Dirty Secrets Of Government: Is It Time To Give The "Corrupt Practices Act" Some Teeth?

Governmental entities have been skirting the spirit of the laws against using taxpayer resources to campaign on ballot measures since the Corrupt Practices Act was expanded in 2011.

Last week, I mentioned how the North Dakota League of Cities was training local officials how to avoid violating the state’s corrupt practices act prohibiting governmental entities from taking a position and campaigning either for or against ballot measures.

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In fact, the North Dakota League of Cities has been training city officials on how to campaign against Measure 4 without violating North Dakota’s Corrupt Practices Act ban on using public funds to oppose or support ballot measures.

(This is a section of law that is never enforced, if it was, organizations like the League of Cities, ND Association of Counties, ND County Auditors and Treasurers Association, ND County Commissioners Association, ND Recreation and Park Association, ND State Association of City & County Health Officials, ND Township Officers Association, and the ND School Boards Association would probably not be able to be funded with public dollars as they are and then join coalitions against ballot measures.)

I had sever…