BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) North Dakota's Senate is declining to challenge Gov. Jack Dalrymple's veto of a bill that would have barred the governor from budgeting money from the state's trust fund for oil taxes.
The Legislature passed a measure this session that prohibits the governor from considering money from Legacy Fund's principal when crafting budgets. It also requires the fund's earnings to be invested back into the fund's principal.
Dalrymple says the bill would infringe on his executive authority to submit spending proposals. He also says it would contradict the will of voters who approved the fund in 2010.
The fund is expected to top $3 billion this month. None of the money can be spent until 2017, and only then if the Legislature decides by a two-thirds vote to tap it.