I’m very disappointed in Public Service Commission commissioners Cramer and Kalk for taking campaign contributions from a coal mining company that they are supposed to be regulating. They claim that the money won’t influence their decisions.
When thousands of dollars of campaign contributions are contributed from an individual with ownership stakes in South Heart Coal, it results in a conflict of interest. Setting aside issues concerning the legality of accepting those donations, this certainly calls into question their judgment.
Kramer and Kalk should not be allowed to accept money from the people who are trying to build a coal mine and power plant right next to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.
This is a coal mine that North Dakotans have overwhelmingly testified against, so the out-of-state coal company continues to influence our public officials with campaign donations.
North Dakotans rightly expect a sense of fair-play from public officials. The Public Service Commission has a responsibility to serve the public, not the private corporations who entice them with campaign donations.
Kalk and Cramer should do the right thing and recuse themselves from this South Heart regulatory decision.
Joan Knoll, Bismarck
Tags: south heart coal, opinion, letters
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