Jamestown (CSi) .  CSi Legislative Report for Districts 12 & 29 aired live on CSi 67 Sat. The Report will replay on CSi TV 10 –  The Replay Channel starting again Tuesday morning.

  • Legislative Report replay on CSi TV 10 - CSiNewsNOW photo Legislative Report replay on CSi TV 10 - CSiNewsNOW photo
  • Rep Chet Pollert - CSiNewsNOW photo Rep Chet Pollert - CSiNewsNOW photo
  • Senator Grabinger - CSiNewsNow.com photos Senator Grabinger - CSiNewsNow.com photos
  • Rep Headland - Legislative Report replays only on CSi TV Rep Headland - Legislative Report replays only on CSi TV
  • Rep Satrom - CSiNewsNOW.com photos Rep Satrom - CSiNewsNOW.com photos
  • Senator Wanzek at Legislative Report - airs on CSi TV 10 Senator Wanzek at Legislative Report - airs on CSi TV 10
  • Rep Jim Grueneich Rep Jim Grueneich
     

The Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce held the District 12 and 29 Legislative Report held at City Hall on Saturday morning.

Moderated by Pam Phillips legislators in attendance were: District 12: Senator John Grabinger,Representatives, Bernie Satrom, Jim Grueneich, and District 29: Senator Terry Wanzek Representatives Chet Pollert & Craig Headland.

 

Legislative Report Dist 12/29 March 4, 2017 from The Replay Channel on Vimeo.

 

Topics addressed from  audience questions included

Long term plan for foundation Aid for Education

How much in the budget shortfall is due to past tax breaks

Concerns about DOT shop closures, funding cuts

Public Employee PERS increased premiums to those in plan.

Armed First Responders in schools

Renassaince Zone Revisions

State’s minimum wage

 

Highlights…

Long term plan for foundation Aid for Education:

Grabinger: Being funded lower than previous levels

Pollert: $16 million budgeted to shore up the shortfall

 

How much in the budget shortfall is due to past tax breaks:

Satrom: Last ten years spending was tripled

Pollert: Dollars spent from oil boom revenues

Wanzek: Since the last session, commodity prices are lower, oil exraction tax revenues are lower.   He suggested not to increase taxes during tough economic times.

 

Concerns about DOT shop closures, funding cuts:

Grabinger is against, saying the plan is flawed

Wanzek: Legislature was unaware in first half of session, and introduced amendment to delay closures, and to make a study.

Headland: Testify when it comes to senate

 

Public Employee PERS increased premiums to those in plan:

House is looking at a competitive bid process, the changes implemented by the unelected PERS board.

Grabinger: No Need to change

 

Armed First Responders in schools:

Wanzek:   A Gunman in school is a reactive situation, rural schools are isolated, concerning law enforcement response time.

Grabinger: Opposed to the bill

Headland: Voted in favor saying a gunman looks for a gun-free school

Pollert: voted in favor

Satrom: The issue is a local school district option

Grueneich:  Wants students protected

 

Renassaince Zone Revisions: (Eliminate income tax breaks)

Headland: Voted against

Grueneich:  Voted in favor, saying the state needs to taken out of that aspect, adding that it will reduce burden on tax payers

Satrom:  Voted for change, saying the program should be left to local political subdivisions to address.

Pollert: voted against changes

 

State’s minimum wage:

Grueneich:  The market determines a businesses minimum wages, adding North Dakota has one of the lowest unemployment rates, in the nation.

Satrom:  Employers create demand

Grabinger: State’s current minimum wage is too low.