BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - A group of North Dakota lawmakers will consider a pair of competing proposals that each would fast-track hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to oil patch cities, school districts and communities so that infrastructure projects can begin by next summer.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is slated to hold hearings on the bills on Friday.
On measure is Gov. Jack Dalrymple's "jumpstart" proposal that is pegged at $873 million. The other is a $845 million "surge funding" bill sponsored by Republican Sen. Kelly Armstrong of Dickinson.
The key difference in the bills is how they will be funded and the amount of money that would be spent on state highways.