April 13, 2013 Legislative Update

Only two weeks or so left of the legislative session. The last details of  bills, especially appropriation, are going to conference committees, so there will be lots of activity in playing with the funding of needs across the state. Click here for the most updated tracking grid. Here are a few highlights from the week and some ideas for action:

1. Medicaid Expansion passed on April 9th. It now heads to the Governor for signature. This program ensures more access to health insurance for low or moderate income citizens. The Governor is expected to sign it, as he did include it in his proposed budget. It doesn’t hurt to reach out to support his signing it. The Senate voting record:

YEAS: Andrist; Axness; Berry; Burckhard; Campbell; Dever; Dotzenrod; Flakoll; Grabinger; Grindberg; Heckaman; Hogue; Holmberg; Krebsbach; Larsen; Lee, J.; Luick; Lyson; Marcellais; Mathern; Murphy; Nelson; O'Connell; Oehlke; Poolman; Robinson; Schaible; Schneider; Sinner; Sorvaag; Triplett; Wardner; Warner


NAYS: Anderson; Armstrong; Bowman; Carlisle; Cook; Erbele; Kilzer; Klein; Laffen; Lee, G.; Miller; Sitte; Unruh; Wanzek


Engrossed HB 1362 passed.

1. 1422, which is a child care stabilization act, is likely to receive a vote in the Senate early next week. The Senate Appropriations committee added $6 million more funding to the bill. The state’s child care resources are in crisis and this influx of funding is instrumental in keeping child care facilities open. Contact your Senator to urge acceptance of the Appropriations amendment and ultimately a yes vote on the whole bill.

1. 1356 passed the Senate on Saturday, which would allow a grant program to school districts for early childhood education. We’ll watch the conference committee actions and keep you informed of upcoming actions to keep funding in the legislation. With Head Start programs across the state experiencing major cuts from sequestration, these programs are a small Band-Aid on the loss of crucial funding for early childhood education needs in North Dakota. Senate voting record:

YEAS: Anderson; Axness; Berry; Burckhard; Campbell; Dotzenrod; Flakoll; Grabinger; Heckaman; Holmberg; Laffen; Lee, J.; Luick; Marcellais; Mathern; Murphy; Nelson; O'Connell; Oehlke; Poolman; Robinson; Schneider; Sinner; Sorvaag; Triplett; Warner


NAYS: Andrist; Armstrong; Bowman; Carlisle; Cook; Dever; Erbele; Grindberg; Kilzer; Klein; Krebsbach; Larsen; Lee, G.; Lyson; Miller; Schaible; Sitte; Unruh; Wanzek; Wardner


ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Hogue


Reengrossed HB 1356, as amended, passed.

1. Two bills are headed to the Governor’s desk that would greatly benefit from a veto. Both received their final vote in the House and the voting record is provided below. Contact the Governor to VETO these bills.
   1. 1332 – a voter id bill is unnecessary for the state and will only serve to disenfranchise low income and elderly voters.

YEAS: Anderson; Beadle; Becker; Bellew; Belter; Boehning; Brabandt; Brandenburg; Carlson; Damschen; Delzer; Dockter; Dosch; Drovdal; Fehr; Froseth; Grande;
Hatlestad; Headland; Heilman; Heller; Hofstad; Johnson, D.; Johnson, N.; Karls; Kasper; Keiser; Kempenich; Kiefert; Klein; Klemin; Koppelman, B.; Koppelman, K.; Kreidt; Kreun; Laning; Larson; Looysen; Louser; Martinson; Meier; Monson; Nathe; Nelson, J.; Owens; Paur; Pollert; Porter; Rohr; Ruby; Rust; Sanford; Schatz; Schmidt; Silbernagel; Skarphol; Steiner; Streyle; Sukut; Thoreson; Toman; Trottier; Vigesaa; Wall; Weisz; Wieland; Williams; Speaker Devlin


NAYS: Amerman; Boschee; Delmore; Frantsvog; Glassheim; Gruchalla; Guggisberg; Haak;
Hanson; Hogan; Holman; Hunskor; Kelsh, J.; Kelsh, S.; Kretschmar; Maragos; Mock; Mooney; Muscha; Nelson, M.; Onstad; Oversen; Strinden; Zaiser


ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Boe; Hawken


Reengrossed HB 1332 passed.

1. 2368 – the final bill to add further abortion restrictions – a 20 week abortion ban that redefines the terms of pregnancy and states life as beginning with fertilization. It ultimately interferes with comprehensive obstetric care in difficult pregnancies.

YEAS: Becker; Bellew; Belter; Boehning; Brabandt; Brandenburg; Carlson; Damschen; Delzer; Dockter; Dosch; Drovdal; Fehr; Frantsvog; Froseth; Grande; Headland; Heller; Hofstad; Johnson, D.; Karls; Kasper; Kelsh, J.; Kempenich; Kiefert; Klein; Klemin; Koppelman, B.; Koppelman, K.; Kreidt; Kretschmar; Laning; Larson; Looysen; Louser; Meier; Monson; Muscha; Nathe; Paur; Pollert; Porter; Rohr; Ruby; Rust; Schatz; Schmidt; Silbernagel; Skarphol; Steiner; Streyle; Thoreson; Toman; Trottier; Vigesaa; Wall; Weisz; Wieland; Williams; Speaker Devlin


NAYS: Amerman; Anderson; Beadle; Boschee; Delmore; Glassheim; Gruchalla; Guggisberg; Haak; Hanson; Hatlestad; Heilman; Hogan; Holman; Hunskor; Johnson, N.; Keiser; Kelsh, S.; Kreun; Maragos; Martinson; Mock; Mooney; Nelson, J.; Nelson, M.; Onstad; Oversen; Owens; Sanford; Strinden; Sukut; Zaiser


ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Boe; Hawken


Engrossed SB 2368 passed.