Lawmakers kill tax deal for Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation

Thursday, May 2, 2013  

The North Dakota House voted down a bill that included a new oil tax agreement for the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation.

The tribe wants to receive an equal share of revenues from energy taxes produced on the Fort Berthold Reservation. Currently, the tribe receives 80 percent of the tax revenues from trust lands but only 20 percent from fee lands.

The bill would have raised the tribe's share from fee lands to 50 percent. But lawmakers wanted to dictate how the tribe spent the money.

“This should benefit all people of North Dakota and not just the tribal government,” Rep. Mark Dosch (R) said on the floor, Forum News Service reported. He said the tribe should be required to invest in infrastructure projects.

Get the Story:
ND House rejects oil tax restructuring measure (AP 5/2)
N.D. House easily rejects oil tax bill (The Bismarck Tribune 5/2)
House rejects oil tax restructuring measure (Forum News Service 5/2)

Opinion: Lawmakers intrude into business of sovereign nation (04/17)
Energy industry supports new tax deal for North Dakota tribe (4/11)
Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation wants new deal for oil tax (4/5)