Plain Talk

"Opening up our own economy is not enough," Dr. Jeremy Jackson, head of North Dakota State University's Center for the Study of Public Choice and Private Enterprise, said on this episode of Plain Talk. "We need other places to open up." Jackson is the author of a new forecast for North Dakota's economy which has some grim findings. During the interview, he notes that North Dakota is an export state. Our primary industries produce goods which are then sold outside of the state, and often outside of the country. Without that outside demand, it's going to be hard for North Dakota's economy to recover. What can state policymakers do to address this situation? "I don't know what policy can get us out of this mess we're in," he said. "We need some contingency plans," he added.

A one-two punch from the coronavirus pandemic, as well as a price war in the international oil markets, has hit North Dakota hard. Thousands are losing their jobs. Oil production in the state is tanking, and tax revenues are sure to follow. The latter of the two just-mentioned causes for this was kicked off, in part, by Saudi Arabia. On this episode of Plain Talk Fahad Nazer, spokesman for the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Washington D.C., talks to North Dakotans about his country's approach the oil markets. "We don't engage in policies to attack other sectors or other country's economies," Nazer said.

"I don't know how he could have handled it better." That's what Senator Kevin Cramer said on this episode of Plain Talk in praise of Governor and fellow Republican Doug Burgum's handling of the COVID-19 outbreak in North Dakota. Cramer has also praised President Donald Trump's handling of the crisis. "His actions have demonstrated federalism," the Senator said, referencing Trump's preference that state's take the lead in responding to the virus. Though Cramer acknowledged that Trump's federalism is more apparent in his actions than his words, with the President at times suggesting his office has unlimited power over the country. The Senator also touched on coronavirus relief efforts, his intention to ensure that oil and gun companies in particular are treated fairly by relief policies, as well as the situation around Coal Creek Station in central North Dakota.

Jason Bohrer is President of the Lignite Energy Council, an industry group representing coal interests in North Dakota. His group made a move about, you guessed it, coal. "You get 50 miles outside those coal mines, people don't know much about them," he said, referring to the coal operations in central North Dakota. "What they do know they get from flawed sources." On May 1, at CoalMovie.com, the Lignite folks are releasing a roughly 30-minute film about the history of coal in North Dakota. What it meant in the past, and what it means going forward. Jason also talked about the fraught politics around coal power today, especially with the news that North Dakota's large coal-fired power plant may be closing. "It used to be Republicans and Democrats could sit in a room and talk about energy and there would be friends of coal on both sides," Jason said. "It's not like that anymore." "There are very few people talking about long-term," Jason continued. "The future is more in doubt now than it was five years ago."

Rob and Jay talk about the news of the day.

Rep. Luke Simons is a Republican lawmaker from Dickinson, North Dakota. On Friday, May 1, he plans to re-open his barbershop and he doesn't care what coronavirus-inspired executive orders Governor Doug Burgum may or may not have in place when that day comes. "I don't care if he's the governor. I don't care if he's a billionaire. I am going to practice my freedom," Simons told me on this episode of Plain Talk. "One has the moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws," Simons added. "The governor does not have the executive authority to be a dictator," Simons also said. "I went along with what I will call tyranny for a long time now." Burgum's Commerce Department has been working with state business and industry leaders on a plan to re-open the economy, but so far there has been no official word on when some of the restrictions put in place might start to ease. In the meantime, Simons says it's his right to re-open his business. "I will not pay the fines," he said.

"We are working on the how. We are not working on the when." That's what North Dakota Commerce Commissioner Michelle Kommer said on this episode of Plain Talk. She was speaking about her department's efforts to come up with a plan for re-opening North Dakota's economy. Parts of it, anyway, Slowly. Kommer praised Governor Doug Burgum's "extraordinary wisdom in not going to the shelter-in-place order" despite demands from some. She said that will allow North Dakota to be a bit ahead of other areas as we look to get back to business. The Commerce Department is soliciting input from business and industry leaders on how they can safely re-open so that plans can be open when Burgum decides to back off the restrictions he implemented in response to the pandemic. Kommer also addressed the conclusion of an investigation into alleged criminal wrong-doing in her department over the solicitation and implementation of a new state logo. State Auditor Josh Gallion's office had referred audit findings to law enforcement officials for investigation, but that resulted in no criminal findings. Kommer says she objects to the way the report was handled, saying it was "paralyzing" for her office. She said the result brought "a certain amount of relief" but "also a lot of frustration and maybe a touch of anger."

Jay and Rob talk headlines on WDAY AM-970.

A group of Republican lawmakers in North Dakota is urging Governor Doug Burgum to re-open the state's economy, rescinding or at least letting expire many of the executive orders he's put in place in response to the coronavirus. "The governor, if he opens up, is not going to kill people," Rep. Dan Ruby, a Republican from Minot and leader of that effort, said on this episode of Plain Talk. Ruby says the intent of the government was never to stop everyone from getting the virus. Eventually, everyone will be exposed, he told me. "The government wanted to prevent a spike" in hospitalizations, Ruby said, noting that North Dakota has just 13 people current hospitalized from coronavirus. "Mission accomplished." "I'm not saying everybody should be forced to immediately open," Ruby explained but said it's time to let many businesses open when they feel they can protect their employees and customers.

Senator Kevin Cramer is very hopeful that an international oil cartel is going to work to help stabilize global oil markets. He talked about that issue as well as America's on-going relationship with China and what more Congress might need to do in terms of coronavirus relief on this episode of Plain Talk.