North Dakota House Approves Controversial Commerce Budget
BISMARCK — After two days of heated debate, the North Dakota House of Representatives has passed a contentious budget for the Department of Commerce, outlined in Senate Bill 2018, with a 61-31 vote. The legislation faced significant scrutiny over late amendments introduced by the House Appropriations Committee.
Key points of contention included a proposed $16 million drone replacement program, $50 million in funding for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, and a $75 million line of credit from the Bank of North Dakota to support the North Dakota Development Fund. Lawmakers expressed frustration that these controversial additions were inserted into the budget bill without thorough committee discussion.
Rep. Ben Koppelman (R-West Fargo) criticized the practice of embedding failed policies into budget bills, likening it to "regurgitating" issues previously rejected. He raised concerns that this approach violates the state constitution’s single-subject rule, a principle underscored by a recent Supreme Court ruling against a similar bill.
Despite these objections, proponents like Rep. Mike Nathe (R-Bismarck) argue that all sections of the bill align with the state’s commerce goals. The bill now moves to the Senate for further consideration, potentially heading to a conference committee for finalization.
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