Williston, ND Active Issues

nd.citizen · Senior Member

RE: Tax on Mineral Owners

Steve Powell · Guru

Because I live in town where the streets are plowed. biggrin

This house bill was defeated by roll call vote of 13 yeas to 80 nays. Skarpol, Sukut, and Hattlestad all voted it down.

Oh, sorry, here's my reference....

http://www.legis.nd.gov/assembly/61-2009/journals/hr26.pdf#Page447

SECOND READING OF HOUSE BILLHB 1281: A BILL for an Act to provide for taxation of severed mineral interests; to repealsubsection 32 of section 57-02-08 and sections 57-02-24 and 57-02-25 of the North

Dakota Century Code, relating to property tax exemption of minerals in place in the

earth and assessment of severed mineral interests; and to provide an effective date.

ROLL CALLThe question being on the final passage of the bill, which has been read, and has committee

recommendation of DO NOT PASS, the roll was called and there were 13 YEAS, 80 NAYS,

0 EXCUSED, 1 ABSENT AND NOT VOTING.

YEAS: Boucher; Conklin; Ekstrom; Froelich; Kelsh, S.; Kerzman; Onstad; Pinkerton; Potter;Schmidt; Schneider; Thorpe; VigNAYS: Amerman; Bellew; Belter; Berg; Boe; Boehning; Brandenburg; Carlson; Clark; Conrad;Dahl; Damschen; DeKrey; Delmore; Delzer; Dosch; Drovdal; Frantsvog; Froseth;

Glassheim; Grande; Griffin; Gruchalla; Hanson; Hatlestad; Hawken; Headland; Heller;

Hofstad; Holman; Hunskor; Johnson, D.; Johnson, N.; Kaldor; Karls; Kasper; Kelsch, R.;

Kelsh, J.; Kempenich; Kilichowski; Kingsbury; Klein; Klemin; Koppelman; Kreidt;

Kretschmar; Kroeber; Martinson; Meier, L.; Metcalf; Meyer, S.; Mock; Mueller; Myxter;

Nathe; Nelson; Nottestad; Pietsch; Pollert; Porter; Ruby; Rust; Schatz; Skarphol; Sukut;

Svedjan; Thoreson; Uglem; Vigesaa; Wald; Wall; Weiler; Weisz; Wieland; Williams;

Winrich; Wolf; Wrangham; Zaiser; Speaker Monson

ABSENT AND NOT VOTING: Keiser

vko · Senior Member

Thanks Steve. On my computer will read what they are doing tomorrow..My eyes are shutting.. PS I don't have a life - why do you get one? biggrin

Steve Powell · Guru

Shayla, trust me, I've spent hours reading these amendments (yes, I have a life). I challenge you to do the same. Go to www.legis.nd.gov and take a look at the new hb's the new sb's and all of the amendments. There are literally hundreds of them. Then come back and talk to me about them.

But until then, I ask you not to make assumptions on what our legislators are and aren't doing.

ps...our economy in North Dakota doesn't need a "jump start". It needs to be sustained. Different challenges for our state legislators than those at the national level.

pss..I really hope you weren't calling me naive on this issue. That would prompt a severe political butt whoopin'.....ma'am. wink

SKM · Senior Member

PPPPFFFFFTTTTTT...oh please...if it isnt broke Dont Fix It. I have NO faith in our government anymore! There is always an under"lying" issue behind every new bill they want passed. You can continue to be naive about our legislatures these days. Yes, maybe years ago they took time to read and reread every law to make sure the wording was correct for the people, but not now days. These days they will pass any bill that will get them elected for another term. And Obama's speech last night proves my point to a tee! Since when ever has it been up to the Government to "jump start" the anything let alone the economy? Welcome to the days of Socializm aka....Marxism!! GRRRRRRRR furious

-- Edited by SKM at 06:57, 2009-02-10

Steve Powell · Guru

Well, there's always been a small amount of this "junk legeslation" in both the house and the senate. Don't anybody take this the wrong way because I honestly believe what those chokecherry kids did was very awesome. But there were a number of representatives (primarily from the east I believe) that thought the Chokecherry stuff was merely "junk legislation". Other than teaching those kids about the process of passing a bill it wasn't necessarily progressive for the state. Here's another one, Governor Hoeven declared yesterday as "Ronald Reagan Day". Time and money well spent...??? Guess that one is neither here nor there to me.

But keep in mind, Shayla, that these men and women spend many hours studying hundreds of previous bills to make sure the wording of each still fits with todays laws and are also introducing many new bills and resolutions. It's a pains-taking task these people have in front of them so to throw in an NDSU-UND football game bill may only serve as a change of pace for these guys. Or perhaps they are using "junk legislation" as a smoke screen to slip other bills through they think may potentially be un-favorable to their constituents. furious

I do think think the surplus has caused some difficulties. From what I've read, it doesn't appear they are completely settled on what to do with it. Hoeven's idea of adding to education in order to relieve the tax property burden is just one of the proposals that they're discussing. Not sure how that's looking so if anyone has an update I'd love to hear from ya. I'll be searching for updates on it as well.

Always an interesting time of year. Any other updates from all of you on-lookers would be greatly appreciated. Also, if you have any amendments to what I've blogged so far, by all means correct me cuz I only post what I've seen from the 61st Legislative Assembly website.

SKM · Senior Member

I know, Steve. Its getting nuttier and nuttier each day! What is to gain by making UND and NDSU play? This confuses me! 10 bucks says that which ever wins gets more grants in the long run! The bottom line has always been and will always be the almighty buck. And this whole mineral rights tax is like well........ taxing a hobo because he is a hobo! Makes absolutely NO sense what so ever! And I have a feeling its only going to get worse from here on out. I pray the Lord keep us strong so we are able to hang in there.

vko · Senior Member

Thank you so much Steve and Shayla. I have worked myself into a tizzy on this and just ended up with a migraine. I just need clairification on this and am not rational about it. Thanks again.

Steve Powell · Guru

There appears to be some "junk legislation" going on this year. The other one I don't get is the bill forcing NDSU and UND to play football against each other. Uff dah.

This particular bill will not pass. The chairman did NOT recommend passing this one and his recommendation received 10 yeas and 3 nays. I'll keep a close eye on this and will pay even closer attention when I'm at the capital next week.

Bottom line, mineral owners that lease their minerals already pay taxes. They receive a 1099 each year. Those that don't lease, their minerals do NOT have value. Government should NOT tax what has no value.

One last thing, this tax would be a significant blow to this side of the state considering a large amount of money already goes to the landmen that research the locations of these minerals. If the government starts this "database" there will be no need for these landmen which would take away some significant jobs and ching that goes back into our local economy.

Just my two cents.

-- Edited by Steve Powell at 22:02, 2009-02-09

SKM · Senior Member

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Socializm! Whats yours is mine! Makes me sick! I completely understand what you are saying Vicky!

vko · Senior Member

Is this really fair. Minerals owners don't get one cent unless the minerals are leased. So if you own the Land you pay taxes. If you own the Minerals the state wants 2.00 per mineral. Even tho some don't get one red cent for the mineral.. Is the State trying to get all the minerals that people don't know they own or can't afford the tax thru default. Or break the people that own the land and minerals that tried to keep it all together? This is raping the land owners and mineral owners - I am saddened that people we have put in government are trying their best to take what is not theirs. I know I am one sided on this and have tried to work this thru my mind. I just don't know.