Happy Monday!
Dear Fellow Republicans,
We wanted to provide you with a roundup of everything you might have missed from North Dakota’s great Republican leaders this past week. Please share with family and friends!
Sandra Sanford, NDGOP Chairwoman
Photo of the Week
Rep. Armstrong: North Dakota Boys State is an awesome opportunity for young men to learn the importance of civic engagement. I’m always encouraged about the future after visiting with the students who attend.argo’s Sanctuary Events Center to watch or went home to view the speech on television, Johnson said. “We’re die-hards. Arthur takes care of its people. We’re a very lucky small town,” she said.
RNC
NDGOP Elects Sandi Sanford as Chairman
BISMARCK – Sandi Sanford, the former 2nd lady of North Dakota, was named the new Chair of the North Dakota GOP Friday in Fargo. Running on a platform of uniting the party and supporting the values espoused in the party’s platform, Sanford defeated incumbent chair, Perrie Schafer.
Her campaign focused on creating trust among all stakeholders, transparency in all policies, and gaining traction with citizens enlarging the party’s base.
“I have talked to the district chairs on several occasions. They have been open about the improvements they’d like to see. I look forward to supporting these efforts by offering the resources, tools, and training needed to continue to win Republican offices,” said Sanford.
Sanford has been active in state and federal politics for 26 years. She has lobbied Congress on behalf of the American Association of Respiratory Care and Medicare Reform Act, assisted in implementing smoking cessation programs after the Tobacco settlement in 1998, and co-founded the Watford City Human Trafficking Task Force. She sits on numerous boards and commissions and is currently working on the federal Essential Caregiver Act.
Sanford is a small business owner, farm operator and has worked in the healthcare industry for the past 30 years.
Sandi is the wife of former Lt. Governor Brent Sanford. They have three children and reside in Bismarck.
North Dakota
ND National Guard being deployed to southern border
Wahpeton Daily News
The North Dakota National Guard is now authorized to help Texas secure the U.S.-Mexico border, Gov. Doug Burgum’s office stated Tuesday, June 13. The governor and current Republican presidential candidate signed an executive order declaring an emergency and authorizing the deployment. Burgum previously announced the planned deployment on June 1. “(North Dakota’s authorized) to deploy approximately 100 North Dakota National Guard members from the Wahpeton-based 188th Engineer Company in support of Operation Lone Star,” the state announced. The deployment is expected to last approximately 30 days and end in August.
Ag and Industrial Producers: Time to cash in on gas refunds
KXNet
This refund comes from taxing motor fuels that are usually allocated for the upkeep of highways. But North Dakota’s State Tax Commissioner, Brian Kroshus says that industrial consumers, farmers, and ranchers are eligible for refunds since their equipment typically does not utilize public roads.
Governor Burgum appoints LRPL Director to statewide library board
Devils Lake Journal
Maddie Cummings, Library Director at the Lake Region Public Library, has been named by Governor Doug Burgum to the North Dakota Library Coordinating Council. The North Dakota Library Coordinating Council assists in planning, coordinating, and evaluating the services and programs of North Dakota libraries. The North Dakota governor appoints two representatives from public libraries; one from a school library; one from a public or private higher education institution library; one to represent disabled, economically disadvantaged, and minority populations; two to represent libraries at large; and two citizens at large. Congratulations Maddie!
North Dakota renewing focus on sex trafficking
Devils Lake Journal
After a recent series of meetings with those working on human trafficking in the state, Attorney General Drew Wrigley said in an interview at his office that he wants to better facilitate their work and efficiently move grant dollars to effective programs. “We’re committed to that and we’re going to make some structural changes,” he said, without elaborating due to the ongoing process.
Proposals Sought for ND Grape, Fruit and Wine Industry
Morning Ag Clips
“The North Dakota Grape and Wine Advisory Committee advises the North Dakota Department of Agriculture on the distribution of $80,000 allocated for industry research and promotion for the 2023-2025 biennium,” North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “The committee is now seeking qualified applicants.”
Wrigley announces settlement with Adore Me
KXNet
“Adore Me wrongfully took money from North Dakota consumers by enrolling and trapping the consumers in VIP membership programs and monthly payments they did not know about and did not want,” Wrigley said. With these terms, Adore Me is required to notify anyone with an active VIP Membership of the ability to get a refund of any unused store credits. Adore Me also agreed to make changes to its business practices and is not allowed to engage in any of the alleged misconduct in the future. Wrigley noted that his office is holding Adore Me accountable by making them correct their business practices and give transparency about the terms of the VIP memberships. “Any North Dakota consumers who are enrolled in Adore Me’s VIP membership should watch for a notice from Adore Me regarding obtaining a refund of any unused store credits accumulated through monthly charges by Adore Me,” said Wrigley.
Proposals Sought for Ag in the Classroom Programs
Morning Ag Clips
“Agriculture in the Classroom programs help young people learn where their food comes from and how to make better food choices for themselves,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “The program provides teachers with curricula and class lesson development materials, training seminars, a magazine, website and other tools to make agriculture part of the school day. The materials provided support all core areas of study.”
State tax cuts could reduce withholdings
Minot Daily News
Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus recently released the updated North Dakota income tax withholding rates and instructions booklet for employers. The revised estimated tax forms for individuals, estates and trusts and fiduciary estimated payments also were released. “The new withholding and estimated tax forms are a result of House Bill 1158, the bill that provides the largest individual income tax relief package in state history,” Kroshus said. “The bill allows everyday citizens, across all tax brackets, to keep more of their hard-earned money.”
Washington, D.C.
Senator Cramer questions emissions performance
Williston Herald
Discussing the FHWA’s legal authority for its proposed GHG rule, Senator Cramer highlighted recent Supreme Court decisions recognizing federal agencies must only exercise authority expressly given to them by law. “I want to speak to two big recent Supreme Court cases. You, using the major questions doctrine, stating emphatically agencies don’t have authority that isn’t given to them in law. The first one being West Virginia vs. EPA, and the other one being the WOTUS rule. Now they’re going to take up maybe a chevron doctrine. It’s becoming increasingly clear the bureaucracy is not a fourth branch of government, they’re policymakers,” added Senator Cramer.
Armstrong’s gas stove bill heads to the Senate
KFYR-TV
The House of Representatives passed a bill prohibiting the Biden Administration from banning the sale of gas stoves. The debate over the popular cooking appliance heated up last year after a study linked the use of gas stoves to childhood asthma. Representative Kelly Armstrong sponsored the legislation. “They’re utilizing the executive branch and agency overreach to determine what appliances people can have in their house, and in this case, they’re using an agency that doesn’t have that mission statement,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong visit part of ND Boys State conclusion
Wahpeton Daily News
Armstrong’s favorite time in office is when he’s in his district, he said Friday in Wahpeton. The Boys State experience would be followed by visits to local and regional businesses. Being away from Washington can be quite enjoyable. “We’ll work our way back to Bismarck, because I’ve got two ‘constituents,’ a 13-year-old and a 15-year-old, who I haven’t seen in a week. And a wife who likes me most of the time,” Armstrong said.
Applied Digital celebrates energizing of facility in Ellendale, ND
The Jamestown Sun
Next generation data centers open significant opportunities for the future diversification of the state’s economy while providing new jobs for Ellendale residents, said Gavin Miller, constituent services representative for Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., who read a letter signed by the senator. “With North Dakota’s wide open spaces, abundant energy and ideal climate, there is a bright future for additional development within our state,” he said. For more than 20 years, officials have worked to build a vibrant technology sector in North Dakota by creating the right business climate that promotes investment and innovation, said Phillips, who read a letter signed by Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. “As a result, technology is serving as the third wave of our state’s economic growth following expansion in agriculture and energy,” he said. “Applied Digital’s new facility builds upon this progress providing important infrastructure and computing capacity to support a variety of applications across industries.”
Jennifer Granholm must face investigation over finances, top Republican charges
Washington Examiner
Barrasso’s demand for an investigation is the latest update in the stock holding saga, which could lead to watchdog groups launching their own inquiries or filing ethics complaints, sources told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday. Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said Granholm is “either incompetent or lying.”
Democrats’ clean-energy tax credits are popular — and expensive
The Washington Post
Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.) feigned surprise when asked about the higher costs. “I’m shocked. Shocked,” he said. “We always knew they were going to cost more.”
Kelly Armstrong to Newsmax: ‘Very Clear’ Two Bidens Were Paid
Newsmax
“This is evidence, not proof,” Armstrong insisted. “I think there’s two different questions here – why didn’t the FBI investigate this stuff? … And two, whether those payments actually existed and how it went.” “These conversations make it very clear that Hunter Biden was hired for one specific reason, and that’s so that his dad could take care of any problems Burisma has, and that it also references two separate payments to two different Bidens,” he added.
