Letter: ND residents have right to decide protection needed

I was disappointed to read “Paid petition circulators drive some measures.”

I’m proud to be a volunteer for the Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Amendment, and I gathered signatures because I care about protecting what we have in North Dakota — the clean water, iconic places like the Badlands and outdoor recreation for the benefit of all North Dakotans.

The story shows that our opponents want to try and put up a smokescreen to obscure the fact that more than 36,000 North Dakotans signed our petition and agree that the people of North Dakota have a right to decide how we invest in our future.

The amendment would not raise taxes on anyone and would not take funding from education, human services, flood protection and road construction. In fact, flood protection is one of the many needs that funding from this amendment would enhance.

We are undergoing change in North Dakota and along with that we have a unique opportunity to protect what we love about this great state.

My family has come to love and enjoy all the hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities we have in North Dakota and we must not take these things for granted. I want my great-grandchildren to also be able to enjoy them. I believe it is our responsibility as good stewards to proceed wisely and with great care for the land.

Please join me in supporting the Clean Water, Lands and Outdoor Heritage Amendment and vote yes this November.

Bill Wagner, Hazen

Tags: opinion, letter, letters