News from Headquarters

Many weekend news articles shed further light on questionable practices over at Workforce Safety and Insurance. Basically, the articles cited more problems with the Sandy Blunt administration and chided the current CEO for whistle-blower firings.

I felt the articles also reinforced the flaccid leadership we've seen from Gov. John Hoeven and Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem lately. The WSI issue just keeps going and going while Hoeven and Stenehjem have been slow to move. These improprieties in our government should not be tolerated this long by state "leadership." Last week, a Hoeven aide actually said the governor approves of the whistle-blower firings. Hmmm.

Last week, members of the interim Legislature's Administrative Rules Committee voted to draft legislation to dissolve the state's Racing Commission. Lawmakers would then vote on the bill during the 2009 legislative session. Reasons for the move: infighting within the commission and questionable money transfers.

And, remember the tumult within the Board of Higher Education in the summer of 2006?

What's going on here? Troubled government seems to be becoming a pattern in North Dakota.

Republicans dominate our state government. These debacles have happened on their watch. And, it seems they never end.

It's time for a new direction.

Candidate announcement

Mitch Vance of Bismarck will formally announce his intention regarding a run for state treasurer on Wednesday, March 19 in Fargo and Bismarck. The details are below. Please come out and cheer him on!

Press conference details:

Fargo: 10 a.m. at the Fargo Parks Depot Building (West Board Room), 701 Main Ave.

Bismarck: 2:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Memorial Center, 1902 E. Divide Ave.

There will be a short reception following the Bismarck press conference at the Kennedy Center. Coffee and cookies will be served.

-Rick Gion, Communications Director