The Senate has passed a bill to send one point one Billion dollars in aid to oil producing counties.
That action restores about $400 million cut by a Senate committee a few weeks ago. It came in a floor amendment.
"I'm happy to see that the train has turned around and headed west again," said Sen. Bill Bowman (R-Bowman). "Is it enough? Probably not. But it's definitely a step in the right direction."
Senate Democrats tried to delay the vote – because they had their own amendments to offer that would increase that aid even further. But Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson) says the bill needed to go to a conference committee.
"I personally am not completely satisfied with this bill," said Wardner. "But we have deadlines to meet around here. This isn't Washington, where you can filibuster, and it goes on and on. We have to get it done."
Senate Minority Leader Mac Schneider (D-Grand Forks) says Democrats didn’t have much of a chance to look at the floor amendment.
"I saw some good things (in the amendment)," said Schneider. "I also saw an opportunity in two hours to make some improvements. That didn't happen here."
A conference committee will work out the final details.