Bismarck, North Dakota News

" Deb, Alaska has oil surplus checks because they DO have a permanent trust fund and have for many years. It's the interest on their investment they are returning to their citizens. Measure No. 1 actually increases the amount of money available from 71 million to 100 million, plus has inflation riders to increase the 100 million, plus can access 20% of the fund with 3/4 vote, plus can spend all of the interest on the savings. If Alaska did what you want to do with Measure 1, they wouldn't have the money to return to their citizens like they do now. If Alaska is not good enough for you, look at Wyoming and New Mexico. They also passed permanent trust funds for oil revenues and are reaping huge benefits now, and will continue to do so forever. If we don't pass Measure No. 1, the oil profits will be blown just like in the 1980s and the State will have nothing to show for it. This one is about as common sense as they come. "

" Yes Dew, that is one of the reasons I am angry. Bush and his fellow Republicans who were against any type of regulation, oversight or transparency sucked us Democrats into this. Republicans always talk about the now Democratic controlled Congress, well that is not entirely correct. The Senate is currently composed of 49 Democrats and 49 Republican Party members, as well as an Independent Democrat, Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and independent, Bernie Sanders of Vermont. Both independents caucus with the Democrats, making the Democrats the majority (51 seats) and the Republicans the minority (49 seats).
The current floor leaders are Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada, the Senate Majority Leader, and Republican Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Senate Minority Leader. The problem is with Lieberman as he, in my opinion, very erratic. One never knows how he is going to vote and I am sure he is relishing that fact. Remember his performance at the Republican Convention?
As a result the Senate is not really controlled by the Democratic Party, at least not yet. The Bush Administration, just when you think it cannot get any worse, it always does. "

" Frightened and angry wrote on Sep 22, 2008 9:40 AM:

" With the socialistic multi-billion, maybe even trillion-dollar Bush bailout of Wall Street
Bush bail-out? What about Congress? I see Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schummer right there saying WE HAVE TO DO THIS! Bush sent a 3 page proposal to congress and Christopher Dodd has now 44 pages that the wants congress to consider? hmmmm "

" NOOOOO -- OMG do you have this wrong!!

Cindy: Measure one will LOCK the money into a fund that cannot be touched w/o a 2/3 or 3/4 vote from the legislature. Translation: it can never be touched! I'm comepletely with you that it's possible for ND to be more like Alaska with the oil surplus checks. We can also be more like them with free energy (no MDU bill every month). But measure one will guarantee that will not happen.

VOTE NO! "

" With the socialistic multi-billion, maybe even trillion-dollar Bush bailout of Wall Street about to take place, perhaps we should be very careful with our budget surplus. Our nations economic future does look bleak and North Dakota is part of the nation and as evidenced last week things can change very quickly. Herbert Hoover once said something about a chicken in every pot and a car in every garage, which did not really happen the way he thought it would. "

" What a grand idea! Give us all checks for 2 or 3 thousand dollars just for being ND citizens---by the way, send my check to me in Arizona it will come in handy in February to help pay for those $100 dinners for the wife and me.
There are many things that need to be done in ND before we start handing out free money: the damage to the roads and infrastructure in Western ND, for starters. ND needs to develop industry, processing of Ag products, and improve our agriculture ----all these things across the state so there is a better future for all our citizens. "

" If you vote yes on that measure to cut your taxes, the state coffers won't have your $8276 handy to give to you. "

" Geez Cindy get up off your butt and work harder. We don't need any more socialist programs in the world. If you want free money move to Cuba, Europe, Canada, or China. "

" I don't have kids, but my wife and I pay the same property tax and heating costs as a family with kids. Lets make something that is fair to every person that pays taxes in ND, in general lets just target the property tax to start with. If you reside in ND you are paying property tax one way or another, even if you are renting. "