Dem-NPL leaders call out missed opportunities of special session

With the special session behind us, North Dakotans are left wondering: are lawmakers even listening to us? While we took steps to safeguard citizens from kratom, the only other legislation to emerge was a taxpayer bailout of a bungled military museum project — with no change in leadership or strategy, no guarantees the mistakes won't repeat, and no accountability for those responsible. Veterans and taxpayers deserve better than this fiasco. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, Republicans refused even to debate help for working families desperate for childcare assistance. Nearly 2,000 families languish on a waitlist because officials vastly underestimated the need for relief from high childcare costs. Democrats brought forward a bipartisan plan to help the lowest-income families on that waitlist, but Republicans blocked it from even having a public hearing, leaving more parents with no choice but to leave the workforce to care for their kids. Republicans also stonewalled action on data centers, again refusing to debate a pause on new development that would give the state time to erect guardrails. The GOP even killed a bill to ban government officials from signing non-disclosure agreements with data center corporations, letting negotiations stay behind closed doors. These secret NDAs fly in the face of the open, transparent government North Dakotans deserve. From childcare and data centers to affordable housing, no-cost school meals, and fully funded public education, it's time to elect lawmakers who actually listen to you so your priorities finally make the agenda in Bismarck. Sen. Kathy Hogan (D-Fargo) is the Democratic-NPL Senate Leader. Rep. Zac Ista (D-Grand Forks) is the Democratic-NPL House Leader.