**North Dakota Governor Accidentally Vetoes Housing Budget, Blames It on “Too Many Casseroles”**
BISMARCK, ND—In a shocking turn of events that has left North Dakotans scratching their heads and checking their mailboxes for eviction notices, Governor Doug Burgum accidentally vetoed the state’s housing budget during a live-streamed cooking show. The budget, which was meant to provide affordable housing for thousands, was overshadowed by Burgum’s ambitious attempt to create a “Casserole of the Month” club.
“I thought I was vetoing a casserole recipe,” Burgum explained, his face a mix of confusion and regret. “I mean, who knew that ‘veto’ and ‘veggie casserole’ sounded so similar? I was just trying to make a dish that would make my grandma proud!”
Local resident and self-proclaimed casserole connoisseur, Betty Lou Pickles, expressed her disbelief. “I always knew Doug was a little too into his cooking shows, but this is next level. I mean, who needs affordable housing when you can have a three-cheese tater tot casserole? Am I right?”
In a hastily arranged press conference, Burgum attempted to clarify his actions. “I thought I was just vetoing a recipe that called for kale. I mean, who puts kale in a casserole? That’s just wrong!” he said, while nervously stirring a pot of what appeared to be a questionable meatloaf.
Political analysts are now speculating whether this blunder will affect Burgum’s re-election campaign. “If he can turn this around and make a casserole that doubles as a housing solution, he might just win the hearts of North Dakotans,” said political strategist and part-time chef, Frank “The Whisk” Whipple.
As the state scrambles to fix the budget, residents are left wondering if they’ll be living in a casserole or a house. “At this point, I’d settle for a tent made of tater tots,” said local resident and aspiring architect, Timmy “Tater” Thompson.
In the meantime, Burgum has promised to host a “Casserole Summit” to discuss the future of housing in North Dakota. “We’ll figure this out over a hot dish,” he assured reporters, “because nothing says ‘affordable housing’ like a good old-fashioned potluck!”
