Gov. Burgum asks supporters to back up his plan for reducing income taxes

Bismarck, North Dakota – Gov. Doug Burgum of North Dakota is asking supporters to sign a petition backing his idea to use part of the state’s large surpluses to reduce income taxes.

Lawmakers see it as a last effort to get around a Legislature that has shown no interest in the idea.

In the past two-year budget cycle, the state’s hefty and better-than-forecast ending fund balance of $1.1 billion was recommended by the second-term Republican governor to offer income tax relief to people.

Rich Wardner, the Republican Senate Majority Leader, said he hasn’t heard of a single lawmaker who supports the governor’s plan.