ND Senate passes budget shortfall bill

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Senate has unanimously endorsed a measure to address a $310 million shortfall in the state budget.

Senators voted 46-0 Wednesday during a special session of the Legislature to further cuts to government agencies, take profits from North Dakota’s state-owned bank and exhaust what’s left of a rainy day fund to make up the shortfall.

Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple and GOP legislative leaders are pushing the measure, which now heads to the House.

Attempts by Democrats to amend the measure to restore some funding for social programs and property tax relief failed in the GOP-controlled Senate.

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