Free Lunch

[Colt45]

They’ve had 100 years what’s changed

What happened to all the big talk after Covid of never giving the gov another inch to control and make decisions for us?

I am not following your argument that we would be giving the "gov" more control to make decisions for us. Wouldn't it make it harder for anyone, either citizens or legislature, to make changes to our constitution?

A "yes" vote supports requiring constitutional amendments initiated by citizens or referred by the state legislature to receive a 60% vote to be adopted.

 

[ale]

Some current lawmakers are pissed we passed term limits and an ethics commission and single issue rules via measures so this is their way of chipping away at us. Its requiring 10% more votes to get what we the people want changed. It would make it so 41% of voters could overrule 59% It’s the government goons making it more difficult to bypass them. Stop thinking in republican vs democrat. And it would just bring in more out of state money trying to finance ads to reach that 60%

 

[eyexer]

Some current lawmakers are pissed we passed term limits and an ethics commission and single issue rules via measures so this is their way of chipping away at us. Its requiring 10% more votes to get what we the people want changed. It would make it so 41% of voters could overrule 59% It’s the government goons making it more difficult to bypass them. Stop thinking in republican vs democrat. And it would just bring in more out of state money trying to finance ads to reach that 60%

Exactly.

 

[Colt45]

Ale, you understand measure one is only for constitutional changes, correct? The measure doesn’t apply to ballot initiatives affecting state law. Its only constitutional changes.

It would make it so that 60% of voters (we the people) must approve all changes to North Dakota's constitution, whether from the Legislature or an initiated measure.

It makes it harder for the legislature to get a constitutional change rammed through, not easier.
Measure 1 is simply a method of protecting our constitution from being changed too easily by either the citizens or the legislature. And it helps curb out of state special interest groups funding changes to our constitution.

Mandating free lunch to school kids has no business being part of our constitution for instance, at least that's my opinion.

 

[johnr]

They’ve had 100 years what’s changed

What happened to all the big talk after Covid of never giving the gov another inch to control and make decisions for us?

This is making it harder to make changes to our constitution. I see this as the exact opposite of what you are spewing.
Somalians do not assimilate, that was why I used them as an example, if they move here for the American dream, than that is what they should be doing.
I could give a fuck which group of yahoos want in, once in you leave the former way of life at the boarder, otherwise stay home and live your peaceful culture there.

 

[ale]

Ale, you understand measure one is only for constitutional changes, correct? The measure doesn’t apply to ballot initiatives affecting state law. Its only constitutional changes.

It would make it so that 60% of voters (we the people) must approve all changes to North Dakota's constitution, whether from the Legislature or an initiated measure.

And ballot measures are what we use when they stop listening to constituents.

It makes it harder for the legislature to get a constitutional change rammed through, not easier.
Measure 1 is simply a method of protecting our constitution from being changed too easily by either the citizens or the legislature. And it helps curb out of state special interest groups funding changes to our constitution.

Would you feel the same way if we lived in Minnesota where liberals outnumber conservatives and decided to move the goal posts so you can’t be heard?

Mandating free lunch to school kids has no business being part of our constitution for instance, at least that's my opinion.

Agree

 

[ale]

This is making it harder to make changes to our constitution. I see this as the exact opposite of what you are spewing.
Somalians do not assimilate, that was why I used them as an example, if they move here for the American dream, than that is what they should be doing.
I could give a fuck which group of yahoos want in, once in you leave the former way of life at the boarder, otherwise stay home and live your peaceful culture there.

It’s making it harder for the people to be represented, thats what I’m spewing. I see someone fell for the fear mongering. Don’t worry they’ll keep you safe

 

[johnr]

It’s making it harder for the people to be represented, thats what I’m spewing. I see someone fell for the fear mongering. Don’t worry they’ll keep you safe

No it is making our constitution harder to change, as it should be. Once something gets changed good or bad, like obamacare, it never gets changed back, even when it is horrible for all involved.

This process should be difficult.

Have you ever been to one of these neighborhoods, that are what I would call non American? its for real dude.

 

[Fritz the Cat]

And ballot measures are what we use when they stop listening to constituents.

 

[Colt45]

And ballot measures are what we use when they stop listening to constituents.

Yes we would use a ballot measure for a state law the legislature passed that we didn't like or want, or a state law that we want but the legislature wont pass, that threshold to change will remain at 50% plus one vote. So measure one doesn't impact state law, it only is for changes to ND constitution.

Would you feel the same way if we lived in Minnesota where liberals outnumber conservatives and decided to move
the goal posts so you can’t be heard?

This is exactly why I am for or yes for measure one, I want to make it harder for liberal progressives to make changes to our constitution. They are the very ones funding the no vote for measure one. They WANT a simple majority to change it!
I think we could at least agree the state Minnesota is a lost, who would actually want to live there and fund the rampant fraud and abuse.

 

[RyanN]

https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026...hlid=730b2c812132b300b1f7a91a60241f43ef5b9ffe

The "Fairness Project" is not spending money to defeat Measure One for no reason, they want to bring the progressive ideology to ND, which includes abortion, free healthcare, minimum wage, and yes even gun rights. The Fairness Project is not going away, and will continue to chip away at our constitution, especially if their agenda passes.

From the article:
North Dakota Right to Life and figures such as North Dakota’s Catholic bishops are among those urging “yes” votes on Measure 1.
State Sen. Janne Myrdal, an anti-abortion leader in the Legislature, said she expects the Washington, D.C.-based Fairness Project or another out-of-state group will support a ballot initiative to add abortion rights to North Dakota’s constitution in 2028.

“That is their stated intention, and that’s been their intention all along, is from what we’re seeing now,” said Myrdal, R-Edinburg.

The Fairness Project has spent more than $1.6 million to defeat Measure 1, according to online campaign finance filings as of Friday.
Measure 1 supporters have cited statements on the organization’s website, such as:
“We’re running progressive policies in red states — and we’re winning.” Its website lists a Virginia reproductive rights measure among its campaigns.

North Dakota has a near-total ban on abortion.

In the group’s 2023-2024 Impact Report, the Fairness Project describes defeating North Dakota’s Measure 2 in 2024 — a measure Myrdal introduced that would have added several requirements amounting to a higher bar to amend the state constitution, such as a single-subject requirement, more ballot initiative petition signatures and approval in two elections.

The report said: “We won with 57% of the vote, keeping North Dakota on the map for a future abortion ballot measure, minimum wage, paid sick leave, and more.”

The report also describes a constitutional initiative for abortion rights as “an option” for six states in 2026, including North Dakota. Such a measure did not emerge this year.

Colt - what site did you get that from? (not being a jerk, just curious)

 

[Colt45]

The link is at the very top of the post, its from North Dakota Monitor...........

Here is is again:

https://northdakotamonitor.com/2026...hlid=730b2c812132b300b1f7a91a60241f43ef5b9ffe

 

[Colt45]

Would you feel the same way if we lived in Minnesota where liberals outnumber conservatives and decided to move the goal posts so you can’t be heard?

Ale, I know I wont change your mind and I appreciate your comments, I guess we can agree to disagree.
I believe we are slowly moving to the left in ND, as evidence is measure 2, and to make constitution changes harder to implement will slow the move to the left, in my opinion.
Here is what I posted on a different thread, seems like we have multiple threads going about the same thing:

Measure 1 > a constitutional amendment proposed by North Dakota’s Republican-led legislature that would require a 60% vote threshold to pass future constitutional ballot measures. Chief sponsor is Speaker of the House Rep. Robin Weisz, R-Hurdsfield. Main opposition is the The Fairness Project, an progressive organization based in Washington, D.C. which has spent millions trying to defeat this measure, for many nefarious reasons.

Measure 2 > chief sponsor is Together for School Meals committee, headed Amy Jacobson. Jacobson is executive director of Prairie Action ND, a progressive policy group.
Measure 2 is a constitutional amendment that would provide free breakfast and lunch to K-12 students attending public schools and charter schools. The state would reimburse school districts for the cost of the meals and adjust the cost annually for inflation. This will cost an estimated $124.3 million to $134.3 million every two years, beginning in the 2027-29 budget cycle, according to analysis by the Department of Public Instruction. I believe this will be a low estimate, but since it will be part of our constitution it MUST and WILL be funded for all eternity. Repeal is historically and statistically unlikely.

As in both measures, it doesn't matter who sponsors or initiates a constitutional amendment, any amendment has to be approved by the voters. The legislature cannot pass an amendment on their own, they can only sponsor one and then get it on the ballot so we the people can decide. We the people decide every singe constitutional amendment.

That being said, in my opinion measure 2 is the exact reason we need measure 1. Free breakfast and lunch for kids has no business being part of our state constitution, and I believe the sponsors of measure 2 know it, and passage of measure 2 will lead to more ridiculous proposed amendments which could include free healthcare for all or select "groups", minimum wage increases, abortion rights, and even gun control rights. Its really just to easy to change our constitution.

I support a yes vote on measure 1, and a no vote on measure 2.

Either way, I hope everyone that is eligible to vote gets out and actually votes.

 

[savage270]

 

[Gus]

We feed the incarcerated, the homeless, the lazyasses, and the legislatures. I guess I don’t see how floating children in school a lunch is the biggest concern here.

 

[savage270]

We feed the incarcerated, the homeless, the lazyasses, and the legislatures. I guess I don’t see how floating children in school a lunch is the biggest concern here.

If you would spend ANY time at all reading this thread, you would see that absolutely no one objects to giving a free lunch to kids who need one. There are many concerns with this measure, and that is not one of them.

 

[RyanN]

Also, a drop in the bucket? 140 million every two years, estimated, is a drop in the bucket?
#figureitout

And you better not ever bitch about property taxes cause the money to fund this quagmire has to come from someone, including you.

140 million wont be enough.

Careful what your bleeding heart votes for

It's a drop in the bucket if it comes from the legacy fund. The legacy fund earned 2 billion in interest last fiscal year. Only 5% of the principal of the legacy fund can be spent over two years. That 5% equal like 750 million (for two years). Cost of Measure 2 is estimated at 124 million. I was against Measure 2. But after running the numbers I can see why this isn't a bad thing. Also, the household income threshhold is somewhere between 45,000 and 75,000 depending on a few things. Is that number too low based on inflation and current economy?

 

[Eatsleeptrap]

We feed the incarcerated, the homeless, the lazyasses, and the legislatures. I guess I don’t see how floating children in school a lunch is the biggest concern here.

You are not wrong, but you do NOT amend the constitution to do it. Feeding kids is not freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to bear arms or the right to vote. It's just not the same level.

 

[yakandfish]

Just remember: The kids of today will be caring for your ass in the retirement home. Hopefully their brains were fueled for their 16+ years of training and learning.

I suppose we could run our snowplows only half full of diesel all winter long, too. What could go wrong?

 

[Colt45]

If you would spend ANY time at all reading this thread, you would see that absolutely no one objects to giving a free lunch to kids who need one. There are many concerns with this measure, and that is not one of them.

Excellent post, I couldn't agree more with this post. I don't want kids to go hungry, there are already policies in place that no kid goes hungry and whoever needs it will get a free lunch. The constitution is not the place to fix a fantasy issue that really does not exist.