Merrill Piepkorn on Government Reform

	Merrill Piepkorn on Government Reform

More transparency, accountability and trust in government

When asked how Republicans can win back trust after [two State Legislators were convicted of crimes], Armstrong said trust needs to continuously be built through actions. Without mentioning his name, Armstrong said it was a "worthy endeavor" to expel former U.S. Rep. George Santos, R-New York, after he was charged with misusing campaign funds.

Piepkorn said his election as governor would "automatically" lead to more transparency, accountability and trust in government. "With the supermajority in the Legislature, with 30 years of Republican governors--it's just led to an environment of entitlement," Piepkorn said. "There's probably more headlines right now in the Republican Party because there are five times as many of them as Dem-NPLers in state government."

He also said it's easy to point out differences, or faults, in a person with opposing viewpoints, but it's up to him and other elected leaders to look beyond that.

Source: Bismarck Tribune on 2024 North Dakota Governor race , Sep 13, 2024

Voted NO on $5,000 limit on governor's executive bonus

Gov. Doug Burgum's first use of his veto powers might also result in the first time he's overruled by lawmakers. HB 1153, a response to what many saw as exorbitant bonuses issued by former Gov. Jack Dalrymple, would have limited future executive branch bonuses to $5,000. Burgum vetoed the bill, saying it "violates the constitutional exercise of executive authority to manage state agencies."

Lawmakers could overturn his veto. It takes just a two-thirds vote in each chamber to do so. This bill passed 91-1 in the House and 36-10 in the Senate. Lawmakers were peeved when Burgum railed against an alleged "good old boys" club in Bismarck. They might see this as their opportunity for a bit of revenge.

Follow-up: House lawmakers voted 84-7 to override the Governor on House Bill 1153 on March 29. The Senate failed to override Gov. Burgum's veto on March 30, with 13 of 47 senators voting to override the veto. [Sen. Merrill Piepkorn voted NAY on 3/30]

Source: Grand Forks Herald on North Dakota voting record HB 1153 , Mar 29, 2017

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*Other governors on Government Reform:*			*Merrill Piepkorn on other issues:*
*ND Gubernatorial:* Doug Burgum Kelly Armstrong Rick Becker *ND Senatorial:* John Hoeven Katrina Christiansen Kevin Cramer Michael J. Steele Rick Becker	*Gubernatorial Debates 2023:* KY: Incumbent Andy Beshear(D) vs.State A.G. Daniel Cameron(R) vs.Ambassador Kelly Craft(R) vs.State Auditor Mike Harmon(R) LA: Incumbent John Bel Edwards(D,term-limited) vs.Jeff Landry(R) vs.Shawn Wilson(D) vs.John Schroder(R) vs.Sharon Hewitt(R) MS: Incumbent Tate Reeves(R) vs.Bill Waller(R,withdrew) vs.Brandon Presley(D) *Gubernatorial Debates 2024:* DE: Gov. John Carney (D, term-limited); vs. Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long (D) vs. County Exec. Matt Meyer (D) vs. State Rep.Mike Ramone (R) IN: Gov. Eric Holcomb (R, term-limited); vs. Sen. Mike Braun (R) vs. Suzanne Crouch (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Eric Doden (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Attorney General Curtis Hill (R, lost May 7 primary) vs. Jennifer McCormick (D) MO: Gov. Mike Parson (R, term-limited): vs. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (R) vs. State Senator Bill Eigel (R) vs. Lt.Gov. Mike Kehoe (R) vs. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade (D) MT: Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) vs. Ryan Busse (D) vs. State Rep. Tanner Smith (R, lost June 4 primary)	*Gubernatorial Debates 2024 (continued):* NC: Gov. Roy Cooper (D, term-limited); vs. Lt.Gov. Mark Robinson (R) vs. Attorney General Josh Stein (D) vs. Treasurer Dale Folwell (R, lost March 5 primary) vs. Justice Michael Morgan (D, lost March 5 primary) vs. State Senator Andy Wells (R,withdrew) vs. Rep.Mark Walker (R, withdrew) ND: Gov. Doug Burgum (R, retiring) vs. State Rep. Rick Becker (R) vs. U.S.Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R) vs. State Sen.Merrill Piepkorn (D) NH: Gov. Chris Sununu (R, retiring) vs. U.S.Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R) vs. Mayor Joyce Craig (D) vs. Acting Gov.Chuck Morse (R) vs. Exec.Councilor Cinde Warmington (D) UT: Gov. Spencer Cox (R) vs. State Rep. Phil Lyman (R) vs. Minority Leader Brian King (D) VT: Gov. Phil Scott (R) vs. Lt.Gov.David Zuckerman (D, withdrew) vs. Selectman Peter Duval (D) vs. Commissioner Esther Charlestin (D) WA: Gov. Jay Inslee (D, retiring); vs. Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D) vs. U.S.Rep.Dave Reichert (R) vs. State Sen. Mark Mullet (D) vs. County Chair Semi Bird (R) vs. Hilary Franz (D, withdrew to run for U.S.Rep.) WV: Gov. Jim Justice (R, term-limited) vs. WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) vs. Huntington Mayor Steve Williams (D) vs. WV State Auditor JB McCuskey (R, withdrew) vs. WV Secretary of State Mac Warner (R, lost May 14 primary) vs. State Del. Moore Capito (R, lost May 14 primary)	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Local Issues Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty [Title9]