BISMARCK -- Calling last week's Saving North Dakota Roundtable "the beginning of a vision," Democratic-NPL legislators said they will begin introducing bills next week that will build the state.
"We're re-sponding to those 31 young people who were on television the other night," said Sen. Mike Every, D-Minnewaukan, assistant Senate minority leader.
The Democrats said they were impressed by the panelists' agreement that North Dakota has a good quality of life but a lack of opportunity.
"The status quo just isn't working," said Senate Minority Leader David O'Connell, D-Lansford.
Democrats said the bills will include wind energy initiatives, reform measures for economic development and ways to grow wealth from the state's water, minerals and agriculture.
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House Minority Leader Merle Boucher said the vision will evolve into a plan in this Legislature that will include ideas from Democrats and Republicans and citizens.
"You're going to hear about wind energy initiatives that are bold," Every said.
Other bills will push biofuels and ethanol production, said Boucher, D-Rolette.
He said the state's ability to produce food, fuel and fiber, and its abundant water supply makes it the envy of other states and makes it able to create new wealth
"We have to start thinking about what we have available here," he said.
Among the first of the new bills will be one from Sen. April Fairfield, D-Eldridge, and Sen. Lonny Winrich, D-Grand Forks, who will introduce it Monday. Using the slogan, "It's our money; we need wise investment and better results," it will call for the state's economic development programs to show better outcomes.
Others will call for a "family supporting wage," Every said, similar to the living wage provisions Democrats championed in the 1990s.
The Democratic leaders also criticized Gov. John Hoeven's "smart growth" initiatives, a package of $138 million education and economic development ideas, as "minutiae."
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"It is not a vision, ladies and gentlemen. It is simply a plan to occupy your mind," Boucher said. The Legislative Council has already found the holes in its funding assumptions, he said.
But Hoeven said the funding is available.
"I think it's the direction we need to go in. It creates higher-paying jobs," he said.
Readers can reach Forum reporter Janell Cole at (701) 224-0830
