From Kim Koppelman:
Most eyes in our region were focused on a football game more than 200 miles away on Saturday – the contest between the North Dakota State University Bison and the Minnesota Gophers. You could almost hear the cheers all the way from the Metrodome when the Bison defeated the Gophers, avenging a 1-point loss last season in a game during which they had outplayed their Big Ten opponents, but came up just short on the scoreboard.
West Fargo’s own Tyler Roehl was a star of Saturday’s game for the Bison, setting a new school rushing record. Our community can be proud of this former Packer.
This weekend’s events are significant because the Bison’s performance, to a great extent, represents North Dakota, and not only on the athletic field.
Formerly a dominant Division II football program, NDSU overcame naysayers and scoffers when it made the move to Division I a few years ago. In classic fashion, the school and its athletic teams demonstrated that reaching for greater things pays far better dividends than allowing others to convince you it can’t be done.
They not only made the transition and were competitive, they are now the No. 1 team in what used to be known as the NCAA’s Division
I-AA.
North Dakota has often been the underdog, and we’ve often surpassed expectations. North Dakota native and former national newsman, Eric Sevareid, once said “North Dakota is a rectangular-shaped blank spot on the nation’s consciousness.” Very true. That’s not a slam. It doesn’t mean that our state has a bad reputation – just that, for many, it has no reputation. People simply don’t know much about North Dakota.
A professional who moved back to North Dakota from across the country in order to work here told me that when he moved in and met his new neighbor, the neighbor asked where he had moved from. When he told him, the neighbor asked, “Why would you want to live here?”
Now may be a good time for all of us to take stock in our state and realize how much we really have to offer.
It’s up to those of us who live hear and love this place to put North Dakota on the map. That’s happening more and more, today, on many levels. Of course, North Dakota has long been a renowned agricultural leader, often called the “breadbasket of the nation,” but more is going on here.
From the athletic field to the business world, from higher education to quality of life indicators, North Dakota is being noticed and is surpassing expectations. I’m impressed, as I visit with legislators, governors, judges, business leaders and others around the nation, to learn that those who know something about North Dakota usually have something good to say.
The nation is fast discovering what companies like Microsoft and football teams like the Minnesota Gophers have realized – North Dakota is a place to be reckoned with.
North Dakota natives applying for jobs in other states are often hired on the spot, when employers familiar with our work ethic learn where they’re from. Now, many of those quality, home-grown folks are coming home, recalling that the place where they grew up is a pretty good place to sink roots, build a future and raise a family.
If all of us puff out our chests a bit, maybe it won’t violate our culture of modesty, after all. In fact, a mention now and then of what a great place North Dakota is will get the word out and help us grow and build for the future. Instead of wringing our hands about out-migration, slow population growth, weather, or any of the other tired, familiar themes we’ve complained about, now may be a good time to see the glass as half-full instead
of half-empty and play a part in taking our state to new levels
we’ve never seen before.
Together, we can do it. After all, we’re from North Dakota.
Koppelman, R-West Fargo, has represented District 13 in the N.D. House of Representatives since 1994. He is chairman of the Constitutional Revision Committee and member of the Political Subdivisions and Judiciary committees.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Monday, October 22, 2007
In case you missed it....Mathern not leadership material
From the Minot Daily News:
Tim Mathern's attempts to show he’s ready to be governor aren’t working
Tim Mathern seems intent on showing he’s worthy of being governor by continually criticizing plans involving the state penitentiary. It isn’t working.Mathern is exploring the idea of running for governor, although he’s not made an official announcement. His latest attempt to demonstrate his gubernatorial mettle has him at odds with Tim Schuetzle, the warden at the State Penitentiary in Bismarck.Mathern, a Democratic state senator from Fargo, says a recent review by the American Correctional Association shows that the prison meets all mandatory standards for accreditation. That, Mathern reasons, means the state shouldn’t spend $42 million to remodel and expand the main penitentiary, and it certainly shouldn’t spend more than $100 million to build a new facility.Schuetzle says the review does not address the penitentiary’s shortcomings. He says the audit does not show there isn’t a need for improvements.Mathern shouldn’t forget that he and the rest of the Legislature created the current mess involving the prison issue. In his budget, Gov. John Hoeven proposed spending $42 million to remodel and expand parts of the prison facility, and set aside money to pay for it up front. But the Senate and the House couldn’t agree on anything, and the Legislature ended up doing nothing to solve the prison issue – other than creating a committee to study the subject, although the corrections department had already done that prior to the 2007 session.Mathern is saying that our state prison meets the mandatory standards for accreditation, so the prison is good enough.He’s wrong. The prison isn’t good enough. It has areas that need fixing now, not later. In his role as governor, Hoeven tried to address those problems. His efforts were continually thwarted – by state lawmakers like Mathern. If Mathern can’t understand this issue, maybe he shouldn’t run for governor.
Tim Mathern's attempts to show he’s ready to be governor aren’t working
Tim Mathern seems intent on showing he’s worthy of being governor by continually criticizing plans involving the state penitentiary. It isn’t working.Mathern is exploring the idea of running for governor, although he’s not made an official announcement. His latest attempt to demonstrate his gubernatorial mettle has him at odds with Tim Schuetzle, the warden at the State Penitentiary in Bismarck.Mathern, a Democratic state senator from Fargo, says a recent review by the American Correctional Association shows that the prison meets all mandatory standards for accreditation. That, Mathern reasons, means the state shouldn’t spend $42 million to remodel and expand the main penitentiary, and it certainly shouldn’t spend more than $100 million to build a new facility.Schuetzle says the review does not address the penitentiary’s shortcomings. He says the audit does not show there isn’t a need for improvements.Mathern shouldn’t forget that he and the rest of the Legislature created the current mess involving the prison issue. In his budget, Gov. John Hoeven proposed spending $42 million to remodel and expand parts of the prison facility, and set aside money to pay for it up front. But the Senate and the House couldn’t agree on anything, and the Legislature ended up doing nothing to solve the prison issue – other than creating a committee to study the subject, although the corrections department had already done that prior to the 2007 session.Mathern is saying that our state prison meets the mandatory standards for accreditation, so the prison is good enough.He’s wrong. The prison isn’t good enough. It has areas that need fixing now, not later. In his role as governor, Hoeven tried to address those problems. His efforts were continually thwarted – by state lawmakers like Mathern. If Mathern can’t understand this issue, maybe he shouldn’t run for governor.
Don't miss the Republican Roundup!
BISMARCK, ND – Today Republican State Chairman Gary Emineth emphasized the importance of the upcoming Republican Roundup. “We are one year out from the 2008 elections which makes this a great time for Republicans to gather and strategize for the upcoming campaign season,” said Emineth. “We look forward to a strong showing in 2008 as Governor Hoeven, with his strong leadership, runs for reelection at the top of our ticket.”
Emineth also stated, “That various leaders of Presidential Campaigns will be in Bismarck over the weekend of October 26 & 27. They include Tagg Romney, son of Mitt Romney, Mark Campbell, National Political Director of the Giuliani Campaign, and Rich Galen, National Advisor of the Thompson Campaign. Even though this Straw Poll is non-binding, it will give us an indication about how the Party may vote during the February 5th Presidential Caucus. During that Caucus we will determine the number of delegates each Republican Presidential Candidate will receive at the National Convention.” The Republican State Central Committee recently changed their bylaws, requiring a candidate to receive a minimum of 15% of the total ballots cast to be eligible to receive any of North Dakota’s National Convention Delegates.
Emineth also stated, “That various leaders of Presidential Campaigns will be in Bismarck over the weekend of October 26 & 27. They include Tagg Romney, son of Mitt Romney, Mark Campbell, National Political Director of the Giuliani Campaign, and Rich Galen, National Advisor of the Thompson Campaign. Even though this Straw Poll is non-binding, it will give us an indication about how the Party may vote during the February 5th Presidential Caucus. During that Caucus we will determine the number of delegates each Republican Presidential Candidate will receive at the National Convention.” The Republican State Central Committee recently changed their bylaws, requiring a candidate to receive a minimum of 15% of the total ballots cast to be eligible to receive any of North Dakota’s National Convention Delegates.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Tagg Romney coming to Presidential Preference Straw Poll
Tagg Romney has been officially confirmed as a guest speaker at the Republican Party's Presidential Preference Straw Poll. Tagg, one of five sons, will speak on behalf of his father, Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney.
We are extremely excited to have the Romney campaign represented during the Straw Poll, which will be held during the Republican Roundup October 26th & 27th.
We are extremely excited to have the Romney campaign represented during the Straw Poll, which will be held during the Republican Roundup October 26th & 27th.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
In case you missed it, Grand Forks Herald says it nicely:
Here's a tip for North Dakota Democrats who'd like to use “eight years is enough” as a campaign theme against Republican Gov. John Hoeven:
Don't.
The double standard is so laugh-out-loud funny that the speaker might as well be wearing a clown suit.
Here are some things that would have to be true in order for prominent Democrats' call for term-limiting Hoeven to be believed:
-- Their suggestion that “eight years is enough” would have to apply to the state's congressional delegation, too.
But it doesn't. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., has held his current Senate seat since 1992. He held the seat now occupied by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., for six years before that. That's a total of 21 years.
Speaking of Dorgan, he was elected to the Senate in 1992, 15 years ago. Fifteen years: That would be eight years plus seven years, “eight is enough” Democrats should recall. And before getting elected to the Senate, Dorgan served in the House for 12 years.
As for Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., he also was elected to Congress in 1992, 15 years ago. In 2000, Pomeroy ran for his fifth term against Republican John Dorso. Funny, but we don't recall “Eight is enough” being used against Pomeroy in that campaign, at least not by Democrats.
-- In 1991, the Democrats were telling then-Gov. George Sinner, a Democrat, that he shouldn't run again. But they weren't. Several times in 1991, newspaper stories analyzed Sinner's prospects for getting reelected to a third term, the Herald's archives show. Not one of those stories quotes a Democratic leader saying anything close to “eight is enough.”
-- Leading Democratic spokespeople for the “eight is enough” view also apply that standard to themselves.
But they don't. Here's a message from state Sen. Joel Heitkamp, D-Hankinson, to Hoeven: “You've had eight years to accomplish what you've (wanted), now get out of the way and let someone else,” Heitkamp told a reporter.
Heitkamp first was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1994, 13 years ago.
State Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, is considering a run for governor. Mathern's a fine man and will make a great candidate, but only if he does better than this:
“Mathern says eight years is enough for someone to be governor,” The Associated Press reported.
Mathern has served as a senator since 1986.
Property taxes, yes. The North Dakota economy, yes. Hoeven's intentions regarding the U.S. Senate, yes. All of those issues are fair game in the gubernatorial race.
But not term limits, at least when the would-be “term-limiter” happily blew past eight years in office half a decade or more ago. For such a critic, it ought to be hard even to say “eight is enough” and keep a straight face.
Don't.
The double standard is so laugh-out-loud funny that the speaker might as well be wearing a clown suit.
Here are some things that would have to be true in order for prominent Democrats' call for term-limiting Hoeven to be believed:
-- Their suggestion that “eight years is enough” would have to apply to the state's congressional delegation, too.
But it doesn't. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., has held his current Senate seat since 1992. He held the seat now occupied by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., for six years before that. That's a total of 21 years.
Speaking of Dorgan, he was elected to the Senate in 1992, 15 years ago. Fifteen years: That would be eight years plus seven years, “eight is enough” Democrats should recall. And before getting elected to the Senate, Dorgan served in the House for 12 years.
As for Rep. Earl Pomeroy, D-N.D., he also was elected to Congress in 1992, 15 years ago. In 2000, Pomeroy ran for his fifth term against Republican John Dorso. Funny, but we don't recall “Eight is enough” being used against Pomeroy in that campaign, at least not by Democrats.
-- In 1991, the Democrats were telling then-Gov. George Sinner, a Democrat, that he shouldn't run again. But they weren't. Several times in 1991, newspaper stories analyzed Sinner's prospects for getting reelected to a third term, the Herald's archives show. Not one of those stories quotes a Democratic leader saying anything close to “eight is enough.”
-- Leading Democratic spokespeople for the “eight is enough” view also apply that standard to themselves.
But they don't. Here's a message from state Sen. Joel Heitkamp, D-Hankinson, to Hoeven: “You've had eight years to accomplish what you've (wanted), now get out of the way and let someone else,” Heitkamp told a reporter.
Heitkamp first was elected to the North Dakota Senate in 1994, 13 years ago.
State Sen. Tim Mathern, D-Fargo, is considering a run for governor. Mathern's a fine man and will make a great candidate, but only if he does better than this:
“Mathern says eight years is enough for someone to be governor,” The Associated Press reported.
Mathern has served as a senator since 1986.
Property taxes, yes. The North Dakota economy, yes. Hoeven's intentions regarding the U.S. Senate, yes. All of those issues are fair game in the gubernatorial race.
But not term limits, at least when the would-be “term-limiter” happily blew past eight years in office half a decade or more ago. For such a critic, it ought to be hard even to say “eight is enough” and keep a straight face.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Current SCHIP bill not the answer
Should a family that qualifies to buy a $250,000 home be eligible for free health insurance? That is essentially the question currently being debated in Washington, DC.
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), is receiving a great deal of discussion now as Congress considers its reauthorization. This program, called Healthy Steps in North Dakota, has been a very important tool for providing health care for children through age 18 in low-income families, but the bill recently passed by the US House and Senate is a radical expansion of the existing program.
The new bill would permit coverage up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). 300% would be $61,974/year for a family of four. An earlier version, supported by many in Congress, would have covered families to 400% of the poverty level which is calculated to be $82,629/year for a family of four. That is way above the average income for North Dakotans.
Someone with an annual income of the 300% of poverty level, using standard formulas, can qualify for a monthly payment of $1446, permitting them to purchase a home valued at approximately $175,000. A family earning 400% of poverty level can qualify for $1928/month payment which would permit them to purchase a home valued at approximately $245,000. Should families who can buy homes for $175,000-$250,000 be permitted to receive government-paid health insurance? That is a welfare program for middle income families. The higher the income limits, the more state tax dollars will be needed to provide coverage, since there is a 25% state match required to draw down federal funds.
H.R. 976 as recently passed by Congress would expand the SCHIP program by $35 billion over the next five years, to a $60 billion program. President Bush has supported a $5 billion expansion over 5 years which would be a 20% increase in funding above the baseline. The bill dramatically expands federal spending far beyond what is necessary to reauthorize SCHIP responsibly.
The bill would permit states to expand coverage to “children” up to age 25, as well as to family members and caregivers for children in families whose incomes qualify for coverage. This could cause people who currently have health insurance to drop it and opt into the government program. This would be a dramatic encroachment of government-run health care and is an obvious attempt to move closer to universal health care coverage, way beyond the original intent to provide health care for children.
North Dakota currently permits families up to 140% of the federal poverty to qualify for SCHIP coverage, and that will move to 150% as soon as Congress reauthorizes the program. North Dakota uses net income , rather than gross income, to qualify. In North Dakota, unlike many other states, expenses such as taxes, child care costs, and child support paid are subtracted from gross income before determining the qualifying income level, resulting in more families qualifying, especially those with high child care costs. A North Dakota family of four can have a net income of $28,920/year at 140% and receive SCHIP benefits and will be able to make $30,986/year at 150%.
The Health Steps program in North Dakota includes vision, dental, and prenatal coverage for children up through age 18, which is a significant advantage over many states’ programs. The idea has been to provide as much coverage as possible for those who need it the most
How will this federal increase in coverage be paid? A proposed cigarette tax increase of 83 cents per pack will be imposed and can escalate to $1/pack. Whether or not this is the right way to pay for the additional costs of the expanded program is another discussion. Many existing programs are having the legs cut out from under them in order to fund expansions of pet programs. One serious funding change takes money away from Medicare Advantage which benefits low income seniors by reducing out-of-pocket costs. The payment changes are so draconian that the likely effect will be to eliminate options for many beneficiaries, particularly in rural counties or small, urban communities where earlier sessions of Congress expressly intended to provide choices for beneficiaries. It is wrong to balance health care for middle income families on the backs of low-income seniors.
Enhancing SCHIP so that it can better serve North Dakota children is an appropriate goal, but the current bill has too many flaws. After a Presidential veto, all parties can get down to work to reauthorize a very important program at levels that we all can support.
- by Judy Lee, Chair - Senate Human Services Committee
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), is receiving a great deal of discussion now as Congress considers its reauthorization. This program, called Healthy Steps in North Dakota, has been a very important tool for providing health care for children through age 18 in low-income families, but the bill recently passed by the US House and Senate is a radical expansion of the existing program.
The new bill would permit coverage up to 300% of the federal poverty level (FPL). 300% would be $61,974/year for a family of four. An earlier version, supported by many in Congress, would have covered families to 400% of the poverty level which is calculated to be $82,629/year for a family of four. That is way above the average income for North Dakotans.
Someone with an annual income of the 300% of poverty level, using standard formulas, can qualify for a monthly payment of $1446, permitting them to purchase a home valued at approximately $175,000. A family earning 400% of poverty level can qualify for $1928/month payment which would permit them to purchase a home valued at approximately $245,000. Should families who can buy homes for $175,000-$250,000 be permitted to receive government-paid health insurance? That is a welfare program for middle income families. The higher the income limits, the more state tax dollars will be needed to provide coverage, since there is a 25% state match required to draw down federal funds.
H.R. 976 as recently passed by Congress would expand the SCHIP program by $35 billion over the next five years, to a $60 billion program. President Bush has supported a $5 billion expansion over 5 years which would be a 20% increase in funding above the baseline. The bill dramatically expands federal spending far beyond what is necessary to reauthorize SCHIP responsibly.
The bill would permit states to expand coverage to “children” up to age 25, as well as to family members and caregivers for children in families whose incomes qualify for coverage. This could cause people who currently have health insurance to drop it and opt into the government program. This would be a dramatic encroachment of government-run health care and is an obvious attempt to move closer to universal health care coverage, way beyond the original intent to provide health care for children.
North Dakota currently permits families up to 140% of the federal poverty to qualify for SCHIP coverage, and that will move to 150% as soon as Congress reauthorizes the program. North Dakota uses net income , rather than gross income, to qualify. In North Dakota, unlike many other states, expenses such as taxes, child care costs, and child support paid are subtracted from gross income before determining the qualifying income level, resulting in more families qualifying, especially those with high child care costs. A North Dakota family of four can have a net income of $28,920/year at 140% and receive SCHIP benefits and will be able to make $30,986/year at 150%.
The Health Steps program in North Dakota includes vision, dental, and prenatal coverage for children up through age 18, which is a significant advantage over many states’ programs. The idea has been to provide as much coverage as possible for those who need it the most
How will this federal increase in coverage be paid? A proposed cigarette tax increase of 83 cents per pack will be imposed and can escalate to $1/pack. Whether or not this is the right way to pay for the additional costs of the expanded program is another discussion. Many existing programs are having the legs cut out from under them in order to fund expansions of pet programs. One serious funding change takes money away from Medicare Advantage which benefits low income seniors by reducing out-of-pocket costs. The payment changes are so draconian that the likely effect will be to eliminate options for many beneficiaries, particularly in rural counties or small, urban communities where earlier sessions of Congress expressly intended to provide choices for beneficiaries. It is wrong to balance health care for middle income families on the backs of low-income seniors.
Enhancing SCHIP so that it can better serve North Dakota children is an appropriate goal, but the current bill has too many flaws. After a Presidential veto, all parties can get down to work to reauthorize a very important program at levels that we all can support.
- by Judy Lee, Chair - Senate Human Services Committee
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