PROGRESSIVE CONNECTION
January 30, 2005
THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY
GOOD A BIG congratulations to members of the ND Farmers Union.
Rep. Tom Brusegaard’s (R-19 Gilby) attack on the ND anti-corporation farming
law (HB 1466) was WITHDRAWN!!! BAD Another bill that’s back every session, SB 2377
weakens the Territorial Integrity Act, which protects the investment rural
electric cooperatives have made in providing service to rural areas. Hearing:
Fri 2-4, 9 AM, Missouri River Rm. Come and help Farmers Union fight this
attempt by public utilities to grab territory. UGLY Increased minimum wage for workers – defeated 63-26.
Increased property tax credits for disabled and over 65 – Do Not Pass 4-2.
Tax credits for businesses supporting child care defeated – “unfair to
stay-at-home moms” according to Sen. Ben Tollefson (R- 38 Minot). Is there a
pattern here? GOOD HB 1424, economic development
accountability/democracy/quality job standards, had a good hearing on January
26. Thanks to those who testified – NDPC, NDEA, NDPEA, NDFU. No action yet.
SB 2051 has a hearing Mon. 1-31, 9 AM Roosevelt Park Rm, Senate Industry
Business and Labor. This is Sen. Every’s bill and has most of the good stuff
in HB 1424. Provisions of HB 1203 (Governor’s bill) are weak or non-existent
on all counts. That hearing is Mon 1-31, 8 AM, Peace Garden Rm, House
Industry, Business and Labor. There are major differences between these
bills – help us make those choices clear. BAD Better accountability of economic development might
offset some of the damage HB 1031 will do to local funding. This bill changes
the time period of property tax exemptions to economic development projects
from five to ten years. Cost: $350,000 for 2005-2007 and $750,000 for
2007-2009. BAD Nominated for the silliest question by a
legislator this week: During the hearing on SB 2313 (makes failure to pay
wages a criminal theft of services) – a committee member asked “What if a
business felt this created such a negative business climate, they didn’t come
to ND?” Bill sponsor Sen. Fairfield’s answer: “If it stopped them from coming
here to not pay their workers wages, I’d say, hallelujah!” We agree –
courting a thief who would cheat our workers is a desperation approach to
economic development. GOOD Another session, another effort to get a Human
Rights Commission established (SB 2337), this time an advisory committee.
Hearing: Tues 2-1, 11 AM, Red River Rm, Senate Human Services. Contact the ND
Human Rights Coalition at (701) 239-9323 for talking points and to let them
know if you can testify. BAD Bush II is coming to Fargo Thursday Feb 3 to push his
privatizing Social Security schemes. BUT, there is no crisis! It’s just
another fabricated threat, like WMDs. We can’t let him destroy our and our
children’s Social Security. Let us know – ASAP – ideas for what we can do on
Thursday. Watch for alerts. UGLY HB 1394 is a sister to Colorado’s misnamed Taxpayer
Bill of Rights (TABOR) which has produced severe fiscal problems and is being
reconsidered. The bill severely limits the growth of the state budget without
regard to the complexities of changing needs. Lawmakers virtually chain themselves
to a row boat without oars…unnecessary and irritating on a calm sunny
day,…but, when a storm hits, they can’t even bail water. Hearing: Mon. 1-31,
10:30 AM, Brynhild Haugland Rm, House Government Performance. BAD Here are more bad taxation bills: HB 1157 would pay
out $15 million in residential property tax rebates using debit cards valid
only at ND retail locations. We wonder, does that include Walmart and other
big box retailers that send profits out-of-state? HB 1446 would rebate $20.25
million in property tax for agricultural or residential property. Now THAT
will surely solve the crisis in school funding – we can just close more of
them. GOOD Congratulations to the members of the North Dakota
Public Employees Association. They got a Do Pass on their state employee
compensation bill (SB 2247) and a larger retroactive raise. IT TAKES A COMMUNITY What is it about living together in communities that the right wingers
find so distasteful? Draconian tax bills are a national right wing attack on
families and children and our community standard of living. The goal seems to
be to starve all government and reduce public services to nothing. Lower
taxes may sound okay – but taxes support a standard of living that gives us
public sanitation, police protection, education, fire fighters, roads, parks…
So what do we give up? Does the fireman send us a bill for saving our home?
We could reinstall the outhouse…some of us have been there, done that. It’s cold
out there…we’d rather pay taxes. PROGRESSIVE CONNECTIONS –
Here’s where the ACTION is! BISMARCK : Progressive Connection, Mondays during the Legislative Session,
7 PM, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 818 E Divide Ave…legislative
updates, snacks, support, relaxation by the fire! BISMARCK : Starts February 1 – “The Greatness of the Non-Partisan League:
Past, Present and Future” free non-credit course, Dr Charles Barber, 6-9PM,
at NDPC, 410 E Thayer. FARGO : Pres. Bush drops in to push Social Security unraveling. February
3. WATCH for alerts. Please let us promote YOUR
events here! The North Dakota Progressive Coalition is working hard
for economic and social justice. Will public policies support a future where
every North Dakotan can live with dignity and security in a healthy
environment? YOU can make a
big difference in the kind of future we have in North Dakota. Please mail your contribution to the NDPC today: 410 East Thayer
Ave, Suite 2, Bismarck, ND 58501 |
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