Bismarck Tribune - North Dakota News - A balance of power is needed

A balance of power is needed

Aug 25, 2008 - 05:31:43 CDT

By WILLIAM J. BRUDVIK
Mayville

This year’s election is going to present interesting, unique and unprecedented challenges to the men and women we send to the state legislature. The State Management and Budget Office has announced that there will be a surplus of $1.2 billion by June 30, 2009. What to do with this surplus is on everyone’s mind. Some say the Republicans want to put it in the bank and the Democrats want to spend it. Something in the middle is to be preferred.

That is the problem. We haven’t seen “something in the middle” in the North Dakota State Legislature for a long time. The Republicans have had a super majority for 20 years.

When the balance of power is so one-sided, you do not have “something in the middle.” What you have is the arrogance of absolute power and the “my way or the highway” version of governance. Good ideas are missed or ignored. The common good is not served.

Contrast this with what happened recently in Washington. A group of 10 senators, five Democrats (including Sen. Conrad) and five Republicans announced a coalition to craft an energy policy that merges the best elements of both sides. I believe that this is a direct result of the fact that political power in Washington is more evenly balanced. When that happens, the statesman in both parties rise up. These people are the ones who are willing to put the common good above party. Sen. Conrad should be applauded for this initiative. He is a true statesman.

Let’s hope that we will have a better balance of power in the state legislature this year, so that we can give our own statesman a chance and the common good can be served.

News > Opinion

Printer friendly version A balance of power is needed

Comments

WHATEVER wrote on Aug 26, 2008 7:53 PM:

" To wow bill: What have the Democrats in congress done? Far less damage than the Republicans did when they had control. That's not much, but far better than still having the Republicans in the majority. "

Halatbis wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:44 AM:

" Yes, I agree that one party rule can be detrimental to the public good----let's start by turning out some Dems in congress since they have three out of three in ND delegation. We can start with Pomeroy, and then Dorgan in a couple of years---we need balance. "

BabyT wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:06 AM:

" Government NEEDS a balance of power. History has shown that when it is heavily one sided, the special interests (aka those with money) tend to start taking control, with the minority more or less powerless, forced to sit and watch it happen. The debate ends, and bills are railroaded through. Once you reach something at least resembling a balance, bills must now be debated, and the trash that used to slide through now dies where it should, on the floor. But ND is much too Republican to ever see this and change. "

wow bill wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:56 AM:

" Funny thing about a democrat. They always preach about a balance of power until they control the process. Democrats now have control of congress and what have they done. Brudvik having lost his bid for Attorney General as a democrat must have forgotten to mention that Bill. "

Post Your Own Comment

All online comments are limited to 350 words total.
Comments are reviewed for taste, tone and language before posting.
Some comments may be used in the Tribune's print edition.
We value and respect your privacy, but The Bismarck Tribune might
disclose certain information to governmental entities if served with subpoena.