VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Learn more about Measure #1, the North Dakota Anti-Corruption Amendment on Saturday, September 15th or on Thursday, September 20 in Valley City.
Bismarck Republican, Dina Butcher, and former president of Valley City State University, Ellen Chaffee, will explain what Measure #1 includes and what the language (on the ballot on election day, November 6) will state, and why this initiated measure was created.
The forum will be moderated by Luis da Vinha, associate professor of political science at VCSU. The event is open to the public starting at 7 pm at the Valley City State University Rhoedes Science Center on Thursday, September 20.
If you can’t make it to that presentation another opportunity to learn more about Measure #1 will be held on Saturday, September 15 from 1pm-2 pm at the VFW Club in Valley City.
Below is information released by supporters of Measure #1.
*Measure #1 asks that an amendment be added to the state constitution requiring:
*All significant amounts of election money raised or spent be fully disclosed and placed online for the public to see.
*Politicians be banned from personal use of campaign contributions.
*Restricts gifts from lobbyists to public officials.
*Foreign money be banned from elections.
*Public officials be banned from also serving as lobbyists, and it will be made illegal for public officials to take jobs as lobbyists for two years after leaving office.
*Improvements to conflict of-interest rules for member of state agencies.
North Dakotan’s for Public Integrity are sponsoring the amendment. They report that more than 80 percent of North Dakota voters support the tenants of the amendment.
In 2015, North Dakota was ranked 37th in public integrity and given a D- grade overall by the Center for Public Integrity for its lack of systems in place to prevent government corruption. It received an F grade for legislative accountability.
North Dakota is only one of nine states that has no legislative ethics commission or committee and the only state in the union with no limits on campaign contributions by a single person or group according to supporters of Measure #1.
