NRA Lobbying Expenses North Dakota
| Submitted | March 17, 2017 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Mike Spies
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to North Dakota Constitution, Article XI, Section 6, and the North Dakota Open Records Statute, N.D.C.C. ยง 44-04-18(1), I hereby request the following records:
I am requesting a list of all of the National Rifle Association's lobbying expenditures in North Dakota from January 1, 2013 to March 14, 2017 that list "Starboard Strategic Inc." as a vendor. The list should include the amount of the expense, the type/purpose of the expense, and the the date of the expense.
The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I would request your response within ten (10) business days.
Sincerely,
Mike Spies
From: -Info-SOS Business Info/Reg
Your message has been received by the Secretary of State's office. If a response is required, be assured that every effort is being made to answer back as soon as possible. However, please be patient. This office is experiencing an unprecedented increase in the number of business registrations, annual reports, and contractor licensing requests. Thank you.
From: Feldman, Lori A.
Good afternoon Mike,
After a search of our database, National Rifle Association is not registered as a lobbyist in North Dakota. Therefore, we do not have any expenditures to provide as per your request.
Please let me know if I can be of further assistance.
Thanks,
Lori Feldman
Central Indexing/Licensing Unit Lead
Secretary of State
600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
lfeldman@nd.gov<mailto:lfeldman@nd.gov>
701-328-3663
-
image001
From: Mike Spies
Can you do a search then for all expenditures that list Starboard Strategic or Starboard Strategic Inc. as a payee?
From: Feldman, Lori A.
Our system does not allow us to search by a specific entity such as Starboard Strategic.
Lori Feldman
Central Indexing/Licensing Unit Lead
Secretary of State
600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
lfeldman@nd.gov<mailto:lfeldman@nd.gov>
701-328-3663
-
~WRD000
From: Mike Spies
OK. It's very surprising the NRA isn't registered in North Dakota. Did you try searching "NRA" and "NRA-ILA"?
From: Feldman, Lori A.
The National Rifle Association of America is registered as a foreign nonprofit corporation and holds a charitable organization license. They are not and never have registered as a lobbyist.
Lori Feldman
Central Indexing/Licensing Unit Lead
Secretary of State
600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
lfeldman@nd.gov<mailto:lfeldman@nd.gov>
701-328-3663
-
~WRD000
From: Mike Spies
And yet according to your website the NRA is a registered lobbyist: http://sos.nd.gov/lobbyists/registered-lobbyists/2017-registered-lobbyists-listed-alphabetically
From: Feldman, Lori A.
The NRA is not a registered lobbyist. There are individuals who are registered as lobbyists on the behalf of the NRA.
Lori Feldman
Central Indexing/Licensing Unit Lead
Secretary of State
600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
lfeldman@nd.gov<mailto:lfeldman@nd.gov>
701-328-3663
-
~WRD000
From: Mike Spies
I don't really see a distinction between the two, but if you do, fine. Please run the request again using the names of the NRA's registered lobbyists rather than the NRA.
From: Feldman, Lori A.
Good morning Mike,
There cost for the information will be $28.50. I will need a credit card before I can process the request.
Thanks,
Lori Feldman
Central Indexing/Licensing Unit Lead
Secretary of State
600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
lfeldman@nd.gov<mailto:lfeldman@nd.gov>
701-328-3663
-
~WRD000
From: Mike Spies
Thanks, Lori. Quick question: is the $28.50 payment for records, or payment just to see if any records exist?
From: Feldman, Lori A.
The $428.50 is for the copies of the expenditure reports filed by the lobbyists.
Lori Feldman
Central Indexing/Licensing Unit Lead
Secretary of State
600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
lfeldman@nd.gov<mailto:lfeldman@nd.gov>
701-328-3663
-
~WRD000
From: Mike Spies
Would you be able to email them to me? Again, I'm only looking for expenditures in which the NRA lobbyist is the payer and Starboard Strategic is the payee.
From: Feldman, Lori A.
There are five people who lobbies on behalf of NRA. All of the reports are indicating no expenditures for Starboard Strategic.
So according to what information you are looking for, we do not have any to provide to you.
Lori Feldman
Central Indexing/Licensing Unit Lead
Secretary of State
600 East Boulevard Ave Dept 108
Bismarck ND 58505-0500
lfeldman@nd.gov<mailto:lfeldman@nd.gov>
701-328-3663
-
~WRD000
From: Mike Spies
Great. Thank you.