Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem’s personal assistant is Liz Brocker. She’s his firewall. If you call the Attorney General’s office and need to speak to Stenehjem, you’re going to have to go through Liz.
Liz says no a lot. Sometimes with a reason but most times without. She almost always says no, despite what the circumstances are.
Wayne is needed in this war against the coronavirus. He has a significant role to play on behalf of the citizens of North Dakota. The citizens that elected him. He’s the chief law enforcement officer for the state of North Dakota. He should be coordinating the efforts between all law enforcement agencies. He should be instructing them on how to enforce a Governor ordered quarantine.
He’s also needed in his role as a member of the Industrial Commission. He’s one of three board members that oversee the Bank of North Dakota. A tool that other states don’t have to provide relief at a time like this. Small businesses, college students, renters and local governments all need his help. Help that money can provide.
We all know federal help is on the way. And we all know it’s needed. We also know the state is shutting down. Which means even less business, more unemployment and more bills to pay.
The Bank of North Dakota can help provide bridge funding for that. Funding that will fill the gap between now and federal support. We just don’t know who on the Industrial Commission will support it.
It’s not Liz Brocker’s fault that we don’t know. She’s just doing what he told her to do. She’s making sure Stenehjem doesn’t answer to anyone. Not even when lives and careers are at risk.
Not even to you.
Good riding with you.
Joel Heitkamp
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