Author: Dawson Schefter

BISMARCK – Today, members of the North Dakota Republican Party (NDGOP) State Committee unanimously elected Rick Berg to his first full-term as Chairman. Berg was first elected to the role in March of 2018 and served the remainder of Congressman Kelly Armstrong’s term as Chairman.

“I am grateful to have the full support of the NDGOP State Committee to continue serving as Chairman,” said Chairman Berg. “Together our Republican team has accomplished a great deal, and I look forward to working with NDGOP members and our elected leadership on another successful gubernatorial election cycle. As we lead into the 2020 elections, we will build upon our historic efforts to grow our Party, engage with voters and make the case for Republican leadership.”

About Chairman Berg

Under the leadership of Chairman Berg, the NDGOP has made its largest-ever investment in a field program designed to connect directly with voters and secured an entirely Republican federal delegation. Governor Burgum asked Chairman Berg to continue leading the NDGOP through the 2020 election cycle and thanks him for his record of results for the Republican Party.

Rick served in the North Dakota Legislature for 26 years as Speaker of the House, Majority Leader, Caucus Chairman and Chairman of the Business Committee. In 2010, Rick was elected to the US House of Representatives where he served on the House Ways and Means Committee with a focus on taxation and budget. Rick currently serves as the President of Berg Group, LLC which focuses on developing  commercial real estate partnerships.

In early 2018, Rick was elected to serve as the Chairman of the North Dakota Republican Party. Rick and his wife Tracy reside in Fargo.

NDGOP Leadership

First Vice Chair: John Trandem (Newly Elected)

Second Vice Chair: Carma Hanson (Re-elected)

Treasurer: Nick Hacker (Re-elected)

Secretary: Kyle Handegaard (Re-elected)

The North Dakota Republican Party released a new ad today to highlight that while Republican Majorities are hard at work — Democrats are once again trying to raise taxes.

“Republicans in both chambers are hard at work for North Dakota,” said North Dakota Republican Party Chief of Staff Dawson Schefter. “Meanwhile, Democrats have their sights set on raising taxes — trouble is, they can’t seem to get the math right.”

Background:

• The North Dakota Legislature has adjourned for its crossover recess — marking the halfway point of the 66th Legislative Assembly.
• Senator Merrill Piepkorn and Rep. Pamela Anderson each introduced legislation to raise the oil extraction tax.
• Over the past five years, North Dakota’s oil industry has paid 50 percent of all taxes collected in the state.
• Democrats have been parroting these talking points since 2015 — yet this political theatre has been rejected by voters time and again.
• Republicans have been hard at work, taking steps forward on:
  • Developing a strong workforce
  • Diversifying our economy
  • Improving our infrastructure network
  • Reducing taxes
  • Improving behavioral health services
• Republican policies continue to benefit the individuals, families, and businesses of North Dakota — making our state the best place to live and work.

Transcript:

Senator Merrill Piepkorn: “I’m going to walk in the first day and say ‘Okay, ladies and gentleman, here I am. Let’s raise those taxes today.’”

Senator Merrill Piepkorn: “I will admit, I’ve got fuzzy math going on here.”

Senator Merrill Piepkorn: “Senator Cook, I do not understand that. I would appreciate that if you could explain that to me.”

Senator Dwight Cook: “Zero percent tax is going to raise a lot less money than five percent tax. Do we agree?”

Senator Merrill Piepkorn: “Uhm, I still don’t quite follow.”

Senator Dwight Cook: “So that is another tax increase…”

Senator Merrill Piepkorn: “That is, well. That is an increase, yeah.”

Senator Merrill Piepkorn: “Let’s raise those taxes today.”

As North Dakota Democrats double-down on their embrace of socialism, Bernie Sander’s campaign announced they think they’ve got a shot at winning North Dakota. Since Democrats announced their support for socialism in a Facebook Post on Saturday, they have twice doubled-down on this radical, liberal movement:

Meanwhile, North Dakota’s Republican elected leaders are weighing in to condemn this ridiculous and frightening rhetoric:

“North Dakota Democrats clearly plan to unabashedly embrace the radical left’s calls for socialism,” said North Dakota Republican Party Chief of Staff Dawson Schefter. “I look forward to the next election, when North Dakotans reject this extreme rhetoric at the ballot box.”

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Earlier today, North Dakota Democrats confirmed voters suspicions and endorsed the radical, socialist agenda of the liberal left. In a Facebook post on Saturday, the District 42 Democrat Party shared a letter to the editor in the Grand Forks Herald titled, “Socialism U.S. style: The need of our time” with the caption “Bravo!”

 

“This is just the latest in a string of tone deaf attempts by Democrats to pull North Dakota toward the radical, socialist agenda of the liberal left,” said North Dakota Republican Party Chief of Staff Dawson Schefter. “If North Dakota Democrats continue to support socialist policies, they will no doubt lead their party toward further obscurity.”