BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) - Officials from North Dakota's oil-producing region pleaded with lawmakers to expedite hundreds of millions of dollars in special funding so that infrastructure projects can begin by next summer.
The Senate Appropriations Committee on Friday held hearings on a pair of competing proposals that each would fast-track funding to cities, school districts and communities.
One measure is Governor Jack Dalrymple's "jumpstart" proposal that is pegged at $873 million. The other is an $845 million "surge funding" bill sponsored by Republican Senator 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.
Sen. Ray Holmberg is chairman of the Appropriations Committee. He says elements of both bills might be incorporated into one.