Watchdog.org Podcast

This is Behind the Headlines, Watchdog.org’s podcast that takes a deeper look at the political news of the day. In this week's episode, host Eric Boehm sits down with Rob Port, Watchdog.org's North Dakota bureau chief, to discuss the end of the oil boom and the consequences of lower oil prices. Sure, lower oil prices might be great news for consumers who have to fill their tanks at the pump, but in states like North Dakota that depend on oil and tax revenue for a significant portion of their tax base, there are serious concerns. And some companies are facing difficult choices as the lower prices force them to find ways to save money. But as Port explains, that's not all bad news.  The state government in North Dakota has been stashing money away for years and finds itself in an odd position (at least odd when compared to most other states in the country) because it's got more money than it knows how to spend.  Lower prices can be good for business too, as it forces competition and weeds out le