Swearing In
Doug Burgum officially became the 33rd governor of North Dakota on December 15.
Kevin Cramer, North Dakota’s incumbent House of Representatives representative, John Hoeven, one of North Dakota’s incumbent senators, and eight Minnesotan congressmen also took oaths of office to officially reside at their respective posts for the term.
Nationally, Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan was elected to be the Speaker of the House for the second time. His first term in the seat was not a full term as he took over for Ohio Congressman John Boehner who resigned midway through his term.
Donald Trump will be sworn in as president on January 20.
N.D. Legislature
The North Dakotan state legislature began session on Jan. 3.
The session is the 65th of its nature in the state of North Dakota.
Representatives lobbying the legislature on behalf of NDSU include President Dean Bresciani, student government external affairs commissioners Katie Mastel and Kim Ellwein.
Student body president and vice president Spencer Moir and Anuj Teotia, respectively, are also listed as lobbyists though their involvement is more limited.
Aborting Planned Parenthood
As members of the Republican Party now control the USHoR, U.S. Senate and soon to be the presidency, a move is occurring within the federal government to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.
As part of the move, Ryan said to the New York Times that Planned Parenthood would lose federal funding in the legislation to repeal Obamacare.
Currently, the nearest Planned Parenthood clinic is located in Moorhead, Minnesota.
Russia hacking
A report alleging Russia was behind hacking emails belonging to members of the Democratic National Committee and of Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign has come under fire in Washington.
The report, originally issued to President Barack Obama, was delivered in a declassified method to the press, ABC news reported.
The report concluded that Vladimir Putin, Russia’s president, ordered for a campaign to influence the U.S. presidential election to “undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process,” ABC news reported.
James Comey, the director of the FBI, along with CIA Director John Brennan, NSA and command chief Adm. Mike Rodgers and the Director of National Intelligence James Clapper appeared before the Senate Committee on Intelligence Tuesday.