Burgum vetos state employee bonus limits from governor

Burgum on Monday rejected the bill, saying it “places unprecedented and intentional restrictions” on a governor’s ability to recruit and retain key employees.

It was Burgum’s first veto of a bill since the Republican won the governorship in November.

The measure was spurred after then-Gov. Jack Dalrymple approved nearly $100,000 in retention bonuses for five staffers in 2015. It was the first time a governor had used the bonus program.

Leaders of both parties criticized the bonuses, and the president of the union that represents more than 11,500 public employees said the bonuses to Dalrymple’s inner circle hurt state employees’ morale.