North Dakota’s Senate Doesn’t Care About Will Of People

There were many in North Dakota who were against North Dakota Constitutional Measure 1 in 2022 that implemented term limits in the state, yours truly included.

The biggest argument that came to mind was the loss of institutional knowledge that was earned through years of public service. Something that would be lacking if every other term half the legislature would be filled with freshmen.

However, I see the logic in those that supported it.

People who serve for decades may have an antiquated view on how the world works, and in some cases, failing health or mental acuity is a detriment to the people they were elected to serve.

However, that was then, and Measure 1 passed. Not by a vote of the legislature, by a stroke of the pen via executive order, or from a court decision. It came from the voice of the people who were in support, 63% to 36%.

Constitutional Measure 1 limited the governor to serving two terms. It limited state legislators to serving eight years in the state House and eight years in the state Senate. A member of the House or Senate may not serve a term or the remaining portion of a term if it would cause the legislator to have served a cumulative time of more than eight years in the chamber.

Those already elected to office were grandfathered in, and are free to be elected as many times as they choose to run, and the people still have confidence in their standing.

However, this week, North Dakota's elected officials drew inspiration from Hulk Hogan of the 1990s and told the populace, "That doesn't work for me, Brother."

Senate Concurrent Resolution 4008 was sponsored by a Williston native, Republican Senator Mike Dwyer. It seeks to do the following:

• Repeal section 4 of article XV of the Constitution of North Dakota
• Extend all term limits for the legislative assembly from three terms to four terms
• Repeal the provision prohibiting the legislative assembly from proposing constitutional amendments relating to term limits

All three should raise alarms for anyone concerned about the will of the people being subverted, as well as a middle finger to those who voted for them.

Again, it begs the questions: Does the will of the people in North Dakota actually matter? Does their voice matter?

Senator Dwyer was joined in passing the measure in a tight 24-23 vote by Senators Axtman, Barta, Beard, Bekkedahl, Boschee, Braunberger, Burckhard, Conley, Dever, Dwyer, Hogue, Kessel, Klein, Lee, Luick, Myrdal, Patten, Roers, Rummel, Schaible, Sorvaag, Thomas, Wanzek, and Weber.

Opposing it were Senators Boehm, Castaneda, Cleary, Clemens, Cory, Davison, Enget, Erbele, Gerhardt, Hogan, Larson, Lemm, Magrum, Marcellais, Mathern, Meyer, Paulson, Powers, Sickler, Van Oosting, Walen, Weston, and Wobbema.

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It's clear how the majority of the Senate thinks about the will of the people; it's only a matter of time before we find out what the House of Representatives and the governor think.