Group drops measure because of November vote

BISMARCK — A group hoping to rein in state and local government budgets with an initiated constitutional amendment said this morning that they’re dropping their nearly year-long effort in part because North Dakota voters rejected two state tax measures in November.

"We believe the public is not ready" for their measure," said Chairman Ron Almquist of Minot.

The committee, Empower the Taxpayer, also cited the recent national financial industry meltdown and their plans to watchdog the 2009 Legislature’s budget-setting.

The committee faced a Jan. 22 deadline to submit 25,688 signatures to Secretary of State Al Jaeger in order to get the measure on the 2010 ballot.

“We are challenging the Legislature to hold the budget increase to the (Consumer Price Index),” Almquist, of Minot, said.

If the Legislature fails to restrain spending, Almquist said, the group will begin a new drive for a constitutional measure, he said. They would have to start anew to collect 25,688 signatures.

Read more in Friday’s Sun

Cole works for Forum Communications Co., which owns The Jamestown Sun

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