October 21, 2019
To the editor:
A recent Legislative Update from Senator Janne Myrdal expressed deep concern about the “anonymous tip line” and other issues related to the Measure 1 policies that voters approved last November, the Ethics Commission amendment that is now Article XIV of the North Dakota Constitution. She can relax.
A Legislative Council attorney provided legislators at her meeting with a legal analysis showing that their concern is completely unfounded. Article XIV requires a standard process, like police tip lines and corporate whistleblower policies. Do legislators fear being subject to the same accountability as the rest of us?
In requiring the legislature to implement the amendment, the voters trusted legislators to do their job - figure out how best to make government work. The 2019 session was not successful in that regard - their final bill has 21 provisions that likely violate the constitution.
If you want transparency, integrity, and accountability in state government, follow the work of Senator Myrdal’s committee, let her know your expectations, and be sure that whoever you vote for knows how to make government work within the constitution.
Ellen Chaffee, Bismarck