North Dakota Policy Council Legislative Review (2011)

The North Dakota Policy Council, a North Dakota-based nonprofit research organization that described itself as an "advocate of public policy ideas based on economic freedom," published the North Dakota Legislative Review, a report on how state legislators voted during the 2011 legislative session. The report analyzed appropriations bills to give residents of the state a look at how their legislators voted on issues important to the council. The NDPC tracked twenty-four bills during the legislative session.

2011 report

The 2011 report covered the voting records of state legislators serving in the 62nd session of the state legislature. Twenty-four bills were tracked during the session and scored based on the values of the council. Scores of members of the state House and state Senate were not comparable, since each chamber voted on different bills. While the House voted on 22 policy bills that were tracked, the Senate voted on nine policy bills.

The five members of the state House considered most supportive of the council's goals in terms of government spending were:

• Dave Weiler
• Mark Dosch
• Dwight Wrangham
• Karen Rohr
• Mike Schatz

The five members of the state House considered most supportive of the council's goals in terms of long-term policy were:

• Dave Weiler
• Dan Ruby
• Larry Bellew
• Mark Dosch
• Mike Schatz

The five members of the state Senate considered most supportive of the council's goals in terms of government spending were:

• Layton Freborg
• Bob Stenehjem
• Randel Christmann
• Connie Triplett
• Donald Schaible

The five members of the state Senate considered most supportive of the council's goals in terms of long-term policy were:

• Joe Miller
• Bob Stenehjem
• Randel Christmann
• David Hogue
• Oley Larsen

2011 North Dakota House scorecard

2011 North Dakota House Scorecard
Name	Party	District	Total spending that legislator voted against	Total spending voted upon by legislator	Overall Score: Percentage of spending voted against	Overall Score on Policy votes
Dave Weiler	Republican	30	$4,833,099,941	$10,228,027,443	47.25%	100%
Mark Dosch	Republican	32	$4,871,842,607	$10,358,422,245	47.03%	87.95%
Dwight Wrangham	Republican	8	$4,561,616,323	$10,331,772,245	44.15%	75%
Karen Rohr	Republican	31	$4,263,835,329	$10,289,954,447	41.44%	77.78%
Mike Schatz	Republican	36	$4,278,050,507	$10,358,268,245	41.30%	85.54%
Mark Owens	Republican	17	$3,229,688,140	$10,198,703,368	31.67%	71.62%
Jim Schmidt	Republican	31	$2,897,952,610	$10,358,422,245	27.98%	63.86%
Dan Ruby	Republican	38	$2,495,654,151	$10,358,422,245	24.09%	95.18%
Steve Zaiser	Democratic	21	$1,738,120,815	$10,124,431,270	17.17%	14.81%
Bill Devlin	Republican	23	$1,692,249,188	$10,224,927,443	16.55%	48.05%
Jeff Delzer	Republican	8	$1,671,759,534	$10,358,422,245	16.14%	75.90%
Roscoe Streyle	Republican	3	$1,613,438,107	$10,358,422,245	15.58%	83.13%
Kim Koppelman	Republican	13	$1,583,914,849	$10,224,927,443	15.49%	81.08%
Mike Nathe	Republican	30	$1,471,682,197	$10,356,595,046	14.21%	83.13%
Todd Porter	Republican	34	$1,444,266,558	$10,358,422,245	13.94%	44.58%
Alon Wieland	Republican	13	$1,313,861,205	$9,899,006,825	13.27%	72.29%
Lisa Meier	Republican	32	$1,368,932,622	$10,358,422,245	13.22%	66.27%
Marvin Nelson	Democratic	9	$1,231,657,745	$10,352,320,341	11.90%	4.82%
David Drovdal	Republican	39	$1,191,354,984	$10,358,422,245	11.50%	49.40%
Don Vigesaa	Republican	23	$1,184,113,470	$10,358,422,245	11.43%	51.81%
Larry Bellew	Republican	38	$751,856,129	$6,614,919,390	11.37%	90.36%
Craig Headland	Republican	29	$1,143,413,107	$10,358,422,245	11.04%	83.13%
Wesley Belter	Republican	22	$1,132,441,746	$10,358,232,245	10.93%	72.50%
Vonnie Pietsch	Republican	22	$1,124,211,242	$10,358,422,245	10.85%	38.55%
Nancy Johnson	Republican	37	$1,107,642,242	$10,344,422,245	10.71%	25.30%
Brenda Heller	Republican	33	$1,090,258,007	$10,358,422,245	10.53%	82.50%
Shirley Meyer	Democratic	36	$1,062,546,975	$10,358,422,245	10.26%	25.30%
Keith Kempenich	Republican	39	$961,146,495	$10,357,381,546	9.28%	84.34%
Roger Brabandt	Republican	5	$876,319,523	$10,358,422,245	8.46%	78.31%
Lee Kaldor	Democratic	20	$757,049,149	$10,358,192,345	7.31%	21.25%
Stacey Dahl	Republican	42	$623,140,122	$10,358,417,245	6.02%	39.76%
Matthew Klein	Republican	40	$614,803,930	$10,256,162,854	5.99%	51.81%
Jim Kasper	Republican	46	$598,830,088	$10,358,417,345	5.78%	83.13%
Gary Paur	Republican	19	$591,145,955	$10,358,422,245	5.71%	46.99%
Robin Weisz	Republican	14	$560,340,734	$9,895,906,825	5.66%	39.76%
Scott Louser	Republican	5	$579,990,484	$10,262,959,336	5.65%	71.08%
Tracy Boe	Democratic	9	$448,623,928	$8,244,799,187	5.44%	30%
Kathy Hogan	Democratic	21	$513,163,074	$9,439,680,802	5.44%	5.19%
Duane DeKrey	Republican	14	$536,073,443	$10,307,784,052	5.20%	53.01%
Vicky Steiner	Republican	37	$532,357,566	$10,293,866,338	5.17%	68.67%
Chet Pollert	Republican	29	$508,622,518	$10,358,422,245	4.91%	78.31%
Bill Amerman	Democratic	26	$502,458,609	$10,354,445,826	4.85%	5.19%
Chuck Damschen	Republican	10	$500,107,038	$10,358,422,245	4.83%	66.27%
Phillip Mueller	Democratic	24	$357,554,113	$8,106,649,672	4.41%	7.23%
Kenton Onstad	Democratic	4	$445,562,234	$10,358,422,245	4.30%	9.64%
Andrew Maragos	Republican	3	$445,136,849	$10,358,422,245	4.30%	49.40%
Dick Anderson	Republican	7	$435,403,832	$10,358,422,245	4.20%	37.35%
Jon Nelson	Republican	7	$429,567,664	$10,358,422,245	4.15%	34.94%
Robert Frantsvog	Republican	40	$419,328,893	$10,155,669,949	4.13%	46.05%
Rae Ann Kelsch	Republican	34	$400,835,842	$10,358,197,245	3.87%	40%
Ron Guggisberg	Democratic	11	$390,969,876	$10,358,422,245	3.77%	4.82%
Karen Karls	Republican	35	$375,031,691	$10,358,422,245	3.62%	61.45%
David Monson	Republican	10	$369,851,113	$10,319,173,796	3.58%	46.99%
Curt Hofstad	Republican	15	$368,963,689	$10,358,422,245	3.56%	42.17%
Dennis Johnson	Republican	15	$368,963,689	$10,358,422,245	3.56%	42.17%
Joyce Kingsbury	Republican	16	$368,713,689	$10,352,320,341	3.56%	44.58%
William Kretschmar	Republican	28	$368,513,689	$10,358,422,245	3.56%	32.53%
Bob Skarphol	Republican	2	$365,683,244	$10,356,457,609	3.53%	68.67%
Lyle Hanson	Democratic	12	$357,504,020	$10,224,927,443	3.50%	5.19%
Clark Williams	Democratic	25	$344,032,038	$10,358,422,245	3.32%	14.46%
Gary Kreidt	Republican	33	$337,251,953	$10,358,422,245	3.26%	74.70%
Bob Hunskor	Democratic	6	$332,358,032	$10,358,422,245	3.21%	13.25%
Tom Conklin	Democratic	4	$256,702,235	$8,159,779,097	3.15%	9.64%
Ralph Metcalf	Democratic	24	$325,206,458	$10,358,422,245	3.14%	10.84%
David Rust	Republican	2	$319,755,745	$10,358,422,245	3.09%	59.04%
Scot Kelsh	Democratic	11	$280,058,957	$9,278,896,357	3.02%	8.43%
Corey Mock	Democratic	42	$307,610,923	$10,358,422,245	2.97%	25.30%
Richard Holman	Democratic	20	$306,758,957	$10,358,422,245	2.96%	4.82%
Robert Kilichowski	Democratic	16	$300,164,347	$10,358,422,245	2.90%	12.05%
Lois Delmore	Democratic	43	$299,964,347	$10,358,422,245	2.90%	0%
Joe Kroeber	Democratic	12	$299,964,347	$10,358,422,245	2.90%	4.82%
Eliot Glassheim	Democratic	18	$285,224,662	$10,356,796,266	2.75%	4.82%
Jerry Kelsh	Democratic	26	$281,964,347	$10,358,422,245	2.72%	8.43%
Thomas Beadle	Republican	27	$265,808,652	$10,307,788,952	2.58%	59.04%
Curtiss Kreun	Republican	43	$262,729,209	$10,358,422,245	2.54%	45.78%
Lonny Winrich	Democratic	18	$254,680,797	$10,256,162,854	2.48%	4.82%
Blair Thoreson	Republican	44	$254,189,552	$10,356,195,826	2.45%	83.95%
Ed Gruchalla	Democratic	45	$250,118,450	$10,358,022,245	2.41%	9.64%
Lawrence Klemin	Republican	47	$235,052,501	$9,881,384,656	2.38%	40%
Glen Froseth	Republican	6	$236,930,378	$10,358,422,245	2.29%	57.83%
Mark Sanford	Republican	17	$233,830,000	$10,358,422,245	2.26%	37.35%
Joe Heilman	Republican	45	$233,580,000	$10,358,422,245	2.25%	55.42%
Bette Grande	Republican	41	$232,278,261	$10,358,422,245	2.24%	75.90%
Patrick Hatlestad	Republican	1	$182,213,689	$8,293,917,786	2.20%	50.60%
Wayne Trottier	Republican	19	$226,508,009	$10,343,422,245	2.19%	69.62%
Kathy Hawken	Republican	46	$223,731,226	$10,283,524,436	2.18%	30.12%
George Keiser	Republican	47	$203,272,554	$10,343,192,345	1.97%	40.79%
Randy Boehning	Republican	27	$197,308,804	$10,333,580,927	1.91%	83.13%
Bob Martinson	Republican	35	$196,463,689	$10,358,422,245	1.90%	41.17%
Michael Don Brandenburg	Republican	28	$196,213,689	$10,358,422,245	1.89%	75.90%
Donald Clark	Republican	44	$196,213,689	$10,358,422,245	1.89%	67.47%
John Wall	Republican	25	$196,063,689	$10,358,422,245	1.89%	33.73%
Gary Sukut	Republican	1	$195,386,303	$10,358,422,245	1.89%	50.60%
Al Carlson	Republican	41	$191,136,303	$10,340,417,345	1.85%	68.67%

2011 North Dakota Senate scorecard

2011 North Dakota Senate Scorecard
Name	Party	District	Total spending that legislator voted against	Total spending voted upon by legislator	Overall Score: Percentage of spending voted against	Overall Score on Policy votes
Bob Stenehjem	Republican	30	$1,265,863,764	$10,362,921,464	12.22%	100%
Randel Christmann	Republican	33	$1,125,190,662	$10,362,921,464	10.86%	100%
Connie Triplett	Democratic	18	$1,104,890,768	$10,354,854,924	10.67%	33.33%
Donald Schaible	Republican	31	$1,065,955,732	$10,362,921,464	10.29%	81.82%
Layton Freborg	Republican	8	$1,046,216,743	$10,362,917,464	10.10%	81.82%
Curtis Olafson	Republican	10	$1,028,489,865	$10,352,107,171	9.94%	81.82%
Jerry Klein	Republican	14	$989,105,860	$10,362,921,464	9.54%	75.76%
Oley Larsen	Republican	3	$988,233,872	$10,362,921,464	9.54%	100%
Dick Dever	Republican	32	$959,256,884	$10,362,921,464	9.26%	81.82%
Bill Bowman	Republican	39	$799,836,266	$10,362,921,464	7.72%	75.76%
John Warner	Democratic	4	$771,687,321	$10,362,921,464	7.45%	33.33%
Richard Marcellais	Democratic	9	$590,730,259	$10,358,921,464	5.70%	33.33%
Tim Mathern	Democratic	11	$578,953,947	$10,304,508,171	5.62%	24.24%
Margaret Sitte	Republican	35	$511,025,211	$10,362,921,464	4.93%	93.94%
David Hogue	Republican	38	$510,660,211	$10,362,921,464	4.93%	100%
Spencer Berry	Republican	27	$431,909,835	$10,362,921,464	4.17%	81.82%
Carolyn Nelson	Democratic	21	$382,587,133	$10,304,508,171	3.71%	24.24%
Joe Miller	Republican	16	$367,825,971	$10,362,921,464	3.55%	100%
Karen Krebsbach	Republican	40	$285,395,128	$8,298,417,005	3.44%	58.62%
Ronald Sorvaag	Republican	45	$295,524,680	$10,362,921,464	2.85%	81.82%
Dwight Cook	Republican	34	$291,557,517	$10,362,921,464	2.81%	81.82%
Randy Burckhard	Republican	5	$289,522,517	$10,362,921,464	2.79%	82.82%
Gary Lee	Republican	22	$286,850,605	$10,362,921,464	2.77%	81.82%
Larry Luick	Republican	25	$280,890,091	$10,362,921,464	2.71%	69.70%
Ralph Kilzer	Republican	47	$255,760,016	$10,362,921,464	2.47%	75.76%
George Nodland	Republican	36	$255,385,016	$10,362,921,464	2.46%	81.82%
Rich Wardner	Republican	37	$254,385,016	$10,362,921,464	2.45%	81.82%
Robert Erbele	Republican	28	$253,285,016	$10,356,085,146	2.45%	81.82%
Ray Holmberg	Republican	17	$253,250,016	$10,362,921,464	2.44%	81.82%
Gerald Uglem	Republican	19	$252,526,629	$10,359,703,002	2.44%	62.07%
Tom Fischer	Republican	46	$246,755,389	$10,362,921,464	2.38%	81.82%
Stanley W. Lyson	Republican	1	$244,860,016	$10,362,921,464	2.36%	81.82%
John Andrist	Republican	2	$244,643,878	$10,362,921,464	2.36%	81.82%
Judy Lee	Republican	13	$239,654,128	$10,362,921,464	2.31%	72.73%
Terry Wanzek	Republican	29	$236,902,307	$10,362,921,464	2.29%	81.82%
Philip Murphy	Democratic	20	$232,872,968	$10,362,921,464	2.25%	45.45%
Lonnie Laffen	Republican	43	$223,843,920	$10,274,044,643	2.18%	81.82%
Dave Oehlke	Republican	15	$222,491,629	$10,362,921,464	2.15%	72.73%
Jim Dotzenrod	Democratic	26	$215,901,869	$10,362,921,464	2.08%	33.33%
Larry Robinson	Democratic	24	$208,845,964	$10,343,421,464	2.02%	33.33%
Tony Grindberg	Republican	41	$190,899,219	$10,357,916,564	1.84%	81.82%
Ryan Taylor	Democratic	7	$190,812,099	$10,362,921,464	1.84%	33.33%
Tim Flakoll	Republican	44	$190,127,393	$10,362,921,464	1.83%	81.82%
Joan Heckaman	Democratic	23	$189,068,600	$10,362,921,464	1.82%	33.33%
Mac Schneider	Democratic	42	$184,576,174	$10,362,921,464	1.78%	33.33%
Dave Nething	Republican	12	$111,879,436	$10,134,830,335	1.10%	81.82%

Methodology

Legislation

The NDPC tracked twenty-four bills during the legislative session and scored legislators based on whether the bills supported or opposed the goals of the council. Below are the council's descriptions of some of the bills that it evaluated in the scorecard.

Outcomes that the council supported

• Income tax cuts: "HB1047 passed the legislature providing North Dakota taxpayers with $145 million in personal and corporate income tax cuts."
• Obamacare: "HB1165 [made] it illegal to compel North Dakotans to purchase health insurance; SB2309 [declared] Obamacare to be unconstitutional and [protected] the rights of North Dakotans to purchase medical services free from government interference; HCR3016 [was] a resolution encouraging the US Congress to repeal Obamacare."
• Property rights: "The legislature passed SB2204 which [required] legislative approval of all money given to the Northern Plains National Heritage Area, a federal program designed to enact local government land use changes via federal grants of money."
• Tax increment financing policy: "In response to the North Dakota Policy Council's lawsuit against the City of Bismarck, the legislature passed SB2050 reforming tax increment financing laws."

Outcomes that the council opposed

• Pensions: "The House of Representatives narrowly rejected HB1228 and thoroughly rejected HB1258 which would have reformed the state employees' pension system and teachers' retirement fund from [a] defined- benefits program to a 401k-style defined-contribution [program]."
• Economic development: "SB2057 easily passed the legislature, appropriating $133 million for corporate welfare subsidies."
• Budget increase: "The 2011-13 budget passed by the legislature totaled more than $4 billion, an increase of 25% over the previous budget."
• Government transparency: "In 2009, taxpayers had a major victory as the legislature passed a law mandating the North Dakota Office of Management and Budget to post every state expenditure on a searchable website. In 2011, the legislature rejected a similar measure that would have required all local governments to do the same."

Scoring

The council broke down proposed policy ideas into "long-term" and "short-term" categories. For each "yea" vote on a long-term policy idea, legislators were given 3 points. For each vote on a short-term policy idea that agreed with the council's position, legislators were given 2 points. There were also several bills that touched on issues the NDPC found important but were not in the policy guide. Each legislator was given 1.5 points for a vote on those bills that agreed with the council's position. Legislators also received one point for votes on non-binding resolutions that agreed with the council's position. Earned points were added up and divided by the total possible points to reach a percentage. Missed votes were not counted either as points earned or as possible points.

See also

• North Dakota
• North Dakota House of Representatives
• North Dakota State Senate

External links

• North Dakota Policy Council
• North Dakota Legislative Review 2011