Plain Talk: The special session fiasco, and the ‘North Dakota Poll’

MINOT — A ruling from the North Dakota Supreme Court, part of

an on-going spat between lawmakers, Gov. Doug Burgum, and the Public Employees Retirement System,

has created the need for a new legislative session.

State Rep. Corey Mock, a Democrat from Grand Forks and former leader of the minority caucus, joined this episode of Plain Talk to discuss it. He estimates that lawmakers will meet again sometime in mid-November to disassemble an ominbus budget bill

that the court ruled unconstitutional

and pass it as individual, single-subject pieces of legislation.

Though, looming over that process is a seemingly unquenchable thirst among some lawmakers for culture war battles. Mock said that if lawmakers are “disciplined,” they could complete their work in a week, but that if things get chaotic, it could take much longer.

Also, on this episode, Brian Lunde, a long-time political advisor now working with the North Dakota News Cooperative, talked about what that organization is doing to address the shortage of public polling in our state. The co-op is launching what they’re calling the “North Dakota Poll,” covering everything from issue and consumer opinions to candidate polling and job approval ratings for elected officials.

He said the plan is for the results to be released quarterly starting next year.

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