North Dakota’s Governor Kelly Armstrong accidentally vetoes $35 million from the state’s housing budget, sending officials scrambling to correct the costly markup error before critical projects get derailed.
Key Takeaways
- Governor Armstrong inadvertently vetoed $35 million in housing funds while attempting to target just a $150,000 grant for a Native American homelessness liaison position.
- The unprecedented error was described as a “markup mistake” by the governor’s staff and could halt housing projects statewide if not corrected before July 1.
- Legislative officials may need to call a special session to address the veto, with only six days remaining in the regular 80-day legislative session.
- The incident highlights the high-stakes nature of line-item vetoes and the challenges facing Armstrong during his first legislative session as governor.
A $35 Million Mistake Threatens Housing Projects
North Dakota’s housing sector faces an unexpected crisis after Governor Kelly Armstrong’s administration made a critical error that threatens to derail millions in planned projects. The first-term Republican governor intended to use his line-item veto authority to eliminate a $150,000 grant for a Native American homelessness liaison position from a larger budget bill. Instead, his staff’s “markup error” resulted in striking the entire $35 million housing budget from the legislation, creating a potential fiscal emergency that must be resolved before the veto takes effect on July 1.
“North Dakota Republican Gov. Kelly Armstrong accidentally vetoed $35 million for the state’s housing budget while attempting to veto a couple of line items in an agency budget bill,” said Kelly Armstrong.
The magnitude of this clerical error has sent shockwaves through North Dakota’s government. Legislative veterans have expressed astonishment at the situation, with one senior official noting the unprecedented nature of such a large-scale accidental veto. The housing funds would have supported critical infrastructure and development projects across the state, particularly in areas experiencing housing shortages due to population growth and economic development. Conservative lawmakers are now weighing options to salvage these essential projects without compromising fiscal responsibility.
Unprecedented Legislative Challenge
The inadvertent veto has created a procedural conundrum rarely seen in state governance. The legislature faces difficult choices: they could override the veto entirely, which would restore the $35 million housing budget but also reinstate the $150,000 grant that Armstrong intentionally wanted to eliminate. Alternatively, they could draft new legislation specifically for the housing budget, but this approach could take up to three days to complete – a significant portion of the six remaining days in the current legislative session.
“The legislative council director noted that he had never seen anything like this in his 37 years of service,” said John Bjornson
The situation highlights concerns about government efficiency and careful stewardship of taxpayer resources. Conservative legislators are particularly focused on ensuring this procedural error doesn’t lead to unnecessary spending or delays in essential housing infrastructure. The governor’s office has acknowledged the mistake and pledged to work with the legislature to find a solution that preserves the intended housing investments while maintaining proper oversight of public funds.
Potential Special Session Looming
With the regular legislative session nearing its constitutional limit, lawmakers may be forced to convene a special session to address not only this veto but potentially other contested budget items. A special session would come with additional costs to taxpayers and could extend legislative deliberations into the summer months. Governor Armstrong, having been elected in 2024, is navigating his first legislative session, and this incident has created an unexpected challenge for his administration’s relationship with legislative leaders.
“Armstrong’s office stated that the veto was an honest mistake and that they would work to fix it,” said Armstrong’s office.
The housing budget error serves as a stark reminder of the precision required in governance and the far-reaching consequences of administrative mistakes. While Armstrong’s office has described the veto as an “honest mistake,” the incident underscores the need for rigorous review processes when exercising executive powers, especially those affecting significant portions of the state budget. For North Dakota residents awaiting housing relief and development, the resolution of this error has become a matter of urgent public interest as the July 1 deadline approaches.
