ND Legislature approves bill, addressing shortfall

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s Legislature has approved a bill to address a $310 million shortfall in the state budget.

The state House voted 82-8 Thursday morning to pass the bill. It will 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.

The Senate voted 46-0 Wednesday to approve the bill crafted by Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple and GOP legislative leaders. Dalrymple signed the bill Thursday morning.

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