MEASURE 3

Letter to the editor: Lawmakers must respect Measure 3’s instructions

In 2008, the people of North Dakota voted to fund tobacco prevention by passing Measure 3. Today, 80 percent of North Dakotans support the work of the task force formed by Measure 3. We voted to use the tobacco settlement money to fund tobacco prevention efforts and continue to believe that is where the money should be used.

By Carolyn Bodell , January 31, 2011

Letter to the editor: County Commission should support County Measure 3

What kind of County Commission would campaign against a measure by threatening the public with the loss of 911 services? And while the county employees are worried about some losing their jobs — again a fear tactic of the County Commission against Measure 3, someone could be killed on the deteriorating county roads! Remember, not too long ago, a little girl was killed in Fargo in a crash caused by a pothole. What would you say to this mother?

By Lynn Boom , October 29, 2010

Letter to the editor: Stutsman County’s reserve fund is not out of line

County Measure 3, which would force the Stutsman County Commission to transfer a substantial amount of money from the county’s reserve fund, is not in the best interest to the majority of people who live in the county. There are very good reasons why this has not been done in the past in any of the North Dakota counties.

By Tom Tracy , October 29, 2010

Letter to the editor: County Measure 3 should be approved by the voters

I am a big supporter of Measure 3. This is the type of law needed to help the commissioners carry out their responsibility of maintaining and caring for our county road system. It dedicates local money to a fund where it has to be used for road construction or maintenance. It does not rely on any federal or state grants, but can be used with match dollars or state grants if any would be available. I think grants on the federal level are quite unlikely considering the federal government is broke. The state has said it will help with roads as long as we can show we can help ourselves locally. This measure would allow the County Commission to accomplish that.

By Michael Hansen , October 29, 2010

Road funds: Measure 3 supporters say other reserves can be used

Advocates for Stutsman County Measure 3 are touting a 1923 North Dakota law as a way for the county to use reserves from other funds for road purposes, according to Scott Harms, spokesperson for the group. Section 11-23-07 of the North Dakota Century code says: “If the appropriation for any purpose is not sufficient to meet the expenditures required by law, the county auditor, on the order of the board of county commissioners, may make a transfer to the required fund from any other fund. ...”

By Keith Norman , October 22, 2010

Senate leader put tobacco pact together

As the Legislature limped to a close Monday night, a pending crisis cast a pall over its final actions: Would the session adjourn without appropriating money for a tobacco program voters had mandated? Would that send the issue to court? In the end, a meeting between Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem, R-Bismarck, and Measure 3 chairwoman Heidi Heitkamp ended the weeks-long stalemate and the threat of a court fight.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , May 06, 2009

Senate proposes solution to tobacco stalemate

BISMARCK -- A resolution was in the works Monday evening on the Legislature's tobacco control stalemate, but is expected to drag the session to the 80th day, Senate Majority Leader Bob Stenehjem said.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , May 04, 2009

Letter to the editor: Legislators act as a check on initiated measures

The level of rhetoric in regard to SB 2063 (initiated Measure 3) is rising faster than the rivers of North Dakota of late. To be clear, we have never been against the implementation of Center for Disease Control and Prevention best practices standards or the level of funding, only the wasteful provisions of SB 2063. We could have simply passed it, held a press conference and pointed to a pile of money we blindly gave a new government office (with little oversight), while ignoring the fact a great deal of money was being tossed away on office space and unneeded employees. The right thing to do in the case of SB 2063 was to stop a good but flawed bill and fix the problem.

May 01, 2009

Committee up-ends tobacco resolution

A House panel held a two-hour hearing on a tobacco-funds measure Thursday, then converted it into an unrelated concept, prompting an angry reaction from the measure’s sponsor. “I feel totally disrespected,” said Sen. John Andrist, R-Crosby, after he heard Thursday evening about the change in his Senate Concurrent Resolution 4038.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , May 01, 2009

Tobacco issue goes to another vote

The Senate agreed Wednesday to ask North Dakota voters if they don’t have second thoughts about what to do with some $125 million in tobacco settlement funds coming to the state between 2008 and 2017. Senators approved, by a 24-23 vote, a proposed constitutional amendment that could undo the statewide tobacco control program that voters passed last November, known as Measure 3. It still needs to go to the House for hearing and vote.

By By Janell Cole, N.D. Capitol Bureau , April 30, 2009

Letter to the editor: Lawmakers should keep Measure 3 intact

For the past decade or more the North Dakota Legislature has shown little regard for public health in the area of tobacco control and prevention. It does this by allocating tobacco settlement funds in such a way that it prevents tobacco settlement dollars from being allocated to critical prevention and cessation services. As a consequence, using our beautiful system of democracy, citizens of North Dakota got together and with their votes made it clear to their legislators that public health was important and tobacco control and prevention was vital.

By Melany Jenkins , April 29, 2009

Constitutional amendment would undo Measure 3

BISMARCK — North Dakota voters should have a chance to second-guess themselves on how millions of dollars in tobacco settlement funds are used, a state senator said today.

By Janell Cole , April 28, 2009

Letter to the editor: Carlson needs to stop meddling with Measure 3

I’m confused. Rep. Al Carlson, R-Fargo, who has been working hard to thwart enactment of Measure 3, stated in Friday’s media that “it’s up to them,” meaning supporters of Measure 3. What does he want us to do? We, the voters, have already passed the measure. Our job is done.

By Sharon E. Buhr , April 24, 2009

Letter to the editor: Carlson seems to have forgotten who he represents

Newspapers Friday reported that House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, is content to leave SB 2063 (Measure 3) dead, irrespective of the will of the North Dakota voters. Carlson is putting his own agenda above ours. He is attempting to hold this life-saving initiative hostage and weaken this legislation. I personally find these tactics repulsive and the fact that the Republican Party, minus Bob Martinson and George Keiser, seems to be following him extremely disappointing.

By Matt Syvertson , April 22, 2009

Letter to the editor: Legislature should honor the intent of the voters

As the former chief medical officer at the North Dakota Department of Health, I know from experience the influence the tobacco industry and their allies can have on the Legislature, Health Department and governor’s office. Because of this past influence, an independent advisory committee will be much more effective than the health department in administration of the funds allocated by Measure 3 for a comprehensive tobacco use prevention program.

By Stephen McDonough , April 22, 2009