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Wessman defends memoHuman Services director orders ‘no comment’ on state budgetBISMARCK (AP) — North Dakota’s human services director on Wednesday defended a memo that ordered top agency officials to keep quiet about Gov. Ed Schafer’s anticipated budget instructions.The governor, in a March 9 speech, told state agency administrators to slice 5 percent from present general fund spending when they prepare budget recommendations for the 1995-97 biennium.In a March 7 memo, H.C. “Bud” Wessman, director of the Department of Human Services, said agency employees should “abide by a rule of ‘no comment’ until such time as we have had a chance to review the information (from Schafer) and make some decisions within the department.” “1 consider this a fairly stem request,” Wessman continued,“and would suggest that any deviation from the no comment policy would be grounds for disciplinary action.”Wessman said the memo had a 48-hour shelf life. He said it was meant to quash speculation about Schafer's budget intentions before he delivered his March 9 speech.“I was going to be in Washington. I didn’t want anybody to speculate until we can see what’s going on,” Wessman said, “Now the facts arc on the table ... We’ve got the information we need.” Gerard Friesz, director of the North Dakota Public Employees Association, said he was bothered by Wessman s “threatening language.” The memo may be an infringement on employees’ right to free speech, Friesz said.“Bud Wessman is probably tak-H.C. “Bud’’ Wessmaning Gov. Schafer's directive to run government like a business too far,” Friesz said.Wessman insisted the document, which was distributed to 25 ranking agency officials, will not inhibit agency debate over the budget or contact with advocacy groups.The subject of agency leaks is a sensitive one for Schafer.
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Dickinson Advertizer

Dickinson, North Dakota, US

Thu, Mar 17, 1994

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