DOUG BURGUM /people/doug-burgum DOUG BURGUM en-US Thu, 15 May 2025 19:00:00 GMT Doug Burgum completes disclosures and divestitures for role as Interior Secretary /news/doug-burgum-completes-disclosures-and-divestitures-for-role-as-interior-secretary Jenny Schlecht POLICY,DOUG BURGUM,AGRICULTURE,REAL ESTATE,TOP HEADLINES FARGO NEWSLETTER Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, also the former North Dakota governor, disclosed numerous pieces of farmland in both North Dakota and Minnesota in his Public Financial Disclosure Report. <![CDATA[<p>WASHINGTON — <a href="https://www.agweek.com/news/policy/despite-ethics-agreement-to-sell-u-s-treasury-secretarys-family-still-appears-to-own-north-dakota-farmland">U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent</a> is not the only member of the Trump cabinet to report substantial holdings in farmland. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, also the former North Dakota governor, disclosed numerous pieces of farmland in both North Dakota and Minnesota in his Public Financial Disclosure Report.</p> <br> <br> <p>However, Burgum did not say he would divest of all of the properties.</p> <br> <br> <div class="raw-html"> Image and PDF Viewer <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/99/46/ceb773f140ecb855531fd8ca94a2/burgum-disclosure-photo.png" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; cursor: pointer;"> <p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 10px;">Click the image above to view the PDF document.</p> <script> function openPDF(pdfUrl) { window.open(pdfUrl, '_blank'); } </script> </div> <p>He listed ownership of Pelican Lake Farm in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, 7S Ranch in Slope County, North Dakota, and parcels in Cass County, North Dakota, and Clay County, Minnesota — collectively known as Tallgrass Trail — as properties in which he would continue to have a financial interest. For the Pelican Lake Farm property, he said he would "receive only rent or royalties pursuant to the crop share agreement" on the land. On the 7S and Tallgrass Trail properties, he said he would "receive only passive investment income from it."</p> <br> <br> <p>In all three cases, he said he would not "participate personally and substantially in any particular matter that to my knowledge has a direct and predictable effect on the financial interests of" the properties without first obtaining a written waiver.</p> <br> <br> <div class="raw-html"> Image and PDF Viewer <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/e9/59/33d94d21488c85c73fb9af22f43c/burgum-ethics-agreement-photo.png" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; cursor: pointer;"> <p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 10px;">Click the image above to view the PDF document.</p> <script> function openPDF(pdfUrl) { window.open(pdfUrl, '_blank'); } </script> </div> <p>Burgum did indicate he would divest in his financial interest in the Burgum Farm Partnership, with crop, land and mineral interests in Cass County and Williams County, North Dakota, and his ownership interest of Laurel Road LLC, which holds oil and gas leases in McKenzie County and Williams County, North Dakota, within 90 days of his confirmation.</p> <br> <br> <div class="raw-html"> Image and PDF Viewer <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/03/3d/68031b0d4912878d9d31eb36af8c/burgum-compliance.png" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto; cursor: pointer;"> <p style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin-top: 10px;">Click the image above to view the PDF document.</p> <script> function openPDF(pdfUrl) { window.open(pdfUrl, '_blank'); } </script> </div> <br> <p>Burgum also said in his disclosure letter he would resign from several positions he held and would become a &ldquo;non-managing member.&rdquo; That includes vice president for the board of directors at Arthur Cos., a grain and agronomy business, and managing partner for Arthur Ventures.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum created Arthur Ventures to invest in software startups.</p> <br> <br> <p>His letter said he would resign from his post at Kilbourne Group, a real estate development company he founded. Kilbourne had a large role in redeveloping downtown Fargo.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum told The Forum after becoming governor in 2016 that he would step down from his leadership position at Kilbourne but would retain his investments.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum plans to keep his investments in Arthur Cos., Arthur Ventures, Kilbourne and the Downtown Fargo Real Estate Fund, a group of investors that developed the Broadway Square and RDO Tower in downtown Fargo. He will divest his assets in several other companies, including Apple, Netflix, Microsoft, Verizon, Xcel Energy, oil and gas company ONEOK and Meta, which owns Facebook.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum <a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/doug-burgum-proud-to-leave-north-dakota-in-better-financial-state-doesnt-want-job-to-end">was North Dakota's governor from 2016 to 2024.</a> He opted not to run for governor again after a failed bid for president.</p> <br> <br> <p>The Republican also campaigned for President Donald Trump before Trump was elected a second time last year. Trump announced Burgum as his interior secretary nominee on Nov. 14, 2024.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum was confirmed Jan. 30. On April 30, he filed his Ethics Agreement Compliance Certification, saying he had completed all resignations and divestitures required of him.</p> <br> <br> <p>Along with founding Arthur Ventures and Kilbourne, Burgum is known for leading Great Plains Software, a Fargo-based company he eventually sold to Microsoft.</p>]]> Thu, 15 May 2025 19:00:00 GMT Jenny Schlecht /news/doug-burgum-completes-disclosures-and-divestitures-for-role-as-interior-secretary North Dakota farmer sues over alleged changes to terms of 1963 wetlands easement /news/north-dakota-farmer-sues-over-alleged-changes-to-terms-of-1963-wetlands-easement Jenny Schlecht POLICY,DOUG BURGUM,AGRICULTURE,CONSERVATION,NORTH DAKOTA,SUBSCRIBERS ONLY LaMoure County farmer Cody Peterson's lawsuit states that Fish and Wildlife Services says an easement authorized in 1963 covers wetlands that weren't yet in existence in 1963. <![CDATA[<p>A North Dakota farmer has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior to stop FWS from reinterpreting the terms of a more than 60-year-old wetlands easement on land he owns and rents in LaMoure County.</p> <br> <br> <p>The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, April 8, in the U.S. District Court of North Dakota by farmer Cody Peterson, also names Paul Souza, regional director of FWS&#8217; Pacific Southwest Region; acting FWS Director Matt Hogan, regional director of FWS&#8217;s Mountain-Prairie Region; and Doug Burgum, the secretary of Interior and former North Dakota governor, as defendants.</p> <br> <br> <p>Elizabeth Peace, a senior public affairs specialist for the office of the secretary of the Department of the Interior, said department policy is to not comment on pending litigation.</p> <br> <br> <p>Pacific Legal Foundation, a nonprofit law firm that "defends Americans threatened by government overreach and abuse," is representing Peterson for free in the case.</p> <br> <br> <p>The lawsuit is specifically over &ldquo;Easement 69X&rdquo; — a wetland conservation easement that FWS acquired in 1963 on a half-section of land from the landowners at that time, Lyle and Vivian Trapp. Peterson now owns a quarter-section of the land and rents the other quarter-section from his parents, Patty and Leonard Peterson, who have the land in trust.</p> <br> <p>The complaint in the case alleges the 1963 easement had vague terms that did not specify exact locations of wetlands or the extent of restrictions on what could be done in those areas. It also alleges that FWS, in recent years, has indicated the easement covers potholes that were not in existence in the 1960s, according to historical photographs.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;When parties enter into a legal agreement, they must honor its terms unless they mutually agree to change them,&rdquo; said Jeffery McCoy, an attorney at Pacific Legal Foundation, in a statement. &ldquo;The Fish and Wildlife Service vastly expanded its control over our client&#8217;s private land, impeding his ability to make a living and violating the terms of their agreement. The agency must keep its word and honor the original agreement.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>While the lawsuit is specific to Peterson&#8217;s situation, changing interpretation of wetlands easements has been a broader issue throughout the <a href="https://www.agweek.com/crops/cereal-grains/epa-officials-get-a-view-from-above-of-the-prairie-pothole-region">Prairie Pothole region</a> that has inspired bipartisan federal legislation in past years to try to allow landowners to get out of perpetual easements authorized by former landowners.</p> <br> <div class="raw-html"> <p style=" margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block;"><a href="https://www.scribd.com/document/848509944/2025-04-08-Peterson-v-US-Complaint#from_embed" style="text-decoration: underline;">2025 04 08 Peterson v US Complaint</a> by <a href="https://www.scribd.com/user/609267841/Jenny-Schlecht#from_embed" style="text-decoration: underline;">Jenny Schlecht</a> on Scribd</p> <iframe title="2025 04 08 Peterson v US Complaint" src="https://www.scribd.com/embeds/848509944/content?start_page=1&amp;view_mode=scroll&amp;access_key=key-yYlVFSd3GbxDKsKBf4Tm" width="100%" height="600" frameborder="0"></iframe> </div> Easement history <p>The complaint in the Peterson case explains that FWS has used funds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps — authorized under the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act of March 16, 1934 — to purchase wetland easements from private property owners in the upper Midwest.</p> <br> <br> <p>McCoy said the Trapps sold the easement for $630 on Nov. 15, 1963, which was accepted by the U.S. government on April 22, 1964. Court documents say the easement referred to 42 wetland acres. But the complaint says Easement 69X, like all easements acquired before 1976, &ldquo;did not describe where they applied or what &#8216;wetlands&#8217; they covered.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>Because &ldquo;prairie potholes, by nature, are ill-defined and subject to fluctuation, there has been a considerable amount of confusion regarding what the earlier wetland easements actually covered,&rdquo; the complaint said.</p> <br> <p>In 2020, in response to the uncertainty among property owners, FWS issued a guidance memo titled &ldquo;<a href="https://www.fws.gov/sites/default/files/documents/Guidance-Memo-Drain-Tile-Setbacks-Wetland-Easements.pdf" target="_blank">Drain Tile Setbacks and Legal Action on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Wetlands Easements</a>.&rdquo; The memo indicated that FWS would issue estimates of what it believed to be the scope of existing wetland easements and calculate where farmers could install drain tile on their &ldquo;encumbered properties.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>On Feb. 18, 2020, Wetland District Manager Wayne Henderson sent Peterson a letter with a map that laid out the &ldquo;sizes, shapes and locations&rdquo; of the wetland areas that FWS considered part of the 69X easement and offered a way for Peterson to object to the map and appeal it.</p> <br> <br> <p>Peterson sent a letter on April 3, 2020, objecting to the map. In this letter, he included a &ldquo;Wetland Easement Review&rdquo; completed by Wenck Associates Inc. Wenck Associates had completed a historic aerial photograph review of the property and concluded the 2020 map did not accurately reflect the wetlands that existed in 1963 and &ldquo;recommended specifics on how the 2020 map should be revised.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>FWS made no changes after the objection, so Peterson appealed to the FWS regional director and later to the director of FWS. On March 25, 2021, the FWS director affirmed previous decisions and upheld the 2020 map — the final agency action.</p> <br> <br> <p>Similar issues impacted many farmers in the Prairie Pothole region.</p> <br> <br> <p>In 2020, then U.S. Reps. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., and Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., <a href="https://mnsoybean.org/uncategorized/peterson-introduces-bipartisan-landowner-easement-rights-act/" target="_blank">introduced the Landowner Easement Rights Act,</a> which would prohibit FWS from entering into a conservation easement with a term of more than 50 years and would give owners of existing easements the option to renegotiate, renew, or buy out the easement. The legislation was <a href="https://fischbach.house.gov/2022/3/rep-fischbach-introduces-the-landowner-easement-rights-act" target="_blank">reintroduced in 2022 by U.S. Rep. Michelle Fischbach</a> and <a href="https://www.cramer.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sens-cramer-rounds-hoeven-introduce-the-landowner-easement-rights-act" target="_blank">in the Senate by Sens. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., John Hoeven, R-N.D., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D</a>. The legislation was never passed.</p> <br> <br> <p>In 2024, FWS issued a final rule titled &ldquo;<a href="https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/05/13/2024-10242/national-wildlife-refuge-system-drain-tile-setbacks" target="_blank">National Wildlife Refuge System; Drain Tile Setbacks</a>.&rdquo; Peterson&#8217;s lawsuit alleges the rule was inconsistent with the 2020 guidance and also stricter than the earlier guidance and stricter than the Swampbuster provisions of the 1985 farm bill.</p> <br> <br> <p>Pacific Legal Foundation in a statement said the actions by FWS are an overreach beyond the original easement's intentions and mean Peterson "can no longer use 40% of his farmable land, drastically impeding his ability to making a living."</p> <br> Aim of the lawsuit <p>Peterson&#8217;s lawsuit says the 2024 FWS rule &ldquo;unlawfully expands the scope of the easement beyond what was granted in the deed.&rdquo; He is seeking to establish the easement&#8217;s scope through quiet title — an action used to resolve disputes or uncertainties about property ownership.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;Mr. Peterson is thus entitled to a judgment quieting title to the properties at issue with respect to Easement 69X that confirms that the easement does not require Mr. Peterson to use property he owns or leases in a way that results in &#8216;no effect&#8217; to any wetlands on the property,&rdquo; the complaint said. &ldquo;Mr. Peterson is also entitled to a judgment quieting title to the properties at issue with respect to Easement 69X that confirms that Defendants may not cause unreasonable damage to his property or unreasonably interfere with Mr. Peterson&#8217;s use and enjoyment of the property he owns or leases.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>Peterson is seeking to confirm that FWS only has an easement over wetlands that existed at the time the easement was granted. The complaint also asks for orders declaring that FWS &ldquo;acted arbitrarily, capriciously, abused their discretion, or otherwise failed to act in accordance with the law,&rdquo; in regard to its 2020 map of Easement 69X and the 2024 rule.</p> <br> <br> <p>Further orders sought by the lawsuit would declare that FWS must set aside its 2024 rule and that FWS may not interpret wetlands easements in a manner that causes &ldquo;unreasonable damage to servient estate or interferes unreasonably with its enjoyment&rdquo; and that &ldquo;requires the servient estate to act in a way that results in &#8216;no effect&#8217; to any wetlands on the property.&rdquo;</p>]]> Thu, 10 Apr 2025 18:38:09 GMT Jenny Schlecht /news/north-dakota-farmer-sues-over-alleged-changes-to-terms-of-1963-wetlands-easement Trump chooses North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for Interior secretary /news/north-dakota/trump-chooses-north-dakota-gov-doug-burgum-for-interior-secretary April Baumgarten DONALD TRUMP,DOUG BURGUM,POLITICAL NEWSLETTER,GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS,ELECTION 2024,ALL-ACCESS,INFORUM BISMARCK Burgum was a staunch supporter of President-elect Donald Trump after the governor dropped out of the presidential race. <![CDATA[<p>BISMARCK — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will be Donald Trump&#8217;s secretary of the interior, according to a statement from the president-elect.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump made the announcement on Thursday, Nov. 14, during an America First Policy Institute gala at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida. Burgum, who attended the event, would succeed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I&#8217;m honored and excited to serve and will have more to say after the official announcement,&rdquo; Burgum said in a statement to The Forum.</p> <br> <br> <p>The North Dakotan would oversee the National Park Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Fish and Wildlife Services, and several bureaus, including Indian Affairs and Land Management.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump initially said he would formally announce Burgum&#8217;s post on Friday morning. Video showed Trump teasing the announcement and claiming he wouldn&#8217;t say Burgum&#8217;s name.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump said the person is married to a woman named Kathryn. Burgum is married to Kathryn Burgum.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;Might be something like Burgum,&rdquo; Trump said. &ldquo;He&#8217;s from North Dakota. He&#8217;s going to be announced for a very big position. &mldr; Actually, he&#8217;s going to head the Department of Interior, and he's going to be fantastic.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum, 68, has served as North Dakota governor since 2016. The native of Arthur, North Dakota, decided not to seek a third term in office this year.</p> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/b5e5173/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F83%2F55%2F4a6b29d1493a8c5a3ebd1155e8c6%2Fus-news-trump-runningmate-burgum-get.jpg"> </figure> <p>Before his stint in politics, Burgum led Great Plains Software, a startup tech company that grew to employ thousands in North Dakota. Microsoft bought the company in 2001.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum also founded the Kilbourne Group, a real estate developer responsible for revitalizing much of downtown Fargo. He co-founded Arthur Ventures, which invests in software companies.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump, a Republican, defeated Vice President Kamala Harris, a Democrat who ran to succeed President Joe Biden, in the general election. Trump won the presidency in 2016 but lost a bid for reelection to Biden in 2020.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum also ran as a Republican for the 2024 election but dropped out of the race in early December.</p> <br> <br> <p><a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/gov-doug-burgum-explains-why-he-endorsed-donald-trump">Since endorsing Trump in January,</a> Burgum has <a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/gov-doug-burgum-has-left-north-dakota-often-during-the-past-year-moreso-in-past-month">traveled frequently across the country to campaign</a> for the former president and attend other events. The Forum previously reported that Trump wanted the governor to be a <a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/trump-wants-north-dakota-gov-doug-burgum-to-be-a-very-important-piece-of-his-administration">&ldquo;very important piece of his administration</a>,&rdquo; but Trump never specified the position he had in mind for the governor.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum said Trump would be better for North Dakota and the U.S. than Biden and Harris, particularly when it came to the economy, national security and energy policy. North Dakota is the third top oil-producing state in the country, and it ranks seventh for coal, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum didn&#8217;t always support Trump. He told &ldquo;Meet the Press,&rdquo; a Sunday morning show on NBC News, that <a href="https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-doug-burgum-tells-the-nation-he-wouldnt-do-business-with-trump">he would not do business with Trump.</a></p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I think it&#8217;s important that you&#8217;re judged by the company you keep,&rdquo; Burgum said in the NBC interview in July 2023.</p> <br> <br> <p>The North Dakotan was considered a top contender for Trump&#8217;s vice president, but Trump chose <a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/national/donald-trump-to-pick-vice-president-today">U.S. Sen. JD Vance of Ohio.</a></p> <br> <br> <p>Speculation on what role Burgum could serve in Trump&#8217;s administration has grown over the last several months. His name has been suggested for secretary of state, energy, interior or commerce.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump has nominated U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida as his secretary of state.</p> <br> <br> <p><a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/north-dakota-gov-doug-burgum-will-get-high-level-post-in-trump-administration-state-congressmen-say">The Forum reported</a> that the North Dakota congressional delegation thought Trump should create a position for Burgum to fit his managerial skills.</p> <br>]]> Fri, 15 Nov 2024 02:11:24 GMT April Baumgarten /news/north-dakota/trump-chooses-north-dakota-gov-doug-burgum-for-interior-secretary Minnesota, North Dakota the latest to join outdoor recreation confluence of states /sports/northland-outdoors/minnesota-north-dakota-join-outdoor-recreation-confluence-of-states Staff Report NORTHLAND OUTDOORS,GRAND FORKS,OUTDOORS RECREATION,DOUG BURGUM,TIM WALZ The Confluence of States is a bipartisan network of state leaders advancing the outdoor economy through a collective voice. <![CDATA[<p>MISSOULA, Mont. — Minnesota and North Dakota are the latest states to sign on to the Outdoor Recreation Industry Confluence Accords, a framework designed to promote and support the outdoor recreation economy in the U.S.</p> <br> <br> <p>Representatives from the two states signed on to the accords Oct. 16 on behalf of their governors — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum — at the 2024 Outdoor Media Summit in Missoula.</p> <br> <br> <p>The two additions bring the number of states now in the Confluence to 20.</p> <br> <p>The Confluence of States is a bipartisan network of state leaders advancing the outdoor economy through a collective voice. Established in 2018, the Confluence Accords embody 15 principles contained in the pillars of conservation and stewardship:</p> <br> Education and workforce training. Economic development. Public health and wellness. Opportunity and experience.&nbsp; <p>The original Confluence Accord signatories were outdoor recreation directors from the states of Colorado, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wyoming, who signed on behalf of their governors on July 25, 2018, in Denver. The second signing — on Oct. 24, 2019, in Saint George, Utah — included Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico and Virginia. The third signing — on May 26, 2022, in Little Rock, Arkansas — included Arkansas, Maryland and New Hampshire. Earlier this year, the fourth signing took place on May 7, 2024, in Washington, D.C, and included Massachusetts and Pennsylvania.</p> <br> <br> <p>The addition of Minnesota and North Dakota coincides with the Confluence of States&#8217; release of the 2024 Outdoor Report, a comprehensive document highlighting the achievements of member states under the organization&#8217;s core pillars.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;Joining the Confluence of States marks an exciting new chapter for Minnesota&#8217;s vibrant outdoor recreation industry,&rdquo; Randolph Briley, deputy director of the Minnesota Outdoor Recreation Industry Partnership, said in a statement. &ldquo;By harnessing the collective expertise and resources of the Confluence, we aim to propel Minnesota&#8217;s outdoor recreation industry to new heights, ensuring that it remains a vital contributor to our state&#8217;s economy and a source of joy for residents and visitors alike. Together, we look forward to fostering sustainable growth and innovative partnerships that reflect the spirit and resilience of Minnesota.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/1a64833/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8b%2Fb3%2Fac760a4e4553ae2f3b38c5946f30%2Ftrack-chair.png"> </figure> <p>Cody Schulz, director of the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department, added:</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;We are incredibly excited to continue to not only enhance health and wellbeing by maximizing the impact of outdoor recreation in North Dakota, but to also responsibly develop our resources as a driver of economic and workforce development,&rdquo; Schulz said in a statement. &ldquo;In North Dakota we believe in innovative partnerships and taking a whole of industry approach that engages the private and public sectors alike, and the principles of these accords embody that spirit.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that outdoor recreation makes up 2.2% of U.S. Gross Domestic Product, generating $1.1 trillion in gross output and supporting 5 million jobs.</p>]]> Tue, 29 Oct 2024 17:24:55 GMT Staff Report /sports/northland-outdoors/minnesota-north-dakota-join-outdoor-recreation-confluence-of-states Port: Gov. Walz has too much baggage to be a good VP pick /opinion/columns/port-gov-walz-likely-has-too-much-baggage-to-be-a-good-vp-pick Rob Port GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS,NORTH DAKOTA,PLAIN TALK,INFORUM BISMARCK,TIM WALZ,ELECTION 2024,KAMALA HARRIS,DONALD TRUMP,DOUG BURGUM Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is on the short list to be picked as Kamala Harris's running mate, but his track record as governor suggests she should go another way. <![CDATA[<p>With President Joe Biden bowing out, Vice President Kamala Harris has stormed to the top of the Democratic ticket, stoking no small amount of enthusiasm among our liberal friends, and accomplishing a rare feat in modern American politics: occluding Donald Trump from the sort of non-stop media attention he typically enjoys.</p> <br> <br> <p>Now Harris, with just 98 days to go until election day, is tasked with keeping that momentum going. One way she can do that is with a strong vice presidential pick. She's going to want someone who can keep Democrats stoked. She certainly doesn't want someone who could be a distraction in the way Sen. J.D. Vance has for Trump's ticket.</p> <br> <br> <p>Can you imagine how furious the disgraced former president is right now? This preening narcissist has been one-upped not just by Harris's splashy entrance to the race but by the foibles and eccentricities of his own running mate, and he'll almost certainly be goaded into increasingly outlandish behavior to get the spotlight back, which may or may not redound to his benefit at the ballot box.</p> <br> <p>Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz had a great line recently when he called Trump and his various fawning acolytes "weird." Democrats have embraced it as something of a slogan. It could be an effective one, and it's raised Walz's profile as a potential running mate for Harris.</p> <br> <br> <p>But that, I think, would be a mistake. A Vance-level blunder, given that selecting Walz would open up a veritable supermarket of problematic anecdotes from his time as Minnesota's governor that could be an untimely wet blanket when Democrats need a bonfire of enthusiasm.</p> <br> <br> <p>I'm not talking about ideological concerns. I'm talking about competency issues.</p> <br> <br> <p>In 2022, Walz's administration lobbied for legislation providing "hero pay" for Minnesotans who served in key roles during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Walz administration estimated that some 667,000 workers would qualify for $500 payments. After the bill was signed into law, though, the Walz administration announced that <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/frontline-worker-hero-pay-update-1-million-delivered/" target="_blank">about 1 million workers qualified,</a> meaning the original estimate on which the legislation was passed was off by nearly 50%.</p> <br> <br> <p>An audit found that <a href="https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/fad/pdf/fad2403.pdf" target="_blank">less than 60% of those who received the payments</a> were eligible for them. <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/hero-pay-legislative-auditor-report-frontline-worker/" target="_blank">Many of the recipients were dead.</a> Some, per the audit report, were dead for years before receiving payment.</p> <br> <p>A bad look, but even the most competently managed state governments can make mistakes. Yet this sort of mismanagement is a recurring theme from Walz's time in office.</p> <br> <br> <p>The Feeding Our Future scandal saw more than a quarter-billion dollars worth of public funds diverted to luxury purchases like cars, homes, jewelry and more. When the Department of Justice <a href="https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/us-attorney-announces-federal-charges-against-47-defendants-250-million-feeding-our-future" target="_blank">brought indictments in the fraud in 2022,</a> it "was the largest pandemic relief fraud scheme charged to date."</p> <br> <br> <p>The massive scale of this fraud was made possible because the Walz administration, through the Minnesota Department of Education, failed to act. &ldquo;Time and time again over the four years it participated in the federal nutrition programs, MDE missed opportunities to hold Feeding Our Future accountable,&rdquo; <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/feeding-our-future-legislative-auditor-report-minnesota-department-of-education/" target="_blank">Legislative Auditor Judy Randall told lawmakers last month.</a></p> <br> <br> <p>"Between June 2018 and December 2021, the department received more than 30 complaints about the organization — ranging from unethical practices to demanding kickbacks from vendors — which must be investigated by law," <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/feeding-our-future-legislative-auditor-report-minnesota-department-of-education/" target="_blank">CBS affiliate WCCO News reported. </a>"But the department&#8217;s investigation procedures were 'of limited usefulness' in the context of alleged fraud, the auditor found. At one point, the education department asked Feeding Our Future to investigate complaints about itself. Some of the complaints weren&#8217;t looked into at all, 'despite their frequency and seriousness.'"</p> <br> <br> <p>Another example of this pattern: <a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/state-audit-finds-problems-in-dhs-grant-management-again/" target="_blank">multiple audits</a> found that the "Minnesota Department of Human Services Behavioral Health Division did not comply with certain grants management policies." The division "failed to complete financial assessments for more than 40 percent of grants reviewed. The grants ranged from $49,000 to nearly $1 million, and totaled $11.5 million. A 2021 audit had a similar finding."</p> <br> <br> <p>Another audit released <a href="https://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/fad/2024/fad24-04.htm" target="_blank">just last month</a> found that more than 30% of retroactive payments to state employees tested by auditors were inaccurate. The Walz administration hasn't remedied this problem.</p> <br> <br> <p>In 2019, the Minnesota Department of Health announced that it <a href="https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-watchdog-says-he-alerted-fbi-about-tribal-overpayments" target="_blank">paid $29 million</a> for opioid treatments that were never administered.</p> <br> <br> <p>Just last month, when Axios requested Gov. Walz's text messages under state open records laws, they were told that <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/07/25/tim-walz-text-messages-transparency-public-data" target="_blank">they disappeared. </a>This, like the apparent mismanagement of public funds under the Walz administration, seems to be a pattern. The nonprofit Public Record Media has also criticized Walz for&nbsp;<a href="https://minnesotareformer.com/briefs/group-seeks-alternate-emails-used-by-walz/" target="_blank">his slow response to open records requests.&nbsp;</a>During his 2018 campaign for governor, Walz&nbsp;<a href="https://www.startribune.com/walz-will-not-release-his-daily-calendar-despite-promise-to-do-so/511318052/" target="_blank">promised to release his daily calendars&nbsp;</a>to the public and then reneged.</p> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/72fce84/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F02%2Ff1%2Fc15d886a4f9eb19e56fc96a01182%2F09232803-votingsot6.Still001.jpg"> </figure> <p>"Walz&#8217;s <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2024/07/25/tim-walz-text-messages-transparency-public-data">text messages mysteriously disappeared despite public-records laws</a>, his <a href="https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2023/09/24/minnesota-cannabis-director-withdraws-erin-dupree">appointed state cannabis director was selling products that violated state law,</a> and one of his appointments to the gubernatorial Task Force on Broadband <a href="https://www.startribune.com/gov-tim-walz-rescinds-task-force-appointment-after-learning-of-domestic-abuse-allegations/600290917/">stepped down after allegations of domestic abuse came to light,"</a> Jim Geraghty <a href="https://www.nationalreview.com/the-morning-jolt/harris-vp-short-lister-comes-loaded-with-baggage/?lctg=547fe52b3b35d0210c8ee276&amp;utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=MJ_20240729&amp;utm_term=Jolt-Smart" target="_blank">writes at National Review</a> (my source for much of the above information).</p> <br> <br> <p>I could continue, but I think you get the point.</p> <br> <br> <p>Any one of these stories and scandals on their own don't amount to much. But collectively, they demonstrate something larger about Walz's approach to governance, and it doesn't exactly commend him to higher office.</p> <br> <br> <p>I can understand why Minnesotans might be enthusiastic about one of their own being elevated to a national ticket. Certainly, that was the case here in North Dakota as we watched <a href="https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-that-was-pathetic-doug">(sometimes wincingly)</a> as Gov. Doug Burgum campaigned to the cusp of joining Trump on the ballot.</p> <br> <br> <p>But Harris choosing Walz would be a debacle. Any candidate she chooses is going to have some baggage, but Walz has more than most, and his problems aren't ephemeral. They're rooted in questions of competence and integrity.</p> <br>]]> Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:11:02 GMT Rob Port /opinion/columns/port-gov-walz-likely-has-too-much-baggage-to-be-a-good-vp-pick Trump passes over North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum for VP in favor of Ohio's Vance /news/national/donald-trump-to-pick-vice-president-today April Baumgarten POLITICAL NEWSLETTER,ELECTION 2024,DONALD TRUMP,REPUBLICAN PARTY,DOUG BURGUM,NORTH DAKOTA,ALL-ACCESS,INFORUM BISMARCK,GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS,J.D. VANCE Burgum said on CNN that Trump addressed him as “Mr. Secretary” in phone call saying he chose Vance as his running mate. <![CDATA[<p>MILWAUKEE — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum will not be former President Donald Trump&#8217;s running mate in the 2024 election.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump announced Monday, July 15, on Truth Social that he has chosen U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance, of Ohio. Burgum, a 67-year-old who has served as North Dakota governor since 2016, got a call earlier in the day that informed him that he would not be Trump's running mate, a source close to Burgum said.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum was considered a top contender for Trump's running mate. U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, of Florida, another top contender, was also told Monday he was not in the running, several media outlets reported.</p> <br> <br> <p>"(Trump) is the strongest leader to enter the political arena in modern American history!" Burgum said on X, formerly known as Twitter. He said Vance's "small town roots and service to country make him a powerful voice for the America First Agenda. I look forward to campaigning for the Trump-Vance ticket to Make America Great Again!"</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/e252783/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F54%2F23%2F9c63a3ee45efb369ed4a90cf278c%2F2024-07-16t021310z-2043567358-rc2xv8a3zwuz-rtrmadp-3-usa-election-republicans-convention.JPG"> </figure> <br> <p>Trump secured the GOP presidential nomination Monday at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Vance was officially nominated as the vice presidential candidate Monday afternoon.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump, 78, is expected to face President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in November, a rematch four years in the making. Biden defeated Trump in 2020.</p> <br> <br> <p>Some have questioned whether Biden, 81, should step aside after a poor performance at the last presidential debate.</p> <br> <br> <p>Biden has secured more than enough delegates to get the Democratic nomination and is adamant that he will not drop out of the race.</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump said his decision on who would be his running mate took "lengthy deliberation and thought."</p> <br> <br> <p>"J.D. has had a very successful business career in Technology and Finance, and now, during the Campaign, will be strongly focused on the people he fought so brilliantly for, the American Workers and Farmers in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, Minnesota, and far beyond&mldr;." Trump said on Truth. "As Vice President, J.D. will continue to fight for our Constitution, stand with our Troops, and will do everything he can to help me MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN."</p> <br> <br> <br> <p>Burgum was interviewed on several national television networks Monday night during the primetime airing of the Republican National Convention.</p> <br> <br> <p>During an interview with CNN&#8217;s Kaitlan Collins, Burgum said that when Trump called him to deliver the news on Monday, he addressed him as &ldquo;Mr. Secretary,&rdquo; then went on to tell him that he was not his choice for vice president.</p> <br> <br> <p>Collins then asked Burgum if he would accept a cabinet position if Trump is elected and Burgum did not directly answer the question, but did say that getting Trump elected again was important for North Dakota.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum grew up in Arthur, North Dakota, and joined Great Plains Software in 1983, becoming president of the company the next year. He sold that company to Microsoft for $1.1 billion in 2001 and served as a Microsoft senior vice president through 2007.</p> <br> <br> <p>In 2006, Burgum founded the Kilbourne Group, a real estate company that helped revitalize downtown Fargo. In 2008, he launched Arthur Ventures, which invests in software companies.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum ran for president but suspended the campaign in December after garnering low polling numbers. After announcing his endorsement of Trump, he has often left North Dakota to campaign for the former president.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/b5e5173/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F83%2F55%2F4a6b29d1493a8c5a3ebd1155e8c6%2Fus-news-trump-runningmate-burgum-get.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>Vance and Burgum were politically different candidates for Trump's running mate, said Rick Becker, a former North Dakota state representative who is a delegate at the RNC.</p> <br> <br> <p>"Trump decided to go with someone who was a little bit more MAGA, I suppose," Becker told The Forum at the convention.</p> <br> <br> <p>All candidates on Trump's shortlist were "great options," North Dakota State Auditor Josh Gallion said. He also is a delegate at the convention.</p> <br> <br> <p>"As a person from North Dakota, we like to support our own," Gallion said. "I'm confident that Donald Trump has plans for Gov. Burgum, that he is going to play a significant role in the administration and he's going to continue representing not only North Dakota but our country."</p> <br> <br> <p>Trump in the past teased an announcement regarding Burgum, though he did not give specifics. Shortly after <a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/gov-doug-burgum-explains-why-he-endorsed-donald-trump">Burgum endorsed Trump </a>in January, the former president indicated he wanted the governor to be <a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/trump-wants-north-dakota-gov-doug-burgum-to-be-a-very-important-piece-of-his-administration">"a very important piece of the administration.&rdquo;</a></p>]]> Mon, 15 Jul 2024 18:53:50 GMT April Baumgarten /news/national/donald-trump-to-pick-vice-president-today Minnesota, North Dakota governors order flags at half-staff Tuesday /news/minnesota/minnesota-north-dakota-governors-order-flags-at-half-staff-tuesday Forum staff ALL-ACCESS,MINNESOTA,NORTH DAKOTA,TIM WALZ,DOUG BURGUM North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz made the declarations on Tuesday in honor of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. <![CDATA[<p>MOORHEAD — Following a proclamation by President Joe Biden, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum ordered all state and national flags to be flown at half-staff from sunrise until sunset Tuesday, Dec. 19.</p> <br> <br> <p>The orders, sent Monday, were made to honor the life of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor on the day of her interment.</p> <br> <br> <p>O'Connor, the first woman appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court, died on Dec. 1 at age 93.</p> <br> <br> <p>Individuals and businesses are invited to join government agencies in flying flags at half-staff.</p> <br>]]> Mon, 18 Dec 2023 23:15:47 GMT Forum staff /news/minnesota/minnesota-north-dakota-governors-order-flags-at-half-staff-tuesday North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum pushes to be heard in 2nd presidential debate /news/north-dakota/burgum-pushes-to-be-heard-in-2nd-presidential-debate Alex Derosier GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS,POLITICAL NEWSLETTER,DOUG BURGUM,REPUBLICAN PARTY,INFORUM BISMARCK,ALL-ACCESS Burgum struggled with the hosts for nearly two hours to get airtime in the debate and was only asked four questions. <![CDATA[<p>SIMI VALLEY, Calf. — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum struggled to get equal airtime with other candidates in his second GOP presidential debate appearance Wednesday night, and at times had to press hosts to be heard.</p> <br> <br> <p>It wasn&#8217;t until half an hour into the debate that Burgum had an opportunity to weigh in on a topic, and he had to speak up to get called on. As hosts moved on from a question about the ongoing autoworkers strike, Burgum spoke up.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I'm sorry. I have to jump in, because we're missing the point. And every other network is missing the point,&rdquo; Burgum said, attempting to connect the strike to the Biden Administration's electric vehicle policy.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum would have to struggle with the hosts for nearly two hours to get airtime in the debate, which aired on Fox Business and Univision. Fox News hosts Dana Perino and Stuart Varney and Univision anchor Ilia Calderón moderated the debate.</p> <br> <br> <figure class="op-interactive video"> <iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/Jphf0Gnd.mp4" width="560" height="315"></iframe> </figure> <br> <p>At one point, Perino threatened to cut his microphone off after he continued to push to speak on a topic. Hosts only asked him questions four times, and for the rest of the night, he had to assert himself more to get time.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/38bbc9e/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fb4%2F8d%2Ff70d3b63427bba19d404b653e7d8%2Fscreenshot-2023-09-27-210349.png"> </figure> <br> <p>Of the seven candidates who shared the debate stage at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, Burgum by far had the least speaking time. Burgum spoke for 7 Minutes and 39 seconds, and tailed former Vice President Mike Pence by nearly 2 minutes, according to an analysis from CNN.</p> <br> <br> <p>Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy tallied 12 minutes, 20 seconds, and DeSantis totaled 12 Minutes, 8 seconds. Both are leading in the polls of the candidates who appeared on stage.</p> <br> <p>Moderators of the debate did not ask Burgum a question until nearly 45 minutes into the broadcast when Univision host Ilia Calderón asked Burgum what he would do about gun violence in America.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I think that the liberal left &mldr; seems to be just completely bent on prosecuting law-abiding citizens that are gun owners,&rdquo; Burgum said, adding that the issue of gun violence is best addressed by enforcing existing gun laws and addressing behavioral and mental health issues.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum, who has centered his campaign around the economy, energy and national security, and is the governor of the nation&#8217;s third-largest oil-producing state, didn&#8217;t get the opportunity to weigh in on a question about energy after several other candidates got to speak on the issue.</p> <br> <br> <p>Though after being passed over on that question, hosts asked him about U.S.-Mexico border policy and later gave him a question Perino said Burgum would &ldquo;really like&rdquo; on how he would protect farmers and ranchers in the U.S. from economic retaliation from China. That question gave Burgum an opportunity to speak on foreign policy.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/4679426/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Feb%2F77%2F282e574f4fb2b320db8f83458fc1%2F2023-09-28t011829z-931197351-hp1ej9s03mr0i-rtrmadp-3-usa-election-republicans-debate.JPG"> </figure> <br> <p>When speaking on border policy, Burgum noted that he did not get a chance to speak on energy policy, and said he already has an established record with the pro-energy, pro-oil and gas policies promoted by the other candidates.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum qualified for the second presidential debate on Saturday after gaining 3% support in a national poll — a level he struggled to hit for months. He&#8217;s tailing the rest of the pack in the GOP primary, and exposure on the debate stage gives him the opportunity to introduce himself to the public and contrast himself with other candidates.</p> <br> <br> <p>The first GOP debate in Milwaukee did not give Burugm a boost in the polls, and the governor said he planned to be more assertive in the second debate in order to be heard. Burgum did attempt to interject more in the second debate, but even with one less candidate on stage than in the first debate, Burgum still got less airtime.</p> <br> <br> <p>Besides Burgum, DeSantis and Ramaswamy, debate participants included: Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.</p> <br> <br> <p>GOP frontrunner Former President Donald Trump, who has not pledged to back the GOP&#8217;s nominee, skipped the debate again, and instead gave a speech to autoworkers in Michigan. Trump has more than half of GOP primary voters&#8217; support, most polls show.</p>]]> Thu, 28 Sep 2023 04:02:25 GMT Alex Derosier /news/north-dakota/burgum-pushes-to-be-heard-in-2nd-presidential-debate After leg injury, Doug Burgum touts small town values, states' rights on GOP presidential debate stage /news/north-dakota/after-leg-injury-doug-burgum-touts-small-town-values-states-rights-on-gop-presidential-debate-stage Alex Derosier GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS,POLITICAL NEWSLETTER,DOUG BURGUM,REPUBLICAN PARTY,INFORUM BISMARCK,ALL-ACCESS,SCOTT VAN BINSBERGEN “I’m from a town of 300 people,” Doug Burgum said. “It's a big deal to make it on this stage with all these folks.” <![CDATA[<p>MILWAUKEE — Eight presidential hopefuls gathered on stage at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee for the first debate of the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday, Aug. 23, to share their platforms with America.</p> <br> <br> <p><a href="https://www.inforum.com/north-dakota-gov-doug-burgum-news-and-info">North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum</a> stood among them with one ankle in a medical walking boot after tearing his Achilles tendon during a pickup basketball game, sending him to the emergency room the night before the big debate.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I took it a little too literally when they said go to Milwaukee and break a leg,&rdquo; Burgum joked.</p> <br> <br> <div class="raw-html"> <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDougBurgum%2Fposts%2Fpfbid025TvdyUBGGsSj9xmRdK9q9hcjKSggeQxndEyHgNKyv5VKdRmSxW9cHPJHzKsCKCZHl&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=500" width="500" height="647" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe> </div> <p>While he managed to stay out of infighting that consumed much of the debate, <a href="https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-doug-burgum-was-a-spectator">he did not have a standout moment in the two-hour event </a>and spoke only eight times before closing statements.</p> <br> <br> <p>However, the governor got a good cheer from the audience when he was announced, last in the field of eight candidates because he is currently polling in last place out of those who qualified for the debate.</p> <br> <p>His hometown of Arthur, North Dakota, wished him well before he left for the debate, he told the crowd.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I&#8217;m from a town of 300 people,&rdquo; Burgum said. &ldquo;It's a big deal to make it on this stage with all these folks.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <br> <p>Burgum was joined at the debate, hosted by Fox News, by former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Fox anchors Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum moderated the debate.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/e2b6c12/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F34%2F0e%2Fd5f2b2a9427e9fbdc8b7f883756f%2F2023-08-24t011410z-1434575459-hp1ej8o03fi0o-rtrmadp-3-usa-election-republicans-debate.JPG"> </figure> <br> <p>Notably absent was former President Donald Trump. To attend the debate, candidates were required to pledge their support to whomever is selected as the Republican nominee, Fox News reported, adding Trump refused to sign the pledge.</p> <br> <br> <p>After allegedly attempting to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, Trump is expected to surrender to the Fulton County Jail on Thursday, according to CBS News.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum hit the ground running on the topic of the economy by stating the American people are paying too much for energy because of President Joe Biden&#8217;s energy policies.</p> <br> <br> <br> <p>Sanctions on Russian oil following their invasion of Ukraine only allows countries like China, who do not have similar sanctions, to purchase said oil with a &ldquo;20% discount," Burgum said.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;Every farmer in this country would like to buy diesel in this country at 20% off,&rdquo; he said.</p> <br> <br> <p>After candidates were asked if Pence did the right thing in certifying the 2020 election results, Burgum agreed that he did so, along with a handful of other candidates.</p> <br> <br> <p>However, Burgum quickly changed the topic.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;China is the number one threat to our county,&rdquo; he said, calling for the GOP to refocus on the future.</p> <br> <br> <p>Biden is failing to adequately address the threat China poses, Burgum later said. As president, he said, he would institute &ldquo;deterrents.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>"What we need to do is not meetings, not press releases," he said. "We need anti-warship missiles on Taiwan."</p> <br> <br> <p>He said the war in Ukraine is an example of what happens when deterrents fail.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;When they see weakness, they make a move,&rdquo; Burgum said. &ldquo;We have to be strong.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>In addition, he proposed strengthening the southern border. Overdoses are on the rise, and "we're taking mass casualties," he said.</p> <br> <br> <p>He noted he sent North Dakota troops to the border to stop &ldquo;criminal organizations&rdquo; from bringing drugs into America.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/c6d725d/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Faa%2F70%2Ff8506b02467c8e2cdf5e2dc99c86%2F2023-08-24t021640z-1115778285-hp1ej8o06bq1x-rtrmadp-3-usa-election-republicans-debate.JPG"> </figure> <br> <p>When talking about America&#8217;s educational system, Burgum said the system was in a decline because &ldquo;red tape&rdquo; was holding teachers back from innovating and bringing the education system into the modern world.</p> <br> <br> <p>Federal restrictions on education aren&#8217;t helpful, he added, because education differs vastly by state.</p> <br> <br> <p>He doesn&#8217;t just talk the talk, he walks the walk, Burgum said, by occasionally accompanying a North Dakotan student to school so he can learn what they are experiencing.</p> <br> <br> <p>"The vast majority (of teachers) care about those kids," he said.</p> <br> <br> <p>The subject of abortion brought a variety of viewpoints to the forefront, with Burgum sticking to his guns and saying abortion is a subject best left to the states, and the people, to decide.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I&#8217;m a pro-life governor of a very pro-life state,&rdquo; Burgum said. &ldquo;We should not have a federal abortion ban.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>He cited the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which secures states' rights. "States created the federal government, not the other way around," he said.</p> <br> <br> <p>After the overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court, states were given the sole ability to regulate abortion laws, and Burgum signed a six-week abortion ban into law earlier this year.</p> <br> <br> <p>The federal government is increasingly stepping into people&#8217;s lives, Burgum said, asking where it will stop if they allow the federal government the authority to regulate abortion.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;We need to get back to freedom and liberty for the people of this country,&rdquo; he said. "What is going to work in New York will never work in North Dakota and vice versa."</p> <br> <br> <p>When asked about crime rates, Burgum said other candidates were only focused on big cities.</p> <br> <br> <p>"Nobody ever asks, 'What about the crime rate in small towns?'" he said. &ldquo;In a small town, neighbors help neighbors."</p> <br> <br> <p>America could use someone in the White House who understands small town values, Burgum said.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I understand why America is hurting,&rdquo; Burgum said during his closing statements. Biden&#8217;s economic policies aren&#8217;t helping citizens, he said.</p> <br> <br> <p>His closing statements rehashed parts of his campaign announcement speech, touching on his father's death, his history of manual labor jobs, securing the border and fixing the economy.</p> <br> <br> <p>He grew up working jobs "where you need to shower at the end of the day, not the beginning," he said, eliciting cheers from the audience.</p> <br> <br> <p>"I'll get this economy sprinting, not crawling like it is right now," he said.</p> <br> <br> <p>Refocusing on innovation will grow the economy and lead America to a victory in the &ldquo;cold war&rdquo; with China, Burgum said.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;When I&#8217;m on horseback in the badlands of North Dakota it looks like the horizon is unlimited,&rdquo; Burgum said. "Our future is unlimited."</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/673ea87/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F0b%2F2d%2Fd2dd73b94471b67d1256b4296b5f%2Fburgum-debate-spin-1.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>A good portion of Wednesday's debate was dominated by clashes between higher-profile candidates such as Ramaswamy and Pence.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum avoided major clashes, and told reporters following the debate that while the tense moments between candidates may grab headlines, it's not what he thinks the American public wants to hear.</p> <br> <br> <p>"I don't want to get involved in anything that isn't beneficial to the American people," he said. "There was a lot of noise going back and forth that I think wasn't really addressing the issues."</p> <br> <br> <p>Despite the clashes stealing much of the spotlight, Burgum said after the debate that he was happy with the time he got to speak.</p> <br> <br> <p>"I would have preferred to have the whole two hours all to myself," he joked with reporters. "Most candidates were about the same amount of time as the other, and so, you know, credit to Bret and Martha for trying to divvy up the scarce amount of time."</p> <br> Debate day <p><a href="https://www.inforum.com/news/north-dakota/live-updates-trump-supporters-among-first-to-arrive-at-gop-debate-site">Oppressive heat and humidity kept outdoor demonstrations and revelry to a minimum for much of the afternoon on Wednesday.</a> Many involved in the debate stuck to air-conditioned restaurants and hotel lobbies in Milwaukee's Deer District.</p> <br> <br> <p>Milwaukee reached a historic record temperature of 100 degrees, and only a handful of dedicated anti-GOP, anti-Trump demonstrators appeared outside the fenced-off area in front of the arena. Hundreds of union demonstrators with the SEIU showed up around 6 p.m. and marched outside, though there were not any major demonstrations.</p> <br> <br> <p>Earlier in the day, a small group of Trump supporters marched around the perimeter of Fiserv Forum with anti-DeSantis signs and a large cutout on a stick depicting President Joe Biden&#8217;s son Hunter Biden smoking a crack pipe. At one point, they joined Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, who gave TV interviews in support of Trump.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/eb1716c/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8c%2F63%2F66c85126426eb1e083189e73f04d%2Fimg-0281.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>Ahead of the debate, other candidates' presence was evident outside the arena. Businessman Ramaswamy held a rally Tuesday night, and DeSantis had campaign buses parked near the venue.</p> <br> <br> <p>When asked about Burgum, many debate-goers did not know who he was or that he was running for president. Still, Burgum wasn&#8217;t without supporters in Milwaukee. Former North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer and Fargo attorney Tami Norgard, who flew to the city from Fargo on Wednesday, said they expected to join a group of about 50 Burgum backers for the debate.</p> <br> <br> <p>Both said they had no doubt Burgum would carry through with the debate after his untimely sports injury the night before — and both pointed out how much attention the governor got as a result.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/885e90b/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2Ffc%2F849e1549423baf2b623bd508a815%2Fimg-0304.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>&ldquo;It's amazing how much he&#8217;s all over the news, I&#8217;m getting texts from people all over: 'Hey, is your governor going to show up tonight?'&rdquo; Kommer said. &ldquo;Now everybody knows his name.&rdquo;</p> <br> <br> <p>Norgard said she was excited to see Burgum finally get the opportunity to introduce himself to what could be his biggest audience yet.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;I think it will resonate with a lot of people. I just don&#8217;t know that people have heard the message,&rdquo; she said.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum&#8217;s decision to stick in the debate despite his injury earned him praise from Fox News host Laura Ingraham in the hours before the debate. Ingraham, who clerked for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, recalled Thomas struggling for months after suffering an Achilles injury.</p> <br> <br> <p>&ldquo;The fact that he can be up, that&#8217;s impressive,&rdquo; Ingraham said of Burgum deciding to continue taking part despite his trip to the emergency room the day before. She joked that the injury finally allowed the governor to make headlines.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum's campaign seized on the injury to put out a new campaign T-shirt: A silhouette of a man leaping into the air with a basketball resembling the Air Jordan &ldquo;Jumpman&rdquo; logo — but wearing a cowboy hat, cowboy boot and ankle brace.</p> <br> <br> https://twitter.com/DougBurgum/status/1694509894718611863]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 03:12:33 GMT Alex Derosier /news/north-dakota/after-leg-injury-doug-burgum-touts-small-town-values-states-rights-on-gop-presidential-debate-stage LIVE UPDATES: Burgum makes appearance on crutches at GOP debate arena /news/north-dakota/live-updates-trump-supporters-among-first-to-arrive-at-gop-debate-site Hunter Dunteman NORTH DAKOTA,ELECTION 2024,DOUG BURGUM,GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS,INFORUM BISMARCK,ALL-ACCESS Forum Communications reporter Hunter Dunteman is outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, where the first Republican debate of the 2024 presidential race will take place tonight. <![CDATA[<p>MILWAUKEE — The first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election season will begin at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 23, at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.</p> <br> <br> <p>Here's a look at what's happening at the venue as the event ramps up:</p> <br> <br> <p><b>6 p.m.: </b>Hundreds arrive at Fiserv Forum after a day of relative quite.</p> <br> <br> <p>Union demonstrators marched in outside the venue, chanting as they went.</p> <br> <br> <figure class="op-interactive video"> <iframe src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/videos/Z4ubeqwZ.mp4" width="560" height="315"></iframe> </figure> <br> <p><b>5 p.m.:&nbsp;</b>At least 50 Doug Burgum supporters made the trip to Milwaukee to watch the first Republican presidential debates.</p> <br> <br> <p>At a brewery across a courtyard from the Fiserv Forum, Forum News Service reporter Alex Derosier caught up with Fargo attorney Tami Norgard and former North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/885e90b/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ffb%2Ffc%2F849e1549423baf2b623bd508a815%2Fimg-0304.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>The two hopped on a plane early Wednesday morning alongside an estimated 50 other Burgum supporters, arriving in Milwaukee just in time to head to the Fiserv.Norgard and Kommer said they never once believed that Burgum&#8217;s leg injury — which sent him to the emergency room during a pick-up basketball game Tuesday night — would prevent him from making the debate stage.</p> <br> <br> <p>Fox News confirmed Burgumed would, indeed, be participating in Wednesday&#8217;s debate.</p> <br> <br> <p>Kommer, who said she&#8217;s confident Burgum will be America&#8217;s next president, said the group of North Dakotans who made the trip to Milwaukee plan to gather at a local restaurant after the debate to discuss and recap Burgum&#8217;s performance. It&#8217;s unclear whether Burgum will join.</p> <br> <br> <p>Across the courtyard — where hundreds of attendees played yard games, listened to live music and shared some drinks — visitors were anxiously awaiting the opening of the doors to the venue.</p> <br> <br> <p>The debate will start at 8 p.m.</p> <br> <br> <p><b>4 p.m.: </b>More than 100 people have gathered to pick up their tickets to enter the Fiserv Forum to witness the first Republican presidential debate of the 2024 election cycle.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/bb58d63/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fc1%2Fa2%2Fc66efdc0450c8fb88da13b568107%2Fimg-7944.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>With a heat index peaking at more than 110 degrees shortly before 4 p.m., more than 100 people are queued in line to obtain their ticket.</p> <br> <br> <p>Outside of a secure perimeter, a group of more than a dozen young adults are marching around Fiserv Forum chanting former President Donald Trump&#8217;s name while displaying a variety of posters attacking President Joe Biden and other presidential candidates.</p> <br> <br> <p><b>3 p.m.: </b>Security has begun tightening outside Fiserv Forum as the remaining hours before the first Republican presidential debate dwindle.</p> <br> <br> <p>City crews began installing additional barricades surrounding the venue shortly before 3 p.m., with security officers posted at all entrances that were previously publicly accessible, regardless of credential status. Uniformed police officers have also begun searching bushes for any suspicious items.</p> <br> <br> <p>The change in security seemed to be a surprise to local business owners, with a representative of Drink Wisconsinbly — a bar across a courtyard from the Fiserv Forum — questioning security officers on whether patrons could access her business, which lies just inside the secure perimeter.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/d2dfefe/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa2%2Fc9%2F02c840b945f6b4ee9d1ef3abc1f6%2Fimg-0288.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>Shortly after 2:30 p.m., as many as 50 Trump supporters were gathered outside the secure perimeter&#8217;s south entrance, some of whom were confronted by a pro-choice protester in a heated and extended verbal exchange. Authorities from the Milwaukee Police Department watched the confrontation closely but did not intervene.</p> <br> <br> <p>Milwaukee&#8217;s NBC-affiliate<a href="https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/protesters-planning-demonstrations-at-republican-debate-in-milwaukee" target="_blank"> TMJ4 reported that a group of protesters announced their intent to show up at Fiserv Forum</a> to protest the GOP&#8217;s stance on everything from labor rights to civil rights. TMJ4 reported the group did not have a permit. No large protests have been observed as of 3 p.m.</p> <br> <br> <p><b>2:10 p.m.: </b>Doug Burgum makes his first appearance after tearing his Achilles tendon in a pickup basketball game sent him to the emergency room Tuesday night.</p> <br> <br> <p>Burgum planned to visit a doctor ahead of the debate, according to multiple reports on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. It remains unclear if he will take the stage in light of his injury.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/b3a1bb5/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F20%2Fc6%2F7678667d4eac9ce0bb7558785d25%2Fimg-2390.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p><b>1:30 p.m.:</b> Sweltering heat has stifled much of the foot traffic outside the Fiserv Forum, as many involved in the GOP's first presidential debate are sticking to air-conditioned restaurants and hotel lobbies in Milwaukee's Deer District. With the heat index at 108 degrees, members of the media, law enforcement and security officers who must remain outdoors are sticking close to fans and water.</p> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/23fad11/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F24%2F87%2F84b8e47f40b393e01e4c117c0a13%2Fimg-0287.jpg"> </figure> <p>Fiserv Forum is a vast arena in the city's downtown. A large area in front of the stadium has been cordoned off from the public, with only credentialed access permitted. Though bean bag boards and other games are on display for a block party later this afternoon, the area remains mostly empty. Local forecasts are calling for the heat index to peak somewhere between 110 and 115 degrees.</p> <br> <br> <p><b>Noon:</b> With a heat index of 103 degrees, foot traffic slowly but surely began to pick up outside Fiserv Forum eight hours before the debate was set to begin.</p> <br> <br> <p>Among the first pedestrians to arrive weren&#8217;t supporters of any candidates expected to see the stage Wednesday night, but rather a group of young adults sporting the well-known &ldquo;Make America Great Again&rdquo; slogan.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/eb1716c/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F8c%2F63%2F66c85126426eb1e083189e73f04d%2Fimg-0281.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p>The group of roughly a dozen young men carried signs comparing Wednesday&#8217;s debate to a tryout of sorts for a position as Donald Trump&#8217;s vice president. Trump currently holds a significant lead among GOP contenders, but he is not participating in the debate.</p> <br> <br> <p>Buses advertising Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy occupy alleys and parking lots surrounding Fiserv Forum as law enforcement prepares to close down streets.</p> <br> <br> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dims4/default/0bd9c73/2147483647/resize/800x/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum-communications-production-web.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fdb%2Fe9%2F0a43c2814dcb8b048116e07ee7ec%2Fimg-0285.jpg"> </figure> <br> <p><a href="https://www.inforum.com/opinion/columns/port-gov-doug-burgum-injured-during-pickup-basketball-game-just-before-pivotal-debate">After a visit to the emergency room Tuesday night</a> following an unspecified injury during a pickup basketball game, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has not yet announced whether he will participate in the debate. Candidates are expected to have a walk-through of the venue Wednesday afternoon, and Burgum was slated to participate, according to campaign staff.</p> <br> <br><i>Check back for updates as this story develops. Reporter Alex Derosier contributed to this report.</i> <br> Gallery: More photos from Fiserv Forum <figure class="op-slideshow"> <figcaption> PHOTOS: Outside Fiserv Forum ahead of the GOP debate </figcaption> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/68/57/0f57bd2144c0be3d5770871ef292/img-0283.jpg"> <figcaption> A sign outside Fiserv Forum advertises the debate that will be hosted at the venue Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/1f/1b/246a6d4048f3a079d5ebd79ddd41/img-0275.jpg"> <figcaption> Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy's bus is parked near Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023, ahead of the evening's Republican presidential candidate debate. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/dc/b6/8af7d46540bfb0d4daa1a949046e/img-0290.jpg"> <figcaption> Broadcast media crews are set up along a stretch dubbed "media row" in front of the Fiserv Forum on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/21/9e/dbeca40844ca8c7a60da7aa6d450/img-0282.jpg"> <figcaption> Much of the Fiserv Forum is surrounded by barricades with tall, opaque netting ahead of the GOP's first presidential debate on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/47/66/77cfc5e243de9e4ba62bc66625b4/img-0293.jpg"> <figcaption> Supporters of former President Donald Trump march around Fiserv Forum with posters of Hunter Biden ahead of the first Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/e9/5c/397ffde64bc7830360cbe52dbabf/img-0297.jpg"> <figcaption> A representative from a business within the security perimeter speaks with security to discuss public access ahead of the first Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/0a/c3/096c0c04474fa719c2787a65f7a1/img-0295.jpg"> <figcaption> A journalist interviews a Donald Trump supporter outside the Fiserv Forum, where the first Republican presidential debate will be held, on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. </figcaption> </figure> <figure> <img src="https://cdn.forumcomm.com/29/18/494788be424197ff742ba8508fc3/img-2389.jpg"> <figcaption> Marjorie Taylor Greene speaks to reporters on behalf of former President Donald Trump outside Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee ahead of the GOP presidential debate Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. Trump is not attending the debate. </figcaption> </figure> </figure>]]> Wed, 23 Aug 2023 17:17:00 GMT Hunter Dunteman /news/north-dakota/live-updates-trump-supporters-among-first-to-arrive-at-gop-debate-site