THERE IS DOUBLE OIL THAN THEY THOUGHT AT FIRST?
SO, THAT WILL BE TREMENDOUS FOR OUR GENERAL FUND IN NORTH DAKOTA
AND THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND SOME MONEY SO THAT IT KEEPS ADVANCING.
--->I THINK I HEARD THAT IT WILL BE THE SECOND BEHIND -- WE WILL
BE RIGHT BEHIND TEXAS IN OIL PRODUCTION.
--->THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN DEVELOPING FOR THE OIL BOON AND
IF SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THE OIL, THE DEVELOPMENT, THESE PEOPLE
WHO ARE WORKING THERE JUST TAKEOFF AND WHO IS LEFT WITH THE ASSESSMENTS?
THE TAX PAYERS OF NORTH DAKOTA. IT HAPPENED TO BELLFIELD BACK
WHATEVER YEAR THAT WAS.
--->REAL ESTATE HAS GONE THROUGH TWO BOONS AND BUST, AND OIL
WORKERS DISAPPEARED AND THEY SAT WITH EXCESSIVE HOUSING.
--->WELL, GENTLEMEN, THE LEGISLATURE WILL BE WRESTLING
WITH THESE AND OTHER ISSUES, WE'LL COME BACK IN A MONTH AND TALK WITH YOU.
AND IN TWO WEEKS WE WILL BE AT ANOTHER CAFE
BACK TO YOU, DAVE.
--->THANKS, MATT. NEXT TIME HE WILL BE IN OHMS.
OUR GUEST AL CARLSON, I WANT TO SWITCH OUR DISCUSSION TO PROPERTY TAX.
LAST YEAR YOU PASSED $300 MILLION PROPERTY TAX BILL WHICH
FUNNELED MONEY TOWARDS LOCAL SCHOOLS TO BRING IT UP TO THE
STATE PAYING 70% AND NOW IT'S GOING TO COST $45 MILLION TO CON
TIN THANK YOU THIS YEAR?
--->THE PROPERTY TAX, WE TOOK MONEY OUT OF THE TRUST FUND AND
FUNDED IT, BUT IT'S A GROWING THING TO MAINTAIN BECAUSE
PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASED, THEREFORE THAT 70% LEVEL AND IN
ORDER FOR US TO GET TO THE 75 MIL DEDUCTION WE HAVE TO ADD 45 MILLION.
THERE ARE SOME THAT WANTED TO CAP IT AND SAY THAT'S ALL THE
MONEY WE'RE PUTTING IN PROPERTY TAX, SOME WANT TO PUT IT IN --
THIS WILL BE A $500 MILLION EXPENSE TO THE STATE IN A FEW
YEARS BECAUSE OF GROWTH OF OUR ASSESSED VALUE AND PROPERTY TO
MAINTAIN THE PREMISE THEY USED WHEN THEY STARTED.
THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO
MAKE, HOW DEEP AND HOW LONG DO WE WANT TO CON TIN YOU?
BECAUSE IF WE BACK OUT THERE WILL BE A LOT MORE PEOPLE PAYING
MORE PROPERTY TAX. WE PUT $300 MILLION IN THE HAND
OF THE TAXPAYERS, MOST OF US LIKE PUTTING MONEY IN THE HAND
OF THE TAXPAYERS THAN THE GOVERNMENT.
CAN WE CONTINUE TO DO THAT?
THE PROJECTIONS LOOK PRETTY GOOD BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW FOR MANY
MORE REDUCTIONS AND OTHER TYPE TAXES IF YOU ARE GOING TO DO THAT.
THERE'S A GROUP OF PEOPLE IN OUR CAUCUS AND ASSEMBLY THINK WE
SHOULD SWITCH THE FOCUS GETTING OUT OF THE PROPERTY TAX BUSINESS
INTO LOWERING OUR CORPORATE TAXES.
--->IS THAT SOMETHING YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE HAPPEN?
--->I THINK IT'S A LONG RANGE PROBLEM FOR US TO BE IN A
SITUATION WHERE WE DON'T CONTROL THE ASSESSMENT OR COLLECTION OF
THE TAXES YET WE ARE REBATING TO THAT AND THE 17% REDUCTION WE
THOUGHT WE WERE GETTING HAS ALREADY ERODED DOWN TO 13 OR 14%
BECAUSE THE OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION HAVE INCREASED THE
LEVY, WE'RE NOT GETTING AS MUCH *** TO THE BUCK, THAT LEADS TO
PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT CAPS, CAPS ON EVALUATION, CAPS ON SPENDING,
THERE IS SOME INTERESTING BILLS OUT THERE AND ONE THING THEY ALL
DO IS PUT A REAL CLAMP ON LOCAL CONTROL AND WE STRUGGLE WITH
THAT BECAUSE WE FEEL THE BEST GOVERNMENT IS THE MOST CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE.
THERE ARE NUMEROUS BILLS IN THE HOUSE FINANCE AND TAX COMMITTEE,
I KNOW THERE ARE SOME IN THE SENATE, IT WILL BE A HOT BUTTON
ISSUE BEFORE IT ALL DONE.
--->I WANTED TO ALSO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR RELATIONS WITH THE
NEW GOVERNOR, BECAUSE HE'S A FORMER LEGISLATOR, UNLIKE HIS
TWO PREDECESSORS, HE SPENT TIME IN LEGISLATURE, YOU SAID YOU
SPENT TIME WITH HIM.
--->I SPENT FOUR SESSIONS, HE'S HAD AN UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE.
HE'S GONE DOWN TO DEAL WITH THE GOVERNOR TO BALANCE THE BUDGET.
A SIMPLE ANALOGY IS THE GOVERNOR MAY HAVE THE CHECKBOOK BUT THE
LEGISLATURE HAS ALL THE DEPOSIT SLIPS.
IT'S OUR JOB TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND MAKE SURE THE REVENUE IS THERE.
HE WILL DO A GOOD JOB.
--->HE HAS AG. UNDERSTANDING.
--->HE HAS BEEN ON BOTH SIDE, HE UNDERSTANDS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO
DOWN THE HALL THAN ANY OTHER SENATOR.
--->HE CHAIRED THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE.
--->I AM REMINDED OF THINGS HE SAID.
WE REMIND HIM AND HE SAYS OBVIOUSLY I MUST NOT HAVE SAID THAT.
--->ONE THING YOU BROUGHT UP THIS WEEK, YOU INTRODUCED A BILL
ABOUT THE FIGHTING SIOUX NICKNAME. YOU SAID THEY CANNOT CHANGE IT.
--->IT SAYS THE BOARD OF ED OR THE SCHOOL CAN CHANGE IT.
--->IF I THOUGHT IT WAS DEROGATORY TO OUR AMERICAN
INDIANS I WOULDN'T HAVE DONE IT. THE NAME CARRIES A LOT OF
HISTORY FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT WENT TO THE SCHOOL.
I THOUGHT IT WAS POORLY HANDLED NOT ONLY IN THE WAY THEY DEALT
WITH THE NCAA BUT THE WAY THE VOTES ARE HANDLED.
WE ARE FINDING A MAJORITY OF NORTH DAKOTA PEOPLE WANT TO KEEP
IT, AND SPIRIT LAKE, THEY WANT TO KEEP IT, IT ISN'T A BUNCH OF
LEGISLATORS WANTING TO STIRRUP THE POT, WE BELIEVE IT IS A
PROUD NAME, ONE THAT EVERYBODY ASSOCIATES WITH THAT
INSTITUTION, I THINK IT WAS POORLY HANDLED WITH THE HIGHER ED.
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS CAUSED A COUPLE BUMPS IN THE ROAD.
EVERYTHING IS CONSTITUTIONAL UNTIL IT ISN'T.
IF WE HAVE TO TURN IT INTO A CONSTITUTIONAL THING IN THE END
AND MAKE THAT THE NAME, THAT MAY BE THE THING WE DO.
--->AT THE END OF THE BILL IT SAYS IF THE NCAA COMES DOWN ON
THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHOULD
SERIOUSLY LOOK AT AN ANTITRUST SUIT.
--->OTHER STATE HAVE DONE THAT, WHY SHOULD THEY DO IT FOR THE
FLORIDA SEMINOLES AND MANY OTHER SCHOOLS THAT HAVE GIVEN
EXCEPTIONS BUT THE STATE OF NORTH DAKOTA WITH A PROUD NAME
AND NONDEROGATORY NAME IS NOT. I THINK THEY SHOULD BE CHALLENGED.
I'VE HAD 200 E-MAILS, 190 OF THOSE HAVE BEEN POSITIVE.
PEOPLE HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THE NAME.
I AM A BUY BISON, MY THING WAS T TO MAKE EXTRA WORK.
--->WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT, I HATE TO BRING UP THE
SUBJECT BECAUSE WE COULD PROBABLY TALK ABOUT HOURS ABOUT
IT, HIGHER EDUCATION ASKING FOR A FAIRLY SIGNIFICANT BUDGET INCREASE.
JUST THUMBNAIL RIGHT NOW, WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO IT?
--->RIGHT NOW WE HAVE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE, THE BUDGET
IN THE HOUSE, OUR GUYS ARE DIGGING INTO IT, NEXT WEEK A
CAMPUS AT A TIME IS COMING IN. THEY DON'T LIKE JUST HAVING ONE
BUDGET FROM AN OVERVIEW OFFICE COME IN, THEY WANT TO TALK TO
THE CAMPUSES AND SEE WHAT THE NEEDS ARE.
THE GOVERNOR SAID IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT A DIFFERENT METHOD OF
FUNNING HIGHER EDUCATION. WE DO TOO.
THERE WILL BE A COUPLE INTERESTING BILLS THAT COME
THROUGH THAT DEAL WITH REVAMMING HOW WE FUND AND DEAL WITH HIGHER EDUCATION.
--->SOMETHING ALONG THE LINE HE SAID HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING?
--->NO, IT GOES FARTHER THAN THAT.
THE LEGISLATIVE INVOLVEMENT IS IMPORTANT, WE WERE TOLD BY
ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT THE HIGHER ED CAN DO WHAT THEY WANT.
IT'S PRETTY HARD FOR THEM TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT US FUNDING IT.
IT'S A COOPERATION, PARTNERSHIP, SO FAR WE DON'T FEEL IT'S QUITE
THE WAY IT SHOULD BE AND WE WANT MORE INVOLVEMENT, WE DON'T WANT
TO MICRO MANAGE, THAT'S NOT OUR INTENT, WE NEED A RESPONSIVE,
ACCOUNTABLE HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM THAT TRAINS THE WORK
FORCE OF THE PEOPLE WE NEED IN JOBS AVAILABLE IN OUR STATE AND
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE GOING TO PUSH FOR.
--->WITH THAT, WE HAVE RUN INTO THE END OF THE HALF HOUR.
--->THANKS FOR HAVING ME IN.
--->OUR GUEST ON LEGISLATIVE REVIEW, REPRESENTATIVE AL
CARLSON OF FARGO, THE HOUSE MAJORITY OF LEADER.
FOR LEGISLATIVE REVIEW ON
PRAIRIE PUBLIC, I'M DAVE THOMPSON