Ask Rep. Mark Dosch, R-Bismarck, about his recent trip to the tropical island of Antigua and he will tell you it could mean big things for North Dakota's economy, including hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue from Internet poker.

But to Democrats, the trip is an example of why campaign finance laws need to be changed.

Dosch is one of five Republicans who are being blasted by Democrats for taking the trip, which was paid for by the Antiguan government. Other Republicans who took the trip are Bette Grande, Ron Iverson, Jim Kasper and Blair Thoreson. Kasper was the main sponsor of a bill last session to allow voters to decide if they want the state to regulate Internet poker. The bill passed the House, but failed in the Senate.

Dosch said they met with Antiguan officials about Internet poker, but the majority of the time was spent with the country's ministers of finance, tourism, education and agriculture.

"We hoped that we would have some R and R time, but as it turned out they had us going constantly,"Dosch said.

Antigua is a choice location for Internet gambling locations because they are not legal in the United States. The legislators who took the trip are interested in making North Dakota a place where Internet poker can be regulated, if the federal government allows it.

Rep. Steve Zaiser, D-Fargo, said he has already introduced a bill that will require disclosure of trips.

Current law requires legislators to disclose gifts of $60 or more, but nothing requires trips to be disclosed if they are not provided by registered lobbyists.

"Where do you draw the line between a registered lobbyist and someone who has an interest in what is discussed?"Zaiser said.

Zaiser said it is "ludicrous"for a handful of state legislators to discuss trade issues with another country without some accountability or approval.

Although Dosch said his recent trip to Antigua included talks about trade, he said he went as a private citizen and no state money was used.

Since Antigua imports most of its food supply, Dosch said officials there were interested in North Dakota agricultural products and also in sending some of their students to universities in North Dakota to learn about agriculture.

Dosch said the plane ticket to the island probably cost $800, but he doesn't know how much the whole trip cost. He was in Antigua Oct. 3-6.

Dosch said there always will be people who "don't give a rip"about North Dakota who will sit back and criticize what others are doing.

"They are still bitter because they were not invited,"Dosch said.

Dosch said he did nothing wrong by taking the trip and that he would support legislation to require disclosure of trips.

Workers comp

Legislators could soon hear from disgruntled workers who want changes to workers compensation laws.

In September, a legislative committee announced it was seeking workers to testify about what happened to them when they filed a workers compensation claim and why they think laws should be changed.

Jennifer Clark, an attorney with the Legislative Council, said she has received about five applications so far.

Clark said the applications are being looked at by the Office of Independent Review to make sure they meet the qualifications. The applications have to be reviewed because only people whose cases have been settled with Workforce Safety and Insurance will be allowed to testify.

"We have not found anyone ineligible,"Clark said.

Clark said the goal is for the committee to meet before the new year, but it is too early to know exactly when a meeting might take place.

Legislators had said that if no one comes forward, the committee would not meet again.

N.D. turns 116

On Wednesday, North Dakota will be 116 years old.

In 1889, it became the 39th state admitted to the union when President Benjamin Harrison signed the Proclamation of Admission. Other states admitted the same day were South Dakota, Montana, and Washington. The process toward statehood began on Feb. 22, 1889, when President Grover Cleveland signed the Enabling Act. Then, on Oct. 1 of that year, the state's voters approved its new constitution.

(Reach reporter Tom Rafferty at 223-8482 or tom.rafferty@;bismarcktribune.com.)