omdahl

States policymakers across the country have always been plagued by undue political influence whenever an economic interest develops a huge stake in state policies. Montana had its Anaconda Copper; West...

By Lloyd Omdahl The authority to initiate and refer laws, often called “direct democracy,” has been a constant irritant to the Legislature but, in fact, it has saved the Assembly...

By Lloyd Omdahl Taking advantage of last year’s petition signature scandal, some legislators have proposed to tighten up the procedure by which citizens can initiate laws, refer acts of the...

"Hey! What you guys doing down there?" "We're digging out space for another vault?" "Nobody is supposed to know about these vaults under the floor of the Capitol. Who told...

Jim DeMint of South Carolina resigned from the U. S. Senate in December to become the CEO of The Heritage Foundation, a Washington "think tank". Washington has scores of conservative...

Some citizens in Dunn County have been trying to initiate a grand jury to consider the conflict of interest involved in campaign contributions to Governor Jack Dalrymple by energy companies...

Not even Christmas can escape the divisive polarization that has embittered American politics. Christmas peace is being disrupted by an evolving controversy between the advocates of "Merry Christmas" and the...

The Chancellor of Higher Education, Hamid Shirvani, threw down the gauntlet when he announced that he would ask for 30 additional employees to help develop a progressive 'big agenda' for...

After ranking Gov. Rick Perry of Texas as the worst candidate in 2012, The Washington Post turned around and proclaimed Heidi Heitkamp as the best. The Post pointed out that...

"I'm packed and heading out," Garvey Erfald announced as he joined the Homeland Security Committee assembled in the community hall for its 2013 planning conference. He shoved his bulging carpet...

Mitt Romney carried every county except Sioux, Rolette, Steele, Sargent, Ransom and Benson. His percentages in the west were in the 70s and declined to the 50s in the east...

Measures are initiated for the ballot when the supporters feel the Legislature will not give their case a fair hearing or the Legislature has already turned a deaf ear to...

Measure #1 on the November ballot has been proposed by the Legislature to repeal Section 6 of Article X of the North Dakota constitution: The legislative assembly may provide for...

Surveying the 2012 political terrain, analysts at Gallup pontificated that "religion will continue to be a major determinate of how Americans vote for president." With over 80 percent of the...

While many North Dakotans have made significant contributions to the state and communities, the efforts of three such individuals deserve special mention upon their passing. In some ways, their unique...