Legislator: Law Limiting State Auditor a ‘Mistake’

Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued an opinion last month that says the new law is likely unconstitutional.

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) _ A lawmaker who pushed a measure that requires a state auditor to get approval from the Legislature to conduct performance audits is now calling the law a “mistake.”

Republican Rep. Keith Kempenich tells The Associated Press that he will introduce legislation when lawmakers meet again in 2021 that will strike the requirement to have the auditor get lawmakers’ permission.

Approval of the measure, which came during the legislative session’s final days in April, has drawn widespread criticism and spurred a referral campaign to ask voters to strip the legislation from the books.

The law had drawn strong support from both Republicans and Democrats, and was signed by GOP Gov. Doug Burgum. But Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem issued an opinion last month that says the new law is likely unconstitutional.