Heitkamp Campaigns in New Town - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Heitkamp Campaigns in New Town

The woman who wants to be North Dakota's next US Senator was talking with tribal leaders in New Town today.
Democrat Heidi Heitkamp says the stop in New Town was part of her effort to travel around the state and listen to what people want from government.

Heitkamp said one issue she's focused on regarding Native American tribes is the legal authority to prosecute cases of domestic violence.
She says a loophole in the federal law means that if an enrolled tribal member is the victim of violence and the perpetrator is not a member, it can be difficult to prosecute the case.

(Heidi Heitkamp, -D- Candidate for US Senate) "The recommendation from violence against women folks around the nation, especially Native Americans, is to allow tribal court jurisdiction over non-enrolled offenders which is absolutely the right way to take this.  But there are people in DC who don't understand the risks and don't understand tribal jurisdiction and they're trying to stop it."

Heitkamp was presented with a gift of a blanket by a young resident of the New Town area.
Heitkamp is running for the Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of fellow democrat Kent Conrad.
She'll be on the ballot in November against the winner of next week's Republican primary between Rick Berg and Duane Sand.