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Human Services budget passes House, on its way to Gov. Dalrymple

The House has passed the human services budget – although some House members say it doesn’t go far enough in meeting the needs of the state’s most vulnerable population.

The budget is the largest in state government. It spends $1.3 billion in state general fund revenues.

"That's a 12.8 percent in that budget," said Rep. Chet Pollert (R-Carrington), who was a member of the House-Senate conference committee. Pollert says it’s smaller than the Senate version by $28 million, but about 8 percent larger than the House proposed.

Rep. Kathy Hawken (R-Fargo) says she’s disappointed that the budget doesn’t do enough for the most vulnerable citizens.

"When we';re campaigning, we say, ''That's our value -- we're going to take care of these people," said Hawken. "If we don't try, if we put the money away and hide it in a mattress -- and we know we do that -- we're not keeping our promise as legiuslators."

The bill is on its way to Gov. Dalrymple for his signature.

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