North Dakota Senate Loves Their Feducation

If you have not heard already, last Thursday the North Dakota Senate voted down Senate Bill 2180. In addition to this bill recognizing that parents have the primary responsibility for the education of their children and “not the federal, state, or local government,” the bill also would have forced the state to begin refusing federal dollars for education that came with strings attached to them.

In the moments preceding the final vote – which was 43 to 3 – Senator Erin Oban (D – District 35) could not help but take to the microphone and frame the opposing argument in a way that was… well, not entirely truthful. After citing “significant consequences” should the bill pass, Senator Oban went on to talk about the “hole” that would be created by the bill’s passage and wondered how such funds could be made up.

Oban even referenced her own Bismarck School District’s nearly $11 million in federal funding. What she failed to mention was the fact that her school district also had a $15 million dollar surplus. In fact, she failed to mention that of the 179 school districts in the state 163 of them had surplus funds that exceeded the amount received in federal funds. In a nutshell, there is no “hole” in the education budgets if federal funds are refused. The state can afford education without federal money.

The fundamental purpose of SB 2180 was most definitely a state’s rights issue. Those supporting the bill actually believe that the U.S. Constitution means something and that North Dakota should indeed take back it’s destiny in regards to education. Unfortunately, our state has a spineless Senate who seems to care little about their oath of office and a whole lot more about their Feducation… federal dollars and all.

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About T. Arthur Mason 874 Articles
T. Arthur Mason is a native North Dakotan who has spent nearly all of his life in the Peace Garden State. As the third of four children in Western North Dakota, Mason grew to appreciate family and the outdoors. Some of his fondest memories are annual deer hunts with family and friends. In his early teenage years, faith became a central part of T. Arthur Mason's life. He and the majority of his family attend church together on a weekly basis and find this a fulfilling aspect of their lives. Through the influence of his father, T. Arthur Mason became intrigued with politics. As a boy, he attended political events with his father and enjoyed the friendships that resulted as a byproduct of those political associations. As Mason grew older, he became convinced that the quote often attributed to Thomas Jefferson was true, "That government is best which governs least." Today, T. Arthur Mason enjoys time with his wife and children, an occasional hunt, and an increasingly active life on the political scene. This blog is the fulfillment of a dream to design a web site in the realm of politics and to advocate for the principles of Liberty and constitutionally limited government. On behalf of all those that contribute to The Minuteman, we hope you enjoy your time on the site and will share the message with others.