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On this Plain Talk, Sec. of State Michael Howe and Rep. Ben Koppelman joined us to discuss a surprisingly contentious issue in the closing days of the legislative session. Namely, a debate over laws requiring more rigorous campaign finance disclosures from legislative candidates. Howe supports the legislation, saying he wants better data for a new online database his office is implementing. Rep. Koppelman, however, suggested that the information wasn't that important to the public and would be "fodder for just trolling and fishing." He said that allowing the public to "really microscope every movement" is "not a practical or I would argue even a useful reason" to require greater disclosure. But without better disclosures, how could the public and the news media detect if a candidate is engaged in fraudulent or otherwise untoward activities with their campaign money? Koppelman said public officials are expected to "behave with high moral standards and follow these rules in a way that they can defend." Howe, meanwhile, said his office's goal is "to make this easy for the filer and for the public." Koppelman also weighed in on the closing debate over property taxes, saying he's not confident that the public is going to get enough property tax relief to head off another ballot measure. Koppleman called the legislation backed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong "the wrong approach from the get-go" and suggested that it's a futile endeavor. "I don't see any point in passing the bill, quite frankly, because it's like people aren't asking me for three drops in the bucket of relief from their property tax bill," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the state of the property tax debate, and when this legislative session is likely to be over. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. [tel:7015873141] It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plain-talk/id1449473116] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5SCbIWlQMOPPUQuB379KN3] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@PlainTalkND] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/xe8Q] | Episode Archive [https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk]

"Everybody's frustrated with everybody right now," Rep. Jeremy Olson said on this episode of Plain Talk. Olson is a Republican from Arnegard, and serves as the Majority Caucus Leader, and is well known as a "gentle giant" of North Dakota politics. Which is to say that his comment about fist fights was tongue-in-cheek, but he was expressing a real sense of frustration as lawmakers reach the hectic end of their session. Lawmakers are locked in tough debates over things like property taxes, budget bills, and school choice, though the last of those bills failed earlier this week. In particular, Olson spoke about the incessant division of complicated budget bills, such as the appropriation for the Commerce Department, which saw its amendments divided, and then the final bill amended, with most of that action being led by Rep. Ben Koppelman, a Republican from West Fargo. "When some people get up or when some divisions happen, you can kind of hear an audible groan in the room," Olson told us. "I'll leave it at that." Olson also spoke of legislation he's championed to incentivize oil exploration. Specifically, House Bill 1483 [https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo1483.html?search=1483] and Senate Bill 2397 [https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo2397.html?search=2397] which would lower tax burdens for oil exploration outside of the hottest areas of the Bakken and Three Forks formations. "They could find the next big boom in the Williston Basin," he said. "So, in order to help them offset that cost, that risk, we're giving them a financial incentive." Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I talk about the bitter and surprising way this sessions debate over school choice bills ended, and analyze who has the strongest hand to play in the final fight over property tax reform. This episode is presented by Bakken Backers. Bakken Backers is a coalition of businesses, leaders, workers, and citizens who support energy production from the Bakken formation and its many benefits for North Dakota. Learn more at www.BackTheBakken.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. [tel:7015873141] It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plain-talk/id1449473116] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5SCbIWlQMOPPUQuB379KN3] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@PlainTalkND] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/xe8Q] | Episode Archive [https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk]

Just before Gov. Kelly Armstrong appeared on this episode of Plain Talk, he issued two vetoes for two very controversial bills passed by the legislature. The first was a rejection of Senate Bill 2307, a book ban bill sponsored by Sen. Keith Boehm. "I'm kind of a free speech absolutist," Armstrong said of his decision to spike the legislation, "because nobody's ever figured out who polices the policers." Armstrong criticized the legislation for making librarians and educators subject to potential civil and criminal penalties based on complaints filed against books from anywhere in the country. "They don't have to be in North Dakota. It's any individual," he said, calling the process the legislation set up "untenable and unworkable." Armstrong, who is a proponent of school choice policies, said he vetoed House Bill 1540, sponsored by Rep. Ben Koppelman, because it "is only for private school." What would a better school choice bill look like? One that "allows more parents more options to do more things and have more autonomy over their kids' education," he said. "And that includes a small rural school district that is 150 miles away from the closest private school." The governor is urging support for Senate Bill 2400, backed by Sen. Michelle Axtman, which is still alive in the legislative session. That bill would make education savings accounts available for all students for approved education expenses beyond just private school tuition. Also on this episode, singer and songwriter Chuck Suchy, new minted as North Dakota's official state troubadour, talked about that honor, and his musical career. "I am very grateful," he said, adding that he's happy "the state community embraces music, and I hope art and humanity." This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. [tel:7015873141] It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plain-talk/id1449473116] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5SCbIWlQMOPPUQuB379KN3] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@PlainTalkND] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/xe8Q] | Episode Archive [https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk]

Dane DeKrey is a criminal defense attorney with the Moorhead-based lawfirm Ringstrom Dekrey. He recently signed onto an amicus brief [https://www.inforum.com/news/moorhead/moorhead-law-office-signs-amicus-brief-in-support-of-firms-facing-trump-retribution] in a legal fight over an executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which exacts retribution on a law firm Trump feels has wronged him. It does so by, among other punitive measures, revoking the firm's security clearances and prohibiting its personnel from entering government buildings. In his order, Trump accused the law firm WilmerHale [https://www.inforum.com/news/moorhead/moorhead-law-office-signs-amicus-brief-in-support-of-firms-facing-trump-retribution] of engaging "in obvious partisan representations to achieve political ends" and "the obstruction of efforts to prevent illegal aliens from committing horrific crimes and trafficking deadly drugs within our borders." But from another perspective, that's just engaging in the political process and representing criminal defendants. DeKrey says his support for the law firm isn't about politics. It's about principles. "I couldn't care less that this comes from Donald Trump," he said on this episode of Plain Talk. "I care that the rule of law is being questioned and as lawyers and as my law firm...we defend people who are not sympathetic the vast majority of the time. And if a person who is not sympathetic cannot call out for a lawyer and have someone answer, we are in a dangerous territory and I don't want to be there." Also on this episode, Sen. Kyle Davis, a Republican from Fargo, took a break from his work on the Appropriations Committee to talk to us about the progress toward funding a new state hospital in Jamestown, the challenges the state faces in delivering mental health services, and the debates over school choice policies and property taxes. He also commented on a last-minute amendment to the budget for the Office of Management and Budget to create a "life education committee" [https://northdakotamonitor.com/2025/04/18/north-dakota-lawmakers-look-to-add-1-million-to-state-budget-for-anti-abortion-campaign/] that would promote alternatives to abortion. The committee, which would be appointed by the governor and legislative leaders, would have $1.5 million in funding and would be tasked with contracting with a third party entity to provide pro-life education services. "I've always pushed back on bills that get added in the last minute," Davison said of the amendment, adding that he has "a bit of frustration in regards to it not being a standalone bill." "Those standalone bills that make it all the way through have had a minimum of four hearings, two of them in appropriations and they're better pieces of legislation because of it when they pass through like that," he said. "Especially when you're setting something up new and it's a new appropriation." He also said that lawmakers are mindful of last year's state Supreme Court ruling, which struck down the OMB budget from the 2023 session [https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-north-dakota-supreme-court-opinion-sends-shockwaves-across-state-politics] for not complying with the state constitution's single-subject mandate. "There is no question in my mind that we as a legislature are paying attention to that decision made by the Supreme Court in regards to the OMB budget," he said. This episode is brought to you by the North Dakota Petroleum Foundation, providing education and outreach opportunities related to the petroleum industry, advancing quality of life initiatives, and promoting and enhancing the conservation heritage of North Dakota. Learn more at www.NDPetroleumFoundation.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. [tel:7015873141] It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plain-talk/id1449473116] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5SCbIWlQMOPPUQuB379KN3] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@PlainTalkND] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/xe8Q] | Episode Archive [https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk]

When former Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford accepted the job as interim chancellor of the North Dakota University System, he said a long time colleague contacted him to say he's "proven that you like dysfunction and you like to jump into that." Sanford said he laughed it off. "I hope it's not that I'm some kind of junkie for chaos for goodness sakes, but there's a lot in in in higher ed in general, especially with what's happening at the federal level," he said on this Plain Talk. "I mean, there's a lot of people that say, 'Why in the world would you want to go this direction?'" Speaking of chaos at the federal level, North Dakota State University recently announced that a foreign student who was here legally on a work and education program was detained for deportation by ICE. Sanford said that's going to be a significant challenge for a university system that has many staff, faculty, and students who aren't citizens. "Canadians are even nervous about this," he said. "I was just talking to a gentleman at breakfast that said down in Arizona the snowbirds that are Canadians are selling their house. They're not only offended but they're scared about this." "I hope we get this under control and return to an environment where we're respecting legal immigration," Sanford added. It should be noted that, after serving as Lt. Governor, Sanford headed up a recruitment program operated by North Dakota's oil industry that sought to recruit workers from Ukraine. Looking ahead, Sanford's initial focus as Chancellor will be on accountability, transparency, and conducting a "listening tour" across the state to understand the needs of stakeholders. He also said he was open to making his appointment as chancellor a permanent one. "I can say that pretty comfortably even though I haven't even started," he said. Also on this episode, co-host Chad Oban and I discuss the latest twists and turns in the property tax debate, the likely fate of Sen. Keith Boehm's book ban bill should it be sent to Gov. Armstrong's desk, and Rep. Lori VanWinkle playing the victim card against criticism of her mid-session ski vacation. This episode is presented by Bakken Backers. Bakken Backers is a coalition of businesses, leaders, workers, and citizens who support energy production from the Bakken formation and its many benefits for North Dakota. Learn more at www.BackTheBakken.org. If you want to participate in Plain Talk, just give us a call or text at 701-587-3141. [tel:7015873141] It’s super easy — leave your message, tell us your name and where you’re from, and we might feature it on an upcoming episode. To subscribe to Plain Talk, search for the show wherever you get your podcasts or use one of the links below. Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/plain-talk/id1449473116] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/5SCbIWlQMOPPUQuB379KN3] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@PlainTalkND] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/xe8Q] | Episode Archive [https://www.inforum.com/podcasts/plain-talk]