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Page 2
Golden Valley News
May 5,2011
islative
The 62nd legislative assembly
has adjourned - "Sine Die" after
78 days. It was historic in many
ways but it wasn't the longest ses-
sion by one day. When the final
curtain came down there was
something to love and something
to hate in the legislation that was
passed.
If a person is to consider all the
programs, tax cuts, one time
spending and school funding, the
increase was close to 24 percent
per biennium or 12 percent per
year. The good news is that $500
million of that are individual tax
cuts. corporation tax cuts and prop-
erty tax reductions. The individual
rate will drop at 18 percent, corpo-
rations at 20 percent, and the state
will continue to buy down school
property taxes up to 75 mills.
One other big plus was the
money the Legislature put into
highway construction across the
state and into oil impact in tlSe 17
oil producing counties. The pack-
age included $100 million to polit-
ical subdivisions for infrastruc-
ture, $142 million to roads and
$228.6 million to state highways
in the oil counties. The oil and gas
counties will also receive the oil
impact dollars under the old for:
mula and that should equal close
to $245 million the next two
years. All this sounds like a lot of
money but if oil exploration con-
tmues at the present rate I'm afraid
it's only a drop in the bucket.
One other project that was
approved that drew a lot of criti-
cism was the Western Water
Authority. The plan is to use
Missouri River water to meet the
demand in the oil field and then
supply water to residents in the
future. The authority will build a
pipeline to locations around the oil
assemly h
Speaker ' s Desk
By David Drovdal
Capitol Report
By Shirley Meyer
State Representative,
District 36
field on both sides of the river.
This should take some pressure of
the highways and the oil compa-
nies will pay for the cost of the
program.
There was conce/'n from those
that currently sell to the oil compa-
nies that this is unfair competition.
In some ways it is but currently most
of the water sold to the oil compa-
rues is coming from towns and it
could be at the risk of the aquifer
that serves all the residents. What
sold me on the project is that we will
make use of the Missouri River
water and after the oil leaves we will
have a good source of water for res-
idents and economic development.
Other bills that were passed
include: a deer depredation pro-
gram for loss of hay to ranchers.
unlawful to use electronic messag-
ing while driving. $250 fine for
going around barriers on closed
highways, lowered the tax on local
charities that use gaming to raise
'money, increased the matching
funds for senior ciuzen services.
created a housing incentive fund
for family residents, and author-
ized funding for the state to chal-
lenge EPA on some of it's over
burdensome emissions standards
on coal fired generating plants.
In education, we increased
funding to schools for the regular
per student payment and special
education the increase. The
increase in funding from the state
is $104 million for the biennium.
We also established funding to the
tune of $5 million for schools in
the oil counties that have rapid
growth in students of at least 7
percent. We strengthened the
adjourned
scholarship program for North
Dakota students so they may be
eligible for up to $6,000 to use at
any state college. The state also
increased transportation funding
from $43.5 million to $48.5 or
about 11.5 percent. The
Legislature started a program to
buy down interest rates for school
construction. We also passed a
law to require that schools include
abstinence in their health curricu-
lum.
One area that the Legislature
has not funded before is EMT
services. With the increase in traf-
fic in rural areas that are serviced
by volunteers, the Legislature pro-
vided $4.1 million to help with
EMT administrative costs and
emergency medical service opera-
tions. We also increased supple-
mental payments to critical access
hospitals by $3.4 million These
hospitals provide,, services for
mostly rural areas.
The Legislature also set the
state up to assure that North
Dakota citizens can choose their
own health insurance if the courts
overrule the federal health care
act. There were also some adjust-
ments to workers insurance to aid
injured workers' recovery to get
back to the workforce.
The Legislature will be called
back in November for redistrict-
ing.
I thank the papers for printing
my legislative report as a public
service. It has been an honor and
privilege to be allowed to serve as
one of the representatives from
District 39. It was equally an
honor to be chosen to serve as
speaker of the House by my peers
this session. If I can answer any
questions please feel free to call
me at (701) 586-3761.
some
isl
The 62nd legislative ,session has
finally come to a close. We adjourned
"sine die" after 78 days. For those of
you that don't speak Latin. Dad
always said "sine die" meant "if we
don't quit and go home. someone is
going to kill us!"
I would like to start this weekly
report by expressing appreciation to
the editor of the paper tor the time and
space he has allowed me to use in an
effort to keep you. the reader,
informed of what was happening in
the state Legislature. I know the space
is valuable and I appreciate the oppor-
tunity to communicate with the pub-
lic.
Secondly, I would like to thank my
constituents for the thousands of e-
mails, calls, and letters I received this
session. I couldn't be prouder of the
district I represent. It is incredibly
important to get feedback on the
issues to make sure I am representing
the wishes of the people. I encourage
and welcome feedback from you on
the job I did this session. This will
help ensure I continue to represent you
and fight for the issues that are impor-
tant to all of you.
Every session develops its
own personality with highlights and
low points. This session began with
strong news regarding the state's
budget. More oil production with
increased oil prices and a strong ag
economy provided the state with a
record-breaking surplus. During
the course of the session it became
apparent that having more money
available can make decisions even
more difficult. Legislation that was
passed this year is precedent setting
that will have historical impact fbr
years to come. We passed $489 mil-
lion in property tax.relief and income
tax relief. The breakdown is $342 mil-
lion for property tax relief. $120 mil-
lion in individual income tax cuts, $25
million in corporate tax cuts, plus a $2
million cut for banks.
We also passed the Western
Area Water Supply Authority bill that
provides some pretty creative financ-
mg for a $110 million water project:
$25 million from the Resources Trust
Fund at 0 percent fixed rate. $50 mil-
lion Bank of North Dakota loan. $25
million general fund loan, $I0 million
from the Resources Trust Fund at a 5
percent fixed rate. Phase two may be
funded with an additional $40 million
from the 2013-20t5 State Water
Commission budget.
Of course we were very grateful
for the $371 million that is going to be
coming back to the oil producing
counties for our road repair, and we
will also be receiving $100 million in
impact dollars. This is an area our
western legislators have worked dili-
gently on for the past two sessions.
The list of true low points is short.
but significant. ! was very disappoint-
ed when we couldn't get a one=mill
match for the senior mill levy grant
program, and had to settle for 3A of a
mill. It was a letdown that once again
we were unable to get funding for the
High Plains Cultural Center, the
Cowboy Hall of Fame, and the library
at DSU. Our transit program has
reduced funding, and Head Start
won't be funded.
During the last week of the session,
I was honored by being elected to the
Legislative Management Committee
for the interim. The committee identi-
fies the interim legislative studies and
appoints the committees that deal with
legislative issues during the interim. I
will be bringing you reports on the
issues and studies we will be dis-
cussing.How fortunate we are to live
in a state where citizen legislators
come together every two years to gov-
ern openly, disagree without recourse.
and return to their homes to live by the
laws that they have passed. Please
stay in touch during the interim.
Blue Skies, warm winds. God
speed.
Golden Valley News
P.O. ~o)t 156, Beacl~, ND 58621
(U.S.P,& Pub.
No. 221-280)
Staff: Richard Vol esky,
editor, reporter, advertising
and office manager; Jane
Cook, office and news assis-
tant.
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ND 58621 by Nord .mark
Publishing. Periodicals postage
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I
Rotator cuff tears are one of the
injuries most commonly overlooked
by those who suffer them. Unfortu-
nately, left untreated, they can lead
to lifelon
lg suffering. Dr. Ronald
Isackson of St. Joseph s Hospital
and Health Center Dakota Bone and
Joint says that early diagnosis and
treatmefit can benefit the patient in
many Ways while improving qual-
ity of life.
Isackson states that most rotator
cuff tears that are able to heal will
do so within the first couple of
weeks, and have almost always
done so by the fourth week. Prob-
lwem tears do not heal fully. Those
ho have experienced a tear have a
"1 have patients who
come to me in their 70's
and 80's who have tol-
erated this condition
for over twenty years.
By then, we can remove
spurs and do some
pain management for
them, but it's not the
best case scenario."
Dr. Ronald Isackson
tendency to neglect them as the pain tears do not heal fully within the
four week time period. If an indi-
becomes more manageable. The
sufferer has a false sense of security vidual continues to have pain or
believing that the tear is continuing lack of an ability to raise his or her
to heal, when it is instead creating a arm overhead, that is a good indica-
rather dangerous set of circum-tor that there may be a problem. A
tear may occur or without no-
stances for the shoulder joint, with
ticeable injury. In these cases, pain
is not helpful as an indicator be-
"Left untreated over years," ex-
plains Dr. Isackson," the musclecause there may not be any. How-
will deteriorate from lack of use and ever, if the individual begins to be
atroph3,. The muscle tendon re- unable to do things overhead, it's
tracts, making surgical repair diffi- time to see an expert.
cult." aboL?ngbefo letwe have to worry tient's situation," shares Dr. Isack- as a caregiver to realize that, had to raise the arm, or pain that does
Once it is torn, the pain and in- e "oration and at- son. "I have ,atients who come to they just come in at the beginning, not improve after a few weeks.
stabilitz in the rotator cuff creates rophy we have a variety of treat- me in their 70 s and 80 s who have they could have avoided years of
an inability and unwillingness in the ment options to help patients,"tolerated this condition for over pain and have a great deal moreIf you have questions about a
individual for it to be used. If it is points out Dr. Isackson. '- 'Patients twenty years. By then, we can re- range of motion and muscle tone. torn rotator cuff and a possible
never addressed, arthritis will likely may need physical therapy and can move spurs and do some l ain man- treatment that fits your lifestyle you
set in, and the condition will be- do some muscle strengthening ex- agement for them, but it s not the The bottom line is to not ignore a can call Dakota Bone and Joint
come untreatable, ercises at home. Occasionally it's a best case scenario. It s frustrating loss of range of motion, an inability Clinic at 701-483-2973.
chiropractic or massage issue.
Arthroscopic surgery, a minimally
invasive treatment, becomes an al-
"The pain processes that develop
in later years from a neglected torn
rotator cuff become unmanage-
able," states Dr. Isackson. "It is dis-
concerting as a provider to know
that we could have done something
earlier for our patient, but are now
limited by a condition that has been
left untreated too long."
Another concern is that in later
years when a patient requires total
joint replacement, a fully successful
outcome demands an intact rotator
cuff. That situation is avoidable if
eople are unwilling to let a tear go,
ut first they must address whether
or not there is a concern. Problem
ternative when all other options
have been ruled out and it will , et
them the best possible outcome.'
The benefits of treating a rotator
cuff tear include:
Pain relief
Restoration of most range of
motion
Improved quality of life
Muscle tone improvement
Return to daily activities
Provides a base for future
necessary surgeries
"It's necessary to find the treat-
ment option which best suits the pa,
Ronald D. Isackson, MD PC, DakotaBone and Joint Clinic
Board Certified Surgeon by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery
Vertebral Compression Fractures (osteot~orosis)
Sports Medicine
Joint Replacement
Arthritis
Hip, Knee, Shoulder and Hand Surgery
.~CAT~tO[IC PI£^ITH
~N~TI~rwFS*
St. Joseph's Hospital and Health Cet~ter
DAKCffA BONE AND IOINT CLINIC
, F~mt Surgery
Arthroscopy of Shotdders, Knees, Ankles
Osteoporosis Evaluations
Spinal Stenosis
Neurodiagnostic Studies
Carpal Tunnel Surgery
109 7th Street \ve~st Dickinson, ND 5860t-4399
Phone: (701) 4832973
www, stjoeshospital.org
Paid Advertisemerit
Farmers Union Oil Co.
701-872-4471
Interstate Cenex
701-872-3590
Hot Stuff Pizza
701-872-3190
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday
Partly Cloudy Mostly Sunny Partly Cloudy Mostly Sunny
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Prec~p Chance: 10% Precip Chance: 5% Precip Chance: 20% Precip Chance: 5%
Monday Tuesday
Sunny Mostly Sunny
62/40 66/42
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Can lightning travel
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Wednesday
"smaolsaopunq
Mostly Sunny ~uianp l! osn 1,uop 'SsolPaOa
65/41 s! auoqd e SSalUfl "SaA :aa/e, suv
Precip Chance: 5%