at least today is Friday!
- Kevin Cramer unveiled a new ad highlighting Heidi Heitkamp’s repeated support for sanctuary cities, which has left North Dakotans unsafe.
- Cramer was then awarded the “Defender of Small Business Award” by the Job Creators Network for supporting the largest tax cut in history, a cut that gave a family of four in North Dakota savings of more than $2,700 per year.
- Cramer finished his day by making himself accessible to his constituents, going door-to-door in Grand Forks.
- National Review released an in-depth look at Heitkamp’s record as a liberal Democrat who is out of touch with her constituents. The article highlights her votes against:
- tax cuts
- border fencing
- defunding sanctuary cities
- a 20-week abortion ban
- repealing and replacing Obamacare
- several of President Trump’s judicial nominees
- Heitkamp supporter Chase Iron Eyes accepted a plea agreement on felony charges for his part in the Dakota Access Pipeline #NoDAPL protests. Senator Heitkamp previously hosted a fundraiser with Iron Eyes in her luxurious DC home, but she won’t be able to do that again any time soon.
- Republican leaders gathered to set the record straight on health care while highlighting the disaster Obamacare has been for North Dakota. Under this disastrous law that Heitkamp is running on, premiums have skyrocketed, the same number are uninsured, and the burden of cost has shiftedonto the backs of our farmers and small businesses.
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- Heidi Heitkamp in response hastily threw together her less-accessible version of a press conference- a teleconference- where she angrily attacked North Dakota’s Insurance Commissioner for pointing out her claims on health care are “irresponsible at best.” (They are).
- Heitkamp then dismissed sanctuary cities, a deeply important issue for North Dakota voters, as just a “scare tactic.”
- Reports also emerged, showing the tax cuts Heitkamp opposed are projected to give North Dakotans $34 million in bonus tax relief.
- Heidi Heitkamp continued to receive more pressure from her liberal base to oppose SCOTUS nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
- To end the day, Heitkamp tried to help her friend Elizabeth Warren gain a victory against President Trump by announcing she will vote against another of the President’s executive nominees. Heitkamp’s history of obstruction will not sit well with voters in November.
- Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Steve Censky visited Fargo at the request of Rep. Kevin Cramer, who believes in putting politics aside to help rural North Dakotans, in stark contrast to Heidi Heitkamp, whose campaign strategy requires fanning the flames of farmer’s fears and rigidly opposing President Trump’s administration.
- Sec. Ross: “They’re hoping to put enough political pressure on the president that he’ll back off and they’ll never again have to deal with America trying to get free, fair and reciprocal trade. That’s the only Achilles heel that we have, is any sign of weakness to these other countries.”
- Dep. Sec. Censky: “It has to be the right resolution” to end this trade dispute.
- Rep. Cramer: “There are some people cheerleading for that exact situation, a downturn in the economy would be very good for them politically.”
- TrueNorth Steel President Dan Kadrmas: “We are hoping that they get trade deals done with the other countries. Really, any trade deal is better than what we’ve had in the past.”
- Remember “scare tactic?” The Editorial Board of the Grand Forks Herald does, and they strongly rebuked Heidi Heitkamp’s approach in a scathing editorial writing, “Illegal immigration is a great problem in the United States, and efforts should be made to slow the tide of people entering the country illegally.”
- This isn’t the only issue where Heitkamp is on the wrong side of North Dakotans. Heitkamp AGAIN doubled down on her pro-abortion stance, voting against defunding Planned Parenthood.
- Heitkamp’s liberal record was rewarded later that night with a fundraiser alongside her boss Chuck Schumer.
- To be fair, while Heitkamp seems set on pushing a liberal agenda, she does seem to want to create manufacturing jobs, at least for her campaign staff. As Rob Port reports, “Heitkamp Campaign Tries to Manufacture a Controversy With Ridiculous Stunt” (Spoiler alert: it didn’t work.)
- Following Heitkamp’s out-of-touch vote to continue allowing taxpayers to fund abortions, the NRSC released their latest television ad today, attacking Heidi Heitkamp’s pro-abortion record.
- Now, Heidi Heitkamp’s false narrative on trade is being further damaged by the hour.
- The Washington Examiner’s David Drucker released a report saying, “Voters here back the president’s trade policies in principle, if not completely in execution, and are willing to give him some space to negotiate.”
- Reuters reported President Trump’s efforts on trade are working: “His hard line has rattled Beijing and spurred rare criticism within the highest levels of China’s ruling Communist Party over its handling of the trade dispute, sources have said. Beijing has denied U.S. allegations it systematically forces the unfair transfer of U.S. technology and has said it adheres to World Trade Organization rules.”
Heidi, call your ad agency
Hey everyone—
I spoke too soon. Heidi Heitkamp’s Friday keeps getting worse and worse.
In her recent, misleading ad, Heitkamp states: “Like 300,000 North Dakotans, Denise has a pre-existing condition. That used to mean no health insurance.”
Welp, turns out that is wrong, and the Associated Pressjust called Heitkamp out for it, saying she “overstates the number who wouldn’t have been able to get health insurance.” Heitkamp and her campaign is now trying to walk back the ad, but with such a gross misuse of information, one has to wonder if North Dakotans can trust anything she says.
“Heidi Heitkamp’s campaign is nothing more than misleading statistics and over-the-top rhetoric,” said North Dakota Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “As many have noted, Heitkamp’s campaign is centered around making voters feel fearful, and it’s clear she’ll say anything, no matter how false, to try and make that happen.”
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not what North Dakotans want to see
Hey everyone—
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and Agriculture Deputy Secretary Steve Censky’s visitto Fargo today serves as a strong reminder that Sen. Heidi Heitkamp is wrong for North Dakota’s agricultural community.
Their visit comes at the request of Rep. Kevin Cramer, who believes in putting politics aside to help rural North Dakotans. Part of that effort is to put high-ranking administration officials in front of North Dakota’s farmers, ranchers, and producers — which he’s fulfilling again today.
This is in stark contrast to Heidi Heitkamp, who’s fought tooth and nail against this administration’s agricultural policies. A pillarof Heitkamp’s campaign strategy is fanning the flames of farmer’s fears. Meanwhile, she attackedthe last Commerce official to visit North Dakota, failedto deliver on a WOTUS rule repeal, claimsPresident Trump’s endorsed Farm Bill has “poison pills,” and had her campaign calla win for North Dakota’s farmers “politics at its worst” because it could hurt her re-election chances.
Those are not the actions of someone North Dakotans want to see re-elected. As Cramer saidin a recent op-ed, “The best way now to serve North Dakota is to offer solutions, not sound bites.” Clearly Heidi Heitkamp is focused on the opposite.
“Heidi Heitkamp is wrong for North Dakota’s farmers, ranchers, and producers,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “Kevin Cramer has successfully brought leading administration officials to the table to give North Dakotans a voice, something Heitkamp has failed to do. Her obstructionist tactics and harmful rhetoric- at the detriment of the agricultural community- won’t be forgotten this November.”
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“scare tactic?!” clearly not…
“Scare tactic?!” clearly not…
8.23
Hey everyone—
Despite Heidi Heitkamp’s record that shows otherwise, combatting illegal immigration is a top issue for North Dakota voters.
Look no further than the Editorial Board of the Grand Forks Herald, which writes, “Immigrants who come to the U.S. through the proper channels and who follow our laws should be welcomed. We have work for them, and they should be able to live here in peace as part of our communities. Those who do not come here legally should be turned away. Illegal immigration is a great problem in the United States, and efforts should be made to slow the tide of people entering the country illegally.” The editorial continues saying bluntly, “It’s about laws, and laws should not be ignored.”
Senator Heitkamp needs to answer for her persistent unwillingness to combat illegal immigration, having voted three times to support illegal sanctuary cities. When confronted with her record of failure, Heidi Heitkamp dismissed the issue as a “scare tactic.”
She’s wrong.
Heitkamp should talk with the families and victims terrorized by criminal illegal immigrants before attempting to dismiss this issue as just a Republican scare tactic.
In case you missed it…
Our view: As concern mounts, push for immigration reform
Editorial Board | Grand Forks Herald
8.23.18
An illegal alien is accused of abducting and killing Mollie Tibbets, the young Iowa woman who was missing for weeks before her body was found Tuesday, Aug. 21, in a cornfield. The suspect, 24-year-old Cristhian Rivera, is an undocumented immigrant from Mexico.
Get ready, because illegal immigration is about to reignite as a hot issue, especially with the midterm elections fewer than three months away.
Actually, it’s OK to question the influx of illegal immigrants in the United States. Perhaps it shouldn’t be ratcheted up after a single, sad murder because no matter what happens, there will always be some — although hopefully far fewer — illegal aliens in the U.S. However, if there was more control of illegal immigration, there is some likelihood that Tibbets would still be alive.
It’s important to note that some studies show illegal immigrants commit fewer crimes per-capita than native-born citizens. As reported earlier this summer in the Washington Post, one study — conducted by the Cato Institute — examined conviction data from 2015 in Texas. The study concluded that “as a percentage of their respective populations, there were 56 percent fewer criminal convictions of illegal immigrants than of native-born Americans in Texas in 2015.” The Post also reported another study determined states with larger shares of illegal immigrants tended to have lower crime rates than states with smaller shares from 1990 to 2014.
Take those conclusions with a grain of salt, because some believe the Post has lost its objectivity regarding conservatism and President Trump, who seeks immigration reform.
Studies noted, we return to the point: Tibbetts might be alive today with better immigration laws.
In our view, the president was elected in large part due to national frustration that little has been done about an obvious immigration problem. Some estimates show there are more than 10 million people — more than the population of New York City — living illegally in the United States, costing U.S. taxpayers approximately $8,000 apiece. Although these figures are debated to death by experts on both sides of the issue, estimates show the impact of illegal immigrants to Americans is between $60 billion and $116 billion annually.
Some say illegal immigrants fill a void and work at jobs that otherwise would go unfilled. Some say they are a boon to the economy.
Perhaps. Yet they still are here illegally, siphoning away tax dollars, and they just shouldn’t be.
It’s about laws, and laws should not be ignored.
A merit-based immigration system similar to Canada’s should be the goal for the United States. In the wake of the Tibbetts murder, Congress should take advantage of this heightened concern to consider a Canadian-style immigration reform.
This isn’t racist. Immigrants who come to the U.S. through the proper channels and who follow our laws should be welcomed. We have work for them, and they should be able to live here in peace as part of our communities. Those who do not come here legally should be turned away.
Illegal immigration is a great problem in the United States, and efforts should be made to slow the tide of people entering the country illegally.
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so proud
Hey everyone—
Chase Iron Eyes, North Dakota’s 2016 Democrat U.S. House nominee and high-profile Heidi Heitkamp supporter, accepted a plea agreement on felony charges for his part in the Dakota Access Pipeline #NoDAPL protests that put North Dakotans and law enforcement in harms way.
REMINDER: Senator Heitkamp hosted a fundraiser for Iron Eyes in her luxurious DC home before donating $2,000 to his failed 2016 campaign and voting for him during the Democrat state convention.
Heitkamp has now tried to distance herself from Iron Eyes, but during her first Senate campaign, she was “so proud to have his support.” Is she still?
In case you missed it…
Chase Iron Eyes, Morton County prosecutors sign plea agreement in DAPL case
Jack Dura | Bismarck Tribune
8.22.18
What is perhaps the last high-profile criminal case from the Dakota Access Pipeline protests is all but over.
Attorney and North Dakota’s 2016 Democratic-NPL U.S. House nominee Chase Iron Eyes has accepted a plea agreement with Morton County prosecutors Bryan Grosinger and Chase Lingle. Iron Eyes was charged last year with felony inciting a riot and misdemeanor criminal trespass related to protest activities on Feb. 1, 2017, in erecting a camp on pipeline land in southern Morton County.
Under conditions of the plea agreement, prosecutors have moved to amend felony inciting a riot to misdemeanor disorderly conduct, as well as dismiss misdemeanor criminal trespass.
The plea agreement also includes a 360-day deferred imposition, during which Iron Eyes must commit no criminal violations and pay a $1,500 fine and $350 in court fees.
If, after that 360 days, Iron Eyes has successfully completed those terms, the case will be cleared from his record.
The plea agreement filed Tuesday awaits Surrogate Judge Lee Christofferson’s OK. As of 5 p.m. Tuesday, he had not issued a related order.
In a statement, Iron Eyes remarked that the plea agreement includes no incarceration or risk to his license to practice law.
“The world should know that it’s legally impossible for me and other Native people to trespass on treaty land, and I never started a riot. I and the water protectors are not terrorists. We and the U.S. veterans who stood with us to protect Mother Earth are the true patriots,” he said.
“Now I can be with my family and continue defending the sovereignty of my people. This will allow me to keep working nonstop to protect First Amendment, human and Native rights.”
Grosinger and Lingle were unavailable to comment at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
As of Wednesday, 18 of the 831 state-level criminal cases from the DAPL protests were open, according to South Central Judicial District trial court administrator Donna Wunderlich. About 90 cases are inactive with warrants. About 700 cases have been adjudicated.
Iron Eyes had intended to argue for a “necessity defense,” invoking his belief that the threat of the pipeline left him no choice but to commit civil disobedience. A nine-day jury trial had been set to begin in November.
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Republican Leaders Set the Record Straight on Obamacare and Pre-Existing Conditions
Bismarck, ND– Republican leaders today gathered at the Bismarck Farm Bureau location to dispute Democrats’ false claims and to reaffirm their position regarding the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) and pre-existing conditions. Despite repeated fear-mongering attacks from Democrats, Republican leaders made it clear they have always supported the inclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions in healthcare reform and that the current state of healthcare does not benefit North Dakotans.
Congressman Kevin Cramer, Lieutenant Governor Brent Sanford, Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem, Insurance Commissioner Jon Godfread and State Senator Kelly Armstrong all spoke in support of keeping pre-existing conditions available but reiterated that Obamacare is failing North Dakotans.
Before Obamacare, 8 to 10 percent of North Dakotans were uninsured. Today, that number remains relatively unchanged at 8 percent demonstrating how Obamacare has failed in the state. While more individuals may be covered under Medicaid, the rising costs of healthcare, which have doubled in four years, have only made it more difficult for those who do not qualify for Medicaid to afford insurance, including farmers, ranchers and small business owners.
The participants of today’s press conference issued the following joint statement:
“Democrats continue to push a big lie and we can’t stand for it. The only group talking about eliminating coverage for pre-existing conditions are the Democrats. There is no denying, the current state of healthcare needs fixing, and every Republican proposal that has been advanced has included guaranteed coverage for pre-existing conditions. We need a system that covers all North Dakotans, and that doesn’t shift the burden of rising premiums to our farmers, ranchers and small business owners.”
Speaking in support of Republicans were two North Dakota farmers and one small business owner. Tom Christensen of Verona and Weston Dvorak of Manning are both farmers and Marv Miller owns Twin City Roofing in Mandan. They all shared their stories or how rising premiums due to Obamacare has made it difficult for them to afford insurance for their families or employees.
Republicans pointed out the fact that the Comprehensive Health Association of North Dakota (CHAND) has always – and will continue to cover high risk North Dakotan’s. Additionally, under Graham Cassidy the state will not only receive more money to fund the high-risk population, but providers will have more flexibility in how they deliver healthcare.
Leaders also reiterated that Obamacare is unconstitutional, and that North Dakota will continue to participate in the federal lawsuit challenging that fact.
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She’s running!
Hey everyone–
Heidi Heitkamp has spent every day of the campaign running from her own record, hoping North Dakotans won’t pay close attention to the way she’s voted in Washington. National Reviewjust released an in-depth look at why.
Heitkamp is a liberal Democrat who is out of touch with her constituents, and her voting record proves it. Heitkamp has voted against:
- tax cuts
- border fencing
- defunding sanctuary cities
- a 20-week abortion ban
- repealing and replacing Obamacare
- several of President Trump’s judicial nominees
President Trump said it best: “You need a senator who doesn’t just talk like they’re from North Dakota, but votes like they’re from North Dakota.”
Check out the full piece HERE.
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hard to understand
Hey everyone—
Kevin Cramer’s Senate campaign launched a new ad calling out Heidi Heitkamp for voting to fund sanctuary cities.
In the ad, Cramer says, “It’s hard to understand why Heidi Heitkamp, who is a former attorney general, voted to fund sanctuary cities that ignore the rule of law and put our citizens and law enforcement officers at risk.”
Heitkamp’s failure to crack down on sanctuary cities and protect North Dakotans- votingthreetimesto support sanctuary cities- is one of her many failures on illegal immigration. Heitkamp also votedagainst border security and criticizedPresident Trump’s plan to build a wall, saying “I just wish we could get beyond that.”
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NDGOP Chairman Statement on House Candidate Debate
BISMARCK— North Dakota Republican Party Chairman Rick Berg issued the following statement on tonight’s debate:
“Tonight’s debate presented North Dakota voters with a clear choice in this race. I would like to congratulate Kelly Armstrong on his excellent debate performance, and I look forward to helping him get elected this November.”
Heidi Heitkamp’s Health Care Lie
Hey everyone–
Heidi Heitkamp is out with a new ad falsely attacking Kevin Cramer on pre-existing conditions. Like Heitkamp, Cramer has consistently supportedprotecting coverage for those with pre-existing conditions. During efforts to repeal Obamacare, he voted for the MacArthur amendment, which explicitly states under no circumstances can people be denied coverage because of a pre-existing conditions.
But unlike Heitkamp, Cramer knows we need to reform our nation’s broken health care system. Under Obamacare, which Heitkamp has repeatedly supported, North Dakotans have seen:
- Costs skyrocket, with premiums increasing by 44%
- Medicare funding gutted
- Entire countieswith zero health care providers
REMINDER: Heidi Heitkamp’s political posturing on health care is nothing new. Despite feigning dissatisfaction with the disastrous law before the 2012 election, Heitkamp has been a diehard supporter of Obamacare, voting for it every chance she’s had while in Washington. This health care debate is just another example of why North Dakotans can’t trust Heidi with six more years in the Senate.
“Heidi Heitkamp’s repeated lies about Cramer’s stance on pre-existing conditions won’t work,” said North Dakota Republican Party Communications Director Jake Wilkins. “Heitkamp’s support for Obamacare has saddled North Dakotans with higher costs, worse care, and fewer options; and voters will remember that in November.”
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