Shaw: More lunacy in the North Dakota Legislature

Right here we’re greater than midway by the North Dakota legislative session, and I nonetheless haven’t been capable of get to many of the dozens of asinine and harmful payments the Republicans have launched. So, listed here are a number of which are so horrible, they will’t be missed anymore.

Let’s make the highways extra harmful. A Home invoice will increase the state velocity restrict to 80 miles per hour, which everyone knows means 85. Why does anybody must go 85 miles per hour? This may result in extra deaths and severe accidents on our highways. That is very true in a state with brutal driving situations for six months, ridiculously low rushing fines, and

a lame seat belt legislation.

Let’s hold ladies of their locations. There’s a invoice by Rep. Eric Murphy that may impose felony penalties towards those that make false allegations of sexual harassment or discrimination. This could have a chilling impact on ladies who’ve been mistreated. Many can be afraid to complain. In a tremendous coincidence, Murphy was accused of misconduct by a feminine colleague and was cleared.

Too unhealthy if you happen to get COVID. A Home invoice overwhelmingly handed that

prevents colleges from requiring college students

to be vaccinated towards COVID-19. This contains elementary and secondary colleges, schools and universities. Nothing says training like denying science. To some lawmakers, getting a COVID-19 vaccine is extra harmful than easy accessibility to weapons. Solely in North Dakota.

Who cares about rape? Ladies who’ve been raped

could be prevented from getting an abortion

until the rape occurred inside six weeks of conception. After all, many ladies don’t know they’re even pregnant inside six weeks. Additionally, how can ladies show they’re raped inside a number of weeks? Ladies who’ve already been traumatized by being raped can be additional traumatized by being pressured to have the rapist’s child.

An assault towards poll measures. This invoice shamefully

prevents scrutiny

of the Secretary of State’s Workplace if he throws out a poll measure.

An assault towards greater training. This invoice would

overhaul the tenure system

for professors, which might additional weaken the state’s universities and scare good professors away.

Undermining the general public colleges by giving vouchers to those that attend non-public colleges. Taxpayers shouldn’t be financially supporting non-public colleges.

These payments present an unbelievable lack of widespread sense and would injury this state. Because the saying goes, if it isn’t damaged, don’t repair it.

I’m so sorry to listen to of the latest passing of former longtime Discussion board reporter Ellen Crawford, and

broadcaster and former UND hockey participant

Travis Dunn. Ellen and I coated dozens of Fargo College Board conferences collectively once I labored for WDAY-TV. She was a superb author, very thorough, and stored me on my toes. Ellen was additionally easy-going and warmhearted.

I didn’t know Travis nicely, however I knew him nicely sufficient to say he was very pleasant and type. We had a beautiful dialog simply 5 days earlier than he died.

Shaw is a former WDAY TV reporter and former KVRR TV information director.

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

InForum columnist Jim Shaw is a former WDAY TV reporter and former KVRR TV information director.