Republicans in the House and Senate have apparently reached an agreement on the so-called “surge” bill.
That bill would speed up spending on infrastructure projects – so state and local governments could start bidding projects, and take advantage of the 2015 construction season.
The compromise plan boosts money for state highways from the original $300 million to $450 million. Funding for cities and counties is reduced slightly. The total package is over $1.1 billion.
"It's a lot of money, and there will be a lot of money in it," said House Majority Leader Al Carlson (R-Fargo). "It's going to satisfy a lot of the needs out west. Obviously, there are guys from the east who have concerns, and there are those from the west who have some concerns. It's not that easy, but we're going to get it done."
Carlson and Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner (R-Dickinson) say the plan is to roll out the compromise in the House Appropriations Committee today. That could get the bill on the House floor yet this week. And Wardner says the Senate will vote to concur early next week, meaning the bill will be on Governor Dalrymple’s desk by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Here are some of the parts of the compromise:
-State Department of Transportation: $450 million, up from $300 million;
-Big ten oil producing counties: $240 million, down from $300 million;
-Big ten counties cities: $100 million, down from $140 million;
-Hub cities: $172 million, down from $215 million;
-Bakken boundary cities: $10 million, down from $21.25 million;
-Non-oil counties: $112 million, down from $140.8 million;
Non oil townships: $16 million, down from $19.8 million.
