Edison for Tax Commissioner

Via the GF Herald...

N.D. TAX COMMISSIONER: Edison begins campaign
By Stephen J. Lee
Herald Staff Writer

Cutting taxes - some taxes, anyway - was the theme of the Democrat who launched his bid Monday for North Dakota tax commissioner. It's not a theme normally associated with his party.

"Property taxes have become an 800-pound gorilla on the backs of North Dakota property owners and renters," Brent Edison, 49, a Bismarck attorney, said in a news conference in Grand Forks.

It's making things difficult for old people to stay in their homes and for young people to buy into the home market, he said.

"To bring balance back to property taxes, I am proposing that no more than 30 percent of the cost of K through 12 education will come from local property taxes."

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

Tonight, President Bush will deliver his State of the Union address. He will tell us that the state of the union is good. Oh yeah? Let’s look at a few numbers provided by our research staff.

Today, two months after the Bush administration opened enrollment in its new prescription drug benefit program, more than 70,000 North Dakota seniors are still staring at a complex list of confusing plans, trying to make a critical decision on how they are going to get prescription drug coverage. For many, it is the single most important decision they will make for the rest of their lives, and most are bewildered by the program’s complexity. Is that good?

The U.S. Department of Energy says that home heating oil prices are expected to increase by 74 percent in North Dakota’s region of the country, as compared to prices in 2000, and AAA reports that gas prices have increased by 41 cents in North Dakota since May of 2004, an increase of 20 percent. And this morning’s Forum reports that Exxon Mobil earned $36.13 billion in profits last year. That’s Billion with a “B.” The President has failed to address high energy costs, and Republicans in Congress have passed an energy bill with billions of dollars in subsidies for big oil and gas companies. Is that good?

Our country’s national debt has increased to $8 trillion, but instead of returning to fiscal sanity, the President is preparing to force through an extension of the capital gains and dividends tax break that would provide the wealthiest one percent of the families in North Dakota with a tax cut worth $4,962 in 2010, while the middle 20 percent of taxpayers, with an average income of $44,800, would get $48, according to a report from the Citizens for Tax Justice. Is that good?

This morning’s Bismarck Tribune reports that Americans are saving at the lowest rate since the Great Depression. In fact, personal savings last year were a minus 0.5 per cent, which means that people not only spent all their after-tax income, but had to dip into their savings or increase their borrowing to pay their gas bills, their home heating bills, their property taxes and their medical, costs. Is that good?

Nearly 900 brave men and women from North Dakota are serving their country in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the Bush administration has failed to provide members of our military with the resources and equipment they need to complete their mission successfully and come home safe. A VA report says 11,967 veterans in North Dakota have been shut out of the VA health care system completely. Is that good?

There are 70,000 people without health insurance in North Dakota. Is that good?

Social Security provides financial security and peace of mind to 113,960 people in North Dakota. President Bush tried to spend his “political capital” (remember that speech?) to privatize it last year. Luckily for us, he didn’t have any. That’s good!

Today, American families are struggling because the Bush White House and the most corrupt Congress in history have failed to focus on America’s priorities. The basic American values we all share are not being honored: honesty and integrity in our government, economic prosperity, a strong national defense, a health care system that works for everyone, and fiscal responsibility.

Democrats, nationally and here in North Dakota, are united, focused and totally committed to taking the bold steps necessary so that American families can rebuild the communities that are the heart of our democracy. Together we can stand for honesty, hard work, respect, and opportunity for all Americans. Together, families in North Dakota can do better.

We have a couple of State of the Union viewing parties scheduled here in North Dakota tonight, one at the Kennedy Center in Bismarck and one at the Cass County Democratic-NPL headquarters in Fargo, both starting at 7 p.m. You’re invited to join us, to get the facts, talk about what we can do to work for change, and take action.

See you there, or on the Trail.

Jim

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

The single most important thing a political party does is nominate candidates for office. That process is starting in the next two weeks for the Democratic-NPL Party, with the beginning of the Legislative District Conventions all across the state. We’ve posted the schedule on our website. Click here to see when and where your District Convention is being held, and make plans to attend. If you’ve never been to your District Convention, now’s the time to start. Call some friends, invite them to come along. If you’re a regular, bring a new Democrat friend to the convention.

If you live in an odd numbered district, you’ll likely be nominating candidates for the Legislature. Now’s the time to meet them, to get involved in their campaigns, as we work toward a Democratic-NPL majority in the Legislature. All districts will be electing delegates to the State Convention in Fargo March 31-April 2.

What We Stand For

Each time we have a state convention, we appoint a state convention platform and resolutions committee to help us develop a statement of principles upon which our candidates run for office. That process has begun early this year with the appointment of a platform planning committee, a group of about 40 Democratic-NPL Legislators, leaders and thinkers. That group met Saturday in Bismarck and developed an outline for a platform that will be direct, succinct and substantive. For example: Democrats believe that property taxes have gotten out of hand, and that the Republican Legislature, unwilling to adequately fund education in North Dakota, is the culprit. We believe that local property taxpayers should be asked to bear no more than 30 per cent of the cost of a basic K-12 education. You’ll probably see something like that in our party’s platform when it is done. The platform gets written during the district and state convention process. You bring your resolutions to your district convention, your district sends them on to the state platform committee, which considers them for inclusion in the platform and resolutions we adopt at the convention. It’s that simple. Your voice counts. So come to your district convention prepared to discuss your favorite issues. That’s how the process gets done in our party, and it’s a good one.

Wined and Cheesed in District 40

It was old home week for me in Minot Friday night as former Democratic-NPL Representative Bruce Anderson, Al Lund, Brent Askvig and District 40 chair Judy Vendsel (some of you will remember Judy’s dad, former Rep. Ray Vendsel, one of the all-time great orators in our party) put together a tray full of snacks at the Vegas Hotel in Minot and invited me up to help re-organize District 40 and get ready for the 2006 election. 15 good Democrats can accomplish a lot in a short time, and we got the district back on track after some inactivity since the 2004 election. No legislative races in that district this year, but the district has a healthy bank account in preparation for 2008, and Sandie Karnack and my old friend Edith Christenson are going to be at work updating their voter file to help re-elect Sen. Conrad, Rep. Pomeroy and Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson this year. Time to bring Bruce back to the Legislature, I’d say.

Good-bye to a Friend

We’re saying good-bye to a loyal Democrat friend this morning in Devils Lake, at the funeral for former State Senator Floyd Stromme. Floyd served as part of the Democratic-NPL caucus from 1981-1990, and was wise counsel to a group of young Senators who came along in 1986 when we took the majority in the State Senate. His son, Craig, is proving that apples don’t fall far from the tree. He’s the District 15 Party Chairman right now, and we’re going to send him down to sit in his dad’s seat in the Senate one of these days. We will miss Floyd. Our sympathies and prayers go out to Delores and her family today.

See you on the Trail,

Jim

Brent Edison's statement on candidacy for N.D. Tax Commissioner

(Bismarck)- I’m Brent Edison and I’m here today to announce that I’m seeking the Democratic-NPL Party endorsement to run for Tax Commissioner.

Property taxes have become an 800 pound gorilla on the backs of North Dakota property owners and renters. That’s why I’m running for Tax Commissioner. Property taxes have become so out-of-balance that they threaten the ability of our seniors to stay in their homes and threaten the dream of home ownership for our young people and working families. To bring balance back to property taxes, I am proposing that no more than 30 percent of the cost of K-12 education will come from local property taxes.

I’m running because we need a change of attitude in the Tax Commissioner’s Office. The government is pretty good at collecting taxes; it ought to be just as good at providing customer service to taxpayers. Right now, if I want to e-file to pay my state taxes, I have to pay twice, once to buy the software from a software company and a second time to pay by credit card. I have to pay for something that saves the state money. I can buy my hunting and fishing licenses or renew my motor vehicle registration on-line without added charges. Why should I have to pay to e-file my North Dakota taxes? That’s wrong and it’s old fashioned. E-filing saves the state money. The technology is there for the Tax Department to bring e-filing in-house, instead of jobbing it out to out-of-state software companies. All it takes is the commitment to make it happen. As Tax Commissioner, I will make sure e-filing is available and free for all North Dakotans.

North Dakotans have seen their paychecks eaten up by a double-whammy of rising gas prices at the pump and high home heating costs. As a result, some of our most vulnerable citizens have had to choose between putting gas in the tank, keeping their houses warm or buying the medicine they need. At the same time, the state has seen substantial growth in state revenues from the taxes collected on oil and gas production. Because of the rise in sales taxes collected from the skyrocketing cost of natural gas, and the unfair impact that has had on folks who are struggling to pay their home heating costs, I support tax relief for the high cost of natural gas.

After emigrating from Sweden, my grandfather chose North Dakota as his home and place of business. I want to help ensure that my four children have that same kind of hope for a bright future here in North Dakota. That’s the bottom line of why I’m here today to pledge my full commitment to this race and to a better North Dakota.

Washington Post/ABC News Poll says Americans want Dems to lead

Via the Washington Post...

A new poll by Washington Post/ABC News says Americans would prefer Democratic leadership over Republican by 16 percent (51 Dem/35 Republican). It also says President Bush's approval rating is down to 42 percent.

Americans don't trust Republican leadership

Via CNN...

Poll: Most think Bush is failing second term
Friday, January 27, 2006

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A majority of Americans are more likely to vote for a candidate in November's congressional elections who opposes President Bush, and 58 percent consider his second term a failure so far, according to a poll released Thursday.

Fewer people consider Bush to be honest and trustworthy now than did a year ago, and 53 percent said they believe his administration deliberately misled the public about Iraq's purported weapons program before the U.S. invasion in 2003, the CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll found.

Rick Gion's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

Are you sick of Republicans telling you Democrats don't stand for anything? You and I know it's simply not true. As I said before, during my recent visit to Washington, D.C., I had the privilege of meeting DNC Chairman Howard Dean. In our meeting, he explained a short list of issues the national party stands for. The six issues are listed below along with the DNC's slogan.

1) Honesty in Government-lobbying reform
2) Strong national defense
3) Create American jobs that will stay in America
4) Health care system that works for everyone
5) Strong public education system
6) Making America energy independent by 2020

Slogan: "Together America can do better."

Do you notice that national defense is on the list? Well, this is where the Republicans have been beating us, especially on the issue of homeland security. I think it's a bunch of hooey myself. Under their auspices, we still have thousands of shipping containers entering this country without inspection every day, and our borders are not secure. What about Hurricane Katrina? That was a homeland security issue, and a miserable failure under Republican leadership, I might add.

As you can see, Republican leaders in Washington have failed with homeland security and pretty much every issue on the list. I'll explain further. We have recently seen how corruption has plagued the Republican party. Their shenanigans have even interrupted government operations. American jobs are being shipped overseas, and Republicans continue to do nothing to address it. The new Medicare prescription drug program is complicated and full of glitches. Although our public education system is OK, it's not as strong as it could be under Democratic leadership. Lastly, Republican energy policy is emptying our pocketbooks while large energy companies are collecting record profits.

So, next time Republicans say Democrats don't stand for anything, tell them they're flat wrong. And make sure to reinforce that their policies are flat wrong for America.

(P.S. The state party will be unveiling its own issues platform soon. We'll send it along to you for comment. Also, keep those email addresses coming.)

See you on the trail,

Rick Gion

The Ed Schultz Show gets the boot from Fargo Clear Channel radio station

Via The Forum...

KFGO woos back once-fired duo
By Dave Roepke, The Forum
Published Thursday, January 26, 2006

A popular local radio duo switched stations Wednesday to replace the show it was fired to make room for a little more than a year ago.

Jack Sunday and Sandy Buttweiler are moving back to KFGO from WDAY-AM, starting Wednesday. They will take the 2-5 p.m. time slot now held by Ed Schultz’s nationally syndicated political show, said Jeff Hoberg, vice president and market manager for Clear Channel’s seven Fargo stations.

KFGO news director Paul Jurgens announced the switch on air during the 5 p.m. news hour.

Republicans can't manage America's money

Well, it looks as though the federal budget deficit will be over $300 billion again this year. Thanks to the fiscal irresponsibility of Republican leadership we keep adding to our federal debt that's sitting at over $7 trillion. During President Bush's reign, he has managed to rack up the top three budget deficits in history. He holds the gold, silver and bronze for fiscal irresponsibility!

Click here to read the report...

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Fellow Democrats,

Up in Minot last night they were buzzing about one of the city’s most prominent businessmen who’s preparing to announce that he is seeking the Democratic-NPL endorsement for the House of Representatives in District 3. That’s the district in which Kari Conrad won a special election two years ago to fill the seat that opened up following the untimely death of former Republican Representative Janet Wentz. We’ve got a good shot at unseating Rep. Andy Maragos there. You might recall that during the last session, Maragos had a spotty attendance record at the Legislature because his job as an Amtrak ticket agent often required him to go home and miss afternoon sessions of the Legislature. The folks in District 3 think they deserve a full-time Representative, not a part time one, and they have a great candidate apparently ready to run. They’ve also recruited at least one candidate to run against Sen. Randy Schobinger, so look for fireworks in District 3 this year.

I enjoyed meeting with Chairman Lee Snyder and his District 3 Democrats last night, but it was kind of strange to be in a city district with the number 3 on it. For many years, until that goofy reapportionment process five years ago, District 3 was the rural Ward County district, and the domain of Rep. Richard Backes, our longtime Democratic-NPL floor leader. I can still hear Backes on the floor of the house saying "Well, Representative Strinden, my neighbors up in the 3rd district don’t think much of this bill . . ."

Meanwhile, back in Bismarck . . .

You probably saw Rick Gion’s note on Monday night’s Bismarck Century Club reception in yesterday’s News Briefs You’d have liked to have been at that reception in Tim Purdon and Carmen Miller’s house Monday night. A houseful (about 100) of Democrats, all members of our party’s Century Club, spent the evening with Congressman Earl Pomeroy, drinking Tim’s wine, eating Carmen’s delicious food, and talking about past and future campaigns.

It’s the biggest Century Club reception I’ve been to in years (credit our party’s Century Club Coordinator Matt Pearce, Pomeroy staffer Dianne Mondry, and the district chairs who did followup calls), signaling some new enthusiasm in our party, even in a city where we currently have no Democratic-NPL legislators. That’s something we have to change this year, of course. Districts 35 and 47 have legislative races this year, and both are lining up candidates for the race ahead. In District 35, Ryan Gustafson has already announced his candidacy for the House, to oppose Reps. Bob Martinson and Margaret Sitte, and three or four more people are considering joining him in the House race. A real political veteran (expect an announcement soon) is waiting in the wings to announce for the Senate race against Sen. Ed Kringstad, whose running shoes are looking a little worn. Over in District 47, they have a hefty bank balance and a search committee has a list of 20 possible candidates they are talking to, and announcements can be expected soon.

Meanwhile, Monday night there was a pretty cool reunion of the 1972-1980 administration of Gov. Art Link and Grace and Lt. Gov. Wayne Sanstead and Mary Jane in one corner of the room, and current and former Agriculture Commissioners Roger Johnson and Sarah Vogel held forth in another. And four old party hacks showed up—four former state party executive directors—Marv Mutzenberger, Austin Engel, David Strauss and I. Marv’s back preaching in the Lutheran Church, Austin’s a lawyer practicing in Bismarck, and David and I just kind of drifted back into party politics. Oh well, we’re all still alive and kicking. That’s something.

See you on the Trail!

Jim

Reid blasts Bush about corruption connections

Via CNN...

Reid: Bush should 'come clean' in State of the Union address

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid urged President Bush Tuesday to "come clean" in next week's State of the Union speech and acknowledge "the costs of Republican corruption."

"In his 2000 campaign, George Bush promised to bring 'dignity' to the White House, but we've since found that he brought Jack Abramoff instead," said Reid, D-Nevada. He spoke at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank, in remarks previewing Democratic criticism of the presidential speech on January 31.

"President Bush needs to quit stonewalling about his White House's connection to corruption, and finally tell us how he's going to reform Washington," Reid said.

Century Club event memories

Last night U.S. Congressman Earl Pomeroy was the guest of honor at the home of Tim Purdon and Carmen Miller in Bismarck for the 2006 Century Club kickoff event. Agriculture Commissioner Roger Johnson also spoke to a crowd of about 100 people. Former Governor Arthur Link was also in attendence. As you can see, the event was full of laughs and great conversation.

We encourage all Democrats to join Century Club. It's the lifeline of our party, and an important step in helping us carry 2006! For more information, call Matt Pearce (701) 255-0460.

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Dear Fellow Democrats,

It was in Grand Forks Wednesday night that I realized things might just be better for our party than I had originally expected I might find them when I started this job.

Six square tables were pushed together so about 10 or 12 of us in the meeting room of the Kings Walk Golf Course clubhouse could fit around them for a meeting of the Grand Forks Democratic-NPL All-City Committee (I think they have a better official name than that, but it doesn’t come to me as I write this from my desk in Dunn County on Saturday morning, so, my apologies, I’ll get it right next time I’m there). As meeting time approached, Democrats just kept coming in the door. At 7:25 we added two more tables, at 7:28 two more—all we had, and then we started scrunching our chairs closer together.

At 7:32, when Lonnie Winrich, the citywide chair, convened the meeting, there were nearly 25 of us in the room, representing all four Grand Forks districts.

The discussion Wednesday night was of fundraising and candidate recruitment. Both are going well. It’s running mates for Weezie Potter in District 17 and Lois Delmore in District 43 that we’re looking for, and the list of potential candidates—and those assigned to contact them—grows at each all-city meeting. In the old Nonpartisan League, “the office sought the man” (and, actually, “man” was generally correct those days—we’d say person now, but only be a little more accurate—our record, frankly, is not that good), not the other way around. The League regularly rejected would-be candidates who came to them seeking to run, in favor of finding community leaders who had not thought of being a “politician” but had the natural leadership abilities to bring good government to North Dakota.

So it goes with our candidate recruiting efforts around the state this week, and this month, as we prepare for District Conventions. Look around your community. Who are the leaders? Might they share a Dem-NPL philosophy with us? Talk to them. One might be your next state senator. (Or, if someone comes up to you and says that next leader might be you, think about it.)
-------
Before you go, another reminder: Keep sending in those e-mail addresses. Want another Nonpartisan League story? Sorry, you’re going to get one anyway.

In the spring of 1916, A.C. Townley went into the Fargo post office to secure mailing privileges for the League’s newspaper, the Leader. Scott Ellsworth recounts in his book Origins of the Nonpartisan League:

“But,” said the postmaster, “you must have a bona fide subscription list – with each subscriber signed up and money paid. You say you printed 18,000 copies and want to mail them, but you cannot secure mailing rights until you have subscribers – paid subscribers.”

“I have,” replied Townley; “I have 18,000 paid subscribers scattered all over North Dakota.”

“What,” exclaimed the astonished postmaster! “You say you have 18,000 subscribers, and I have never heard of your paper or your organization?”

“You’re right,” came back the wizard of farm organizers, to surprise the postmaster. “I have been organizing farmers, not postmasters.”

Okay, so we’re organizing Democrats. Not the easiest task in the world, but if we communicate with them daily, keep them advised of our meetings and activities, our participation will grow. If Townley could get 18,000 farmers to give him a six dollar subscription check, we ought to be able to give away that many free subscriptions to these daily briefings. And on Election Day, we’ll surprise the folks over at Republican headquarters in Bismarck (otherwise known as the State Capitol) just like Townley surprised that postmaster. Send us e-mail addresses of Democrats and those who should be. Now. Right now!

See you on the Trail.

Jim

Dorgan clears any speculation of Abramoff connection

Last week The Forum's Janell Cole interviewed Senator Byron Dorgan about the Jack Abramoff scandal. It was published as a Q&A piece. It cleared up all misconceptions about Dorgan's non-existent involvement with Abramoff. Here's an excerpt:

The Forum

"You’ve said many times you’ve never met Abramoff but, obviously, you knew who he was."

Senator Dorgan

"I would not have known him from a John Deere tractor. Abramoff was not part of my radar. He was what is known as a Pioneer for President Bush – those are people who raised over $100,000 for the president. He, by all accounts, gave personal contributions to a lot of members of Congress, all of them Republican. Many of them probably knew him, probably went to fundraisers with him, but he’s not someone I would have known."

Click here to read the article...

Jim Fuglie's News from the Trail

Greetings, Fellow Democrats, from the Red River Valley! My travels as your Executive Director have sent me east this week, and it is truly an exciting place for a West River boy like me to be (at least in terms of politics).

I spent Tuesday evening in Fargo with Cass County Dems, including the Cass County Chair, Rebecca Knutson. Our party chairman David Strauss is fond of calling this “the new Fargo” and he’s right. We’re seeing Democrats running for and being elected to local offices here, and I saw firsthand Tuesday night the organization that the Fargo folks have built that is setting the stage for a great Democratic-NPL victory here in the fall.

Most impressive is the work Carol Sawicki and her team have done on their database. It is constantly monitored and kept up to date, to let all 9 of the Cass County districts prepare for their district elections. District 45 has in the process of a door to door canvas to update their list even more. Other districts are ready to follow their example. Information is a powerful tool, and my hope is that all of our districts will work hard this year to keep current information and use it in the weeks leading up to election day.

Fundraising for State Party’s efforts continues apace. Century Club receptions are scheduled in Bismarck and Grand Forks, nearly finalized in Minot, and in the planning stages in Fargo. Please check the daily schedule at the end of these e-mails for a reception in your area, and plan to attend. Our Dollars for Democrats calls and letters are underway. If you get one, please respond.

Our legislative district conventions are nearly all scheduled, and state convention plans are being finalized. Check our website www.demnpl.com next week for the complete schedule, and plan to attend the one in your district. And mark March 31 and April 1-2 on your calendar for our state convention.

Finally, thanks to all of you who have sent e-mail addresses to us for including on our daily news briefs and Reports From The Trail mailings. I am dead serious about building the largest e-mail database in North Dakota. If you have not done so, please go to your address book right now and send us e-mail addresses of your friends and acquaintances who are Democrats or should be. We’ll send them just one message and allow them to opt out after that, but we think once they hear from us, they’ll want more.

See you on the Trail,

Jim

North Dakota Democrats support ethics reform

(Bismarck)-North Dakota Democrats support ethics reform efforts introduced by Congressional Democrats in Washington, D.C., today, said North Dakota’s Democratic-NPL Party Executive Director, Jim Fuglie.

“We actually made a run at this at the state level in the last North Dakota Legislative Session, but were unsuccessful at getting it past a Republican majority,” Fuglie said.

This is in reference to Sen. April Fairfield’s (D-Eldridge) bill, SB 2303, aimed at strengthening gift disclosure laws. It proposed that trips paid for by lobbyists or foreign countries would have to be accounted for by the North Dakota Legislative Council. It also proposed that legislative trips paid for by third parties would have to be fully disclosed as a matter of public record.

"The American people want honest leadership at all levels of government," Fuglie said. “I applaud Chairman Howard Dean and Democratic Congressional leaders for the introduction of the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.”

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act would strengthen ethics enforcement by:

-Closing the revolving door between lawmakers and lobbyists by doubling the amount of time lawmakers and staffers must wait before lobbying Congress

-Prohibiting the receipt of gifts, including meals, entertainment and travel, from lobbyists

-Clamping down on “pay to play" systems like the one set by lobbyist Jack Abramoff

-Ending efforts like the "K Street Project," which Republicans created to force corporations and lobbying firms to hire Republicans in exchange for political access

Fuglie said he expects the Democratic-NPL Party’s 2006 Platform, now being formulated for the party’s state convention, will include recommendations for lobbying reform in North Dakota's state government.

"Legislation like Sen. Fairfield's, with strict disclosure laws, should receive more attention in the next session of our Legislature," Fuglie said. "North Dakotans deserve to know who is trying to influence their lawmakers."

Republicans losing support of Americans

Via Yahoo News...

Poll: Public Uneasy With GOP Leadership
By WILL LESTER

WASHINGTON - Dissatisfied with the nation's direction, Americans are leaning toward wanting a change in which political party leads Congress — preferring that Democrats take control, an AP-Ipsos poll found. Democrats are favored over Republicans 49 percent to 36 percent.

The polling came as disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff pleaded guilty to tax evasion, fraud and corruption charges and agreed to aid a federal investigation of members of Congress and other government officials.

Tom DeLay losing support in his district

Via the Houston Chronicle...

Only half those who voted for him in '04 would do so again, poll finds
by Eric Hanson, Anne Marie Kilday and Ruth Rendon

A criminal indictment and continuing investigations have severely eroded support for U.S. Rep Tom DeLay in his district, most notably among Republicans who have voted for him before, according to a Houston Chronicle poll.

Only half of those who cast ballots for DeLay in 2004 said they will do so again. And while a fourth of the 2004 DeLay voters still aren't sure whom they will vote for this year, almost 20 percent have defected to other candidates.

Responding to the poll Saturday, DeLay spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty said the result is "contrary to the strong support we're seeing for Congressman DeLay throughout the district."

The telephone poll of 560 registered voters in the 22nd Congressional District was conducted Tuesday through Thursday amid perhaps the roughest period of DeLay's political career.

Rick Gion's news from the trail

Dear Fellow Democrats,

Sorry about the lack of news briefs last week. As I stated before, I would be in Washington D.C., for Democratic National Committee communications training. It was priceless and full of useful information.

The first day demanded almost 12 hours of attention. The morning kicked off with a greeting from the DNC’s press and political folks. Chairman Howard Dean then held a near hour session discussing the party’s national platform with us. Many of the points he discussed pertained to North Dakota including: renewable energy, education, healthcare and keeping good jobs in America.

Throughout the day we learned about polls, issues development and technology. We even had a session about framing messages by Mike McCurry, former press secretary for President Bill Clinton.

The next day focused on media interaction training with an intense session for on camera interviews. I have over two years experience working in Fargo television, so this was especially interesting.

All in all, the experience left me overwhelmed, but at the same time confident. I left with a wealth of knowledge. This ammunition will be put to work for the Democratic-NPL Party to the furthest extent.

If you are interested in the information I learned at the training, please email me at rick@demnpl.com or call (701) 255-0460.

Rick Gion, Communications Director
Democratic-NPL Party

(P.S. Keep those addresses for the news briefs coming. I added over 20 last Friday.)

F-M Chamber of Commerce president lauds Sen. Conrad and Ag Commissioner Johnson for Marketplace for Entrepreneurs

Via The Forum...

Marketplace ’06 to have something for everyone
By David K. Martin
Published Sunday, January 15, 2006

Thanks to a recent article by Forum Business Editor Craig McEwen, Forum readers already know that Marketplace for Entrepreneurs will be held in our community Tuesday and Wednesday at the Fargodome, the Fargo Civic Memorial Auditorium and other local venues.

Sponsored by U.S. Sen. Kent Conrad and North Dakota Ag Commissioner Roger Johnson, Marketplace for Entrepreneurs is the largest, longest-running economic development event and showcase in North Dakota. However, I believe that Marketplace has something for nearly everyone, including Forum readers in Minnesota, South Dakota and beyond.

This is the first time that Marketplace has been held in our bi-state, metropolitan community. More than 1,000 private, public and nonprofit organizations are involved with and support Marketplace and its goal of fostering an entrepreneurial business culture in North Dakota.

Former governor speaks out about unjust Republican retaliation

Via the Grand Forks Herald...

IN THE MAIL: Senators show a lot of courage
Governor George Sinner

FARGO - It was the courage of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., that publicly exposed the Abramoff corruption.

As I watch the Abramoff scandal unfold in Washington, I am not surprised that the two people who had the guts to expose the scandal now are under attack by those they investigated. And I hope people understand what is going on.

McCain and Dorgan led the Senate Indian Affairs Committee investigation of the bilking of Indian tribes of tens of millions of dollars by Jack Abramoff and others. The Justice Department's announcement of Abramoff's guilty plea last week confirms what McCain and Dorgan's hearings have exposed.

Now, we see the attempt at retaliation orchestrated by some of the very people who were named in the investigation.

Senator Dorgan is a pioneer for North Dakota renewable energy

Senator Byron Dorgan has once again helped North Dakota make gains in renewable energy research by recently announcing a plan to place a hydrogen refueling station near Minot later this year.

The hydrogen would be a product of electrolyzing water. The electricity would possibly come from nearby wind towers. It's a totally clean process.

The plan is being sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. The research is being done by North Dakota State University and electric cooperatives. If it goes as planned, North Dakota will be on the cutting edge of new hydrogen technology.

Via The Forum online...

Bush's approval low in rural North Dakota

According to a new Prairie Poll, more people in North Dakota disapprove of President George W. Bush than approve. Thirty-nine percent of those polled rated the president's performance poor or very poor, while 37 percent rated it good or very good.

The poll was conducted by Venture Marketing for 11 rural North Dakota newspapers in December.

It also found that Sens. Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad and Rep. Earl Pomeroy were rated very highly. About seventy percent of those polled said their performance was good or very good.

Dorgan was the first ranked elected official in the poll. Conrad and Pomeroy were only a few points behind.

Minnesota Republicans doubt DeLay will retain leadership post

Via the GF Herald website...

AP NewsBreak: Kline, Kennedy call for new GOP leadership

FREDERIC J. FROMMER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON - Rep. John Kline said Friday that Republicans should permanently replace Tom DeLay as majority leader, and Rep. Mark Kennedy said he could not envision DeLay remaining in his post.

"The situation is that Tom's legal situation doesn't seem to be reaching clarity," Kline, R-Minn., told The Associated Press. "There are stories of more indictments or questions associated with Jack Abramoff. And I think that Tom DeLay is going to have to concentrate on that."

Later Friday, Kennedy, R-Minn., said that House Republicans need to elect permanent leadership when they return to session in a few weeks.

"Given his ongoing legal problems, I cannot envision a circumstance where Tom DeLay could once again assume his leadership position when we meet in January," Kennedy said in a statement.

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Things are looking good for Dems in 2006

Via the Washington Post blog...

The Friday Line: Momentum for Senate Democrats

The election year is finally here, and the first Friday Line of 2006 looks at key Senate races. Democrats continue to be well-positioned to pick up seats in November (though not necessarily to regain the majority, which would require a net pick-up of six seats). GOP incumbents in three races -- Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Ohio -- are facing very strong challenges. Polls also look good for Democrats against Republican incumbents in Missouri and Montana, but neither race is a sure thing.

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Not a good year for Bush

Washington Post columnist David Broder sums up President George W. Bush's past year perfectly.

Via the Washington Post...

2005: A Year of Turbulence

By David S. Broder
Sunday, January 1, 2006

What a year that was -- 2005!

It's surely a year that George Bush is glad to see past, since his path politically was mostly downhill from Inauguration Day onward. The president was still standing at year's end, but no longer were Democrats intimidated by him and no longer were Republicans in automatic lockstep.

Iraq was the major source of his troubles, with the outcome of the struggle still uncertain as the third anniversary of the war approached. But at home, high energy prices and stagnant incomes kept millions from enjoying the healthy economy.

It was also not a year that enhanced the reputation of Vice President Cheney, whose top aide was indicted for perjury and whose adamant defense of often indefensible policies did little to improve his standing.

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