Monday, October 27, 2008
NDPC Investigates by Brett Narloch
Issue: Taxes
Bismarck – More financial disclosure statements are being turned in to the state. According to Secretary of State’s Office, the National Education Association (NEA) contributed $300,000 to Partnership to Protect North Dakota’s Future – the group opposing Measures 1 & 2; the North Dakota Public Employees Association (NDPEA), $100,000; AARP, $50,000; the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), $5,000.
The NDPC reported over the weekend that the NEA had given $100,000 to oppose the measures.
While Americans for Prosperity has been hit with the “out-of-state organization” label, somehow Partnership to Protect North Dakota’s Future has managed to elude that label despite the fact that $355,000 has come from outside of North Dakota.
The interest groups opposing the measures have dozens of paid lobbyists that put pressure on legislators during the legislative session. Measures 1 and 2 would take a substantial amount of money away from the budget which means a smaller slice of the pie for interest groups.
To date, Partnership to Protect North Dakota’s Future has zero individual donors who have contributed over $200.
Measure 1 would create a trust fund for oil tax revenue and Measure 2 would cut state personal income taxes by 50 percent and state corporate incomes taxes by 15 percent.
Brett Narloch is the Executive Director of the North Dakota Policy Council. He can be reached at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or by calling (701)223-8155.
