Petition for ballot measure on lawmaker salaries, public records withdrawn

A petition to increase transparency in North Dakota’s Legislature has been withdrawn just days after it was filed. The measure aimed to make all lawmaker communications on legislative business public, require conflict-of-interest disclosures, and delay salary increases until the next term. It also proposed banning lawmakers from lobbying for four years after leaving office and restricting their access to benefits. The sponsor, Jerol Gohrick, didn’t provide a reason for the withdrawal. Meanwhile, a separate petition is under review to loosen restrictions on vehicle window tinting statewide.