Former North Dakota rep’s session job could be future ‘conduit’ for ex-lawmakers in term limits era

Former Rep. Jim Schmidt, R-Huff, got here up quick within the June 2022 election for a fourth Home time period. Home Majority Chief Mike Lefor, R-Dickinson, stated he approached Schmidt and employed him as a part-time workers assistant for the 2023 legislative session to assist on water points.

Lefor stated the association might change into “a conduit for future legislatures” to make use of former lawmakers to coach new members within the period of time period limits, which voters authorized final fall. 

Lefor cites Schmidt’s “large quantity of expertise” on water initiatives all through North Dakota. These initiatives are “an enormous expenditure for our state,” he stated.

“While you’re coping with an $18 billion finances, you higher have people who find themselves skilled and know what (are) the totally different parameters of the finances,” Lefor stated. “I totally embrace what he has supplied to me as a pacesetter and is offering to our caucus as his experience. … He will save the taxpayer cash.”

Schmidt stated his job is to facilitate cooperation and coordination between the Home and Senate on water points, such because the State Water Fee finances. He attends invoice hearings on water points, takes notes and relays these notes to Lefor.

He is also educating new Rep. Steve Swiontek, R-Fargo, on water points, and can give a presentation to the Home Republican caucus on water payments “as a result of we want plenty of training on that,” Lefor stated.

North Dakota has “challenges with water,” corresponding to water provides and flood management, in line with Schmidt, who famous the turnover within the Legislature, too — almost a 3rd of its members are new resulting from retirements and election defeats final 12 months.

Schmidt emphasised his job just isn’t a decision-making place and never one he sought. He stated there is perhaps some folks “that do not need me round there” on the Legislature.

“I perceive that, however I do assume that what I carry to the desk is of worth,” stated Schmidt, whose expertise consists of 33 years working for the U.S. Division of Agriculture’s Soil Conservation Service and Pure Sources Conservation Service, together with 14 years every on two space water boards. 

New Rep. Dawson Holle, R-Mandan, who beat Schmidt final 12 months within the District 31 Republican major, stated he does not have a difficulty with Schmidt’s new job. He referred to as Schmidt “an ideal man” with “nice data about water sources.”

“I feel we mutually respect one another,” stated Holle, who’s a 19-year-old dairy farmer.

Schmidt’s place is “not a nasty factor in any respect” if nobody within the Legislature has his curiosity or experience, in line with Mark Jendrysik, professor of political science and public administration on the College of North Dakota.

It might have been “a extra typical profession path” if Schmidt had gone on to change into a lobbyist for a water trade or group, Jendrysik stated. He concurred with Lefor that time period limits of eight years every within the Home and Senate will “have a serious impact” on the Legislature.

“Except you are available already as an professional on a specific factor, it is going to be very, very laborious to, I feel, overcome that,” Jendrysik stated.

There seems to be some precedent to Schmidt’s place. Former Rep. Al Hausauer, R-Bismarck, misplaced his reelection bid in 1990, however went on to be chief legislative aide to the Home majority chief within the 1991 Legislature.

Schmidt is paid $188 per day, lower than the $193 day by day charge lawmakers get and fewer than another legislative workers are paid. Lawmakers additionally obtain $537 per 30 days.