Senate Democratic Caucus
End of Week Report (Week 11)
March 19, 2009
Last week, legislators received the most comprehensive presentation to date on the stimulus money that is coming to North Dakota from the federal government. With more clarity now available from the federal government on the amount of money North Dakota is receiving and what the money can be used for, it looks like there is more money available but less flexibility in how it’s used than originally thought. Last week’s presentation, given by Legislative Council and various state government department heads, revealed that North Dakota’s stimulus share has grown to $650 million from an original estimate of about $575 million. However, worries continue to grow over how this money will interact with the state’s own pot of funding. For example, much of the education funding available from the federal government is for Title I schools with disadvantaged students, but not every school district in North Dakota qualifies for this funding. So how will the infusion of this money affect our equity-based school funding distribution formula? How will the transportation funding affect cities and counties that are being used as pass-through entities? Will it prevent them from getting the funding from the state that they otherwise would have received because the stimulus money can be viewed as a replacement?
In addition to answering these questions over the next month, lawmakers will also have to grapple with whether the state should add all the stimulus funding on top of its previously-proposed budget, or pull back some of those proposed budget increases to make way for the stimulus. The Democratic Caucus has come down firmly against the latter plan because the stimulus money is meant to stimulate our economy and create jobs, not to fill a bank vault somewhere while crucial needs exist and people need jobs.
In other matters:
–SB 2388, a bill to help bridge the “pay gap” faced by our soldiers in combat, passed the House last week and is headed to Gov. John Hoeven’s desk. Sponsored by Sen. Mac Schneider, (D-42 Grand Forks), the bill offers a tax credit to employers who agree to make up the difference between a soldier’s private sector wage and their combat pay. Without such support, many National Guard and Reserve members have to take a pay cut when deploying overseas. Schneider said he introduced the bill with the idea that nobody should have to take a pay cut to serve our nation in the armed forces.
–SB 2369, a bill that would have studied how property tax relief could benefit renters, failed to pass the House. Sponsored by Sen. Carolyn Nelson, (D-21 Fargo) and co-sponsored by Sens. Tracy Potter (D-35 Bismarck) and Bob Horne (D-3 Minot), the bill started as a proposal to allow tenants to legally collect a portion of the property tax relief being given out from their landlords. It was later amended into a study of how renters can benefit from property tax relief. However, the House last week decided to reject the bill even in study form.
—HB 1399, a bill to create an American Indian Language Teaching and Preservation Committee, moved closer to passage last week as the Senate took a procedural vote to accept amendments on the bill. Co-sponsored by Sen. Richard Marcellais, (D-9 Belcourt), Sen. John Warner, (D-4 Ryder) and Sen. Joan Heckaman (D-23 New Rockford), the bill instructs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to appoint the committee, to be made up of tribal college representatives, an Indian Affairs Committee member, a school board member, a school district superintendent and a teacher of American Indian languages. The intent of the bill is to preserve our heritage and make sure that these valuable languages are not lost to the ages.
–Sen. Tim Mathern, (D-11 Fargo), received a national mental health advocacy award in Washington, D.C. last week. Mathern received the National Association of Psychiatric Health System’s Grassroots Leadership Award for his long record of advocacy for mental health patients, greater access to mental health care and adequate funding of such care. The organization’s President/CEO Mark Covell said change happens because of individuals like Mathern. He was further congratulated on the Senate floor with a speech given by Sen. Carolyn Nelson, (D-21 Fargo)
–Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson has set April 3rd as his official date of departure. He offered his official letter of resignation to Gov. John Hoeven last Tuesday morning. Johnson announced earlier this month he’s leaving his job to become President of the National Farmers Union. Johnson has served for 12 years as North Dakota’s Agriculture Commissioner, and has spent that time fighting for North Dakota farmers on both the state and national level. He testified before Congress on many occasions and was chosen by his fellow agriculture commissioners to lead their national association.