ND lawmakers race to the finish line & special session

North Dakota lawmakers may be coming back to Bismarck for a special session dealing only with how to spend federal money coming from the America Recovers Act.

The state will be receiving more than $1 billion. But Senate Majority Leaders Rich Wardner of Dickinson says federal guidelines for where the money haven’t yet been released — and likely won’t be before the regular session ends.

Wardner says the hope is that once the guidelines are established, lawmakers can act to get that money out.

Wardner says the money will be used for one-time items, and not on-going spending.

North Dakota lawmakers are trying to wrap up the regular session this week.  The Senate is planning to meet three time a day this week to complete the work.  They’ve also penciled in a Saturday session if needed.

NDPPR/KNOX