North Dakota Voters Divided Over Limiting Legacy Fund Cash Flow – InForum

BISMARCK — North Dakota voters approved one proposed constitutional measure and rejected another, while a third remains pending late Tuesday, Nov. 5.

Measure 1, which updates the language of the state constitution, was approved by 84% of voters and rejected by 16%, according to the North Dakota Secretary of State's website. Measure 2, which would have changed the state's action-taking process, was rejected by 57% of voters and approved by 43% as of press time.

Measure 3, which would change how much cash is available from the Legacy Fund, had 52% support at press time and hovered near a 50/50 split throughout the evening.

All results are incomplete and unofficial.

Measure 3 reduces the amount of Legacy Fund funding available to lawmakers by two-thirds – from 15% to 5%.

The measure solidifies the fund as a state investment fund rather than a state spending program and makes less cash available for immediate use by lawmakers.

The Legacy Fund was founded nearly 15 years ago as an ever-growing piggy bank to supplement oil and gas revenues when finite resources become scarce.

The company is valued at around $11 billion and receives 30% of taxes on oil and natural gas production each month. The Legislature can spend 15% if approved by two-thirds of lawmakers, but that hasn't happened yet.

Co-sponsor Rep. Corey Mock, D-Grand Forks, told columnist Rob Port that the measure was spurred by the fund's unexpected growth.

The goal of Measure 2 was to change the way citizens initiate and vote on ballot measures.

It limited future action to one issue and required voter approval twice – in a primary and a general election. It also increased the number of signatures on the petition by nearly 7,800 and required supporters and recirculators of the petition to be eligible to vote in North Dakota.

Lead sponsor Sen. Janne Myrdal, R-Edinburg, said the measure arose out of concerns that the current process leaves North Dakota vulnerable to out-of-state interests.

Former Gov. Ed Schafer expressed similar concerns about out-of-state interests but opposed the idea of ​​making voters approve initiatives twice.

North Dakotans “voted in this case to preserve their right to direct and direct our government,” Schafer said late Tuesday.

The terminology used in the state constitution to describe health care facilities will be updated. “Deaf and dumb” changes to “deaf and hard of hearing,” “insane” changes to “persons with mental illness,” and “imbecile” changes to “persons with developmental disabilities.”