The North Dakota House easily passed legislation calling for a study of refugee resettlement in the state Monday, but not before a testy exchange on the floor. <\/p>\n
Rep. Pamela Anderson, D-Fargo, said she didnt want to see state resources spent on a mean-spirited study. Rep. Mary Schneider, D-Fargo, read an email asking her to vote against the legislation because it tries to hide racism and religious discrimination behind a guise of rationalism and data. <\/p>\n
Rep. Christopher Olson, R-West Fargo, the bills primary sponsor, said the Democrats comments impugned his motives and he hoped for an apology. <\/p>\n
Bills like this always seem to get emotional, said House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo. But I think its always important on the floor of this House that we remember to keep our comments to not be impugning someone elses integrity. <\/p>\n
Schneider said after the floor session that she would never attack the personal motivations of a member of the House, but she argued the bills language is inappropriate. <\/p>\n
I didnt say he was mean-spirited; I said the study was mean-spirited, Anderson said after the floor vote. <\/p>\n
As introduced, House Bill 1427 would have allowed for a suspension of refugee resettlement if a community lacked sufficient absorptive capacity, which included the ability of various community and government services to meet residents needs. Proponents, which included a Fargo city commissioner and the chairman of the Cass County Commission, said they were merely seeking more input on the program. <\/p>\n
The House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee heard lengthy opposition testimony earlier this month from new Americans who told stories of finding opportunity in United States. <\/p>\n
The study was amended into a study of various aspects of refugee resettlement, which Schneider worries would only seek negative features of the program and scrutinize one group of people. <\/p>\n
But Olson said the refugee resettlement program has largely become an unfunded mandate from the federal government on state and local services. <\/p>\n
If this was anything else, wed ask what the cost was, Carlson said. It could show a very positive effect instead of a negative effect. <\/p>\n
The study bill passed the House 86-5. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Visit link:<\/p>\n
Refugee resettlement study bill passes North Dakota House, Democrat calls it mean-spirited - Bismarck Tribune<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The North Dakota House easily passed legislation calling for a study of refugee resettlement in the state Monday, but not before a testy exchange on the floor. Rep Continue reading