Letter: North Dakota legislators need to check this ‘We know what’s best for you’ attitude

North Dakota lawmakers are racing in direction of the half-way mark of the present legislative session in Bismarck. What they name the “crossover.”

That’s the level of the session the place each invoice and determination should have been handed or defeated in the home of origin. Within the second half of the 80-day session, the Home will take up all Senate payments that had been handed, and the Senate will take up all Home payments that had been handed and the method begins over once more.

There have been many ridiculous payments come up this session. Fairly frankly, as they do every session. Too many to call individually. Many legislators appear to have the mindset that they know what’s finest for the individuals of our state.

These of you who know me know that it takes so much for me to criticize something or anybody. Nevertheless, the payments that may ban sure books and would forbid the COVID-19 vaccine from being administered in North Dakota are simply the ideas of the iceberg.

For the document, I’m acquainted with a number of North Dakota’s present legislators. It ought to be famous that I’m not aiming this criticism in direction of anyone specific legislator or legislators. I’m hopeful that these individuals can settle for what I intend as constructive criticism and know I am not referring to them personally in anyway. They have been entrusted by their constituents to symbolize them as finest as they’ll.

I understand that because the Legislature solely convenes each different 12 months; that there can be any variety of topics that may come up for dialogue. As a citizen Legislature, the entire members are very half time, and practically all of them have full-time careers and jobs outdoors of their legislative duties. I understand that the Legislature is about up as to the place most something conceivable will be proposed as a invoice, which is able to get a full vetting and consideration.

However, sufficient of this “We all know what’s finest for you” angle amongst legislators! I hope Gov. Doug Burgum is able to wield his veto on a few of these ridiculous payments in the event that they go in each homes and go to the governor for approval or rejection by veto. A few of what is going on on this session is making North Dakota look ridiculous to the remainder of our nation.

Because of this we’d like a setup like South Dakota, the place payments cross over and are taken up instantly by the opposite home, relatively than ready for the “crossover recess.” This fashion, the governor can think about many of the payments that go whereas the Legislature remains to be in session. As a result of, if he vetoes a invoice after a session adjourns sine die, lawmakers cannot think about an override.

Olson, of Fargo, is an occasional contributor to The Discussion board’s commentary and opinion pages. E-mail him at: 

rickolson@midco.internet

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This letter doesn’t essentially replicate the opinion of The Discussion board’s editorial board nor Discussion board possession.