Louser & Koppelman Stellar as Bill Passes to Prohibit Transgenders in Girls’ Sports

Rep. Ben Koppelman (R - District 16) urges House colleagues to vote green on HB 1298. (Photo via screenshot.)

Late last month, I wrote about Rep. Ben Koppelman’s (R – District 16) efforts to prohibit the state, political subdivisions, and entities receiving public funding from allowing transgender participation in team sports that are “exclusively male or exclusively female”. In reality, Rep. Koppelman is trying to protect girls’ sports in North Dakota.

(Note: The bill applies to those who are under the age of 18 or are enrolled in high school.)

Speculation had it that House Bill 1298 would garner serious debate. And it certainly didn’t disappoint. For nearly 45 minutes, members of the the House went back and forth about the issue. When the dust settled, HB 1298 passed by a wide margin of 65-26.

Neither the debate nor the vote split entirely along party lines. As expected, some of the more liberal Republicans sided with Democrats in opposing the bill.

Some of the best arguments, in favor of its passage, came from female Republican lawmakers. But the most powerful comments in floor debate came from Assistant Majority Leader Scott Louser (R – District 5) and Rep. Ben Koppelman. They were simply stellar.

If I could summarize their remarks in one word, it would be this— unapologetic. In the irrational PC political environment we now live in, it was refreshing. Rather than me summarizing, I highly recommend you give them a listen. You can do so by going here and clicking on their names.

(Note: The bill will now go to the Senate for consideration after crossover. If you’ve not done so already, please contact your senator and ask them to support HB 1298.)

PLEASE LIKE & SHARE!

Sources:

  1. North Dakota Bill Versions: HB 1298 (nd.gov)
  2. North Dakota Legislative Branch Video (nd.gov)
Facebook Comments
About T. Arthur Mason 883 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.