measure 3

Early reports look bad for Measure 3

North Dakota voters weighed in on whether the state needed to bolster religious freedom in Tuesday’s statewide election. As of 9:10 p.m. Tuesday, 50 of 426 precincts had released ballot results with 41 percent voting yes and 59 percent voting no.

By By John Lamb, Forum Communications , June 13, 2012

Letter to the editor: Editorial’s arguments against Measure 3 not true

I was very disappointed when I read The Jamestown Sun editorial favor a “no” vote on Measure 3. The arguments that were made were the same as those we have heard on the commercials. Those arguments are simply not true.

By Kirk Ripplinger, Jamestown , June 11, 2012

Letter to the editor: Laws on the books already protect religious freedoms

According to the supporters of Measure 3, the “Religious Freedom” bill, we don’t have enough religious liberty. Never mind that there are already laws on the books protecting religion, both in the U.S. and North Dakota constitutions.

By Brad Mills , June 09, 2012

Letter to the editor: Measure 3 is needed to protect religious freedoms

Why is Measure 3 needed? Measure 3 locks in the religious rights of North Dakotans. These rights would be protected from tampering unless there is a very good reason for doing so. (This is the “compelling interest test.”) The “compelling interest” standard requires government to offer a strong reason for imposing on religious conscience or religious rights.”

June 09, 2012

Letter to the editor: Constitution already gives religion plenty of protection

Advocates of Measure 3 argue its passage is necessary to protect religious freedom and to get in line with other states that have passed similar legislation. I disagree.

By Rev. Cody J. Schuler , June 08, 2012

Letter to the ediitor: Measure 3 has more funds fighting it than for it

I feel that one of the front page headlines which appeared in The Jamestown Sun on Wednesday concerning Measure 3 was misleading to anyone not familiar with the issue.

By Tom J. Tracy , June 08, 2012

Religion is already safe in N.D.

Measure 3 was intended to protect religious liberty, but all it really does is allow people to sue the state or local governments claiming that laws don’t apply to them because of their religions.

June 07, 2012

Religion measure attracts big donations on both sides

Planned Parenthood is the biggest backer of a campaign against Measure 3, contributing to a financial advantage of more than half a million dollars over the religious measure’s supporters.

By By Teri Finneman, Forum Communications Co. , June 06, 2012

Is ‘religious liberty’ initiative protection or extraneous?

A proposed amendment to North Dakota’s constitution on the ballot in the June 12 election — an initiative that supporters say would bolster religious freedoms —has created a vibrant debate.

By By John Lamb , Forum Communications Co. , June 05, 2012

N.D. voters to decide four measures on June 12

Under the present Constitution, legislators are prohibited from being appointed to any state office for which the salary has been increased.

By Lloyd Omdahl, Columnist , June 04, 2012

Letter to the editor: Religions need more safety from government action

How should you vote on Measure 3 in the June primary? There is a simple question that you can ask yourself to determine your vote: Do I want my religious liberty to be easy for the government of North Dakota to restrict or more difficult? This is the issue at stake in Measure 3.

By Alison Grotberg , May 31, 2012

Letter to the editor: Measure needed to protect religions from the goverment

Last week in the newspaper I read an informative letter by former North Dakota Gov. George Sinner opposing Measure 3 concerning religious freedom. Until that letter, I was undecided, but now I know how I’ll vote: Yes. After his letter (and TV scare ads suggesting it will legalize wife-beating, etc.), I went to Measure 3’s website. It laid out facts well, I thought, explaining what terms in the measure would mean if situations go to court after it’s in effect.

By Duane Stahl , May 31, 2012

Letter to the editor: Measure 3 restores needed protection for our liberty

Whenever someone wants to defeat legislation they are sure to claim that proposal is “vague” and “unclear,” whether it is true or not. What is surprising, however, is that some attorneys would employ the same tactic with Measure 3.

By Christopher Dodson, Bismarck , May 21, 2012

Letter to the editor: Measure 3 is a great way to unleash endless litigation

Measure 3 amends our North Dakota Constitution to provide that if anyone in North Dakota takes an action based on a “sincerely held religious belief,” our state (for example, state’s attorney, for criminal actions, or labor commissioner, for employment discrimination) would have to prove that our state could prevent that action only if there is a “compelling governmental interest.”

By Cheryl Bergian , May 17, 2012

Group forms against measure

A group that opposes a state constitutional amendment that will be on the ballot in the June 12 primary announced its formation Wednesday. “We all believe strongly in religious freedom, but Measure 3 is vague and confusing and just goes too far,” Tom Fiebiger, a Fargo lawyer and former state senator, said in a news release.

By By Patrick Springer , Forum Communications Co. , May 03, 2012