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!
Perrie Schafer, NDGOP Chairman
Photo of the Week
| Senator John Hoeven visits the Southern Border: “North Dakota National Guard members and CBP are working diligently to secure our border, despite the policies of the Biden admin & their refusal to enforce our laws which is further incentivizing illegal immigration and enabling both human and drug trafficking.” |
RNC
I think our Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel could not have done a better job in delivering a closing argument for this year’s midterm elections on Fox News Sunday. – Perrie
CHAIRWOMAN MCDANIEL: We are seeing that momentum. I feel it on the ground. People very are upset about crime, education, parental rights, about the economy, gas prices. It’s death by a thousand cuts for so many families who can’t afford rent, gas, groceries, Halloween candy – everything is so expensive. And the Democrats own it. They have the White House, the Senate and the House. And notice they are not running on their record. And I think the American people are looking at this and saying do we really want to give them this job again for another two years? Am I better off than I was two years ago? And it is resounding no, and that is why Republicans have put forward a plan. And I’m very confident that we’ll have great wins on Tuesday, November 8th.
Watch below:
NDGOP
Letters to the Editor In Opposition to Measure 1:
Letter to the Editor: Williston Herald
Letter: Constituents will lose with term limits
Letters to the editor – No on Measure 1
Letter: Term limits aren’t necessary for North Dakota
North Dakota
Trick-or-treat at the Governor’s Residence house Monday
KX News
Governor Doug Burgum and First Lady Kathryn Burgum will welcome Halloween trick-or-treaters on Monday at the Governor’s Residence, continuing a long-standing tradition. According to a news release, children and accompanying adults are invited to come to the east entrance of the residence between 4:30 and 7 p.m.
Strike Force seizes drugs, weapons, vehicles in Aug. effort
The Bismarck Tribune
orth Dakota law enforcement agencies seized more than 50 pounds of illegal drugs during a joint detail of the American Governors’ Border Strike Force.
Officers from the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and State and Local Intelligence Center seized $26,000 in cash, a pound of cocaine, 26 pounds of marijuana, 16 ½ pounds of methamphetamine, and nearly 8 pounds of fentanyl during the late-August effort. They also seized eight vehicles and nine illegal firearms, and recovered one stolen vehicle.
Gov. Doug Burgum in April signed a memorandum of understanding with two dozen other governors to create the strike force. Its aim is to disrupt and dismantle transnational crime organizations, and combat human trafficking and drug smuggling activities, according to the governor’s office.Burgum announces Placemaking Planning Grant recipients during 2022 Main Street ND Summit
The Valley City Times Record
“The Main Street Initiative team appreciates the passion of these grant recipients to develop projects that will enhance their communities and the overall attractiveness of North Dakota for businesses, economic activity and workforce,” Burgum said. “We received many strong applications with inspirational projects, and we are grateful for everyone who has shown dedication toward enhancing their communities.”
Judge rejects U.S. effort to limit ND suit over DAPL protest damages
KFGO
“The (Corps) created a liability mess,” Traynor said. “It let protestors and other hapless federal agencies exacerbate the damages, and then left North Dakota to clean it up.” North Dakota Attorney General Drew Wrigley, who is continuing the state’s $38 million suit, said he was pleased to see the Court agree with the state, and that “the U.S. can be held responsible for the multi-million-dollar disaster it created or encouraged.”
North Dakota state auditor: “exceptionally unlikely” state elections will be influenced by fraud
AM 1100 The Flag
The North Dakota State Auditor says the state’s election systems are “incredibly secure” following an independent review. “Yes, we do have a security contractor that we work with. Every two years we are looking at security assessments for the State of North Dakota and the university system, and this year we asked them specifically to evaluate our election processes for any vulnerabilities,” said Josh Gallion. Gallion has released the review of the state’s election system, and says it’s “exceptionally” unlikely the results of the upcoming election could be influenced by fraud. His office identified what they call six areas of vulnerability, but concluded fraud related to those issues is “exceptionally unlikely” to occur.
Goehring Orders Recall of Feed Mix of Harvey
AM 890 AG News
Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has issued a withdraw from distribution order to Feed Mix of Harvey for their All Around Horse Pellet 14, with lot code 081022. The All Around Horse Pellet 14 is being withdrawn from distribution based on the presence of monensin found during North Dakota Department of Agriculture testing. Monensin is a medicated feed ingredient labeled for use in ruminant animals. If fed to horses, it can be toxic and cause colic-like symptoms, cardiovascular issues and possible death.
PSC approves natural gas rate increase for Xcel Energy
Prairie Public
Commission chairman Julie Fedorchak was the “no” vote. She had proposed staying at that $18.48 base rate, and adding a volumetric rate, based on the amount of gas used. Fedorchak said Xcel will be in the mode of replacing gas lines and other equipment for a long period of time. Fedorchak said the “fixed rate” variable is not without merit. “But it is a blunt instrument, that smears all new investments into one bucket, and divides that equally between customers regardless of use,” Fedorchak said. “It significantly disadvantages lower users to the benefit of higher users.” Fedorchak said as costs rise, she believes a “more refined” rate design is warranted, to give customers more control over their bills. But Commissioners Shari Haugen-Hoffart and Randy Christmann said they were concerned that the two-pronged rate could cause confusion among Xcel customers. Christmann said it is as much an issue of environmental awareness and conservation, as it is of sound economics. “Environmental advocates have rightly noted that recovering fixed costs through volumetric charges creates a perverse incentive for utility companies to resist conservation,” Christmann said. “After all, if gas use declines, so does the utility’s revenue.”
Pride of Dakota Harvest Showcase set in Minot
The Bismarck Tribune
“This year’s Harvest Showcase features more than 160 companies offering unique, North Dakota-made products,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “Shoppers will find thousands of products to choose from, including gourmet food, wine and spirits, books, jewelry, apparel, personal care, pottery, quilting, photography and framed art, children’s items and more.”
North Dakota First Lady speaks at DSU about addiction recovery
The Dickinson Press
“DSU will be helping to assemble the new and next generation of treatment and recovery game changers dedicated to empowering others and who will undoubtedly save lives,” Burgum said. “You all possess the ability to leave an impact on who you meet or who you serve in your lives and an impact that they will remember and carry with them the rest of their lives.”
Burgum proposes $50 million investment for workforce development
The Center Square
“With broad representation across multiple industries and all levels of government, the Workforce Development Council is uniquely suited to recommend solutions to our workforce challenge, which remains our No. 1 barrier to economic growth,” Burgum said.
Environmental concerns prompted Minnesota company to move proposed plant to North Dakota
The Bismarck Tribune
Talon Metals is negotiating to buy an industrial brownsfield site in North Dakota’s Mercer County, in the heart of coal country. The Biden administration announced last week that the company will get a $114 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy for the project. The company will invest $318 million of its own money. Gov. Doug Burgum and county officials hailed the announcement as a boost for North Dakota’s economy and industry diversification efforts. Talon Metals has been under pressure from environmental groups and the Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa about a plan to build the processing plant in Tamarack, about 50 miles west of Duluth.
Super weed found in 3 more North Dakota counties; expert says threat is ‘eye-opening’
The Bismarck Tribune
“We continue to encourage producers to monitor fields for noxious and invasive weeds, especially Palmer amaranth to prevent it from going to seed,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said in a statement. “The public should contact and work with their local weed officers and other experts to identify and report any suspect plants.”
Washington, D.C.
Judge: Army Corps of Engineers created a ‘liability mess’ at the Dakota Access Pipeline
The Center Square
Republican U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer said in a statement the ruling was the right one. “The coordinated efforts by several federal agencies to facilitate illegal and often violent activity to shut down a properly cited and permitted pipeline must be exposed,” Cramer said. “The state of North Dakota should not have to make its case with both hands tied behind their backs. Full access to witnesses and evidence from all of the participating agencies is important and appropriate.”
Hoeven continues efforts to highlight immigration problems at southern border
The Ripon Advance
To highlight the ongoing immigration crisis at the nation’s southern border, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) recently traveled there to review the support being provided by the North Dakota National Guard 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment. Sen. Hoeven’s visit follows a report from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that says almost 2.4 million individuals illegally crossed the southern border in fiscal year 2022. “Our North Dakota National Guard members and CBP are working diligently to secure our southern border, despite the policies of the Biden administration,” said Sen. Hoeven. “The Biden administration’s refusal to enforce our laws is incentivizing illegal immigration and enabling both human and drug trafficking. Border security is key to our national security.”
Senator Kevin Cramer discusses Unmanned Aerial Systems and its importance to national defense
KFYR-TV
As military weapons and defense systems advance globally, Senator Kevin Cramer says he believes the work being done in North Dakota can help the nation defend itself against adversaries. He adds that the state’s interest and development of unmanned aerial systems will allow for more rapid testing to deter other countries like China. North Dakota’s UAS ecosystem continues to improve, and Cramer says they are setting the example for how other technologies need to grow. “This is very forward-looking technology, we are very forward-looking people, and I think we’ve brought appropriate attention to what’s possible in North Dakota,” said Cramer. Military operations involving UAS are taking place at Grand Forks Air Force Base and through the Fargo Air National Guard. Cramer says North Dakota is a prime location due to its unpredictable climate.
Rep. Armstrong predicting a good midterm for Republicans
KVRR
North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong met with staff and patients at The Ridge a treatment and recovery center in Fargo. He says he predicts a good night for Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections because of “economic headwinds” causing problems for families across North Dakota. He says he believes voters will get the country back on track. Armstrong says it’s a huge problem when you see people smuggling fentanyl through the southern border. He adds Republicans taking back the House will improve the 2023 Farm Bill. “Any community who had an overdose of fentanyl in the last 48 hours is a border community. The reality is, the vast majority, almost all of this is coming across the Southern border. For North Dakota, I think the biggest benefit for Republicans taking back the house is the Farm Bill will be about agriculture and not climate. We’re starting on that right now, it’s hugely important for the agriculture industry not just in North Dakota but the whole country,” Armstrong said.
Congressman Kelly Armstrong cites Postal Service Reform Act as among legislative accomplishments while seeking re-election
AM 1100 The Flag
North Dakota Congressman Kelly Armstrong says there is much to tout about North Dakota while he’s working in the nation’s capitol. “I take the approach when I’m in D.C. is trying to explain to anybody, anybody who will listen, oftentimes people who don’t want to listen, why what we do in North Dakota is important to them. Not just why it’s important to us. I mean we feed and fuel the world, that’s what we do. If you like bread, North Dakota is the reason for it. If you like corn, North Dakota is the reason for it. If you like cheap gasoline, North Dakota is the reason for it. if you don’t want to pay a thousand dollars for a utility bill, North Dakota is the reason for that,” said Armstrong.
Rural development loan approved for medical center in Rugby
KFYR-TV
The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved a loan for a new hospital, clinic, and long-term care facility in Rugby. The estimated total project cost is $50 million. The medical center applied for the grant through a program under the USDA Rural Development to construct the three new facilities.“This is more than $55 million to help the heart of American Medical Center in Rugby build a new facility, which is so important for serving that area of central Dakota,” said Senator John Hoeven.
