Home Mobile Archives Reader Blogs Register Login

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Governor Hoeven Taking Credit For Senator Conrad And Senator Dorgan’s Pork

By Rob on October 17, 2007 at 07:33 am
11 Comments
Bookmark and Share

Recently I’ve spent a lot of time tracking the number of “jobs created” Governor Hoeven is claiming as having resulted from his economic development policies.  I’ve questioned whether or not the Governor has actually created 25,000 new jobs since his election (total employment numbers in the state have only gone up about half that much) and I’ve also questioned whether or not spending $61,933 in economic development tax dollars per new business in the state - or $6,344 per new job - is really an efficient and effective use of tax dollars.

Now Shane Goettle, Hoeven’s Commissioner for the state Commerce Department, has an editorial in today’s Grand Forks Herald defending the economic development money they’ve been spending.  But the problem is that in his defense, he’s actually attributing jobs to Governor Hoeven’s policies that were created by some pork Senator Dorgan and Senator Conrad secured for a political ally.

Back in August, this was a press release sent out by Senator Dorgan and Senator Conrad:

(DICKINSON, NORTH DAKOTA) --- U.S. Senators Byron Dorgan and Kent Conrad helped kick off Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing’s new plant here Tuesday, saying the expansion is a good sign for the economy of Dickinson and all of North Dakota.

Senator Dorgan, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Conrad, Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee, have worked to help Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing secure contracts to produce high-tech equipment for the U.S. military and companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The senators have secured more than $8 million to help KMM develop new technologies for the military. . . .

“Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing is precisely the model for how private companies can invigorate the economy of North Dakota. Don and Patricia Hedger have an entrepreneurial and common-sense spirit that helps all of North Dakota, by seizing business opportunities and creating jobs,” Senator Conrad said.

Don and Patricia Hedger are, obviously, the owners of Killdeer Mountain Manufacturing.  They’re also the parents of former Democrat Secretary of State candidate Kristin Hedger who ran against Republican Al Jaeger in the last election and also just happened to work in Byron Dorgan’s office not so long ago.

Must be nice to be able to secure millions in pork for your political friends.  But I digress.

The issue at hand here is why the Governor is taking credit for jobs created by Conrad and Dorgan’s pork?  And if the Governor is counting these jobs in his tally, is he counting other jobs his policies aren’t responsible for?

I think North Dakota citizens need to take a long, hard look at what the Governor is telling them about economic development in this state.  Because to this observer his policies are inefficient and their impact is being grossly exaggerated.

Comments

The Whistler

So basically they’re claiming that Governments the only thing creating jobs out here?

What a bunch of egomaniacs.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on October 17, 2007 at 11:48 am
Avatar for Joe Somebody

When both the state and the federal officials are involved in a project, who gets the credit for the jobs in the end?  If you are looking for accountability in state economic development funding as far as job results, shouldn’t they look at everything?

I think Hoeven’s done a pretty good job in office, he works with people on both sides to get things done.

Joe Somebody on October 17, 2007 at 03:08 pm
Avatar for george

Oh that is good. You’re the first to criticize when things go wrong, but with the economy doing well, Hoeven gets no credit? By the way, he has never taken credit for the jobs, but rather for just helping...doing what he can to change North Dakota’s direction.

Whether you like it or not, ND is is doing well and Hoeven was part of making that happen.

george on October 17, 2007 at 04:02 pm
Rob
Rob
17408 comments
Send a private message

Joe, do you really think that spending $8 million on 100 jobs is good from a cost/benefit standpoint?

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on October 17, 2007 at 04:05 pm
The Whistler

George why do you think that Governor Hoeven’s record is off limits for discussion?

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on October 17, 2007 at 09:02 pm
Avatar for Rally

We get it...you don’t like Hoeven or his politics.

Rally on October 18, 2007 at 06:33 am
Rob
Rob
17408 comments
Send a private message

That’s right, I don’t.  Nor do a lot of other people, which is the point of speaking out.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on October 18, 2007 at 06:40 am
Rob
Rob
17408 comments
Send a private message

But tell me, Rally, do you really think it’s acceptable to spend some $6,000 tax dollars creating 1 job that may or may not be here in five years (given the past performance of some of these companies that come in because of ED)?

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on October 18, 2007 at 06:54 am
Avatar for Rally

I enjoy this blog because it isn’t like all the other political blogs out there, unfortunately it is starting to go down that path of becoming obsessed with one subject or person (Hoeven). 

It seems we really must travel in different circles.  I just met with some conservatives from across the state of North Dakota and didn’t get the impression that there are “a lot” of people that don’t like him or his politics.  I guess he must have some really bad approval numbers........hmmm?  Or maybe not....

Rally on October 18, 2007 at 02:11 pm
The Whistler

So how many posts a day are concerned with Hoeven? 

The Governor could nip this in the bud and announce that after the super generous 2007 legislative session that the major priority for 2009 would be tax relief.

What’s going to happen to US industry when the global warming extremists like John McCain double the price of electricity?  I would think all these factories will close and set up in countries where they aren’t scared of technology.

The Whistler's signature
The Whistler on October 18, 2007 at 02:14 pm
Rob
Rob
17408 comments
Send a private message

I enjoy this blog because it isn’t like all the other political blogs out there, unfortunately it is starting to go down that path of becoming obsessed with one subject or person (Hoeven).

I admit that it’s sort of been “Hoeven Week” around here lately, but I can’t help it.  Hoeven’s job numbers have been in the news.  The Tribune ran a bit editorial about it, and the Commerce Department annual report just came out.  So that’s what has my attention.

Something tells me that if it were busying myself giving some Democrats a thorough trouncing you wouldn’t be as concerned.

It seems we really must travel in different circles.  I just met with some conservatives from across the state of North Dakota and didn’t get the impression that there are “a lot” of people that don’t like him or his politics.  I guess he must have some really bad approval numbers........hmmm?  Or maybe not....

The Governor has great approval numbers, but I don’t know if that’s because people actually like his policies or if it’s because they just don’t know any better.  It seems like the Governor is fond if getting out in front of things like these jobs in Killdeer and claiming them as his own, and the media goes right along with it.  Nobody asks any questions.

Now I’m asking questions, so maybe people will start to think and he won’t be so popular.

I don’t have a vendetta against Hoeven.  From what I know of him, he and his family are very nice people.  But, that being said, I don’t like many of his policies.  And I’m not going to be quiet about it.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

robport.gif border=0

Rob on October 18, 2007 at 02:20 pm
Page 1 of 1        

Post a Comment


Before commenting, please recite:

Grant me the serenity to ignore the trolls,
the courage to debate with honest opponents,
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Name   
Email   
URL   
Human?
  
 
 @ 
<a>
Close Tags

Upload Image    

Remember my personal information

Notify me of follow-up comments?

Note: Notifications will only be sent to confirmed email addresses.